What engines just sound bad, no matter what you do to them?
Posted by modelcitizendc@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 714 comments
Posted by modelcitizendc@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 714 comments
sendme_your_cats@reddit
VQ35DE will always sound like ass no matter how much money you throw at it
ptclaus98@reddit
This is such a lazy answer that everyone gets behind because “the poors” can afford VQ powered cars and the community loves a good chance to punch down. These engines were used in Formula cars, wild mid engine touring cars, and even in Super GT and they sound amazing. Some cams, a port and polish, and a titanium exhaust and i bet any vq would sound good. I love my FRS but it sounds way worse than my HR in my G35 did, not to mention the godawful sounding domestic V6s
GenrlWashington@reddit
I'm sure that a lot of the people that hate VQs and think they sound bad only say so because of the hate bandwagon, not because they know what a good or bad exhaust sounds like. Do some exhaust systems on the VQ sound bad? Sure. But I've heard plenty of good sounding VQs, too.
eastcoastflava13@reddit
Counterpoint: They sound great stock. It's when you start fiddling with the exhaust that they sound horrible.
06Shogun@reddit
I had a g37x and got HKS hipower mufflers. Left the rest stock. Gives it that nice deep tone without the trombone sound every other G has. Also nice and quiet with 0 drone.
DetectiveNarrow@reddit
As a owner I’ll say they sound okay until you mess with anything before the mufflers. Absolute most you should do to these is a Y pipe ( stock VQ exhaust is one big ugly muffler in most cases) and whatever mufflers you want to throw on. Full on exhausts or resonators completely ruin it
Tee-Sequel@reddit
Stock exhaust and high flow cats is genuinely the way to go.
tdp_equinox_2@reddit
You can fuck with it a little bit, but leave the cats alone. The problem is, anyone can get a vq, so they often end up straight piped without cats. Leave the cats alone and have at least one muffler and it sounds really good.
My 18' pathfinder (vq35de)came with 4 cats and 2 mufflers (one big and one small), I removed the smaller of the two mufflers and it sounds incredible. I can still start it in my small apartment parking lot without annoying anyone, but I can actually hear the exhaust over the intake.
Anything more than that is childish and annoying, which is what's given the vq it's "trumpet" reputation. Leave the cats alone.
CromulentPoint@reddit
I agree on both points. No issues stock, and any level of modification to the exhaust screws that up. I've had two Infiniti G's and loved them both, partially because I didn't mess with the exhaust.
selfhostrr@reddit
I'd disagree. Invidia Gemini sounds pretty good with STH and cats. I hear mine on the regular when it's DD'd at autocross.
Winter_Tennis8352@reddit
Motordyne with Thunder pipes almost completely get rid of the trumpety bullshit and give you a legit, deep exhaust note.
WorkdayDistraction@reddit
Excuse me? Is this rage bait?? 350Z and G35 engine is goated, one of the best consumer engines ever made. And I can recognize it from around the corner
tacoma720@reddit
I disagree.
VQ's are like the 2 valve new edge mustangs. They have a unique sound that was universally loved when they first came out, but the sound has now become associated with clapped out shitboxes which has changed people's perception.
If the VQ cars were rare and valued more, people would say they sound amazing.
PMMeMeiRule34@reddit
New edge + LTH + x pipe then straight out the back was… a unique sound for sure.
sorryimadeanalt@reddit
2 valves sound awesome. comparing that to a vq is a crime
Lolololurgay@reddit
And a NA V6 that can rev to 8500 can also sound awesome. Can't compare that to engines that rev to 6000
sorryimadeanalt@reddit
Rpm has nothing to do with it lol. The firing order of a v6 makes it sound like a trumpet. Even with a nice system it sounds like shit.
Lolololurgay@reddit
RPM absolutely has a lot to do with tone. A higher rpm means a higher pitch more aggressive and more character.
Fyi, this is why high revving Porsches have traditionally always had more subjective appeal and character than LS Corvettes lmao.
https://youtube.com/shorts/LSRdIYUSu-A
This vq sounds like a V8 at wot.
tdp_equinox_2@reddit
That's because anyone can get a vq, so they often end up straight piped without cats. Leave the cats alone and have at least one muffler and it sounds really good. My 18' pathfinder came with 4 cats and 2 mufflers (one big and one small), I removed the smaller of the two mufflers and it sounds incredible. I can still start it in my small apartment parking lot without annoying anyone, but I can actually hear the exhaust over the intake.
Anything more than that is childish and annoying, which is what's given the vq it's "trumpet" reputation. Leave the cats alone.
mmmmmyee@reddit
(Loud straight piped VQ’s were seen with disgust maybe as much much when they were still new-ish cars).
imothers@reddit
Best description I ever saw was "A cow playing the digeridoo"
bumsoil@reddit
Chewbacca taking a shit
DrowningFish929@reddit
You’re grounded!
SamFortun@reddit
I heard one drive by once that sounded amazing, I have no idea what they did to the exhaust, every other one I've heard with aftermarket exhaust sounds horrible.
NameShaqsBoatGuy@reddit
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks they sound like a kid learning the trumpet. Lol
YourFriendPutin@reddit
This is what I came to see. The best VQ is one with so many mufflers you can’t hear it. Shame because in the right chassis it can be a could platform but idk still can’t justify them for myself and what I personally like
funktonik@reddit
Actually think they’re one of the best sounding cars. I don’t get the hate for them. Even when straight piped I don’t think many could name another engine that sounds remotely as good also straight piped.
ArnoldSwarzepussy@reddit
9/10 times I would agree with you, but there's literally one exception. This guy's has quite possibly the most ridiculously built DE on earth. Cammed with a big single turbo. He's has footage up with like 800+ hp tunes and the thing hauls ass. It unironically sounds amazing too.
https://youtube.com/shorts/cPs3KKF6Tc0?si=ANtji2Fk-xIbpDtl
downpill-skiing@reddit
Oil burning trumpets lol
LethargicCarcass@reddit
This is what I was gonna say. Honestly love the engine and most of the cars it’s in but I can hear that trumpet from blocks away and immediately know what it is.
TheNakedFoot@reddit
Counterpoint
Negative_Pollution93@reddit
I was hoping to find this comment because I can’t stand the sound of a VQ. They all sound like ass trumpets no matter what you do.
Bimmer_Soup@reddit
My ig is zunflower33 there should be a video of my z drifting. Most people are surprised with how good my z sounds. It only needed a pro charger, headers, catback, and lightweight pulleys and flywheels, the light weight stuff wakes it up and makes it rev faster making it not sound slow and tired like common vq rev and more like a bike. The pro charger makes loud whoosh and jet noises when letting off the gas and the headers and catback just make it all come alive
Bimmer_Soup@reddit
Link to a video of said vq with 10-15k in engine mods https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFVWpTYRhSx/?igsh=MTM5b283aWF4OHpqbQ==
WordWithinTheWord@reddit
Might just be me but I cant really make it out over the music.
Bimmer_Soup@reddit
Theres no music in this upload https://www.instagram.com/stories/zunflower33/3600568672877779549?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=ZmkxYm1zYm9zMjVq
kurodoku@reddit
just got yourself a follower :) ever since NFSU2 I loved the 350Z and the sound it makes. Yours sounds crisp as hell. That one highlight with the camera out of the windows while drifting 😮💨🔥
Bimmer_Soup@reddit
Thank you, the lightweight pulleys and flywheel make it rev faster and giver a crisper sound more similar to high end sports cars or bikes. The vq platform can sound good it just take quite a bit of money that the great majority of owners now that the platform is old and cheap will not throw at them
kurodoku@reddit
or will straight pipe them so it sounds like stepping on a red bull can. VQ has a unique sound to it, unlike many other V6 cars.
Kit_Basswood@reddit
which is odd because my VQ40 in my Xterra + a single magnaflow exhaust sounds wonderful and i get lots of compliments
AKADriver@reddit
The VQ30 in the late '90s Maxima sounded great also.
le-battleaxe@reddit
So much this.
antidavid@reddit
Having owned several. Kinda agree if the car has the stock manifolds. I don’t mind if you swap the later model manifolds in they tame the trumpet quite a bit.
Captain_Nuggitz@reddit
Electric
OhManisityou@reddit
Yesterday I watched an electric hummer take off from a stoplight and I was amazed how quick that giant thing took off. Insta-tork.
TrollCannon377@reddit
It's honestly kinda scary how quickly heavy vehicles like that and the Cybertruck can accelerate makes me worry about pedestrian safety with them
GanderAtMyGoose@reddit
I saw an interesting news article a while ago about potential security implications of large electric vehicles- they were saying experts are concerned about them because they're fast, heavy, and have a super low center of gravity, so existing barricades around government buildings etc. might be more easily defeated by something like the electric Hummer. IIRC the article said they were researching new barrier designs to help combat the potential use of vehicles like that in attacks.
