Are noisy ICE cars becoming embarrassing?
Discussion
Gameface said:
That's simply not the case is it.
There many fantastic sounding 6 cylinder engines.
Subaru flat 6 sounds fantastic especially with a SS cat back and even better if you have raptor headers, whoever said you need 8 cylinders is talking bThere many fantastic sounding 6 cylinder engines.
ks - modern cars with turbos are just, well boring. Daston said:
most quick cars with pistons comes with noise so just wondered why you decided Pistonheads was a good place :P
Genuinely have no idea what this means! Most quick cars have low mpg. Do you like that too? Noise is a bug not a feature. Given a magical choice between a perfectly silent ICE Jag and a regular ICE Jag, you would pick the noisy one?
That is just nuts in my mind. But then I live in the arse end of nowhere cos I hate noise! Which is pretty nutty I can see. So each to their own
I once pulled out of house purchase because someone drove past on a harley and it shook the foundations.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 15th April 00:24
T-195 said:
Noisy fking motorbikes do my head in rather any ICE engined cars.
None of my three could be described as noisy and all have OEM Exhausts fitted.
So, no.
I wonder what is with people driving motorbikes so loud you can hear them from the next village, they will probably be stone deaf by the time they are 50 at the very leastking motorbikes do my head in rather any ICE engined cars.None of my three could be described as noisy and all have OEM Exhausts fitted.
So, no.
Surely the answer to this is that ragging any car off the lights in an area were people will see you and notice you is pretty unacceptable.
What do we all think of the Knightsbridge wkers in v12 lambos spanking it off the lights? Sound great but not the time or place.
Loud performance cars are best enjoyed in wide open space were no one is around to make a scene to.
What do we all think of the Knightsbridge w
kers in v12 lambos spanking it off the lights? Sound great but not the time or place.Loud performance cars are best enjoyed in wide open space were no one is around to make a scene to.
sambucket said:
Genuinely have no idea what this means! Most quick cars have low mpg. Do you like that too?
Noise is a bug not a feature. Given a magical choice between a perfectly silent ICE Jag and a regular ICE Jag, you would pick the noisy one?
Sounds like you belong on PracticalHeads Noise is a bug not a feature. Given a magical choice between a perfectly silent ICE Jag and a regular ICE Jag, you would pick the noisy one?
I do agree that motorcycles are the absolute worst examples, however. In a central London office, on a back street, even with the windows closed motorcycles go past creating enough noise to induce physical pain:- Whilst I can see the benefits of louder exhausts on a motorcycle to draw attention, a line should be drawn...
Haltamer said:
Sounds like you belong on PracticalHeads
I do agree that motorcycles are the absolute worst examples, however. In a central London office, on a back street, even with the windows closed motorcycles go past creating enough noise to induce physical pain:- Whilst I can see the benefits of louder exhausts on a motorcycle to draw attention, a line should be drawn...
Would you choose the noisy Jag over the hypothetical silent jag?I do agree that motorcycles are the absolute worst examples, however. In a central London office, on a back street, even with the windows closed motorcycles go past creating enough noise to induce physical pain:- Whilst I can see the benefits of louder exhausts on a motorcycle to draw attention, a line should be drawn...
If you had magic engine noise dial on your V8, you would have it at normal volume all the time?
If noise is so important, why not turn it up?
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 15th April 00:39
sambucket said:
Would you choose the noisy Jag over the hypothetical silent jag?
by nature of it being a jag, assuming all else is equal (No instatorque electric motors - Just a hypothetical silent ICE), I'd take the noisy (Noisy being stock noisy, not shagged backbox jag.For one, I'd rather hear a bit of nice engine noise than tyre roar:- aside from that, It's part of the ocasion and fun.
Personally, I'm a fan of having the best of both worlds. If I was ever looking at an aftermarket exhaust, or if it was a manufacturer option, I'd have a variable valve exhaust. I'm quite the fan of the NSX for it being the ultimate expression of varying sound; A nice electric mode for rolling out of the house and for quiet drives around town, and some Vrrrr, bwahh, Rrrrs's for fun blasts along nice roads.
Edit for your edit
:It's like music - Sometimes, you're enjoying the tune and you want to crank the dial, other times, you want to just have a quiet backing track; Or, pause it entirely. The same would go for a car - As per the above; going through a residential? nice and quiet. Having a riproaring time on a backroad? 11
Edited by Haltamer on Monday 15th April 00:45
grumbledoak said:
They already are. Anything with less than eight cylinders sounds dull moving to tragic when made intentionally louder. I really don't see why anything built and sold for use on the road isn't damn near silent. And big single cylinder trail bikes should be crushed with the pillock still sat on it.
