Engine sound, why do we like it ?
Discussion
With all the talk of EV's recently and the main thing that enthusiasts cite for not being keen, apart from batteries is the lack of noise.
I cant think of any other machine where it making more noise as a byproduct of its operation is considered desirable, Washing machines, Drills, Ovens, Lawnmowers, aeroplanes etc etc, the drive is always smooth and as near silent as possible operation, nobody says how they love the sound of their noisy old washer as it achieves 1200 rpm or the music that their lawnmower makes, its just a racket that you are glad when it stops.
So, why do we like car noise, it isnt some primal thing like us enjoying the smell of wood smoke as it means warmth and shelter, it isnt music either despite how much we say it.
If someone grew up in isolation in the wilds of Borneo or somewhere and newver heard a car until they were 21, if played a selection of classic engine noises, would they enjoy it.
I love the sound of my own car when I drive it, the feeling of controlling somethign powerful is very agreeable, but why then do hairs stand up on the back of my neck when I hear a Ferrari go past ? in reality its a quite a harsh shrill noise, why do we like it ?
I love engine noises, but I dont know why !
I cant think of any other machine where it making more noise as a byproduct of its operation is considered desirable, Washing machines, Drills, Ovens, Lawnmowers, aeroplanes etc etc, the drive is always smooth and as near silent as possible operation, nobody says how they love the sound of their noisy old washer as it achieves 1200 rpm or the music that their lawnmower makes, its just a racket that you are glad when it stops.
So, why do we like car noise, it isnt some primal thing like us enjoying the smell of wood smoke as it means warmth and shelter, it isnt music either despite how much we say it.
If someone grew up in isolation in the wilds of Borneo or somewhere and newver heard a car until they were 21, if played a selection of classic engine noises, would they enjoy it.
I love the sound of my own car when I drive it, the feeling of controlling somethign powerful is very agreeable, but why then do hairs stand up on the back of my neck when I hear a Ferrari go past ? in reality its a quite a harsh shrill noise, why do we like it ?
I love engine noises, but I dont know why !
I think the sound of a big V8 or V12 slightly resembles that of some huge primeval animal that wants to eat you. Maybe this triggers some genetic hard-wired response in the brain to do with adrenaline and excitement.
Interestingly it seems to be a very male thing. Women just don't seem to get engine noise, no matter how fantastic. They genuinely don't understand the difference between a thundering classic V8 and a Saxo with a fart can (at least all the ones I know
).
Interestingly it seems to be a very male thing. Women just don't seem to get engine noise, no matter how fantastic. They genuinely don't understand the difference between a thundering classic V8 and a Saxo with a fart can (at least all the ones I know
).I don't think someone who grew up in the wild would enjoy a heavily distorded electrical guitar or actually most of 'our' music either. It's probably a connection our brain makes depending on interest. A lot of non car people won't enjoy a nice V8/V10/V12 as much as most of us do. We probably associate it with power and manlyness 
chris182 said:
Interestingly it seems to be a very male thing. Women just don't seem to get engine noise, no matter how fantastic. They genuinely don't understand the difference between a thundering classic V8 and a Saxo with a fart can (at least all the ones I know ).
In my experience.).Most girls seem to love the deep rumble of the american V8, but less so the screeching high RPM sounds of a tuned japanese/european sportscar
chris182 said:
I think the sound of a big V8 or V12 slightly resembles that of some huge primeval animal that wants to eat you. Maybe this triggers some genetic hard-wired response in the brain to do with adrenaline and excitement.
Interestingly it seems to be a very male thing. Women just don't seem to get engine noise, no matter how fantastic. They genuinely don't understand the difference between a thundering classic V8 and a Saxo with a fart can (at least all the ones I know).
My missus isnt a petrolhead but she thinks the 350Z sounds much nicer than the 944 but not as nice as a Mustang, she doesnt really know how many cylinders each has. Interestingly it seems to be a very male thing. Women just don't seem to get engine noise, no matter how fantastic. They genuinely don't understand the difference between a thundering classic V8 and a Saxo with a fart can (at least all the ones I know
).There was a V8 Mustang with a massive supercharger sticking out of the bonnet at a car show once, doing that classic loping idle thing, loads of belt noise, the owner revved it and it shook the ground, she has mentioned it numerous times since.
So, I think it effects non Petrolheads but they cant articulate the specific car and what makes the particular facets of the sound, but they know what they like.
I think its a man thing, we all like the sound a nice car !
Edit - Personally, it can be my Civic @ 8000+ rpm, or our 560's V8, or my dads 230 supercharger or some super car or a V6 or our old 5.3 V12... the engine is a cars heart and soul, that's where the connection lies for me.
Oh and i forgot to add, a low flying spitfire has got to be the best engine sound around !
Edited by Martin_Hx on Tuesday 12th November 11:00
Strange, I get no thrill out of a noisy car or engine note, even during motorsport, recorded or live. I don't know why. I don't have any interest in, for example, modern Ferraris - their styling tends not to agree with me. If one passed me in the street, I might give it a glance and appreciate its a nice enough car, but the racket off the engine as a bystander would just annoy me.
Saying that, if anything goes down my street with an interesting engine burble, I will leap out of my seat to see what it is out the window because I'm nosey.
I like a nice start up bark and rumbley idle though. But at full chat, I'm turned off. If it is something primal, I'm guessing I'm just missing that manly essence.
Saying that, if anything goes down my street with an interesting engine burble, I will leap out of my seat to see what it is out the window because I'm nosey.
I like a nice start up bark and rumbley idle though. But at full chat, I'm turned off. If it is something primal, I'm guessing I'm just missing that manly essence.
Sump said:
When a 777 engine begins to spool up, it makes me wet.
I like the noise of jets too (currently working next to the runway at Heathrow with planes taking off past the window), but IMO the older aircraftr engines sound the best - hearing Concorde (when flying) or a Spitfire/Hurricane gives me goosebumps.Diesels remind us that we are hunter gatherers once dependent on neighing horses then clattering tractors.
Obviously, you meant petrol engines though.
I think it is probably, as someone suggested, a primeval response to something that roars and the desire to control and tame it.
Akin maybe to the thunder of hooves across wide plains and imagining if horses could be riddena nd controlled and regulated in speed.
Obviously, you meant petrol engines though.
I think it is probably, as someone suggested, a primeval response to something that roars and the desire to control and tame it.
Akin maybe to the thunder of hooves across wide plains and imagining if horses could be riddena nd controlled and regulated in speed.
I think it's instinctive. As humans, we've evolved to react to varying sounds with different responses. For instance, a baby’s cry (even at low volume, through a wall, down a corridor ect) will wake a mother from the deepest sleep but an articulated lorry can roll past the window without making her flinch. We’ve learned to quickly take notice when we her a scream, glass breaking, someone running up from behind or when something heavy and metallic drops to the floor. These are all rather undesirable sounds that simply grind on us, to the other extreme there are sounds that can provoke feelings of pleasure; the wondering bass line of a blues riff, a purring cat, the shutter release of a Nikon F100… The roar/groan of a quality engine may simply be triggering a primeval response, the same response that that we used to get from hearing the call from a dangerous animal, only we know we’re safe so instead of terror and adrenalin, we feel pleasure…and adrenalin.
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