P0ETAYT0E@reddit
Your security bollards are no use against my 4.5 ton Escalade EV battering ram 🤡
JonJackjon@reddit
I saw a video showing different types of barricades for vehicles. The one that worked the best was essentially an "L" shaped device.
Consider you approached a "L" shaped barrier. For example you approached my printed L from the right. As you hit the vertical part, the horizontal part lifts the vehicle off the road making the driver system loose traction with the pavement.
warpigeon4L@reddit
Ur explanation was so good
P0ETAYT0E@reddit
Almost like a shield deflection redirecting the momentum upwards instead of at what you’re protecting
Suitable-Art-1544@reddit
4.5 ton!! my loaded pickup truck doesnt even hit 2.5
Maleficent-Sun1922@reddit
There are electromagnet arrays that can be run underneath barricades, it’s pretty cool. Will disrupt the vehicles systems.
riftwave77@reddit
I don't think the local sheriff needs EMPs
Maleficent-Sun1922@reddit
I agree
zgtc@reddit
From how far away? Because it doesn’t really matter how well the systems are working if a 4.5 ton vehicle is headed towards a barrier at 120mph.
Maleficent-Sun1922@reddit
This would act secondary to and in conjunction with physical barriers that do meet those tolerances and deter all vehicle types anyway. It’s not so much a ram shield as a passthrough safeguard.
Starch-Wreck@reddit
Yeah. All ya gotta do is constantly electrify it at no loss or substantial cost to any electrical grid.
Maleficent-Sun1922@reddit
That isn’t how it works. When a vehicle breaches a pressure or actuator, the magnet array is activated in a pulse. You wouldn’t want the road to be constantly magnetized.
Redhillvintage@reddit
The barriers and bollards around a properly designed federal building will stop your electric truck if a proper vector analysis was performed and the proper barriers selected.
xxrambo45xx@reddit
Seems silly... like someone looking to act in this way can always find a vehicle capable of taking down a barricade.
Like a 1 ton diesel with a pedestrian dusting "brush guard"
A semi, armored truck, old school bus, a motorhome etc. They arnt speed demons but id rather hit a wall in a semi than an electric hummer
Suitable-Art-1544@reddit
semis, armored cars, old school buses and such arent exactly inconspicous
TheAngryShitter@reddit
Experts 🙄
Focus on the key words lol
Cattovosvidito@reddit
lol. Well if the terrorists didn't know then, they sure know now.
Kind-Watercress91@reddit
You've clearly never seen one of those barriers take out a deuce and a half going 50mph.
GanderAtMyGoose@reddit
I've seen the videos of them doing that, I think that the concern is with anything that's less sturdy than those ones. So maybe not like the barriers directly protecting the most critical sites, but anything smaller. They also pose issues for normal guardrails - something designed to stop you from going off a cliff might not work if you're in a truck that weighs 9000 pounds and has a lower center of gravity.
Realistic-March-5679@reddit
I believe it. Did you see the crash test of a Rivian tearing straight through current technology guard rails and barriers? Like a hammer through butter. Did not slow or redirect the truck at all.
Midgettaco217@reddit
Afaik the cybertrunk ahem wankpanzer ahem CYBERTRUCK there we go isn't even road legal in the UK because it doesn't comply with our safety regs regarding pedestrian safety
PumpJack_McGee@reddit
'Murica ain't got time for that commie nonsense.
choss-board@reddit
Lightning owner here. It’s got insane acceleration—IF you have a lead foot in sport mode. But you can just as easily drive like a normal person. It’s really up to the driver not being an asshole.
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
Fuck dem tires
ashyjay@reddit
Mine only has 270BHP and 340NM but fucks off real quick as there’s no drama, a few times I didn’t even know I hit it’s limited top speed as it’s so quiet inside as well.
meetjoehomo@reddit
Not to worry, Tesla has solved that problem with bad glue. The bumper is designed to fall off the car to help dissipate the heat
pmpork@reddit
I have a 7000lbs lightning. 0-60 in the time it takes to say eff one fiddy? Electrics get a bad rap for tire wear. It's really not worse unless you can't help yourself... I can never help myself.
slobhoe@reddit
Tire wear is higher, maybe, but brake wear is nothing in an electric. regen braking is huge
Realistic-Might4985@reddit
We have a hybrid CRV, love using the paddles to slow down and regen…. It has become a bit of a game.
Account14159@reddit
Is this contributing to my perception that every driver on the road around me completely dead inside, and drives like they hate fun, as if fuel costs $50 a gallon? Fascinating.
FirmEstablishment941@reddit
I have a PHEV and I definitely gamified how much range I got out of the battery on a single charge. It was a combination of playing with the environmental controls and how I drove.
Account14159@reddit
I play a game kind of like that. I like to see how low I can get my average MPG on my twin-turbo B5 S4 when I'm romping around having fun.
UhOhAllWillyNilly@reddit
And what is the lowest MPG you’ve “achieved”?
Account14159@reddit
If I reset it, and go for one of those types of drives, it's usually around 5-8. I have seen a 3 before though lol.
The car actually gets stock-like fuel economy under normal cruising conditions, so it's usually in the teens when it's a true average of several drives over a long time.
If you switch it to instantaneous approximate fuel economy mode, any time you get fully into boost in any of the first three gears it just reads --
Realistic-Might4985@reddit
In my case I get up to my normal 5mph over the speed limit as quickly as possible. Then attempt to time my regen deceleration so as the light turns green before I arrive at the intersection. If you are sitting and being pokey off the line, peak in the mirror and your will see someone hollering “the accelerator is the one on the right” or “it’s not getting any greener” or “put your damn phone down”…. Can’t speak for everyone else. 😁
Account14159@reddit
Ok, you're fine then lol
haske0@reddit
My fil and bil only drives their 2022 electric mustang with the physical brakes. They turn off the one pedal mode every time they get in the car. Wrapped the rotors and ran down the pads in under 30k miles. Need new tires too. Meanwhile my 22 BMW ix with higher milage still has more than 90% pad and rotor life.
TerranRepublic@reddit
Lol brakes are so cheap to tires though. You probably save the difference in fuel though
pmpork@reddit
Hell yeah. If only tires were as cheap as brakes...
HugeLocation9383@reddit
Tire wear is not worse with an EV because of acceleration. It's worse because the vehicle weighs more than a similar ICE powered vehicle.
pgcooldad@reddit
Same happened to me. Rear end dropped and it was gone. 10,000 lbs of instant torque!
Young lady driving it with Manufacturer plate on it (I live "close" to GM tech center).
hoytmobley@reddit
First EV hummer I saw was on the back of a tow truck with a very flat front end. I’m assuming someone realized the acceleration/deceleration ratio wasnt what they were expecting
Impossible-Winner751@reddit
Reminds me of the first time I drove an EV Chevy for pizza delivery lol
Young_warthogg@reddit
Thing weights 4.5 tons, absolutely insane vehicle. I test drove one and absolutely loved it. But there is no way I'd pay 100k for a vehicle. At least at this stage in my life.
Jebgogh@reddit
My BIL bought a 80k GMC Denali that gets 15mpg on a car that heavy I wonder if you would recoup the 20,000 in gas costs over lifespan? I do think it’s insane to pay anything over 50,000 for a vehicle unless it is “special purpose “. But I drive a Prius so what do I know? I look at cars like toaster, ovens, or appliances
farmerbsd17@reddit
Come back next week
RangerHikes@reddit
It's like watching a C5 Galaxy take off
xtra-chrisp@reddit
Thing has 1000 hp.
Intrepid_Plankton_91@reddit
oh yeah all that “tork”
dirtdevil70@reddit
100% instant torque from the electric motor will do that lol...no waiting for the clutch to engage or a turbo too spool up just...wham
StopNowThink@reddit
Torque
OhManisityou@reddit
Insta-tork™️
Lety-@reddit
Electrics that accept they are electrics sound cool. There's something about the constant whine that gets higher and higher pitched as it revs seemingly to infinity that sounds cool to me.
Electrics that want to be gas engines tho? Hate them. I don't want a speaker underneath my car.
kimi_rules@reddit
This one is controversial indeed, but invalid cuz it's not an engine.
flompwillow@reddit
Fast EVs actually sound pretty awesome inside, they make a very unique whine/electrical sound and you actually can hear the tires grabbing/losing traction.
Don’t hear it outside though.
antidavid@reddit
That’s a motor not an engine.
HalfFrozenSpeedos@reddit
Depends your native tongue - in some languages it equates to the same word
selfhostrr@reddit
Reality and facts aren't these folks strong suit.
Shawnessy@reddit
I do kinda like when the high power EVs just let the electric motor scream. It's cool in its own way.
It isn't as cool as a good sounding ICE, but I can dig it from afar.
