Let's Help Car Reviewers With Engine/Exhaust Sound Descriptions

Kinja'd!!! "Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
06/30/2014 at 13:55 • Filed to: Journalism

Kinja'd!!!2 Kinja'd!!! 6

I've just read the phrase "visceral bark" to describe a Nissan GT-R's exhaust note. Should this phrase be banned in car reviews?

How about we make up some daft descriptions of exhaust/engine notes for journalists to use in reviews. I'll start...

Animalistic shriek. Earthy howl. Catatonic wail. Primeval fart. Metallic yelp. Rorty bellow.

Any more?


DISCUSSION (6)


Kinja'd!!! Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Speedmonkey
06/30/2014 at 13:56

Kinja'd!!!1

Just go find....pretty much anything Italian. Copy that. Make life better for the entire world.


Kinja'd!!! Nibbles > Speedmonkey
06/30/2014 at 14:06

Kinja'd!!!1

Sounds like a perfectly cromulent description to me


Kinja'd!!! mcseanerson > Speedmonkey
06/30/2014 at 14:07

Kinja'd!!!3

I believe exhausts sounds should be described using children's nonsense words and auto journos should know they have our approval to use them.

A Jag F-type would be described as follows

VrooooooooomcrackcrackVroooooooomPOPcrkcrkcrkcrkBrabahbahbabahVroooooooooooooom.


Kinja'd!!! Alfalfa > Speedmonkey
06/30/2014 at 14:08

Kinja'd!!!1

A few weeks ago at c&c, I heard a guy describe the m4 exhaust as a "Walrus bellow".

He then admitted that he had never heard a Walrus below, but he imagined that it would sound like an m4.


Kinja'd!!! macanamera > Speedmonkey
06/30/2014 at 14:21

Kinja'd!!!1

Um. That is a terrible description of a stock GT-R's exhaust. GT-Rs exhausts sound like powerful vacuum cleaners, aka, not good at all. At redline it sounds...ok? Better from outside that inside? Kind of trumpet-y. The furthest thing from a visceral bark, or any of the other descriptions you listed.

Source: Had one, was disappointed.


Kinja'd!!! RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Speedmonkey
06/30/2014 at 14:31

Kinja'd!!!1

If one's viscera are barking, isn't that usually called flatulence?

(Yes, I know what he was trying to say - just roll with it.)