Wednesday Woes: How Important is Exhaust Tone?

"ModerateSloth" (moderatesloth) 10/09/2013 at 10:35 • Filed to: EXHAUST

2

17

If the heart and soul of a car is it's engine, then it's voice is most definitely the exhaust tone. But exactly how important is it? I came to the realization yesterday when sitting in a parking lot after a doctors apt: I could never drive a hybrid/Prius not because of the lack of power, or the poor handling, but because it is silent. Now, before I go any further I should say that I understand the appeal of cars like the Prius, but driving something that doesn't emit any sound just seems a little weird to me. In the very least affix a speaker belching the tone of a 327, it may be artificial but at least it's something. In the modern age, all you hear at a busy intersection is the woosh of tires on the pavement and loud radios - there is virtually no exhaust noise...and here is the concerning part: people don't seem to CARE . If the future of cars is silent I might as well just ride the bus. There really is nothing like the sound of a nicely aged V8 as it gurgles and pops at a red light...it makes me happy, but I fear it's days are numbered. Cars such as the new Challenger, Camaro, Mini Cooper S, C7 Corvette, etc. all give me hope, but they will always be out numbered, after all, we enthusiasts are in the minority, right?. What is your opinion? Am I making a big fuss over nothing?

MIATAAAA > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:38

1

I love the sound of a good exhaust (though my personal cars don't show it!).

But when designing something, never fake it. If a Tesla flew down the street sounding like a V8, I would be disappointed. "LIES" I would say. I actually find it interesting when a car doesn't make sound.

No speakers producing fake exhaust note allowed.

Z_Stig > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:39

0

The sound of exhaust is very important to me. It adds to the soul of the car in my opinion. It would be like dating a woman with a perfect body and face to match but every time she opens her mouth she sounds like your high school gym teacher. No bueno.

magman007 > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:42

0

I will agree that it is pretty important, but at the same time, not completely necessary. There are a few cars out there that don't sound so great from the exhaust side (e46 m3 stock, unless in a tunnel) But make fantastic intake and engine noises that you forget the exhaust.

My Subaru still has a stock exhaust system, which is rather quiet. A good axle back on these cars sounds orgasmic, but with the windows up, getting on it, I am treated to a wonderful sound all on its own of that boxer 4 pumping away.

getchapopcorn > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:43

0

discussion over

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:44

0

The noise is one of the main things that I look for in a car.

I'm driving my grandpa's Honda Stream at the moment (in my vast fleet of vehicles, I haven't got a single one at the moment that can take me to work) and it's pretty much silent at idle. For the first few days of driving it I ground the starter a couple of times because I thought it had stalled.

When pressed, it'll make a sort of distressed mooing sound, but nothing even slightly inspiring.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:45

1

For me? One of the most important. There's nothing that gets me going like the crackle and pop of exhaust on overrun or the bit of bark you get if you dip your toe a little further into the throttle from a stop than you meant to.

My92SSEisn'taTardis > MIATAAAA 10/09/2013 at 10:47

0

Now the Audi E-Tron on the other hand makes some awesome futuristic noises and that is a very good road for hybrid and electric car manufacturers to go explore, and discover these little auditory delights that would make up for not having a lambo V12 howling away at 7000rpm in the back of your Prius.....

William Byrd > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:49

0

V8 > *

Well I'm sure there are youtube videos of higher cylinder count options that could be posted that would negate that (I <3 the V12 wail) but for all practical purposes, I have never owned a car with a better sound than a 5.0 Coyote engined Mustang with an exhaust. Heck the 4.6L 2003 I had with a nice stainless Magnaflow cat-back exhaust sounded ridiculously good. So much that I actually put the first set of "brand name" stickers on my car because I had so many people ask me what I had on it.

MIATAAAA > My92SSEisn'taTardis 10/09/2013 at 10:55

0

I don't hate it. But I don't like it.

My92SSEisn'taTardis > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 10:56

0

It's very important and no your not making a big deal out of this, it's time we lose some of the sound deadening and the muffled tuned headers on our cars, so that hey we can hear our engines again. And exhaust note is very important, I'm so considering an abarth 500 as my next car just cause of the exhaust note and that its such a peppy quick little city car thats an aural delight.....bonus. Porsche air cooled flat 6 ...yes please, howling v12 lambo at 7000rpm w/ tubi exhausts drool, same for ferrari, aston martin (ye gods that V8 Vantage at speed sound incredible), Jaguar, AMG (black) anything.... those are the cars and companies that understand that you must also hear the car (from 12 miles away) to fully enjoy the experience of driving one....and it brings a big smile to my face every time I hear it

My92SSEisn'taTardis > MIATAAAA 10/09/2013 at 10:58

0

Its a start anyways is the point....its possible to make them sound cool and hey maybe someone will consider one now, that wouldn't before

ModerateSloth > My92SSEisn'taTardis 10/09/2013 at 10:59

0

I forgot about the Fiat. Great sounding car

YSI-what can brown do for you > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 11:09

0

How important? Well imagine going to a race with silent car, pretty boring stuff. Also Lambo V12.

Cherry_man1 > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 12:09

0

No you have an accurate point. The exhaust needs to sound good. But, we do not want ricer exhaust, that is taking it too far. We needs more sound. Imaging what an intersection was like in the '50s '60s and '70s all of the V8's gurgling waiting and reving waiting to let out a chorus of awesome.

bhardoin > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 13:02

0

In a fun car, its mandatory for me. You can't see the engine revving, but hearing and feeling it gives you a mechanical connection to the machine. And that's an integral part of why driving is fun.

In a daily driver, it doesn't matter to me at all. I don't drive down the highway or around town for fun - its purely for transportation. And in that scenario, I don't have to be attached to my car. I can throw on some music and attentively lounge until I get where I'm going. Those couple times I throw a DD around a round about or down an off ramp aren't important enough to warrant a serious exhaust note.

iLikeCarsAndSkiing > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 13:23

0

Important.

911e46z06 > ModerateSloth 10/09/2013 at 16:04

0

Super important. I drive everywhere with the windows down because it just doesn't feel like driving without the soundtrack.

But I will say, when I've driven Teslas, that faint electric hum you get under heavy acceleration is just as good as the shriek of a straight 6 or the roar of a v8. That said, I probably feel that way just because of the novelty of it.