My top 5 iconic engine sounds

". ." (xllx)
03/05/2016 at 14:17 • Filed to: None

Every generation of petrolheads has their own powerplant heroes. Some of them toil anonymously, some are instantly recognizable whenever they come within earshot. Today we’ll have a look at the second category of engines that have permanently etched themselves into my (and probably million other) eardrums.

5. Mercedes-Benz AMG M156

Oh, that world shaking rumble from 8 cylinders of infernal combustion. One only has to remember the mild panic among petrolhead crowds when Mercedes-AMG announced that the M156 will be going out of production. Is this the end of an era? Will this be the end of the wonderfully dirty sounding Teutonic muscle car? While everybody was asking those questions last C63s flew out of dealerships with staggering speed. And while AMG’s new turbocharged offerings seem to be as good as we could hope, many enthusiasts, me included, still have a (not so) little 6.2 litre hole in their hearts.

4. Mazda Renesis

If I didn’t know better I’d sure as hell think that the RX-8 was powered by a swarm of frenzied wasps. Either that or a mad’s scientists vacuum cleaner. This last of Mazda’s wankels is one of the most unique sounding engines in any modern vehicle. It’s also pretty damn cool. You just can’t not love buzzing your way to 9000 RPM.

3. Chevy/GM small block V8

There probably isn’t an engine family on this earth that propels more enthusiast grade iron than these small blocks. From the streets to track days, even on the Old Continent, if you hear a deep rumble from something that should not have eight cylinders chances are you’ll find an LS or LT under the bonnet. The fact that an inconspicuous exhaust system is pretty far down the list of priorities for people who fiddle with these engines also helps cement their notoriety.

2. Subaru EJ Flat 4

Providing vulgar propulsion to hordes of yobos, the rumble those Subaru boxers emit is as much an icon as it is a warning system substitute. When you hear one coming it’s probably wise to run and hide. Either that or pull out your phone and start recording, because you’re bound to see some shocking driving. We still love those powerplants though, both as means of providing power to the masses and as a service to society.

1. Ford Transit 2.5 diesel

This is the sound to which the entire continent woke up every day for 20+ years. The ubiquitous, indestructible and clattery as all hell Ford Transit diesel is what made Europe tick. There is nothing those engines couldn’t do. Last a million km? Easy. Haul massive loads? No problem. Tailgate and force a Veyron out of the fast lane? Any day of the week. Since the mid 80's it forced millions to roll up their windows while waiting at a red light because they couldn’t hear their own thoughts past the clatter of the Ford/Iveco/LDV/a million other brands van/bus/truck idling in the next lane. I don’t think I could love this motor any more than I do.

DISCUSSION (20)

MultiplaOrgasms > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:21

More like sounds that are easy to identify.

lone_liberal > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:25

What about Gen 1 SBCs?

Leon711 > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:26

The 2.5 NA Ford Diesel was the soundtrack of my childhood, over here they were shoved into LDV minibuses too. Every school trip, every army cadets trip, all builders, postal vans that harsh gruff unmistakable diesel noise was a big part of the culture up until about 10 years ago.

AkursedX > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:34

Clicked on this expecting a Wankel, left satisfied.

. . > MultiplaOrgasms
03/05/2016 at 14:37

Couldn’t really call any of them iconic if they weren’t instantly recognizable.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:42

The Mercedes M275 biturbo V12

CALUSA > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:47

Haha oooh, the Transit diesel. I hate old diesels so much.

MultiplaOrgasms > . .
03/05/2016 at 14:58

If we were measuring recognizeability, nothing beats an air-cooled Volkswagen.

Gone > . .
03/05/2016 at 15:08

Can-Am BBC - McLaren, Lola, etc

Race hemi (Gen2)

Oreca Viper (and current GT Vioers)

C6R

Lingenfelter flat plane LS motor

Contenders:

440 BB Mopar at full honk

LS motors

Ford Voodoo 5.2L

87-95 5.0

Rotax 1125 w/Barker exhaust

2009 R1 crossplane

Aprilia V4

Britten V1000

CBR400RR

AfromanGTO > . .
03/05/2016 at 15:21

I like the custom exhaust I put on my old V6 Gen Coupe. I dislike the exhaust on my GTO now, but everyone else loves it.

Cé hé sin > . .
03/05/2016 at 15:52

6. Renault 4. The postal service here used to use them and you could always tell when the post was due when you heard the unique R4 noise.

Cé hé sin > . .
03/05/2016 at 15:54

Are you sure the Transit wasn’t a 2.4? Either way they were hideously noisy.

Cé hé sin > lone_liberal
03/05/2016 at 15:54

Not to be encountered in Poland...

. . > Cé hé sin
03/05/2016 at 16:31

The earlier York diesel was a 2.4. The 2.5 Di/TD was an evolution of that engine.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > . .
03/05/2016 at 17:39

No love for the thrum of your little 126's 2-pot after it’s coughy startup? :P

Excellent choice on the diesel! I’ll have to try and list mine once I get home from work!

. . > Cé hé sin
03/05/2016 at 17:51

Kinja'd!!!

Checked the papers. 2.5 checks out.

Cé hé sin > . .
03/05/2016 at 17:53

August 2000? That’s a new one!

The older ones made a terrible racket and sounded as if they were in pain.

. . > Cé hé sin
03/05/2016 at 18:00

Kinja'd!!!

This exact one. One of the last Transits of that generation produced in Southampton. The engine hasn’t really changed much since the York days, only difference is an electronic injection pump on turbocharged models. It’s still pretty much a straight swap for a mechanical pump though.

. . > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/05/2016 at 18:31

I do love the sound my 126p makes, but I figured it’s a bit too obscure for this list. Also, it doesn’t mean much to most other people.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > . .
03/05/2016 at 23:14

Something interesting I found out this week—the reason the Gen 1/2 SBC sounds different from the 3/4/5s is largely because they changed the firing order.

SBC is 18436572, or LRRLRLLR.

LS/LT is 18437265, or LRRLLRRL.

Supposedly it makes for a smoother motor, but it takes away some of that lovely offbeat V8 noise.