HalfFrozenSpeedos@reddit
Better if it was like the old v8s/v10s/v12s from late 90s F1 where those engines would scream up to a 14k+ red line (though iirc Kawasaki had a jap market 250cc road bike that as one bike magazine put it "requires you to have no mechanical sympathies as it redlines at 22k rpm and only makes real power from 14k onwards"
BRING_ME_THE_ENTROPY@reddit
I’m a manual transmission, modified car type of guy so you might already guess that EV’s aren’t my favorite. With that said, some of the whoosh noises that the EV’s make are actually kinda cool. I wasn’t a big fan of how dodge tried to make the fake v8 noises. I’d rather have an EV with some futuristic Jetsons noises
Shawnessy@reddit
Yeah, Its incredibly silly. Similar to how manufacturers won't go away from CVTs "shifting." And EVs "making engine noises." I know they kind of need to make some noise for safety, but don't make it V8 noises through a speaker. The little hum and jingle of other cars is fine. Then let the electric motors hum and screen when you're getting on it. It sounds cool.
(Not as cool as most roaring ICE engines ofc, but it scratches an itch still.)
TrollCannon377@reddit
I mean not really even when an IXE car goes by on the street unless it's a sports car or has a modded exhaust the tire noise is usually so loud I can't even hear the exhaust or engine
Shawnessy@reddit
I was talking more about like, in parking lots and such. That's about it. There's been plenty of times I've only noticed an EV or hybrid in a parking lot because of the sounds they pump out. At those lower speeds, the electric side is dead silent. ICE are generally just loud enough to be noticeable.
Adventurous-Line1014@reddit
Let the owner pick their own sound file. Google "Aztec death whistle " That'll move the pedestrians
LameBMX@reddit
all them detents and bumps when changing between like reverse and drive in an automatic has no need to be there. they were added to make people transitioning from stick (way back in the day) happy.
bobafugginfett@reddit
There is an entire database of Star Wars whooshy engine sounds to pull from; come on EVs, hire Ben Burtt or something!
Urbi3006@reddit
One of the most infuriating things about modern electric car design is the fake noise. Like ffs power electronics and electric machinery can make some cool ass noise and here you are muffling that and replacing it with fake spaceship or worse, fake ICE sounds.
Make a car that sounds like an ES64U or anything else with a GTO-VVVF inverter and I can die happy.
ParticularBanana8369@reddit
A car that constantly sounds like a welding arc
seavitxx@reddit
Watch Formula E
CapeHorn997@reddit
Sound better than your mom’s vibrator. Electric motor whines sound badass
Organic-End-9767@reddit
I own a turbo 4 cylinder, a twin-turbo V6, a small block V8 a Harley and a Tesla S. I like the sound of each and every one equally for very different reasons. The feeling of stupid speed with noise from the future is an excitement all by itself and never gets old.
Fooglephish@reddit
You stole my comment... 😂
74orangebeetle@reddit
That's not an engine
Paul_The_Builder@reddit
Not a Tesla fanboy by any means, but their motors make a cool noise when you give them the beans. Definitely not a replacement for a cammed V8 or anything, but I think they sound cool.
HattersUltion@reddit
You got tinitus or something? Or is your own self hatred just too loud in the silence?
CarCounsel@reddit
Depends on which.
Miserable-Assistant3@reddit
That high pitched motor whine like an RC car can sound nice. It’ll get annoying in a daily driver though
JonathanEde@reddit
Most of the sound you actually hear coming from an EV is a deliberately made sound that is required under 35 mph. I hear virtually no motor noise inside the cabin of either of my EVs unless I really get on the accelerator.
Miserable-Assistant3@reddit
There are some cheaper Asian EVs that do not hide the sound of the motors
JonathanEde@reddit
Ugh. Yeah. That would get irritating very quickly.
Captain_Nuggitz@reddit
I love rc cars, I do agree it sounds nice, but after a couple hours, my ears would explode
HotmailsInYourArea@reddit
I’ve driven some Nissan EVs and they’re really not very loud at all. The Ariya sounded like a UFO at wide-open, but only in Sport mode so i think it was fake and piped in on the speakers haha
not_very_canadian@reddit
Those are motors
often_awkward@reddit
Technically electric cars don't have engines, they have motors but also I agree with you.
Captain_Nuggitz@reddit
Ik, but someone had to say it
often_awkward@reddit
I'm an electrical engineer in the auto industry - I'm pretty sure I'm compelled to say it. We have an electric car, I like it. My wife loves it, I would never drive it primarily because it is just soul sucking.
I like 8 cylinders and preferably three pedals.
OveVernerHansen@reddit
What saddens me the most about EVs is that they're pretty much all the same drivetrain and weight distribution wise.
MoirasPurpleOrb@reddit
Yeah the Nissan leaf is exactly like the Rimac Nevera
OveVernerHansen@reddit
Yes, a pedestrian EV.
Captain_Nuggitz@reddit
That's like saying driving a Honda Fit and a Pagani is the same, a pedestrian Combustion car, like wdym
OveVernerHansen@reddit
The point was that a Rimac is not pedestrian.
NoPersonality7004@reddit
Bro what?
Vicv_@reddit
Not an engine
proscriptus@reddit
Not engines.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
You can make an EV sound good, the super fast ones and OG Tesla Roadster sound really cool.
AverageNeither682@reddit
Every 20-something-year old's honda with a 'custom' exhaust.
BMSMA-Meatbag@reddit
All Nissan/Renault VQ35 variants.
DetectiveNarrow@reddit
This comment section proves most people have never heard a stock VQ engine lol. You people are hearing the products of cheap Edgar exhausts.
Kirkendall1@reddit
Or any of the good exhausts like the nismo s and r tunes
schwabmyknob@reddit
As a Gm guy I hate the way LS engines sound without resonators, borla or striaght pipes. I give Ford credit for making best sounding V8 American engines.
Nomad_moose@reddit
Well, if you look at Fords current coyote engines: they’re just better.
I can’t think of a single other manufacturer who’s selling cars at Ford’s prices that can put out that much performance and reliability.
Yes: the corvette engine is faster/puts out more hp etc, but you can get an F150 and slap a whipple supercharger on it and make 700+hp for just about $60k…and if you start with a used one, it’s even cheaper.
Note: I don’t own a ford or GM, I have a little BMW with a NA 3.0L inline 6 that’s 12 years old
schwabmyknob@reddit
I agree slap a supercharger on coyote and your done. I have LS3 swapped Pontiac Ventura and found quietest mufflers. Damn shame the issues that the LT and AFM GM has caused themselves making them have so many issues. I also have a 03 Silverado with 5.3 and half million miles still going strong only having to replace water pump and knock sensors
Callsign_V3N0M@reddit
Most of the jacked up trucks "clap" here and I legitimately hate it. I don't mind loud, but there comes a point where it just sounds like crap rather than sounding fast or cool in any way
Project_XJ@reddit
Understand your point but mine “claps” cause the headers cracked and I fear what will happen if I touch those 30yo manifold bolts
Potential_Wave3082@reddit
I grew up in eastern NC and if a guy at my high school got his hands on a truck with a V8, a week later it would sound like a card in bicycle spokes
9oz_Noodle@reddit
When people put H pipes on their cars (especially mustangs) this is what it reminds me of. Guys around here refer to it as "Blatty." Sounds like a truck lol
Outlaw6985@reddit
H pipe is 15 time better then a X for a V8, x pipe gives off a high rasp at higher rpm
9oz_Noodle@reddit
Neither of my cars do. Also depends on if you’re using a straight through or chambered muffler, with or without resonators and/or cats as well. 03/04 cobra with longtubes, X pipe, and borla stingers is iconic
Useful-ldiot@reddit
It always sounds like the engine is struggling to me, which is kind of funny given the context.
Fragrant_Welcome_996@reddit
V8 Hemi is the best sounding engine
9oz_Noodle@reddit
As a ford guy with a coyote car and a 4.6 4v (Cobra,) the ls7 in the c6z06 will always be the holy grail in terms of performance, sound, and aesthetics. 600whp NA in a 31xxlb chassis is mind boggling hahaha damn I need a c6z
Curious_Hawk_8369@reddit
I had friend in high school with a cobra, I always loved hearing that thing start, sounded great going down the road too.
I don’t really know 100% why cause I’m afraid to change it and loose the sound, but my 2000 f250 with 2V 5.4 has the same sound when it starts. Doesn’t sound as good driving down the road, but it has that sound when you first turn the key and it fires to life. It’s weird because the exhaust is 100% original, if I had to guess it because the muffler is completely rusted out on the inside, being it’s lived 25 years in the rust belt. I’ve even had a couple people ask me what system I’m running, they can’t believe it’s stock.
Roonil-B_Wazlib@reddit
C6 Z06 has 505hp.
WordWithinTheWord@reddit
Mild cam pretty much adds 100hp for $1500 all-in after tune.
9oz_Noodle@reddit
Fixed heads, decent cam setup, intake and a tune will push 600whp on pump gas, but yes bone stock they’re advertised 505 at the crank
rockdude625@reddit
Ford makes a mean sounding engine, but an old school Mopar 440 sounds the best by far
eralsk@reddit
Mopars have always sounded better than both.
