Hypothetical dilema for EV vs Petrol
Hypothetical dilema for EV vs Petrol
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Discussion

Gericho

Original Poster:

608 posts

32 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
Dilemma*: After the Dodge Charger fake exhaust sound and the arguments for/against, I thought this was an interesting question to debate:

If you could choose to have a high-perforance ICE petrol car with or without an exhaust, what would you choose?

There would be absolutely no difference between them except for the option of an exhaust (which emits the engine sound obviously) and the silent model which is whisper quiet without sound or vibration.

For clarity the question is:

Would you buy a silent ICE car or one that made sound in a hypothetical world where both were on offer. There is no EV involved in this question.

For example a new Jaguar V8 model is available with sound (exhaust etc) and without sound (some magic makes it work silently). What would you go for?

Apologies for the confusion.

Edited by Gericho on Saturday 10th August 14:56

Nomme de Plum

7,050 posts

45 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
Gericho said:
Dilemma*: After the Dodge Charger fake exhaust sound and the arguments for/against, I thought this was an interesting question to debate:

If you could choose to have a high-perforance ICE petrol car with or without an exhaust, what would you choose?

There would be absolutely no difference between them except for the option of an exhaust (which emits the engine sound obviously) and the silent model which is whisper quiet without sound or vibration.
A running ICE engine without the exhaust attached is as noisy as hell. Just in a different way. The exhaust modifies and attenuates the engine sound so an ICE without any sound is not achievable in the real world.

Gericho

Original Poster:

608 posts

32 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
Nomme de Plum said:
A running ICE engine without the exhaust attached is as noisy as hell. Just in a different way. The exhaust modifies and attenuates the engine sound so an ICE without any sound is not achievable in the real world.
It was a hypothetical question not real.

Super Sonic

14,271 posts

83 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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Without. Open headers ftw.

No ideas for a name

3,214 posts

115 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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I don't think people have understood your question.

If I understand it, you mean a slient ICE versus an EV.

For me, it would only depend on the EV having suitable range and suitable charging time.
At present, for some trips that I do, EV wouldn't work due those restrictions.

My old Jag SV8 was pretty well silent in normal driving - but got pleasantly noisy when opened up.

Robertb

3,846 posts

267 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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In my view, engine sound is best enjoyed in the cabin… induction and valve train.

Noisy exhausts are anti-social.

Gericho

Original Poster:

608 posts

32 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
For clarity the question is:

Would you buy a silent ICE car or one that made sound in a hypothetical world where both were on offer. There is no EV involved in this question.

For example a new Jaguar V8 model is available with sound (exhaust etc) and without sound (some magic makes it work silently). What would you go for?

Apologies for the confusion.

Nickp82

3,956 posts

122 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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Family runaround = no exhaust sound cheers

Fun weekend car = yes please

Olivergt

2,255 posts

110 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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Don't some cars already have a switch that turns them from silent to roaring animal?

Don't they open a valve on the exhaust above a certain rpm?

No ideas for a name

3,214 posts

115 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
I should have read the OP a bit better.

Assuming the silence didn't affect the performance, then silent for me.
Like I said, my V8 was pretty well silent inside, and quiet outside in normal driving.

Pica-Pica

16,575 posts

113 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
Robertb said:
In my view, engine sound is best enjoyed in the cabin… induction and valve train.

Noisy exhausts are anti-social.
I agree. I like to hear a faint trace of the engine inside to hear it working. My 335d has come back from a major service and is noisier! Presumably the new air intake filter is causing that.

Nomme de Plum

7,050 posts

45 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
No ideas for a name said:
I should have read the OP a bit better.

Assuming the silence didn't affect the performance, then silent for me.
Like I said, my V8 was pretty well silent inside, and quiet outside in normal driving.
Rolls Royce spent many millions making their engines both inaudible and with minimal vibration. They similarly spent on making the cabin soundproofed as far as possible so the occupants can be transported in serene silent comfort. To me that's the perfect car. If it happens to have a good turn of speed when required, that is icing on the cake.

