Engine noise

[Orange Cola]

Well, is it brown bread?

Quite a few of my friends have now been in EV’s and they’ve all remarked how the lack of engine noise isn’t really an issue for them given the performance on offer, seems to be a theme with a number of media publications too. These are people who have, until they’ve got into an EV, stood strongly by engine noise being a key factor in enjoyment of driving even if it’s just nipping to the shops.

I’ve been in a few quiet cars and had the privilege of being in EVs too, granted they’re offering the next level of refinement but as soon as I get back into the V8, or any other combustion engined car that doesn’t sound like a Hoover, I couldn’t give a crap how refined and how fast EV’s are. I just want the sound of an internal combustion engine because it’s soulful and engaging. It’s slower driving an internal combustion engine, but I don’t care because I’m only here for a visit and I’m after a good time not a quiet time.

I am a prime customer for an EV as my commute is only 12 miles each way and I’m fortunate enough to have a drive way to charge one on, I’d probably be in the market for one in the future as a daily because it’s refined and not a slouch when joining a motorway. But if I had to give up my V8 or other internal combustion engined car because no one sells fuel any more I think that’d be the nail in the coffin for my driving fun.

So, with legislation, the press and the masses starting to realise that EV’s are in fact really not that bad are we going to see a fundamental shift away from engine noise including simulated ones through the infotainment system and do people actually give a crap? Or am I, as I feel at the moment, in the very small minority of people who get that EV’s have their place but really, really don’t want the death of a proper engine sound whatever happens?

[RobYob]

Dull sounding, low revving, heavily boosted four pots have already replaced most of the nice sounding "performance" engines haven't they.

So there's no real trade off there compared to EV. I'd happily have my hot hatch or small sports car EV rather than any new four pot.

But the world will be a much sadder place when there are no new sixes or eights or tens or twelves being made. What I hope can happen is that additive manufacturing will advance to the point where I can print my own 3 litre V12 with a manual box, that'll run on home brew E100 and bung it into whatever chassis it'll fit in along with a bunch of smart "AI" management systems that run whatever configuration of engine I happen to fancy that week.

No, it'll never be as fast or efficient as an EV at that point in the future, but it'll be fun. For me. And maybe a few other weirdos.

What will absolutely revolutionise transport will be autonomy, a fully autonomous vehicle you may well treat like an extension of your house and expect similar levels of quiet.

[mik]

Rob gave my answer - electric compared to 4-banger isn’t such a big deal.

But electric compared to my driving car..... much bigger issue.

[Foz]

But an old 911 then, fit obnoxious induction kit, pretend it’s a 991.2GT3

[NotoriousREV]

There’s a large part of me that wants a self-driving electric car for the dull stuff, but I’d also want a supercharged big block V8, or JDM turbo nutter bastard or something in the garage.

I think it was Jay Leno that said that internal combustion engines cars in the future would be like horses are now. Kept as a hobby and used on high days and holidays.

[Rich B]

Nope, my engine still sounds awesome.

[scotta]

As a daily white goods transport Device an i3 starts making a good case for itself.....as long as I still have a lotus in the garage.

[Orange Cola]

I can totally see the replacement of dull sounding IC engined cars to electric, but the good sounding ones? Not worth it.

[integrale_evo]

Most people don't care.

A lot of those that do care just want noise of some sort, which is why you hear so many of the current fourparper turbos with terrible sounding and obnoxiously loud 'race' mode exhausts.

[Mito Man]

Obviously a decent v8, v10 or v12 is preferable to the whine of an electric motor in a performance car. But if the future car choice mainly consists of shit sounding farty 4 and 6 cylinders I’d probably prefer the electric version.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I can totally see the replacement of dull sounding IC engined cars to electric, but the good sounding ones? Not worth it.

Are there many decent sounding engines at all these days, apart from in the really special stuff? M models, AMGs etc all spund fairly shit in the current crop imo

[Orange Cola]

I can totally see the replacement of dull sounding IC engined cars to electric, but the good sounding ones? Not worth it.

Are there many decent sounding engines at all these days, apart from in the really special stuff? M models, AMGs etc all spund fairly shit in the current crop imo

Quite a few, just because the Germans have gone a bit off doesn’t mean the whole thing has died. Fiesta ST’s sound ace, then there’s the Mustangs, F-Types etc.

