Opinions on loud exhausts

[bigothunter]

RicoOS said:

I have no issues with a nice sounding car or bike, what I have an issue with is idiots that think everyone else within a half mile or more radius should have to listen to their vehicle, especially when it's late at night, early morning etc.

Having a really loud exhaust on any road car or bike means that by definition you are a selfish muppet who only cares about what they want and has zero consideration for other people.

You can try and justify to yourself anything you like, but that does not make the above statement untrue.

Cars do not tend to be that bad offenders, it tends for the most part to be bikes that are the issue around where I live and the number of them that think that waking everyone in a half mile radius up is unbelievable.

I suspect the thing that gets me the most, is that the sound is not "good", it's just really loud. Really loud is not good, it's just obnoxious and anti social.

Spot on

[Johner]

Rexii said:

What’s everyone’s thoughts on loud exhausts ? Is there a line between just right and too loud or do you hate anything that’s not stock

Let me know your opinions

Usually, I'm very much in the 'As the manufacturer built it' camp, BUT, there is an exception;
My SL500!
It suffers from what I can only describe as Mercedes mute.

I am considering removing the rear cats (actually resonation boxes).
I don't want it to sound like an American muscle car, but, I do want it to be heard.

[PH User]

Johner said:

Usually, I'm very much in the 'As the manufacturer built it' camp, BUT, there is an exception;
My SL500!
It suffers from what I can only describe as Mercedes mute.

I am considering removing the rear cats (actually resonation boxes).
I don't want it to sound like an American muscle car, but, I do want it to be heard.

So every car, but your own?

[Kraymer]

I actually like loud exhausts as long as they are suited to the car itself. I purchased a S2K and it already came with a Skunk 2 Mega flow cat back exhaust. (If anyone has heard one of these, they are extremely loud) I couldn't stand it at first, but got used to it over time.

Having said that, I'm going to a fabricator to see if I can get a pre-fabbed resonator to stop the drone and the extremeness when the V-tec hasn't kicked in.

But I agree with the thread, getting up early to go for a blast is quickly getting it out of the garage and driving off right away before annoying the neighbours is certainly done consciously with grace!

[bigothunter]

Will this thread reach the record for the most posts deleted/censored by the mods?

Will this post be the next to go?

[Wiltshire Lad]

Rexii said:

What’s everyone’s thoughts on loud exhausts ? Is there a line between just right and too loud or do you hate anything that’s not stock

Let me know your opinions

As a TVR owner this subject is always a big debate - a fully sleeved and decatted Rover V8 sounds fantastic giving it the beans at a car show or race track - but (and it is just my opinion) is just embarrassing firing it up at 6.30am to go to work or in Sainsbury's car park. I kept mine catted and added an ACT cherry bomb set up - which gives the deeper rumble but doesn't wake up the entire village on a Summer morning.

[Leon R]

If you are noticing your posts being deleted it might be a good idea to reconsider your posting style.

[Adam.]

Ian Geary said:

The worst vehicle round out way though is a small single cylinder motorbike that is ridden WOT everywhere, with practically no exhaust system.

Not only does it sound st, it's so fking slow it takes ages to get beyond hearing distance.. literally minutes will pass before it's gone

Assume these are all against the law? Some are stupidly loud and I do wish the police would pull them over and fine them

[irocfan]

bigothunter said:

Will this thread reach the record for the most posts deleted/censored by the mods?

Will this post be the next to go?

Huh???

[waltonoftsukuba]

MitchT said:

Depends on the engine. Less than six cylinders - don't bother. Also, however good your car sounds, don't go over the top. A guy with a very loud R8 used to visit someone down my street. It was comically loud and the eight year old boy in my was jumping for joy every time I heard it, but I'd have been acutely embarrassed to be a passenger in it!

So no to a 2.2 lotus turbo esprit ? Or the great sound of a Subaru boxer engine (UK)

[AW111]

bigothunter said:

Yes that is critical

Early in this thread, there are a couple posts related to road rallying which has changed radically since its heyday in the 1970s. These days emphasis is placed on quiet cars driven conservatively in sensitive areas. Also PR before events placates criticism from locals.

