For most of the 130-ish years of automobile history, most cars could be counted on to make some kind of sound via their propulsion system. The ring-a-ding of a two-stroke engine, the clatter of a diesel, and of course the many variations of four-stroke engines and their equally varied cylinder counts and configurations all provide wonderful mechanical songs to enthrall enthusiasts – not like those silent, souless machines that don’t ignite fuel and air to create motiv power (I’m talking about steam cars, of course). Which sounds are your favorites?
Now, you may find the science-fictiony warble of a Tesla or another EV’s “hello, electric car behind you” sound to be your favorite “exhaust” note, but for the purposes of this Autopian inquiry, I’m primarily interested in the piston-popping sounds delivered via pipe that most entertainingly tickle your tympanic membranes.
I fully expect many answers will be in the vein of tough/cool/powerful-sounding exhausts, and one of my faves certainly qualifies, but I also greatly enjoy engines and exhausts that just sound interesting, or even cute. Consider the Volkswagen Beetle (the “real” ones) and their signature whistling exhaust note (attached here to a Ford Raptor, because I’m a lil’ stinker):
OK, I’m just gonna say it: the Ford Raptor R’s exhaust sounds terrible. Sound up on this clip from @DougDeMuro‘s review ???? pic.twitter.com/djFZ94cVph
— Peter (@Peter_M_V) November 27, 2022
It’s a fun sound, right? Puts a smile on my face every time. On the other end of the sonic spectrum, we have a sound I’ve only heard once: the wail of a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang performing a fly-by at near 400mph, its Packard V-1650 Merlin (licensed from Rolls-Royce) at full deafening song. Man, what a roar – it was like nothing I’ve heard since both in quality and volume. I do get to enjoy the occasional flyover from the T-6 Texans flown by Texas Warbird Adventures, and three or four Texans in harmony is a wonderful sound indeed, but that Mustang was on a whole ‘nother level.
Your turn:
What Are Your Favorite Exhaust Sounds?
Top graphic image: stock.adobe.com
In no particular order . 1600 VW with new muffler and tips. 1975 Opel Manta with aftermarket Monza exhaust . Bone stock 1997 Harley Heritage Soft Tail . Lockheed Galaxy C5- A .1996 4.6 Mustang with Flowmasters .
During Covid I could hear the sport bikes in the distance every evening, ripping thru the gears between stoplights. Made me miss my Honda 400F, 10,000 RPM redline, smooth and quiet until the top side of the tach.
LFA, any Ferrari or Lamborghini V12, Honda CBX 1000, 427 SOHC Mustang, a top fuel funny car although it’s more feel than sound.
I think V10’s in general are some of my favorite sounds, but the LFA isn’t my favorite one. I think the Gallardo or the Carrera GT would top it, followed by the Huracan and the Viper.
High-revving cross-plane German V8’s from the 2000s are a whole other box of goodies that I absolutely adore. E90 M5, B7 RS4, SL55 AMG, what a symphony they are.
I’ve been enamored by the noises of most old cars I’ve driven, though, but those were all some sort of low-brow 4-cylinder, I need to spend more time listening to carbed cars.
The one I’ve heard in person that immediately comes to mind:
-Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
Heard from a recording:
-Jaguar D-Type
-Ferrari 250GTO
I’ve heard both the D and the 250GTO driven in anger at Road America. Gloriously spine tingling.
Pre-LS Vortecs sound pretty good to me. It’s a slightly different sound from the older TBI motors, and it’s got a great rumble around 1500-2000rpms.
Tibbys almost have a little carburetor-esque chop to them (probably because the injectors are garden hoses pointed into the intake). I like how the Vortecs sound too. I realized I really don’t care for the most recent LS motors, something sounds a little off about them.
https://youtu.be/wumCPbRS5lI?si=YPr-rhYmVf4vv1zE
My BMW K75 – it sounds just like George Jetson’s flying saucer.
My BMW R60/5 (or any of their bikes, really) – so polite.
I like most a short, dry, loud and hard fart when sitting on the throne that is most relieving when suffering from flatulence.
VW Beetles with Empi headers. 2013=20?? Fit 500 Abarths. Any V8 Maseratti.
Mazda 787B 4-rotor.
Lexus LF-A
Ford 427 V8
Ford/Shelby Mustang GT350 5.2L Voodoo flat-plane V8
Ford/Shelby Mustang GT500 5.8L Trinity V8
Ford 5.2L Predator V8
(…really most FoMoCo V8s that are allowed to breathe)
Volvo T5 (turbo I5)
Yamaha/Volvo 4.4L B8444S V8 with a resonator delete.