[Holley]

I can totally see the replacement of dull sounding IC engined cars to electric, but the good sounding ones? Not worth it.

Are there many decent sounding engines at all these days, apart from in the really special stuff? M models, AMGs etc all spund fairly shit in the current crop imo

Pretty much this. M240i is closest I've had to an okay sounding car, but not sure I'd miss it if I went full EV. If I had a GT3 it would be different!

Plus I'm looking forward to what EV sports cars can do. Should handle better, no power delays, no need to warm up.

[GG.]

I think the venerable George Lucas's quote re the cinematic experience has just as much relevance to cars for me:

"Sound is 50 percent of the movie going experience, and I've always believed audiences are moved and excited by what they hear in my movies at least as much as by what they see."

I wouldn't ever buy a car that doesn't sound good hence why I categorically wouldn't have a 'fun' car with fewer than 6 cylinders and part of the reason I dislike turbo cars. As for humdrum daily transport, however - if it wasn't inconvenient to charge then I'd have no issue with going EV rather than 4cyl turbo petrol. There's no joy in that for me whatsoever.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I can totally see the replacement of dull sounding IC engined cars to electric, but the good sounding ones? Not worth it.

Are there many decent sounding engines at all these days, apart from in the really special stuff? M models, AMGs etc all spund fairly shit in the current crop imo

Quite a few, just because the Germans have gone a bit off doesn’t mean the whole thing has died. Fiesta ST’s sound ace, then there’s the Mustangs, F-Types etc.

Really? I think they sound schit. Overly engineered to pop and fart (as per most modern stuff), and then when that gearbox slurrrrrrrs the changes

[mik]

I dont dislike the jag v6 sound, but no doubt it is over-engineered. A few local RR SVR have made me feel similarly about their big V8's ... not unpleasant, but certainly not natural sounding. Which is a shame.

No idea what new turbo Porky flat 6's sound like, but i have never heard a bad N/A 911.

V6 Loltus's sound great above 2krpm.

[Swervin_Mervin]

No idea what new turbo Porky flat 6's sound like, but i have never heard a bad N/A 911.

I'll grant you that one to be fair.

Can't say as I've heard the Lotuseses. Despite all the exotica, that's one thing you really don't see much of at all around here. Can't remember the last time I saw an Evora at all

[Mito Man]

All F types sound shit.
SVRs sound less shit.
AMG 4.0 is one of the better sounding turbo v8s along with the one in the Continental.
Oddly whenever there’s a SUV variant the exhaust note is much crisper and more pleasureable. See G Wagon and X5/6M and Cayenne compared to the same engines fitted to the saloon/coupe models. This does not apply to the Bentayga.
911s sound good from mid revs onwards, otherwise sound meh just pootling round traffic, which seems to be exclusively where they’re driven.

Anything by Ferrari (and Mclaren) these days is way too quiet, I don’t know if the owners just never turn on the sports exhaust but just standing next to one idling you’d think it was a regular car. And when they do give it some beans it’s always disappointing. Like first setting eyes on that girl from Tinder who looked a 10 in the pics but is a 5 in reality. I digress...

Refer to the Lamborghini Aventador for how it should be done right, no unnecessary farts, sounds great even at walking speed, and you can hear it a mile away when it’s being really provoked. But it’s NA so dead soon.

There should be a law prohibiting 4 bangers from putting out more than 80 decibels as they all sound shit and are driven by idiots.

[Barry]

I think if you try to compare EV to IC you'll miss the noise at first, but I have to say I enjoy the silence of my parents EV on its own merits. It's rather peaceful just wafting about in relative peace and quiet.

It'll take a mind set shift for us petrol heads but average Joe will love EV IMO.

That said, going from a noisy EP3 into a nice quiet EV will be less of a transition than say YK swapping his GT3 for one.. that car is musical.

[integrale_evo]

Are there many decent sounding engines at all these days, apart from in the really special stuff? M models, AMGs etc all spund fairly shit in the current crop imo

Quite a few, just because the Germans have gone a bit off doesn’t mean the whole thing has died. Fiesta ST’s sound ace, then there’s the Mustangs, F-Types etc.

Really? I think they sound schit. Overly engineered to pop and fart (as per most modern stuff), and then when that gearbox slurrrrrrrs the changes

Fiesta st is one of the 4 pot turbos everyone sticks a drainpipe exhaust on which sounds shite too