505backup_1@reddit
I agree with the LS part but Ford absolutely has the worst sounding American v8s, sounds like shitty raspy euro motors. Hemis are the best sounding modern v8s by a mile
eralsk@reddit
Agreed. Even the classic Mopar engines sounded way better than their Ford and GM counterparts, in my opinion.
Whyme1962@reddit
Funny you should mention GM, they make what has to be one of the worst sounding engines of all time. Have you ever heard the 4.3 liter V6 with split (dual) exhaust? Sounds like three out of time Harleys.
Melodic_Fee_5498@reddit
“Best sounding V8 engines” you’ve never heard a Hemi?
OlDirtyTriple@reddit
The 92-97 LT1& LT4 motors are the best sounding Chevy small blocks ever made.
IYKYK. SLP exhaust on a LT engine is God tier and it doesn't sound like a Ford.
2222014@reddit
I agree with you on the LS but truck 5.0s do the same thing and mustang 5.0s are too raspy. Coyotes are the v8 vQ
unmanipinfo@reddit
Dudes love to delete resonators without even knowing what they do.
Nice guy, now your beautiful v8 sounds like pants ripping.
Outlaw6985@reddit
that’s because borla atak and corsa extremes sound like garbage when pairs with a x pipe
bimmervschevy@reddit
LS engines sound great in cars when you mod them, but awful in trucks without some sort of crossover pipe.
5141121@reddit
I miss my '01 Camaro so much. The way it would whomp to life on a cold start and make satisfying crackles when the pipes were still cold. So good.
rearadmiralslow@reddit
Had an 02. Turning the key was my favorite part of the car, made a nice what i can only describe as “WUWU GRRrrr”
375InStroke@reddit
Since what year?
RandomGuyDroppingIn@reddit
I own a C5. Might be the last one in existence with stock exhaust - doesn’t even have the chrome tips later C5s got just straight up small ovals coated in dirt.
I went to a cruise in years back and had guys tell me it was the quietest C5 they had ever heard… from the rear, as the moment you pop the hood you get that awesome early LS sewing machine sound at idle.
I’m lazy and cheap which is why I don’t have anything different. Name brand cat backs for C5s such as Corsa or Borla still costing four figures is a fucking travesty after how long the C5 has existed.
morpowababy@reddit
At first I thought you said the catbacks for them were 4 grand and almost passed out
Shadotty@reddit
2.0 TFSI (EA888), I just can't understand how can people like the sound, it's one of the worst among 4 cylinders.
Throwaway-Ad4911@reddit
Yep they sound utterly shite. And I'm saying that as an EA888 gen 3 owner. Good modding potential but every aftermarket exhaust makes it sound utterly wank. And let's not mention the retards with a pop and bang map on it too. That's just wank squared.
SpiritualZombie2063@reddit
It sounds like a tractor lol
Educational-Job9105@reddit
EA888 Gen3 is an incredible engine. But holy hell does it sound bad.
Which is wild because if you add a single extra cylinder you get the amazing Daza.
Haunting-Sir-6662@reddit
VW hasn't had a good sounding 4cyl since the 1.8TAWP
jjveld@reddit
Also with the DSG, they are called fart shifts for a reason. It sounds like a wet cheeky fart or shart.
Shadotty@reddit
Dude I swear to god, it's ASS. I don't get all those people that go like "dsg farts 😍😍" and tune the cars to get those farts louder.
boilerbalert@reddit
I had a b9 a4 with a full cat back and now have a full stage 1 b9 s5 with mid pipe delete. Although the s5 can sound like an f1 at times, the a4 and dsg darts was just really fun. It was the perfect daily and now my s5 is just crazy fast. I miss being able to redline everywhere and do dsg farts 😞
I think shifting at the right rpm to hit the perfect dsg fart is just extremely satisfying. It’s crazy hard to get the zf 8 to pop anywhere near where the dsg can do. You have to hit amax (something like that), basically forcing the trans to max out.
LurpyGeek@reddit
I have a Mk7 GTI. The car's great. The engine's power delivery is great. But I don't think you can really make them sound good. I don't even think they sound bad necessarily. You just can't really make them sound good. A lot of that has to do with the in-head exhaust manifold design.
No-Patience4715@reddit
I actually don’t mind the EA888. I have an mbrp exhaust and it sounds decent. It’s still a 4 but I like it. Is a v6 or v8 better? Of course! But it has a nice clean town and sounds good when it screams (for a 4 cylinder)
I can also confirm DSG farts and I’m not a fan lol
Elk_Man@reddit
Oh yeah, I've got a Jetta GLI so I follow some of the content for them just to see if anything interesting comes up, and there's no shortage of folks posting their 'sick new exhaust' or asking which one sounds the best. I never comment because I don't want to rain on their parade, but I've never heard an aftermarket exhaust on a stock or near stock EA888 that I thought sounded good. I'm so glad the stock exhaust is nearly silent on my car.
DatRokket@reddit
They get a bit better with a 4-port head. https://youtu.be/w9Ww4yz84V0
bimmervschevy@reddit
Not just the EA888, all recent turbocharged 4 cylinders. They all sound identical. Here’s an EA888. Here’s a 2.3 EcoBoost. Here’s a 2.7 4 cylinder CT4-V. With very few exceptions, ALL modern turbocharged inline 4 engines sound the same.
geneparmesan31@reddit
I think a big factor is the integrated exhaust manifold. The turbos bolt straight to the head. I don't know a ton about how to make cool noises, but the lack of a header situation seems to be part of it.
House_King@reddit
Sounds like a fart can without a fart can, no idea how it’s possible.
kurodoku@reddit
especially since the OPF days. They always sounded like a dyson filled with marbles but bow they sound like a clogged dyson with marbles.
fprintf@reddit
Someday 20 years from now many of us will look back wistfully on these VW engines as how good they sounded.
I have one in my SUV and it sounds like ass even in sport mode with the burbles.
Aggressive_Bite_8672@reddit
Toyota Prius C. It will last a lifetime but it will sound like crap the whole time.
plants4life262@reddit
All 4 cylinder engines. The exhaust note is just flat, leave it be. Focus on intake if you want it to sound better. Or get a V8
ubiquitous_tittie@reddit
My ej257 disagrees, as well as the W11 I used to have. Turbo boxer and supercharged I4 sound great.
RunCyckeSki@reddit
The SRT4 engine sounded really good stock. Subaru boxer engines can sound decent too.
plants4life262@reddit
Ehh… disagree
RunCyckeSki@reddit
I got more compliments on my SRT4 exhaust than any other car.
This isn't mine, but they all sound the same:
https://youtu.be/7-N6oOcmlsg?si=LkIsIdjuin18Rxx5
plants4life262@reddit
Sounds good for a 4 bangers. That LRLLRLRR just does things that a single cylinder bank can’t do. It strikes me deeply.
RunCyckeSki@reddit
I agree. Not bad for a 4cyl. It's one of the best I've ever heard. Can't compete with the V8 sound though. I heard a V12 Aventador start up once and it was heavenly.
plants4life262@reddit
I get the aggressive 4 cylinder exhaust with a blowoff valve taunting you. I can see the appeal! All cars matter 😎
ABoringEngineer@reddit
Nissan 350z
Interesting_Reason54@reddit
Any fart box honda or toyota. They all sound like shit figuratively and literally
TripleCstyle@reddit
Anything not V8.
OkraFit3987@reddit
Nissans vqs
Ok-Home9841@reddit
4 cylinders
gravityraster@reddit
Any turbo 4
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
Inline four bangers. Especially Hondas have that extra sharp awful sound with Folgers can mufflers.
I say that with love. I miss my Civic.
TrilliumHill@reddit
Scrolled a long time to make sure I wasn't the only one who thought this way. Nothing screams shit quite like a fart cannon exhaust on a Honda
Zestyclose_Lock_859@reddit
Yes. As the title said, in general. People talking about S2000 etc, they are exceptions. I personally like the 4AGE a lot but again, exceptions. Overall I4s sound like fartcans
BFCE@reddit
It's crazy because Hondas have easily the best sounding 4cyls if you let the induction and the vtec roar, and put a nice muffler and resonator on your exhaust lol. But they're cheap cars so people put cheap parts on them.
cakes42@reddit
Not anymore dude. Have you seen the prices for civics?
TheJokhar@reddit
"Hondas have the best sounding 4cyls"? I'm just going to assume you don't know what a motorcycle is...
BFCE@reddit
bro forgot honda makes motorcycles too lol
TheJokhar@reddit
Not great sounding ones
Glittering-Show-5521@reddit
My Hondas never were fancy enough to have VTEC. Both my old Accord and my 02 Civic were the LX trim. They still sounded awesome.
House_King@reddit
I personally prefer the Alfa twin cam, and 4age 5 valve. However a well set up b series or s2k sounds amazing I can’t lie.