Unfortunately presence of a few noisy chavs unconnected with the rally, can undo all this goodwill.

I don't think eg. Targa Tasmania involves cars being "driven conservatively in sensitive areas" - but there are noise limits which many modified road cars wouldn't meet.
And yet these are performance cars, driven hard.

If most of your enjoyment of driving your car is based on the noise it makes, you're doing it wrong.

[PH User]

waltonoftsukuba said:

MitchT said:

Depends on the engine. Less than six cylinders - don't bother. Also, however good your car sounds, don't go over the top. A guy with a very loud R8 used to visit someone down my street. It was comically loud and the eight year old boy in my was jumping for joy every time I heard it, but I'd have been acutely embarrassed to be a passenger in it!

So no to a 2.2 lotus turbo esprit ? Or the great sound of a Subaru boxer engine (UK)

People automatically think of a boring Golf or similar when they think of a 4 cylinder car

[HealeyV8]

I have a Rover V8 fitted to my car. Most car enthusiasts like the sound of an unrestricted V8 so because I don't want it loud and proud at night, early morning and on long journeys I have an electric exhaust cutout so I can be quiet or loud at the appropriate times. Best of all worlds.

[irocfan]

AW111 said:

If most of your enjoyment of driving your car is based on the noise it makes, you're doing it wrong.

In your opinion

[otolith]

AW111 said:

If most of your enjoyment of driving your car is based on the noise it makes, you're doing it wrong.

That's a highly subjective opinion. People get enjoyment from lots of different aspects of cars. Would you say that someone who owns a classic because it is beautiful and makes a lovely noise - even though by modern standards it's slow and ill handling - is doing it wrong?

There are people who will say that owning a sports car with a blown four pot and an automatic transmission is doing it wrong, and a TVR with a manual and a shouty V8 is doing it right.

People get their enjoyment in ways that suit them - after all, this is all frivolous, you don't need a car which provides enjoyment in any form, just transport. I think people are entitled to their irrational pleasures.

[cerb4.5lee]

irocfan said:

AW111 said:

If most of your enjoyment of driving your car is based on the noise it makes, you're doing it wrong.

In your opinion

The noise the engine/exhaust makes is pivital to my enjoyment of the car. Maybe if I was a better driver though then I could start to appreciate stuff like handling etc!

[SMSLF]

Depends on how you drive it.
I live on a main road, if a car wakes me up then 99% of the time it’s a stbox getting thrashed with a bucket sized tail pipe. .... I see a lot of Astons, harleys and a few Ferrari going by and they never seem to cause as much intrusion into my life.

I have a harley, it’s loud, I think about putting a quieter pipe on every time I have been out on it lately.... it’s next on the list. I guess as I get older I’m more considerate around others... and my ears hurt more

[AstonZagato]

My wife has a firm opinion on my Vanquish's exhaust. It is far too loud.

That means it is just right.

However, she might have a point - when I start it up, passers-by do jump. When I heard the noise, I knew I had to buy one (I had the normal Vanquish but the Vanquish S has the better noise).

[PH User]

AstonZagato said:

My wife has a firm opinion on my Vanquish's exhaust. It is far too loud.

That means it is just right.

However, she might have a point - when I start it up, passers-by do jump. When I heard the noise, I knew I had to buy one (I had the normal Vanquish but the Vanquish S has the better noise).

Is it one of those that does a fake rev jump at start up? They are a bit naff.

[AstonZagato]

PH User said:

AstonZagato said:

My wife has a firm opinion on my Vanquish's exhaust. It is far too loud.

That means it is just right.

However, she might have a point - when I start it up, passers-by do jump. When I heard the noise, I knew I had to buy one (I had the normal Vanquish but the Vanquish S has the better noise).

Is it one of those that does a fake rev jump at start up? They are a bit naff.

They all do that, sir.
https://vimeo.com/401893215#t=0m55s

It isn't the noise on start up, though. It is the noise when one is driving it that is glorious.