I've driven a few three cylinders recently and I like the sound - but the small and cheap ones (900cc-1.2l) that they have in little hatchbacks all get very noisy towards the top.

But the little growl they make at lower revs is nice.

 

I agree

 

The other option is a 4cyl little engine though. Which makes everything worse imo . A triple tends to have a little character imo... inline 4's are just boring imo. Thats not just small ones either.. thats everything.. 

I like the sounds of other people's cars which are more expensive than I could ever hope to drive.

but for what I drive, especially because I'm inside it, the sound/ note / texture of the engine or exhaust I don't care about, as long as it's not too loud, whiny, or obviously telling me something's wrong with the engine

Talking of multi cylinder engines, has anyone heard the 1953 BRM V16? 1.5 litres and 16 cylinders. Heard it at goodwood a few years back, its on par with ferraris old 3.5 V12 F1 engines.

I like a slightly louder and nicer engine and exhaust sound but can appreciate why a lot of people wouldn't.

This is what my daily driver sounds like but I have extra silencers for when I go to work early or go on longer journeys as it is very loud. Around 104dB I think.

I'm personally not a massive V8 fan, but V6, V10, V12 and especially straight 6s are glorious. I also admit to being impressed with the sound of the Renault Zoe that I had for a few days

If my quattro doesn't pop and crackle when I lift off the throttle I'll be very disappointed.

Oh man...

 

https://www.facebook.com/audi.motorsports/videos/1628171737443672/

Well you know why it sounded so good and went so well...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clue: look at the wheels

 

 

 

 

 

just sayin'

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by Lady Elanore

Hope you enjoy one of our Wiltshire annual summer events

Apologize upfront for the unnecessary chat and time

wasting.

 

Super looking and sounding machinery!

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by vrskeith

Amanda,

 

Some nice sights and sounds.

http://www.topgear.com/videos/tg-speed-week-mountains-0

My car seems very quiet  thou​ sometimes a little louder

Edited 1 March, 201610 yr by james0james

Listening to a chap driving his V8 M3 around the undercover carpark at my local Sainsbury's and was so jealous. It sounded terrific and he knew it. I thought about revving my Suzy Diesel to put him in his place, but figured I would let him enjoy his moment in the sun.

Although I do like and appreciate a nice sounding engine for a daily practical car I'm not too bothered what noise the engine makes as long as it's fairly smooth/quiet and the gearing to suite so it's not screaming on the motorway.

 

I actually love the sound of different engines. So 3 cylinders, fiat twin air and actually really like the sound of a diesel engine!

 

And yes all previous big engined cars are losing cylinders but most of the new variants sound great.

 

Take the CLA45 and A45 AMG for example. First AMG cars to have a 4 cylinder and they sound amazing with some lovely crackles and pops.

 

The M3 used to be a V8 and now is a V6 with turbos and also sounds great.

 

BMW M5 is a V8 now I think (rather than a V10).

 

And there aren't too many V12s about now!

 

I was talking to my uncle-in-law a while back about our intention to buy a convertible and he found it hard to grasp that we weren't after a V8! lol. He's had Merc SL and S class with V8s and he loved them. Recently changed to an E class with the V6 CGI engine in though but that's got a nice raspy sound to it.

I have the pd130 so engine noise obviously isn't important to me [emoji23]

A customer of mine has a Porsche GT4, one of the last of the n/a 6 cyclinder models, and it sounds phenomenal. However I think it is hard to beat the growl of a Ducati, a growl that becomes a gradually increasing scream.

JRJG

I have the pd130 so engine noise obviously isn't important to me [emoji23]

A customer of mine has a Porsche GT4, one of the last of the n/a 6 cyclinder models, and it sounds phenomenal. However I think it is hard to beat the growl of a Ducati, a growl that becomes a gradually increasing scream.