Shmeeglez@reddit
A 4 cylinder is never my first choice, but I cannot deny a well-done K-series
Kind_Dragonfruit6103@reddit
Used to be a Honda guy. But that tin can sound is from small diameter exhaust piping and just rasp from straight up not enough resonators. When I first got my RSX type s at 18, I wasted no time in ripping the muffler off, leaving 2.25" exhaust piping with a tiny aftermarket resonator, and I ended up going with catless headers. 18 year old me loved it, but it was definitely raspy and obnoxious. Ended up building a motor with aggressive cams, and making a custom 3 inch exhaust with an 18inch vibrant resonator and vibrant straight through muffler, and sounded much, much better. Got tons of compliments and even had several people say it was the only/ best sounding 4 banger/Honda they had heard.
Tl:Dr it's just the cheap kids that Hondas attract that result in that traditionally terrible rasp.
Indomitable_Dan@reddit
My SRT-4 sounded like a diesel truck
Psychological_Post28@reddit
I actually love the metallic sound that the old K-series made. I owned a newer FK8 for a couple of years and there doesn’t seem to be way to get the turbo charged engines to sound good. Whatever I tried it was just the same sound but louder.
ll_simon@reddit
I’ve never been able to get an answer to this. I know the vtec is on the exhaust side now but it’s still a k20 and somehow sounds nothing like its predecessors
Orangespicelatte@reddit
It shares very little with the original K20’s. It’s a low revving, low compression, direct injection engine. The “real” K20’s were port injected, high compression, high revving, naturally aspirated engines
schaden81@reddit
K20 in the FK8 is nothing like the older K20 and K24. I don't know why they reused the engine code.
madlib911@reddit
Going back further, I loved the way the B-series sounded. I had several Civics and Integras that had a sweetness to them.
RestoModGTO@reddit
I'd love to have an EG with a B16B in it.
RicardoPanini@reddit
I love 4 cylinder motorcycle sounds. Even more if they're v4s
stupiduselesstwat@reddit
Fart cannons are never a good idea.
PopularVersion4250@reddit
Fiat Abarth?
BobcatEditor@reddit
My S2000 disagrees with this comment.
schaden81@reddit
So does my K24 Si
finalrendition@reddit
Most engines will sound good at 9k rpm
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
S2000 doesn't count brah
Nameisnotyours@reddit
The present forgets the great sound of Italian fours unimpeded by catalysts.
the_one-and_only-nan@reddit
I agree and disagree. The huge shitty cheap mufflers definitely don't do them any justice, but with a properly designed exhaust manifold, high quality resonator/muffler combo, and correct size piping they actually can sound pretty damn good.
Same thing for basically any engine too. A properly designed exhaust can make any car sound pretty good, just most of the cheap shit out there that people install isn't properly designed lol
AnkinSkywalker93@reddit
Unless it's an old 4 banger with a carb.
ZovioTV@reddit
My old 4 banger has 4 carbs... and two wheels
AnkinSkywalker93@reddit
And I bet it sounds mint
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
Had a ‘61 Mercedes 190b. It was agricultural…sounded like a tractor. Maybe not the best example but it’s the only carb’d four I’ve owner or really even been around.
AnkinSkywalker93@reddit
Makes sense. I'm thinking things like lotus Cortina
JD0x0@reddit
Nah, a well-tuned Inline 4 can sound beautiful. Listen to one with ITB's and something that isn't straight pipes or an ebay glass pack muffler. Don't forget about sportbikes with high revving 4 bangers that can hit like 16k RPM.
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
Yeah, the sport bike/race car wail isn’t my thing so much, but I hadn’t thought about something with ITBs. I’ll hit up YT to find some later. Just got in from car/mower maintenance so shower and then veg time!
ElMoicano@reddit
I think it's because most of them are just modified to be loud. Slow, but loud.
An I-4 that revs quick can sound great! When you get a race tuned machine that can hit 12-17,000 RPM it can sound SWEET!
but most of the I4s you hear are from a clapped out Corolla, that's changed lanes 300 times in the last mile. When he finally gets it to downshift, you get 100db of 4500rpm as he hits 65mph........... 66mph............................67mph ...............................................................68mph
A very efficient gas to noise generator
House_King@reddit
There are so many incredible sounding i4 engines, and it’s the only layout that doesn’t get noticeably worse when boosted. B18, F20/22, 4age for high reving na, Alfa twin cam, cosworth bda, cosworth 2.5, (merc 190e), bmw 2002tii, e30 m3 for the classic throaty sound as far as na goes. Then turbocharged you’ve got the 4g63, the Saab b2xxr (2.3 sounds better imo), sr20, or the 3s gte for some of the more old school ones. Modern wise the a110, Alfa 4c, and the 500 abarth definitely aren’t bad either.
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
I’m sure there’s exceptions, but as a rule, inline fours are most consistently grating, that’s all.
proscriptus@reddit
You need to drive some old English four-cylinder sports cars then. A good rorty four in something like a 100M is perfection.
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
This is true, I have not had that experience. I briefly flirted with the idea of one years ago, though…
TrollCannon377@reddit
That's more a case of Honda owners putting crappy exhaust on than inline 4s, can't beat the sound of a cross plane 4 I'm on an R1 screaming
Recent_Permit2653@reddit
That’s not really my thing, but good on ya! The wail isn’t for me.
Unfortunately some of it is crappy parts. I grew up In California during the height of Fast & Furious madness, and every Hyundai, Saturn, Mitsubishi, and more had a cheap fartcan, gaudy body kit and fake spoiler with little actually done to…you know live up to the spice the exterior or the exhaust promises.
Just haven’t had an inline four which stirs me. My Civic was stock and a true survivor, didn’t sound that good. Ditto the Toyota Echo I had. Also briefly had a ‘61 Mercedes 190b with a sohc 1.9l four, and it sounded downright agricultural, although the column shift four speed made me not care about any of that, lol. The flat four in my Subaru is the first four cylinder I’ve had which does something for me, but then I prefer a bit more bass and staccato or burble.
wes4627@reddit
Tesla ones
Lety-@reddit
In motorcycles: 4 stroke thumpers. They just don't sound good.
lyricgskills@reddit
Ford Raptor
JDP6693@reddit
Jeep 4.0. I've tried and seen multiple iterations of exhausts on it and it just sounds...meh. Some people like it but it's not my cup of tea.
abou824@reddit
They sound like tractors, I think it sounds neat. Very true to form for what they are LOL
VlaDeMaN@reddit
Of course it does! It resembles a tractor motor in design, low end torque, and uber reliability
muldoonrobert@reddit
Agreed. I've owned a handful of Jeeps with the 4.0 and have a soft spot for that engine, but I could see how it's not for everyone. They sound like shit when people try to make them too loud.
I have a YJ that came with some sort of Flowmaster and I don't know what it is about that thing but it's the best sounding 4.0 I've heard. Had an XJ with a Delta Series 50 Flowmaster that sounded really good as well.
Jumpy_Wrongdoer_2236@reddit
I can hear one of those start up a mile a way regardless of how much ambient noise
Tjramsy@reddit
Idk man, my old TJ had a couple holes in just the right spots of the exhaust for it to sound kinda decent!
Sullypants1@reddit
Any I6 takes a lot of time / money to get right. Im a big I6 and big BMW fan. Rarely are sound improvements made upon stock oem setups.
JDP6693@reddit
I absolutely agree. I tried about 6 different exhaust setups on my Jeep and just quit throwing money at it, but one intake and I was happy instantly. Sounded about as good as I could expect from legacy technology.
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
Flowmaster on mine sounded ANGRY, not sure what you're talking bout
JDP6693@reddit
Angry =\= good bud. As I said in my first comment: SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT but it's not MY cup of tea. Don't know how to make it much simpler.
varrengale@reddit
It's mostly the lack of a cross flow head that hurts the exhaust note. Also if you hear one with a log style exhaust manifold with or without a turbo it sounds heaps better.
new_Boot_goof1n@reddit
It’s no 5.0 coyote but my TJ sounds a lot better after installing the Banks exhaust.
TrollCannon377@reddit
Yeah the 4.0 is a great engine super reliable good low down torque but good noise definitely isn't one of its strong suite.
morpowababy@reddit
Sometimes I'll be in a parking lot and some idiot in a TJ or XJ will mash the gas and I'll hear the familiar woosh of air noise and yup its a Jeep 4.0. Somehow I've never owned one I've just been around the AMC and Chrysler inline 6 my whole life and owned their V8 cousins.
Adept_Ad_473@reddit
True that.
Once upon a time, I had an XJ with a cat delete, and a flowmaster 44 delta on a 3" downpipe. Easily the most obnoxious thing I ever drove
BedArtistic@reddit
LFA. Honda.