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
Gericho said:
For clarity the question is:

Would you buy a silent ICE car or one that made sound in a hypothetical world where both were on offer. There is no EV involved in this question.

For example a new Jaguar V8 model is available with sound (exhaust etc) and without sound (some magic makes it work silently). What would you go for?

Apologies for the confusion.
Why do you want a loud exhaust ??

Try living near Boxhill with the sound of loud bike exhausts on a sunny Sunday afternoon when you're sat in yout garden.

havoc

33,347 posts

264 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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Sound, as long as the sound is fairly natural and decent.

Good examples:-
- C63 and most US V8s,
- older Porsche and BMW 6-cyls (performance ones at least)
- Honda and Caterham 4-cyls
- RS3 5-cyl
- nearly every V12


Bad examples:-
- Any econobox, with a possible exemption for 3-cyl engines
- Modern turbo's M-cars and non-GT 911s - they blare and are 1-dimensional...sorry, but volume is not a substitute for tone, and just listen to their predecessors for how that tone can change and flow, depending on revs and throttle opening.
- JLR V8s - sorry, but that fake popping and banging was passe before you even launched the cars. It's just too try-hard.

Gericho

Original Poster:

608 posts

32 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
I think most people would opt for the quieter car even when it is ICE.

So...

1. Why does an EV need fake engine and exhaust noise i.e the Dodge Charger Fratzonic exhaust or Hyundai Ionic 5N?
2. People who dislike EV state that it has no 'passion' (something about cooking steak in a microwave being faster but not better) because of a lack of noise/exhaust hence the creation of point 1.
3. Point number 2 is therefore untrue because if the performance and range is similar, people will opt for the quieter car.

Therefore what argument is there that EV is not what people want and is simply imposed on us by governments? Performance and range are only going to get better.


Nomme de Plum

7,050 posts

45 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
quotequote all
Gericho said:
I think most people would opt for the quieter car even when it is ICE.

So...

1. Why does an EV need fake engine and exhaust noise i.e the Dodge Charger Fratzonic exhaust or Hyundai Ionic 5N?
2. People who dislike EV state that it has no 'passion' (something about cooking steak in a microwave being faster but not better) because of a lack of noise/exhaust hence the creation of point 1.
3. Point number 2 is therefore untrue because if the performance and range is similar, people will opt for the quieter car.

Therefore what argument is there that EV is not what people want and is simply imposed on us by governments? Performance and range are only going to get better.
That's a brave assertion on PH.

1 They don't The new normal is the sound of the EV and die hard F1 fanatics will understand why.

2. It is hard to be passionate about the past. It does not exist.

3. Pragmatic and inevitable.

Jimjimhim

2,107 posts

29 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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A nice sounding noisy exhaust for me with all the vibrations that it sends through the driver's seat please.

Pica-Pica

16,575 posts

113 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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Nomme de Plum said:
No ideas for a name said:
I should have read the OP a bit better.

Assuming the silence didn't affect the performance, then silent for me.
Like I said, my V8 was pretty well silent inside, and quiet outside in normal driving.
Rolls Royce spent many millions making their engines both inaudible and with minimal vibration. They similarly spent on making the cabin soundproofed as far as possible so the occupants can be transported in serene silent comfort. To me that's the perfect car. If it happens to have a good turn of speed when required, that is icing on the cake.
The cherry on top of that icing is quiet tyres. Most drive-by noise is tyres, ICE or EV.

Terminator X

20,579 posts

233 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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No. Noise is integral to the experience imho.

TX.

andy43

13,192 posts

283 months

Saturday 10th August 2024
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Depends.
Rolls Royce as mentioned above, silence is what they’ve been aiming for since they started the company.
Sports car/fun car - bring the noise (just bring it a bit quicker than TVR are doing).