Kin’ ell we’re up to 8 cylinders now. Soon it must be no less than 10!!!! 
Daston said:
sambucket said:
100%. Whenever I hear a purposely noisy car I think tt.
Low noise is a premium feature. Premium computers are silent. I hate that ebike makes a slight whirr and would pay good money for a silent ebike. Ditto car.
No offence and genuine question, but why are you on this site? t. Low noise is a premium feature. Premium computers are silent. I hate that ebike makes a slight whirr and would pay good money for a silent ebike. Ditto car.
My zero cylinders makes a fantastic noise had a good blast through some B roads, pops bangs and flames
Business laptops are better, and like ICE cars will be with us for some time
Something near silent wiith a poor range has no interest for me. When you can charge an electric car as quickly as filling a car with dinosaur juice, perhaps I will reconsider. Some cars sound fantastic, like the Mercedes G63. Even the latest 2 series M140i (4 pot engine
) sounds great. Cars further modified such as Corsas is a bit Council, mehmehmeh said:
Codswallop said:
I saw a Tesla Model S and Golf R have a cheeky race away from some traffic lights today. The Tesla pulled a significant gap while the Golf parped away in the slightly contrived way that all DSG VAGs seem to do. It looked/ sounded embarrassing in some ways; almost a case of all show and no go from the Golf (even though it's a quick car by most normal standards).
In the past Joe public associated noise with speed and power. However with the increasing prevalence of silent, instant torque EVs, I wonder how long it'll be before the loud and comparatively slow ICE cars begin to look old fashioned?
I love a nice sounding engine, but am aware that being a car enthusiast is a minority hobby, and one that is increasingly being frowned upon by certain people.
Will noisy cars always be a thing?
£80k car vs £30k car.In the past Joe public associated noise with speed and power. However with the increasing prevalence of silent, instant torque EVs, I wonder how long it'll be before the loud and comparatively slow ICE cars begin to look old fashioned?
I love a nice sounding engine, but am aware that being a car enthusiast is a minority hobby, and one that is increasingly being frowned upon by certain people.
Will noisy cars always be a thing?
Really reaslistic comparison OP.
To keep up with an 80k EV saloon you'll need a 200k ICE supercar with launch control, fat tyres, etc
98elise said:
mehmehmeh said:
Codswallop said:
I saw a Tesla Model S and Golf R have a cheeky race away from some traffic lights today. The Tesla pulled a significant gap while the Golf parped away in the slightly contrived way that all DSG VAGs seem to do. It looked/ sounded embarrassing in some ways; almost a case of all show and no go from the Golf (even though it's a quick car by most normal standards).
In the past Joe public associated noise with speed and power. However with the increasing prevalence of silent, instant torque EVs, I wonder how long it'll be before the loud and comparatively slow ICE cars begin to look old fashioned?
I love a nice sounding engine, but am aware that being a car enthusiast is a minority hobby, and one that is increasingly being frowned upon by certain people.
Will noisy cars always be a thing?
£80k car vs £30k car.In the past Joe public associated noise with speed and power. However with the increasing prevalence of silent, instant torque EVs, I wonder how long it'll be before the loud and comparatively slow ICE cars begin to look old fashioned?
I love a nice sounding engine, but am aware that being a car enthusiast is a minority hobby, and one that is increasingly being frowned upon by certain people.
Will noisy cars always be a thing?
Really reaslistic comparison OP.
To keep up with an 80k EV saloon you'll need a 200k ICE supercar with launch control, fat tyres, etc
Or a used Nissan GTR. Unlike EVs, ICE engined cars tend not to lose power over time.
Edited by T-195 on Monday 15th April 07:38
Depends on the car!
Audi rs3 sounds good
Bmw 140/340/440 sounds good
Ferrari’s/lambos/McLarens sound good
I think the problem comes when you try to make a small capacity car sound good!
I had a 1litre Corsa and I loved having a loud exhaust but when I look back I cringe! I saw a car the other day and it sounded awful!
I don’t like the sound my golf makes standard but I think that’s more the fake speaker! I used to have a corsa 2ltr turbo that had a turbo back exhaust and that sounded wonderful
But going the other way I don’t like quiet cars I hate the sound of electric cars! I’d rather listen to the clattering of a diesel running than nothing!