Gordon Murray Automotive’s V12
Jaaaaaaaaaaaaguar F-Type SVR (and the related Project cars)
Aston Martin V12s
I’m sure all the hits will get mentioned here, but I have an obligation to expose my weirdness here. I think my favorite exhaust note on a regular vehicle is a straight piped V10 Ford pickup, but it’s a weird thing: Videos never really capture the depth of what they sound like, but part of the experience comes from hearing the exhaust out the back, AND hearing the engine itself under the hood. There’s just so many very large parts, moving so quickly and so smoothly. Inside the cab you hear this gnarly symphony of grunt under the hood from 1,000 to about 2500 rpm, around 2500 to 3500 there is this deep bellow tone, and by the time you get to 4000 rpm and above, out of the back, comes this WAIL.
It’s just awesome.
There are dozens of Triton V10 lovers!
DOZENS!!
The old Toyota F135/F155/2F I6 engines and the venerable Toyota 5VZ-FE V6.
Any american made V8 with a high lift cam at idle. The lift needs to be high enough to shake the ground!
ba-RUMP ba-RUMP baduddle RUMP-duddle…
Bla-BLUP Bla-BLUP Bla-BLUP-BLUP Bla-bla-BLUP Bla-BLUP…
You got a better ear.
What can I say, music school.
Get yourself to a vintage race this summer and seek out a McLaren M8F. I stood behind one at startup and my body hurt for 3 days.
McLaren F1 and it’s not even close
Although hearing the Corvette V8 race car at a WEC round – well, feeling it is more accurate – is something special
Slightly polarizing in some circles, but I always liked the snarly sound of the GM 2.8/3.1L V6 in sporting trims.
Also, the sound of the Rover (née Buick) V8.
I thought I was the only one. That and the Buick V6 of the 90s GMs.
Or it could just be my childhood talking to me, lol.
Oh man, the sound of a ’90s TBI V6 or V8 and the intake whine!
Yes, but for many of us, childhood is when our love of cars and things mechanical took root, so it’s perfectly fine!
The sound of the turbine engine in a M1 Abrams main battle tank screaming around a 1/2 mile dirt oval is at the top of my list.
Nothing quite like the sound of your basic 28.4L I4.
Ford Modular V8
4.6 mustang with flowmasters. on start up . ohhhhhh myyyyyy.
Does it sound that much better in the Mustangs than the similar (probably detuned but otherwise extremely similar, I believe) 4.6l in Econolines from the same year?
My van’s sounded cromulent at low RPMs, but once you were trying to haul ass or climb a hill (or worse, both), forget it–I always thought the sound was more analogous to a screaming kitten than a roaring lion.
(Jokes aside, the engine was one part that never gave me any trouble, so I won’t pretend it was a bad engine. I just wasn’t thrilled with the sound at WOT.)
Probably the same motor, but very different intake manifolds which would make it sound different than a mustang
It sounded so good it literally turned heads at start up. that and the 5 speed were about the only things I liked about it. I bought it on ebay right after i had major surgery and I was high on painkillers.Worst purchase of my life. Amazingly I didn’t get divorced over it …
Morris Minor on the overrun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pUFm9RKq3Y
But seriously, the sound of a Triumph Stag when not broken down by the side of the road is pretty special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fatIQGCyDSQ
Inline 6 for me. Personal favorite would be the Triumph TR6, but I’d accept the Jaaaaaaaaag XK as well.
I’m quite happy with the sound of my TR6 exhaust note.
My favorites are the boxer warble from a WRX, the buzz of the FC and FD Rx-7, and the Honda V45 Sabre.
V4 exhaust sound was the best thing about my V45 Sabre. The worst things were the bread-loaf instrument pod that kept breaking off, and servicing the carbs.
The carbs were definitely tedious to get to. The V45 wasn’t mine, it belonged to a friend that would loan it to me to ride when he couldn’t so it wouldn’t sit around too long. I have a Nighthawk 700S where the carbs are still tedious but infinitely easier to get to than the V45. I love my Nighthawk and it’s got a decent exhaust note but the sounds that Sabre made were so much better.
My NA Miata with a Racing Beat exhaust has an absolutely fantastic “classic sports car” exhaust note. Even a stock NA sounds pretty great. The air-cooled 911 sounds excellent as well.
Pretty much anything Italian, with special props to both the Alfa Romeo Busso V6 and the Ferrari Dino V6. Clarkson nailed it – “like having your soul licked by angels”. But even the little twin in a Fiat 500 sounds damned good when you are beating the piss out of it.
Least favorite (not that you asked) – most loud American V8s that I find to near universally sound like ass, and anything Japanese with a fart cannon on it.
Our 1960 Maserati 3500 with glass packs did sound pretty good.