Opinions on loud exhausts
Discussion
cerb4.5lee said:
Glosphil said:
I have never liked a noisy car, regardless of how it sounds. A powerful quiet car does impress me.
You'd love a Tesla then I reckon! The powerful quiet car that always sticks in my mind is the Audi RS6, I've had a couple of them blast past me and their exhausts are incredibly muted for what is a fast and beefy engined car I reckon.
I have to be quite wary passing people sometimes as they dont hear you when you pull out to pass, by the time youre alongside you could easily be doing 130 from 50, thats 2.5t doing 80 mph past you, the wind alone can shake another car, very often people react and veer slightly from the surprise.
In my other car (700hp) they definitely hear it making its move and are braced
Great times currently but i’m very aware not to make things noisy around pedestrians or towns as its fekin annoying, my loud one rumbles very well and thats all i need through towns etc, like the old rv8 tvrs, a rumble just sounds nice and respectful of its surroundings imo.
Noisy bikes just ban them as they all sound s
t anyway and they have no idea on respectful behaviour.I hate them too. They are for folk who seek attention. It's not like they increase performance that much either (with some exceptions of vehicles that are heavily restricted from the factory, but even then there's probably a suitable solution of reasonable volume), so all seems a bit pointless.
Some bikers preach the "loud pipes save lives" thing, but I'm of the opinion that if you need a loud exhaust to not die or accept the risks associated with riding bikes on the road, then they probably shouldn't be on the road in the first place.
I will openly admit I have been guilty of using a race can on my ZX9R in my 20s too. I cringe about it now though, and I suspect the exhaust is the reason that I got caught speeding and had to go to court (there was no way the police saw me based on checking my mirrors, but they sure as hell heard me).
From what I hear, a lot of the not for road use exhausts aren't even allowed on tracks either, as they're too loud.
Some bikers preach the "loud pipes save lives" thing, but I'm of the opinion that if you need a loud exhaust to not die or accept the risks associated with riding bikes on the road, then they probably shouldn't be on the road in the first place.
I will openly admit I have been guilty of using a race can on my ZX9R in my 20s too. I cringe about it now though, and I suspect the exhaust is the reason that I got caught speeding and had to go to court (there was no way the police saw me based on checking my mirrors, but they sure as hell heard me).
From what I hear, a lot of the not for road use exhausts aren't even allowed on tracks either, as they're too loud.
Not the loudness.... but the tone and vocal range! An LFA, lambo/Audi V10 is magnificent.... could have same decibel on a four pot and not so great.
Still as they’re not long for this world I’ll enjoy them all!
(Scooters and low powered bikes with loud exhausts can jump in the sea... awful high pitched nastiness!)
Still as they’re not long for this world I’ll enjoy them all!
(Scooters and low powered bikes with loud exhausts can jump in the sea... awful high pitched nastiness!)
I had a stainless steel cat back system fitted to my car because as standard it was very muted but I must be getting old because after living with it for a few months I've now decided it's too loud! Cold starts are ridiculous (luckily I never have to start it early morning or late at night) and it's very droney at around 2k rpm so it'll going back in soon to have another silencer fitted, I wouldn't have done that a few years ago!
Stick Legs said:
I think they are tragic. Always have done.
I love fast cars, I love a car that makes a great noise. I see no reason why they should be excessively loud and when I do hear a car that has been modified to be louder I just think it's a bit sad IMHO.
Motorbikes are the worst offenders around my way and can be heard for miles. It's antisocial and not even a great sound.
I know that there is a school of thought that says 'Loud pipes save lives' but everyone I know with this badge also has a tinted visor and other cosmetic mods to their bikes which kind of dilutes their argument.
I'd say that on balance of fairness OEM +15% db is probably okay.
Beyond that lies the realm of chavdom.
Saved me a load of typing I love fast cars, I love a car that makes a great noise. I see no reason why they should be excessively loud and when I do hear a car that has been modified to be louder I just think it's a bit sad IMHO.
Motorbikes are the worst offenders around my way and can be heard for miles. It's antisocial and not even a great sound.
I know that there is a school of thought that says 'Loud pipes save lives' but everyone I know with this badge also has a tinted visor and other cosmetic mods to their bikes which kind of dilutes their argument.
I'd say that on balance of fairness OEM +15% db is probably okay.
Beyond that lies the realm of chavdom.
I strongly dislike overly loud exhausts in any form. They are in most cases obnoxious for people forced to listen too them and are largely fitted by people seeking attention because there is no need for excessively noisy cars/bikes now (for modern cars/bikes).
Another stupid modern invention is pops and bangs maps with the worst offenders Focus/Fiesta ST’s that sound like gunfire. Who over the age of 17 could possibly think that sounds good? Reminds me of cherry bomb exhausts that used to get fitted to older performance cars.
I find my motorbike a bit too loud on its factory standard exhaust (BMW S1000RR). I find it loud especially when it’s cold so I usually manoeuvre it into position and get on it, start it and immediately get on my way at low revs to try and not annoy my neighbors.
