What's your favourite sounding engine ?
Discussion
For me its got to be the Rolls Royce Merlin on full chat.
Sends shivers down my spine every time I hear one.
This one has some strong language on it
www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/ohmygodSpitfire%20pass.wmv
Sends shivers down my spine every time I hear one.
This one has some strong language on it
www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/ohmygodSpitfire%20pass.wmv
On different lines, the vacuum-like hiss and scream of a highly-tuned Group B rally engine on acceleration, coupled with the clatter and howl of the rally-spec dump-valves and wastegates firing off a salvo of flames and exhaust gases on deceleration. A change to the typical 'rumble/growl' sound of a traditionally good-sounding engine, a 'technical' sound I suppose, more sci-fi than muscle car.
I love the smooth thrum of a straight-six and the idle rumble of a V8, and the turbine-spool shriek of an old-style V12 too. Classic racing festivals usually bring tears to my eyes, all down to the noise, pure shapes and evocative smell of struggling cross-plies and Castrol R.
It's a real pity that engines have to get quieter every year, but I think the biggest disappointment in the engine-noise stakes have to be these German Q-Cars. Big disappointment in every way TBH - a huge V8 or V12 that you can't hear, limited to 155mph like everything from the middle of the range upwards, typically numb handling, as usual debadged and specified in silver with black leather - the choice of the terminally dull and heavily walleted. No wonder the likes of AMG and Alpina make such a killing turning them into the cars they were meant to be. Other than that, why not get the mid-range turbo-diesel Mercedes, in gloss black with tan hide? STAND OUT!
>> Edited by v8thunder on Thursday 10th February 17:33
I love the smooth thrum of a straight-six and the idle rumble of a V8, and the turbine-spool shriek of an old-style V12 too. Classic racing festivals usually bring tears to my eyes, all down to the noise, pure shapes and evocative smell of struggling cross-plies and Castrol R.
It's a real pity that engines have to get quieter every year, but I think the biggest disappointment in the engine-noise stakes have to be these German Q-Cars. Big disappointment in every way TBH - a huge V8 or V12 that you can't hear, limited to 155mph like everything from the middle of the range upwards, typically numb handling, as usual debadged and specified in silver with black leather - the choice of the terminally dull and heavily walleted. No wonder the likes of AMG and Alpina make such a killing turning them into the cars they were meant to be. Other than that, why not get the mid-range turbo-diesel Mercedes, in gloss black with tan hide? STAND OUT!
>> Edited by v8thunder on Thursday 10th February 17:33
miniman said:
Can't beat a large capacity, low stress V8 IMHO
I love the sound of our Chimaera. V8s great.
But I actually *really* liked the sound of my wife V6 Cavalier - the 2.5 litre V6 was a great sounding engine.
Four pot engines tend to do nothing for me - sound wise...
I also like the six-pot wail of my BoxS - but you've *got* to get it well up the rev-range (4K+) before there's enough sound to actually have something to listen to!
I actually love the contorted howl of a high-revving, turbocharged inline four.
The "velvety woofle" of the Rover V8 is lovely on the ears - The chap next door has a Trev and I hear it every morning - but there's something about a frantic, screaming, hissing four that is quite intoxicating in an altogether different way.
Rocket powered dragsters sound really cool too, erm, as does a Lamborghini Murcialargo with a tubi...
>> Edited by DanBoy on Thursday 10th February 17:48
The "velvety woofle" of the Rover V8 is lovely on the ears - The chap next door has a Trev and I hear it every morning - but there's something about a frantic, screaming, hissing four that is quite intoxicating in an altogether different way.
Rocket powered dragsters sound really cool too, erm, as does a Lamborghini Murcialargo with a tubi...
>> Edited by DanBoy on Thursday 10th February 17:48
Driven personally: Chimaera 450 with sports exhaust
Road car: Any post 348 V8 Ferrari with Tubi exhaust
Race car - tricky: The Lister Storm at last years Le Mans*/Sauber Mercedes Group C Car
* IIRC that was the one that sounded like a Spitfire (plane not car) when accelerating out of corners.
Overall winner: Porsche 917 al la Le Mans the film (think of the in car sequence when breaking for, then accelerating out of, Masion Blanche on the first lap)
Road car: Any post 348 V8 Ferrari with Tubi exhaust
Race car - tricky: The Lister Storm at last years Le Mans*/Sauber Mercedes Group C Car
* IIRC that was the one that sounded like a Spitfire (plane not car) when accelerating out of corners.
Overall winner: Porsche 917 al la Le Mans the film (think of the in car sequence when breaking for, then accelerating out of, Masion Blanche on the first lap)
Don said:
Four pot engines tend to do nothing for me - sound wise...
On everyday cars I'd agree, but people forget (probably due to all the sound-insulation in their Euroboxes) that 4cyls can, when properly tuned, sound seriously good - all rorty and agressive, and frequently high-revving. The Honda S2000 probably has the best-sounding four-pot these days, though what about the original Lotus Elan.
IMO there's no cylinder configuration that sounds inherantly 'bad', it's all down to how it's tuned and who's done it.
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