Expensive_Candle5644@reddit
The twin turbo 6 Raptor sounds like 🗑️
hurricane7719@reddit
The EcoBoosts in the F-150s in general just sound wrong. I think it's more that it sounds out of place on an American pickup truck. It might sound fine on an import sedan or something, but just doesn't sound right on a truck. I've not heard a single aftermarket exhaust that sounds appropriate.
richardfitserwell@reddit
the 2.7 and 3.5 just sound aweful. The 2.3 sounds decent but it fits the cars it’s put in. I have a 2.3 two 5.0s and a 2.7 in the driveway only one is quiet
recoil_operated@reddit
The 2.3 in the Ranger configuration sounds like absolute trash in both the 5th and 6th gen. I've never driven it in the Mustang but in the truck configuration it's what I would expect a clapped out delivery van to sound like.
Cel_Drow@reddit
I have a 2.3 mustang, it sounds pretty awful stock. Aftermarket exhaust that gave it a deeper tone is a little more tolerable and less like an angry lawn mower, but not great.
StonccPad-3B@reddit
So I have a Bronco with the 2.3 and my mom drives an Explorer with the same.
The Bronco engine sounds tinny and gutless (although I have no complaints about power)
On the other hand, the Explorer sounds fantastic, super meaty engine tone.
My hypothesis is that the Explorer has engine audio being piped through the interior speakers to make it sound better, and honestly I wish the Bronco had the same. I used to be really against fake engine noise but it makes the Explorer feel fun.
richardfitserwell@reddit
Sounds good in the rs, not sure how they messed it in other vehicles
recoil_operated@reddit
The version in the RS has a different head I think? Maybe I'm thinking of its MZR predecessor.
richardfitserwell@reddit
The rs does have a different head so that probably has something to do with it
bimmervschevy@reddit
No. Just no. The 2.3 is the worst sounding engine in Ford’s entire lineup and it isn’t even close. If it’s stock, it sounds like a vacuum cleaner. With a mild exhaust, it sounds like a cow. If you straight pipe it, it sounds like flatulence. Nothing short of a revised manifold and turbocharger setup (INSANELY difficult due to the integrated manifold) can make a 2.3 sound good.
Kind_Dragonfruit6103@reddit
Honestly most turbo 4s, well 4 cyls in general with integrated manifolds sound terrible. With a proper header/turbo manifold and an aggressive cam, 4 cylinders can actually sound pretty damn good imo.
richardfitserwell@reddit
Well nothing sounds good straight piped but with a catless downpipe, nice mufflers, a different ssc. They sound great
orezybedivid@reddit
My 2.7 sounds like a sewing machine so that's my guess. Exhaust options for it all sound like farting into an 8ft joint of 3" PVC
stillcleaningmyroom@reddit
I have a 3.5 eco in my F-150 and I’ve come to appreciate the quietness. I must have listened to every exhaust clip there is and they all sound like shit.
mr_bots@reddit
I had a 21+ F150 3.5 and that 500LB-FT at 2,000 RPM is so satisfying. You get used to that wave of torque but without the noise and revs. Also love cursing down the highway with cruise set at 80 and it’ll just downshift once or twice but still barely break 2,000 RPM to climb hills.
DonnerPartyPicnic@reddit
Yeah ecos sound like shit. They need stock exhaust or maybe a basic cat back. People who put Borla ATAKs on them are nuts.
le-battleaxe@reddit
I have a 3.5, all stock. It sounds weird for a truck for sure. I thought about throwing an exhaust on it until I saw/heard videos. It doesn't get better, lol.
Which_Initiative_882@reddit
Ford's Cyclone V6 (most of their new 6s, really) perform amazingly well. Sound good, they do not... Even the hypercar GT sounds like a poorly tuned trumpet with a 5 year old playing it.
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
The future will be odd, get in line
Shoddy-Box9934@reddit
Had to scroll too far to find this lol
SithSidious@reddit
I’ve never heard one in real life, but it sounds fantastic in the throttle house video
XDon_TacoX@reddit
I don't hate the sound of any engine, but the people who buy 10/15 yo used cars, and always the one with the smallest engine the manufacturer has to offer to put the loudest muffler and a 20$ rear wing, I have nothing but spite for those things.
you will see them staying 10 seconds on 1st gear and reving everywhere they go, dude it's an Aveo, the antithesis of a racing car, they made that engine purposely as small as they possibly could to save you on gas...
that_motorcycle_guy@reddit
The honda GROM
Snoo_87704@reddit
Wankel.
jwadd1981@reddit
GM 305
adlcp@reddit
The one in my truck. Fml
shape-shifter92@reddit
Anything made by Ford always seemed like bottom of the barrel, nice exteriors tho
MrGTO_1070@reddit
I think the new mustangs sound like shit
antonmnster@reddit
My S55 on a cold start. The neighbors (don't) love it
TheLastNeville@reddit
On this particular subject I am almost solely always the one to disagree. I think the S55 is one of the best sounding engines of all time.
To me it sounds so unique and menacingly purposeful like it was meant for motorsport and performance. You cannot mistake the sound for anything else on the road. I hate it when people put equal length headers on it so it sounds like a weird GTR.
antonmnster@reddit
Once it's warm it's absolute music and I love it with a manual. It's just that cold rasp where I keep the garage door shut until it settles down.
No-Patience4715@reddit
It’s an amazing engine but sounds awful unless you do unequal length headers
DeezNutzHurt@reddit
2004 chevy trailblazer
Henrenator@reddit
Audi rs5 sounds like someone taking a shit
n0exit@reddit
Citroen SM. It was a Maserati V8 that they just hacked two cylinders off. It sounds just like a V8 with two cylinders missing.
flakzpyro@reddit
Underrated comment: 2014 2nd generation Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8L V6 sounds terrible. Sounds worse then VQs
TheKentuckyMadman@reddit
2JZ’s just don’t do anything for me.
HoratioPLivingston@reddit
The 3.8 litre v6 from the 1998 Mustang . It was my first car and I got a used magnaflow exhaust system. I thought it would sound like a Nissan VQ but it actually sounded like a dying industrial stationary engine with a manifold leak.
Zestyclose-Past-5305@reddit
Chevy 4.3. No matter what exhaust you use or what you do to it, it just sounds like an angry FedEx truck.
SaurSig@reddit
I've heard some that have a nice sounding idle, then it all goes to poop when they get on the gas .
LedNJerry@reddit
As a 4.3 owner, I can confirm. I’ve reached the IDGAF stage on it, though. I’ve had the truck for 19 years. I had to go through and replace my whole exhaust up to the header a couple years ago due to corrosion of the crappy muffler shop exhaust I had done in high school. It now has magnaflow high flow cats and a Corsa catback. Cheaper all around than trying to find stock replacements. If it weren’t on a truck, it would sound mean, but it’s just wrong otherwise. Like I said, I’m pretty over it at this point and the truck is still insanely reliable as my daily.
lordponte@reddit
Yup. Born from a v8. Sounds nice at idle. Then trash lol
Freudianslipangle@reddit
Came for this! And to throw in the 3.8 out of Camaros/Firebirds, and the 2.8 v6 that GM used to put in everything.
stupiduselesstwat@reddit
The 3800 V6 sounds even worse.
Br0boc0p@reddit
3.1 3.8 and 4.3 all have what I call the GM V6 buzz. If you know it you can predict one of those engines approaching you without looking.
Ok_Animal4113@reddit
That is exactly what it sounds like
AdeptDetail4311@reddit
Fuck. The exhaust on my Blazer broke a week ago. I asked the car shop if they could get me a nice sounding a tiny bit louder exhaust. I was hoping i wouldnt see this comment LOL.
Well, hopefully it sounds nice to me and worth the money.
suppaman19@reddit
All 4 cylinders (there are a couple exceptions).
VQ's
Basically the usual offenders you see (and often the ones people try to deck out or think are cool.
Added Hot Take: Any turbo 911 engines. Don't care what you do to them, they can't come close to the non-turbo versions. And I'm not even touching on the 911 Turbo models which always had issues with sounding like shit, strictly talking the switch over for the base, S and GTS back in 17 onward.
IlloChris@reddit
VQs
Daniele323@reddit
Pretty much any American v6.
TROGDOR_X69@reddit
Japanese too. Taco/4 runner/FJ with exhaust sound terrible
Jeeps sound just as bad. That inline 6 keep a stock exhaust please.
Dodge_360@reddit
When I bought my 4Runner I was looking at mods, and coming out of a Challenger I decided to look up exhaust clips on YouTube. I quickly opted to leave the stock pipes on it after that.
rideon7@reddit
Exact same experience with my Tacoma.
Realpotato76@reddit
https://youtu.be/Gp4jpZNj1Wk?si=xPhUwKTT-cDN7ReQ
(Skip to 6:23)
Honda J35 sounds pretty good
IcySeaweed420@reddit
The 2GR sounds great: https://youtu.be/v2DXdKKssRI?si=V-1pAuwrp0Wo89YV
TROGDOR_X69@reddit
its ok. thats my idea of "mid"
kinda like a vr6 VW sound
IcySeaweed420@reddit
Well that’s just, like, your opinion, man
EnlargedChonk@reddit
nah fam I like the sound from the 4.0L OHV Cologne V6 powering my old ranger. It's not sporty, and the mechanical fan noise gets in the way at higher RPM, but when it's working in it's low to mid RPM range where it makes most of its torque it sounds great. Very "industrial" getting shit done type sound that's not loud but exudes confidence in what it's doing. Though I admit that's probably "boring" to most here.
