Do old cars sound better than new ones?

[Baked_bean]

Hey,
Im not talking about supercars or anything overly sporting but i was thinking today that old cars in general tended to sound better than more recent models? By that i mean, a 4pot mk2 escort sounds a whole load better than a mk2 focus with an equivalent 4 pot. Modern 4 cylinder boxes just kind of make a 'huuuuuummmm' noise but older cars make a massive variety of noises.

Does anyone else think the same? Just to be clear i mean average cars, im quite aware that a Lexus LFA sounds 'interesting'.

[MKnight702]

Yes, but that's EU regulations for you.

[SystemParanoia]

i LOVED the sound of my old 1.7 volvo 340.

its sounded absolutely menacing, and popped and banged like a good'un

[g3org3y]

My 'old' E30's 2.5 M20 (non cat) sounds better than my 'new' E36's 2.5 M50 (and the M52 2.8 in the 328). Partly the engine itself old 12V design but the lack of cat helps. Barely hear the new E92 325i as it goes by in the car park at work.

Edited by g3org3y on Sunday 18th July 18:27

[useyourdellusion]

Yep, pre EU meddling, cars sounded more characterful.

I remember even mid to late 80's mk2 950 Fiestas sounding quite nice to my admittedly young ears at the time.

[Graebob]

The M40B16 sounds epic when you rag it.



Well I think so.

[SVX]

The Lampredi twin cam Lancia/FIAT lump sounds epic on overrun, especially on carbs.

My EG33 SVX powerplant also sounds glorious on full chat.

[Swarley]

Maybe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAvJb0_VXHE not quite sure yet.

[shirt]

alfa 1300gt juniors sound amazing for the engine size. certainly about a zillion times better than a 1.2corsa + bean can exhaust!

[MondeoMan1981]

Yes older cars do sound better.

Saw a current model M3 today pulling away from a junction when I walked up to the shop, and I could tell from the sound it was something "special" but it just sounded like what I could only describe as an electric motorbike !

[deadslow]

Just about everything about old cars is better - noise, steering feel, driver enjoyment. But probably not as good if you hit a tree

[StuGregg]

I was behind a very nicely restored MKII Escort (?) Mexico driving thru town yesterday... sounded lovely....unlike the 'corsa' behind it.......

yes, to me Old Skool stuff sound so much better than the modern stuff :-)

[Munter]

StuGregg said:

I was behind a very nicely restored MKII Escort (?) Mexico driving thru town yesterday... sounded lovely....unlike the 'corsa' behind it.......

yes, to me Old Skool stuff sound so much better than the modern stuff :-)

And the smell. That smell of unburnt petrol you get when following them.

[SystemParanoia]

Munter said:

StuGregg said:

I was behind a very nicely restored MKII Escort (?) Mexico driving thru town yesterday... sounded lovely....unlike the 'corsa' behind it.......

yes, to me Old Skool stuff sound so much better than the modern stuff :-)

And the smell. That smell of unburnt petrol you get when following them.

and the smell when behind a high power turbo car thats all spooled up with a wide open throttle

[Escort2dr]

Munter said:

StuGregg said:

I was behind a very nicely restored MKII Escort (?) Mexico driving thru town yesterday... sounded lovely....unlike the 'corsa' behind it.......

yes, to me Old Skool stuff sound so much better than the modern stuff :-)

And the smell. That smell of unburnt petrol you get when following them.

Ah yes, beautiful. Sounds and smells lovely when starting from cold and running with the choke out and a single-box exhaust.