On another note I feel sorry for the blind if electric cars become more mainstream how will they know when to cross a zebra crossing as they’re near on silent! And a Tesla rly doesn’t float my boat at all
Audi rs3 sounds good
Bmw 140/340/440 sounds good
Ferrari’s/lambos/McLarens sound good
I think the problem comes when you try to make a small capacity car sound good!
I had a 1litre Corsa and I loved having a loud exhaust but when I look back I cringe! I saw a car the other day and it sounded awful!
I don’t like the sound my golf makes standard but I think that’s more the fake speaker! I used to have a corsa 2ltr turbo that had a turbo back exhaust and that sounded wonderful
But going the other way I don’t like quiet cars I hate the sound of electric cars! I’d rather listen to the clattering of a diesel running than nothing!
On another note I feel sorry for the blind if electric cars become more mainstream how will they know when to cross a zebra crossing as they’re near on silent! And a Tesla rly doesn’t float my boat at all
MJK 24 said:
Someone who’s clearly never heard a Lancia Stratos, Porsche 993, Fiat Coupe 20v, Alfa GTV6, Honda S2000 etc etc etc
Google Top Gear and Eagle Speedster, and then tell me that only 8 cylinder cars sound good. I’ve owned a few V8’s and ‘Sixes’ - the latter all sounded lovely - from my E21 323i, through to the Tuscan S. I’ve even committed heresy and fitted an aftermarket exhaust to my E46 M3. Puts a big grin on my face every time open it up!
T-195 said:
98elise said:
mehmehmeh said:
Codswallop said:
I saw a Tesla Model S and Golf R have a cheeky race away from some traffic lights today. The Tesla pulled a significant gap while the Golf parped away in the slightly contrived way that all DSG VAGs seem to do. It looked/ sounded embarrassing in some ways; almost a case of all show and no go from the Golf (even though it's a quick car by most normal standards).
In the past Joe public associated noise with speed and power. However with the increasing prevalence of silent, instant torque EVs, I wonder how long it'll be before the loud and comparatively slow ICE cars begin to look old fashioned?
I love a nice sounding engine, but am aware that being a car enthusiast is a minority hobby, and one that is increasingly being frowned upon by certain people.
Will noisy cars always be a thing?
£80k car vs £30k car.In the past Joe public associated noise with speed and power. However with the increasing prevalence of silent, instant torque EVs, I wonder how long it'll be before the loud and comparatively slow ICE cars begin to look old fashioned?
I love a nice sounding engine, but am aware that being a car enthusiast is a minority hobby, and one that is increasingly being frowned upon by certain people.
Will noisy cars always be a thing?
Really reaslistic comparison OP.
To keep up with an 80k EV saloon you'll need a 200k ICE supercar with launch control, fat tyres, etc
Or a used Nissan GTR. Unlike EVs, ICE engined cars tend not to lose power over time.
Edited by T-195 on Monday 15th April 07:38
Batteries lose some energy capacity but that's effectively the size of the fuel tank, not the rate it can deliver power.
I absolutely love the sound of a good ICE with a nice exhaust.
Typically 6+ cylinders make the best sounds, but there are quite a few 4 cylinder cars which sound pretty special too.
If I had the choice of an extremely fast near silent EV or a slower ICE with a nice sound - it'll be ICE every time for me. I personally don't see louder than standard exhausts embarrassing unless taken to the extreme on very slow cars (unless it's a 17-20 year old with their first car - then fair play, great to see young petrolheads still out there).
My 6 cylinder car has a very good quality aftermarket performance exhaust fitted - I can drive around town gently and make barely anymore sound than standard, then go on backroads and open it up and it sounds incredible.
Would I feel embarrassed being beaten by a Tesla off the line as my exhaust made more sound? Not in the slightest, I'd be enjoying the experience of listening to my exhaust way too much to care about what other people think as we race off.
Typically 6+ cylinders make the best sounds, but there are quite a few 4 cylinder cars which sound pretty special too.
If I had the choice of an extremely fast near silent EV or a slower ICE with a nice sound - it'll be ICE every time for me. I personally don't see louder than standard exhausts embarrassing unless taken to the extreme on very slow cars (unless it's a 17-20 year old with their first car - then fair play, great to see young petrolheads still out there).
My 6 cylinder car has a very good quality aftermarket performance exhaust fitted - I can drive around town gently and make barely anymore sound than standard, then go on backroads and open it up and it sounds incredible.
Would I feel embarrassed being beaten by a Tesla off the line as my exhaust made more sound? Not in the slightest, I'd be enjoying the experience of listening to my exhaust way too much to care about what other people think as we race off.
Edited by Stu08 on Monday 15th April 09:11
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