For me however, the worst sounding vehicles of all are 125 bikes with modified exhausts or Harley Davison’s making awful loud noises (not the standard bikes). Both 125’s and HD’s produce ear splitting noises at an awful pitch.
Another stupid modern invention is pops and bangs maps with the worst offenders Focus/Fiesta ST’s that sound like gunfire. Who over the age of 17 could possibly think that sounds good? Reminds me of cherry bomb exhausts that used to get fitted to older performance cars.
I find my motorbike a bit too loud on its factory standard exhaust (BMW S1000RR). I find it loud especially when it’s cold so I usually manoeuvre it into position and get on it, start it and immediately get on my way at low revs to try and not annoy my neighbors.
For me however, the worst sounding vehicles of all are 125 bikes with modified exhausts or Harley Davison’s making awful loud noises (not the standard bikes). Both 125’s and HD’s produce ear splitting noises at an awful pitch.
Edited by Scobblelotcher on Monday 5th April 19:02
I like them but not with one of those pop and bang maps that cause it to backfire constantly.
Had louder exhausts on 3 previous cars. An absolutely MASSIVE one on a 106xsi that was far too loud for the car but I loved.
I then had 2 306gti6s both with custom back boxes with 3” rolled out exhausts which sounded brilliant (to my ears)
My dads had a mk1 and mk2 focus RS both with non standard exhausts which also sounded great - especially the mk2
I now have a diesel and the noise is one of the things I really, really miss.
Had louder exhausts on 3 previous cars. An absolutely MASSIVE one on a 106xsi that was far too loud for the car but I loved.
I then had 2 306gti6s both with custom back boxes with 3” rolled out exhausts which sounded brilliant (to my ears)
My dads had a mk1 and mk2 focus RS both with non standard exhausts which also sounded great - especially the mk2
I now have a diesel and the noise is one of the things I really, really miss.
Lost interest after the V8/V10 era when Audi/BMW/Mercedes were doing it properly. The current rattly/farty/bangy craze does nothing for me and sounds rather tragic and a desperate attempt to over compensate for the reduction in cylinders/capacity and FI.
Still a few cars that sound good but in limited supply.
Still a few cars that sound good but in limited supply.
I had a lovely exhaust on my 440i. Bit loud on startup unless you touched the throttle a bit to stop it from idling, but sounded beautiful on the go.
Only a little louder than standard when driving normally with no drone at all, but a hell of a lot louder when the valves opened, based on the driving mode you were in ... So it was easy for me (and my neighbours) to live with.
Only a little louder than standard when driving normally with no drone at all, but a hell of a lot louder when the valves opened, based on the driving mode you were in ... So it was easy for me (and my neighbours) to live with.
I have a MBRP cat back on my Mustang GT, which is fairly loud on start up and high throttle, however i don't think its too loud at idle/low revs.
While cruising i can barely hear it.
I often leave for work at 06:30 and my parking spot is right to the side of my neighbour, who a year in is yet to complain.
However i start the engine and immediately drive off.
No one else has ever complained to me, however guess most people expect a mustang to be loud!
I live next to a main road on a hill - just up from a roundabout, so get people flooring it up the road, which TBH i don't mind, In fact i smile when something tasty floors it up the road
However what i cannot stand is this latest fascination with fake pops... Vroom- pop pop pop vroom pop pop pop vroom pop pop pop...........
Just why? it sounds awful and fake
While cruising i can barely hear it.
I often leave for work at 06:30 and my parking spot is right to the side of my neighbour, who a year in is yet to complain.
However i start the engine and immediately drive off.
No one else has ever complained to me, however guess most people expect a mustang to be loud!
I live next to a main road on a hill - just up from a roundabout, so get people flooring it up the road, which TBH i don't mind, In fact i smile when something tasty floors it up the road
However what i cannot stand is this latest fascination with fake pops... Vroom- pop pop pop vroom pop pop pop vroom pop pop pop...........
Just why? it sounds awful and fake
Rexii said:
Well the issue is people don’t realise we do not necessarily want to annoy people with our loud exhausts ... we just want to have fun and enhance a otherwise silent boring car
This issue is probably where and when. I don't mind loud exhausts - they sound great... they whizz past and it's all over in a second. But if I was living on some vast estate and idiots were racing around all day on horrid little mopeds? Then I would not be a fan."We just want to have fun" could be interpreted as being massively selfish if you're annoying someone else for your own pleasure.
sheepman said:
HazzaT said:
If it's a car such as a TVR or Jag with a cultured and intelligent motoring enthusiast at the helm (not unlike myself) then a loud exhaust is fantastic.
If it's a modified hatchback (particularly one with a Ford or VAG badge) then it is being driven by a hooligan boy racer chav and I hate it, they should all be locked up.
Just about sums this thread and pistonheads in general up If it's a modified hatchback (particularly one with a Ford or VAG badge) then it is being driven by a hooligan boy racer chav and I hate it, they should all be locked up.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff