Best sounding affordable cars

[VeeFource]

What cars make the best noises per £? I'd love the car equivalent to my VFR750 motorbike which (to me) sounds great pretty much all the time & not just when gunning it, with loads of mechanical noises going on like intake, exhaust, transmission whine etc.

For real world practicality it'd ideally do 30+ mpg, be under £15k & not too old, say less than 7 years. Can't think of many cars other than straight 6 BMWs which have great induction but a pretty average exhaust note.

Close (all still fail on mpg) contenders I can think of off the top of my head are:

Golf R32
Clio V6
350/370Z
Older gen Imprezas
Alfa V6s
Focus ST 5 cylinders
Boxter
Monaro
Audi/BMW V8s

Can anyone suggest an ace sounding car that gets closer to the practicalities than this lot? No inline 4s though please as even the best of these only sound alright when the pedal's to the metal.

[RikST]

Love my Focus ST 5 Potter... Sounds really very good! Even Better with aftermarket exhausts!

However If you want a bit more oomph maybe a look at the last generation Volvo S60R/V70R? Same 2.5 5 cylinder engine but with 300bhp, AWD and a bit more of a sleeper/ refined look!

Or on the cheaper end of the scale, you can still get an MG ZS 180 mk2 pretty darned cheap! These sound very good also!

However you still won't be looking near 30mpg with these, more mid 20s...!

Edited by RikST on Saturday 5th April 09:38

[lamboman100]

Pound for pound, almost anything with a Honda VTEC engine in it wins.

[skyrover]

five hundred will will get you one of these...



lop off the mufflers and this is what you get

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lg06Az-WmU

[Vladimir]

Older 328i and 330i models sound pretty good and aren't bad on juice.

[Andy665]

Alfa V6 as long as it's a Busso

Racing Puma

[Pit Pony]

Prious.


One went past me the other day. Sounded like the wind.

[Barchettaman]

The Skoda Favorit I had as a student sounded pretty mean when the front pipe cracked off.
Think it cost 400 quid.

[AH33]

Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. There isnt another cheap car that sounds half as good. People may disagree, but they are wrong

[Hrimfaxi]

Mondeo ST220 3.0 V6.

There's one around my area that sounds so nice. Love that car.

[jackh707]

Supercharged cooper s, good cars can be had for less than £4k.

If you like the supercharger whine, they are a great and fairly unique sounding car.

[wal 45]

AH33 said:

Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. There isnt another cheap car that sounds half as good. People may disagree, but they are wrong

The normally aspirated 20v version especially the VIS sounds even better, not that I'm biased in any way

[RB5Bird]

Impreza. Flat 4. (not the hatch obviously)

[Shenanigans]

3ltr Z4. Sounds great and can average about 34-36mpg on the motorway.

[s m]

jackh707 said:

Supercharged cooper s, good cars can be had for less than £4k.

If you like the supercharger whine, they are a great and fairly unique sounding car.

Nice crackle and pop on overrun too.

Alfa 156 V6

325ti ( different exhaust run to bigger bodied cars and no exhaust flap )

[HaloGen8]

Impreza with a Haywood & Scott exhaust. Audible porn

(Ahem and yes I do have both )

[HaloGen8]

skyrover said:

five hundred will will get you one of these...



lop off the mufflers and this is what you get

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lg06Az-WmU

Have to say that does sound rather good.

[Mastodon2]

There are loads of great sounding cars in this budget, but none of them involve you in the soundtrack like a bike does. That said, an Impreza with a good exhaust is a lovely thing to hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBTJUAEhe3g

See the difference between the flat and lifeless Prodrive exhaust here, and good sounding system like the Blitz Nur Spec.

[noell35]

Volvo v70 or s70 the budget way to 5 cylinder noise

[Yadizzle1]

Another one for the LS400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAQO7XdWXao