How do YOU, spot the difference...?

[Aero_Bar]

One thing has often left me cursing my senses, and that is the issues of a cars noise. Now i say this, as i used a comparison between a Citreon Saxo super modded to heaven , against a Ferrari F430. For example of course.

The question being, when you hear the noise of the car (be it heavy/engine note) and you almost instinctly look, how do you know when you look back, you will NOT be seeing a 'Saxo Boy'.

Id be intrigued to hear your thoughts!

 

[evdok]

By the quality of the sound.

 

[219]

Always assuming I could hear it above my stereo

 

[renault12ts]

Usually making lots of noise but not approaching v.fast, means it's a racer.

 

[Robbie T]

By the quality of the sound.

x2

If it sounds like a bee in a trumpet, you know you're expecting a Saxo boy

 

[BTB 500]

I have never understood why/how a 1000 CC bike usually sounds fantastic but a 1 litre car never does (even with exhaust mods)

 

[GH421]

Like said, the quality of the sound. If it sounds farty..it's probably a fart car..if it's growly and racy then it's probably a beast. The F430 has a distinct sound to it..very F1 type/motorcyly when Idle.

My Fav exhaust note from mercs is the S600

 

[Ted]

There is no finer sound on this earth (imho of course) than a Ducati at full chat, showing you a clean pair of exhausts.

Makes my spine go all tingly.

 

[renault12ts]

Did you see Hazel Blears in full leather climb on to the back of one in recent news reports. Who paid for that?

 

[Sp!ke]

There is no finer sound on this earth (imho of course) than a Ducati at full chat, showing you a clean pair of exhausts.

Makes my spine go all tingly.

The Ducati clutch chatter makes my spine go tingly in the same way that chalk screeching on a blackboard does.

Nasty bit of Italian engineering.

 

[Phil Thomas]

I have never understood why/how a 1000 CC bike usually sounds fantastic but a 1 litre car never does (even with exhaust mods)

I like a large bike that whispers up so you don't hear it. My CX 500, watercooled, is like that. I'm not into 2 stroke 50 cc screamers.

 

[Howard]

I watched a Pug 106 gunning it off the lights with a baked bean can fart box on the back ....

' Thats making a lot of noise , and not moving very quickly ' i thought

I love the noise of an AMG V8 personally , that 'woofle' takes some beating ....

 

[janner]

The F430 has a distinct sound to it...

That'll be the flat crank V8. A bit like some TVRs.

 

[Rose Chap]

BMW V10s aren't bad.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Real big engine cars arent loud unless you floor it, where as saxo's can be heard from space when waiting in traffic

 

[renault12ts]

Real big engine cars arent loud unless you floor it, where as saxo's can be heard from space when waiting in traffic

Ferraris are loud and high pitched like F1s.

 

[Carrotchomper]

I do love the sound of most Beemers, to be honest. Even the straight sixes have a decent bark.

The difference, as many have said, is quality. You can't compare the raucous rasp of a baked bean can exhaust on a tiny engined car to the growl of a decent V8/V10/V12...

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Ferraris are loud and high pitched like F1s.

Ive heard many Ferraris drive past at slow speeds sounding no louder than a big engine'd Merc, as soon as the foots on the pedal though...

 

[gaz_l]

I saw a black RS6 estate (the V10 twin turbo monster) in town recently. I didn't really notice it - thought it was a Passat, TBH, until it came out the turning it was waiting at and accelerated away. They sound proper naughty!

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[Will]

I saw a beautiful black SLR Roadster waiting at some lights on the A40 a few weeks back.

Opened the window of the car that I was in to catch a listen. Got the full 'spitfire' music as it briefly gunned it when the lights changed - a lovely sound!

I guess 90% of the time it's easy to spot an 'imposter' of a performance car. Generally speaking you can tell by the sound (most chavved up cars seem to have small engines...). A boomy exhaust does not a performance engine make.

A decent V8 etc is pretty unmistakable IMHO. There's a guy who owns a Tuscan up the road from me, you know when he's coming home, LOL

Will