Motor_Panic_5363@reddit
Literally the only V6 I've ever heard that doesn't immediately sound like shit once you get even a little higher in the RPM range. Definitely the exception.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
The GM High-Feature V6 actually sound pretty solid with a good exhaust on them
Apartment_Latter@reddit
Alot of people are confusing the worst sounding engines with cars with bad exhausts
inaccurateTempedesc@reddit
VQs sound glorious with a cold air intake and a tasteful exhaust.
Tee-Sequel@reddit
Stock coupe exhaust with high flow cats cannot be beat.
Intrepid_Plankton_91@reddit
Tasteful or stock?
VesselNBA@reddit
They sound horrid no matter what
modelcitizendc@reddit (OP)
Yea, the intent of the question was more along the lines of what engines can’t be helped by good / tasteful exhaust tuning.
MaxIsSaltyyyy@reddit
Vr30
Best_Poet_7591@reddit
Ford Ecoboost 3.5
Neopixal@reddit
Hyundai elantras
Jdms_Mvp@reddit
VQ 🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺
KittiesRule1968@reddit
I'm a long time (first one was in 1982) Subaru owner/driver/enthusiast and the sound of these things with anything other than a quiet stock exhaust is horrible. They call it "boxer rumble" but to me they sound like a misfiring pile of garbage. I own a highly modified one with that horrible sounding exhausts lol.
Faceit_Solveit@reddit
Subaru boxer engines sound like bags of hammers rattling around under full throttle. My NA 2025 Outback non turbo is a great car with a lousy sounding engine. I blew up previous Subie turbo engines. Twice. 🤷♀️😖
MattTheMechan1c@reddit
Any Toyota 4 cylinder. Raspy and as refined as a waste disposal unit with spoons in it. However that engine will never die.
SuperRowCaptain@reddit
Disagree. 4age, 22r, 3sgte, 2zz, 2ar. Toyota just chokes the fuck out of their econoboxes to make them quiet, in performance applications they sound great.
SnugglesMcBuggles@reddit
I like the way the 2ZZ-GTE sounds, but mostly on the intake side.
Glittering-Show-5521@reddit
Oh goodness yes. The Camry is not great, but the Corolla is awful.
Dzov@reddit
My 09 Corolla sounds smooth as can be.
IcySeaweed420@reddit
2AZ-FE: “We’ll see about that, bucko”
godlords@reddit
Sucks because I would love a hybrid Lexus but the thought of listening to that thing struggle on highways/hills really ruins it for me. Silky smooth V6 with hybrid for regen braking and good city fuel economy is what I want. Alas...
therin_88@reddit
Any V8 with true dual exhaust that comes out the side.
SortofaMillenial@reddit
BMW N20 engine
WoodenWeather5931@reddit
I have a Wrangler with the 2.0L turbo.
Sounds like shit
Affectionate_Art8770@reddit
Diesel
JumboShrimp_0719@reddit
V6's in Camaro's, Mustang's, Raptors, Chargers, Challengers, fullsize trucks, etc...
I know they make more power (stock), are more efficient, increase estrogen etc... I just don't like the combo.
Left_Swimming7767@reddit
Vw
IMFKNLO@reddit
350z
seedees@reddit
Raptor v6
Firestone5555@reddit
Everything...except a 440😀
three_s-works@reddit
Ford 6 cylinder ecoboost, especially paired to a truck. Great little engine but audibly it’s all wrong.
YogurtclosetDull2380@reddit
The twin turbo fart machine
YogurtclosetDull2380@reddit
3.5 Ecoboost
kimi_rules@reddit
Do you people never heard of an inline-3? It's awful and the engine sounds like it wanna jump out.
TROGDOR_X69@reddit
most v6
iv owned a handful and tbh its a on a list of "never put an exhaust"
from chevy to toyota. they all sound like dooo dooooooooooooo
jestem_lama@reddit
V6 can sound really nice tho. Busso is one of the best sounding engines out there.
TROGDOR_X69@reddit
Yea thats 1 example. Nice
and in comparison theres how many of those on the road vs all the other normie V6 that sound like shit
im talking averages here. Your run of the mill average v8 with an exhaust system is gonna sound decent at worst. Great at best
average v6 with exhaust is gonna sound awful. Theres SOME rare motors that sound Ok. just ok. but 98% of V6 sound like hot garbage disposal
my 98 GMC with that vortec v6.....YUK my FJ Cruiser? YUCK
Realpotato76@reddit
https://youtu.be/Gp4jpZNj1Wk?si=xPhUwKTT-cDN7ReQ
6:23
Acura RL/TL-Type S V6 sounds surprisingly good
madlib911@reddit
100% Alfa Romeo Busso V6 Motor is one of the greatest sounding motors ever.
Cobrachimkin@reddit
My F-Type would like a word with you
TROGDOR_X69@reddit
Yea great. a Luxury motor.
Not a typical V6
there are gonna be some decent sounding v6 but on the average like 95% of v6 on the road sound like shit.
Moto_Guzzisti@reddit
Basically every Honda 4-cylinder with aftermarket exhaust. Whatever the reason, their engines sound like ass. Way worse than anyone else's. Fanbois, just do us all a favor and leave the factory exhaust on.
Ars139@reddit
Electric
rjr_2020@reddit
The Mustang Mach-e GT?
HalfFrozenSpeedos@reddit
Euro ford Puma ST (the new ugly crossover thing) factory fart can system / blown exhaust from factory - my like 60 year old loudmouth neighbour has one and it's the height of fucking tragedy, made me wish I could have sorted a focus st estate to show him what a REAL st sounds like (2.3 Vs the 1.5 in the puma) though my 80s sportsbike is almost finished and he will hear that for sure and likely hate it (good, I hope he reviles it)
CivQhore@reddit
VQ. Muffler deleting needs to be a felony and that’s a hill I will die on.
Dunesday_JK@reddit
Whatever joke of an engine they put in those g35’s. Always sounds like trombone packed with poop juice.
9oz_Noodle@reddit
Sounds the same across the board between g35/350z g37/370z, and even the R35 GTR has the trombone noises, but its more acceptable because of the performance lol
bimmervschevy@reddit
The trombone noise isn’t really a massive issue with the VHR engines. They’re really raspy though and you need a resonator to fix that. If you keep that in mind, you can get some great results.
frost-bite999@reddit
that’s not great… it still drones like crazy at some rpms
Jesterhead89@reddit
I've always tried to tell one of my buddies the same thing! He says that would be his poor man's dream car, but I just don't get it?
daredaki-sama@reddit
I think it’s the exhaust that makes them sound bad as a side effect of making them obnoxiously loud.
MightyPenguin@reddit
I LOVE my Tacoma, its lifted with mud tires and supercharged and an absolute blast to bomb around with out in the desert...but the 3.4 has and always will sound terrible sadly.
Meike_Linde@reddit
Golf gti and similar 4 bangers
AO-UES@reddit
VW Bug. Chirp chirp
Enough-Collection-98@reddit
The GM Series II 3800. It’s an outstanding, rugged, reliable, powerful engine that’ll last forever but it sounds like absolute butt and nothing can change that
Buglepost@reddit
Mitsubishi 4G63. Great engine capable of gobs of power. Always sounds like a gigantic prolonged fart no matter what you do to it. Source: have owned a car powered by one.
MAXiMUSpsilo5280@reddit
I really hate the inconsiderate jerks who put straight pipes on their pick up trucks because their penises are too small.
breaulius@reddit
Coyotes.
SomethingClever42068@reddit
2jz
Wobbly5ausage@reddit
Toyota Tacoma/ 4Runners.
Stop changing the exhaust on these, they ALWAYS sound worse
Some_Direction_7971@reddit
Inline-3 Geo engines, they just sound terrible. Also, 90% of Harleys.
trekookoo@reddit
American engines
combong@reddit
Straight piped Toyobaru BR86s
AlternativeUsual9488@reddit
Subaru legacy. It always groans on start up then levels out. Even brand new
Carolina_Hurricane@reddit
S54
Arts251@reddit
I have a 2010 Ford fusion with the 4 cylinder Duratec engine, and though it has been reliable, quite efficient and makes enough power for a commuter car it has always sounded awful - has the upper engine ticking sounds from fuel injectors, some lifter noise and probably also the infamous hairline fracture between two of the cylinders that isn't significant enough to lose coolant but makes some mechanical noise. No sneaking up on people in this car.
ianthony19@reddit
Any vq engine
bigworm35@reddit
First thing that popped into my head was the Honda Shadow VT1100 Shadow. For some reason no matter what you do they all sound like a Briggs & Stratton on crack. Hell even Briggs makes v-twin engines that sound better lol
slowwolfcat@reddit
"bad" as in "no good" ?