JRJG

 

They can sound good. This guy has tuned his 1.9 PD105 DSG and wish mine sounded like this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJpH_UuaKYY

 

I actually can't get on with bike noises either... too revvy and screaming for my liking.

 

And

 

 

I know American cars are rubbish really but it sounds sooo good.

and the dear old ZXR400

 

https://youtu.be/nsEz90D6qZE?t=1m1s

 

The revs just keep getting higher and higher. Limiter was at something like 16k.

That guy has an aftermarket exhaust but it's still 5hp under stock.

I remember working at Cadwell Park many years ago when the superbikes were on and the noise of the Nortons was epic! (if I may use that over worked word )

For me, it's horses for courses. A big woofly V8 in a classic American car sounds right, the V8 in the last spec M3 sounds right, the V8 in some Maserati cars seems to marry both properties into one glorious engine. The sound of a big V12 doing its effortless and turbine smooth thing in an old XJ12 / XJS is just so satisfying from idle to rec limit. The bonkers AMG motor in the Zonda really makes it such a special thing. Would you want a Zonda with a for pot?

The engine note and timbre adds to the general feel good factor of the appropriate car. Then there is the visceral element of a barely silenced competition engine. This really helps ramp up the adrenaline as it drills a hole in your head and rattles your chest.

But, and it is a really big but. MANUFACTURERS - DON'T PUT ARTIFICIAL SOUND INTO CARS. It's naff. It's very very naff. The thing with engine sound is that it's special because the way it's made. It's the automotive equivalent of a blow up doll. I'd rather have no engine noise at all than fake it.

Edited 3 March, 201610 yr by Chris GB

Do they make a blow up George Clooney?

They can sound good. This guy has tuned his 1.9 PD105 DSG and wish mine sounded like this:

I actually can't get on with bike noises either... too revvy and screaming for my liking.

Depends on the bike engine.

inline 4's tend to scream, redlining at 14k rpm or higher. Im not into that.

v-twins growl alot more.

V4's are abit revvier than a vtwin but still burple

N triples whistle n growl.

I like em all but not a massive fan of IL4's personally

Do they make a blow up George Clooney?

 

No, but you're not the first to ask - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14505890

No, but you're not the first to ask - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14505890

I dread to ask how you found that!!!

 

Looks like it's an age thing, this inflatable George Clooney

I dread to ask how you found that!!!

 

Looks like it's an age thing, this inflatable George Clooney

 

My Google-Fu is strong

My Google-Fu is strong

 

 

... if a little scary!

To answer the original question, yes it does matter to me.  There are two elements that come into play that can affect the experience for me - engine noise and exhaust note.  There are quite a lot of potentially interesting engines out there that are strangled by catalytic converters and silencers in order to comply with various regulations. 

 

On a daily basis I drive a V6.  I enjoy every journey and for the most part potter around very sedately knowing full well that most other people are spending a hell of a lot less on running their cars but experiencing relatively nothing.  They might take satisfaction from the knowledge that they have an indicated 48.7mpg but to me that's an sign that I've given up on the eight year old me who loved all things automotive.  He'd be very disappointed in me if I went all Eco without exploring every other possibility first.  He didn't sit through endless hours of The Dukes of Hazzard, the RAC Lombard Rally and films like Bullitt for me to go and buy a sound free, inertia free and emotionally devoid eco box.

 

Our other car is totally the opposite to the V6 and loves to rev, and indeed needs to be thrashed to get the best out of it.  We recently had a custom made cat back system made for the Ignis and it's really transformed the driving experience. 

 

I may be in the minority with these views but I'm determined to enjoy my driving for as long as I can. 

 

Also, anyone who fails to be moved by clips such as these won't get where I'm coming from.

 

 

My best mate in Spain still regularly rallies his mk1 RS 2000, now re-shelled in a mk2 body :(

I did a couple of slow classic rallies with him in the co-pilot seat and it is awesome, amazingly quick for how little power it has compared to modern stuff.