Dzov@reddit
It’s all arbitrary with a bunch of people equating loud with good.
Speedy1080p@reddit
My gas lawn mower. Noise as hell. And nothing can be do e except use ear plugs
askjhasdkjhaskdjhsdj@reddit
i mean my 1999 Civic purrs when I rev it high up to highway speeds. First time I did that, I was like, I GET IT. I GET WHY PEOPLE CREAM OVER AN ENGINE.
Verlin_Wayne@reddit
Wangle.
MarkVII88@reddit
Mopar 3.7L Powertech V6. Sounds like a blender loaded with nuts and bolts. POS.
PopularVersion4250@reddit
Holden 3.6
InformationOk3060@reddit
Any car kids love to rice out, like Civics, Altimas, Celicas, ect.
SilenceHacker@reddit
You didnt have to call me out like this 😂
on_Jah_Jahmen@reddit
because they slap on a temu exhaust or remove it entirely.
PrayPhorSnow@reddit
Subaru 2.5
often_awkward@reddit
This is probably an unpopular opinion but I'm going to go with the Dodge Viper. I secretly love the whole idea of that ridiculous car, I even worked extensively on the 4th generation, but that V10 with the sequential firing order just sounds like two tractors fighting. Even as much as I wanted them to sound good it was just two 5-cylinder engines fighting each other rather than a symphonic V10.
setitup3@reddit
The Gen 2 with the exhaust in the back helps with this for sure. Combines the note. But stock, they are too muted.
ford-flex@reddit
Turbocharged V6. You get fun turbo noises but there is NO good exhaust note on these.
Pahlevun@reddit
Audi’s turbo 6 in the S4/S5 sounds pretty good. Disagreed.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
the 296 doesn’t sound great at all
Pahlevun@reddit
Wouldn’t say great especially for a Ferrari but saying it sounds bad is just bs.
StarsandMaple@reddit
Pretty much any V6.
There’s something about V6s that have horrible resonance, but CAN sound good with proper exhaust work… the issue lies in the vast majority of ‘performance’ V6s that are modified, tend to be straight piped.
The CREC Engine from Audi CAN SOUND GOOD, but too many A6/S4 people tend to just cut the resonators and mufflers out and sound just as bad as a 350/G35
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
The V6 in the Giulia Quadrifoglio sounds good to me. Also the one in the ford gt
Funk5oulBrother@reddit
The 2017 Ford GT is a twin turbo V6, and that sounds pretty good with no sound tampering.
WordWithinTheWord@reddit
Because they actually gave it headers. The log-style manifolds that they slap on the 3.5 and 2.7 for space constraints totally kill the sound.
mr_bots@reddit
The Nano engines (3.0 and 2.7) don’t even have exhaust manifolds. They’re cast into the head like most modern V6sz
WordWithinTheWord@reddit
Right yep but it’s just an immediate 3 into 1 casting
mr_bots@reddit
Couldn’t find the anything specific to the nano but did find Toyota’s V35. Looks a lot smoother than one would initially assume.
https://toyota-club.net/files/faq/19-09-10_faq_df_v6/head04.png
WordWithinTheWord@reddit
Yep but that log-style is what makes them sound so lame.
A niche swap for the ecoboost enthusiasts like the RS is to get a 4-port head off a Jaguar or Land Rover and then be able to build a custom exhaust.
Nice sound clip here: https://youtu.be/qslHfdXl-DU?si=HVXazo8EEz5NsfB7
No-Valuable8453@reddit
Audi 2.7T sounds badass.
Carrera_996@reddit
If the flat 6 in my ratty old 911 ever grenades itself, I am replacing it with that. They even make kits for it.
No-Valuable8453@reddit
Yessir! RENN27 doing the lords work for the 996 & 997 swaps!
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
Sacrilege
m4a785m@reddit
The Alfa TT 2.9 in the Stelvio/Giulia QV sounds incredibly good above 3k rpms. Specially with catless downpipes.
House_King@reddit
Most are pretty terrible and it’s easily my least favorite aspiration layout combo, but there are a few that aren’t bad. The first gen rs4, the lp9 gm/holden 2.8, and a few super/hyper cars like the mc20 or the 2016 ford gt are all decent.
Cobrachimkin@reddit
I’ve had multiple turbo 6’s and agree. Went for a rip in our F-type the other day and when I came back I told my wife I don’t want our toys to have turbos because I like being able to hear everything
Useful-ldiot@reddit
You only hear the turbo? I'm running a pretty aggressive amount of boost and I can still hear the motor screaming.
Cobrachimkin@reddit
It’s not that you only hear the turbo necessarily, but compared to the Jag which is supercharged, the turbocharged ones just seem very muted.
Lizpy6688@reddit
I'm so sleep deprived and when I read you didn't want your toys to have turbos,my mind wandered off to "why would you add turbos to your "toys" that's weird"
I should sleep
5141121@reddit
Worst F1 decision in 30 years. The V8 sounded great, and the v10-12 were absolute screamers and why I fell in love with racing to begin with.
MFAD94@reddit
The 3.6L LGX in the Camero sounds good for a V6 IMO. Especially the supercharged ones
AldoSig228@reddit
Fords 3.5 Ecoboost sounds like a fart can.
JunketAccurate@reddit
1987 ford ranger
Salt-Independent-760@reddit
Any diesel that doesn't have stock exhaust.
RangerHikes@reddit
Every lifted diesel bro who puts those idiotic trash can tips on their exhaust and all you hear is whine
No-Restaurant-4715@reddit
Audi 3.0TDI straight pipe has a very aggressive sound.
Eighteen64@reddit
I have a gladiator with a very short 3” turbo back with a resonator and I think it sounds pretty good under wot and at idle cold idle it’s reminiscent of a 6.0 powerstroke on hot idle
Salt-Independent-760@reddit
Unless it's a Mack V8 (even a lowly 375hp), it sounds like ass. Diesels don't really sound nice before 12 or so litres of displacement.
Eighteen64@reddit
Its 360hp/550tq
iBuqX@reddit
Cummins sound amazing
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
God i miss my 7.3
Useful-ldiot@reddit
All you hear is turbo and not in a good way.
ChiefKraut@reddit
And all the turbos sound the same
NoExpression1137@reddit
Yeah but mine is screaming at idle in the parking lot so I’m really cool 🤡
Civil-happiness-2000@reddit
Diesel cars with sports exhaust sound like crap
kermitte777@reddit
Ford Powerstroke clacking bugs me. Coming from gas to diesel, and having a fairly refined ear for gas motors, the powerstroke is just.. triggering. 😂
CameronsTheName@reddit
The Ford Barra engine. 4 litre inline 6, sometimes turbocharged.
With any sort of loud exhaust they just become raspy or tinny and don't produce a nice note. I love the engine, I've had so many of them and made serious power. They just don't sound good in my opinion. I've never heard a properly good sounding Barra.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
Ford 200 and 250 will always sound like riceburners no matter what exhaust you put on them. Even stock with exhaust they sound like they're blowing up the taco bell bathroom, it makes them very annoying to daily drive
nyrb001@reddit
Most GM V6s from the 80s up until about 2008 or so always sound like crap.
Impressive-Lobster77@reddit
Cycles rendering a 100mb production file with 6000 frames at 32k on a laptop with 1gb VRAM (thats if it even renders without crashing)
I’m /s ‘ing as thats a really ridiculous scenario
Motor_Arugula_4282@reddit
VQ series. Boxer Subaru
Callaway1352@reddit
GM 3800. Had a regal GS and just assumed it would sound good with some exhaust but every video I could find sounded terrible.
Raidden77@reddit
I'm gonna be hated and downvoted but it's nothing but the truth : inline 4 cylinders.
The exhaust on your golf gti just make it louder, not nicer.
shmeleuve@reddit
You haven't heard the Stanceworks Ferrari
NoPerspective3192@reddit
Harley. Just a VW with trumpets for pipes
MetalJoe0@reddit
Chrystler and Ford truck V10's sound pretty terrible.
Individual_Map_7392@reddit
Toyota 3SGE
oyakodon-@reddit
3.8 ecotec, unless it's got formula holden spec modifications which is beyond expensive.
DailyCaffine@reddit
The Ford 6.0 (Diesel) sounds terrible.
Papercoffeetable@reddit
Volvo 5 cylinder diesels, it’s just a loud or less loud tractor.
Fit419@reddit
Honda D-series. Honda has a lot of great-sounding 4-bangers, but I swear nothing can make a D-series sound good
FatBobFat96@reddit
Any diesel sounds awful. Rough, rattly and smelly, and that's just the driver.
DubiousPessimist@reddit
Harley Davidson motorcycles.
For the record studies have been done and no louder is not safer. Its been proven again and again.
Probablyawerewolf@reddit
My FA20 frs sounds like it’s going to explode anywhere above 6500 rpm. It’s sounded the same since it was new. Anxiety inducing. Lol
dumbname0192837465@reddit
The newer mustangs sound terrible
Agreeable_Flight4264@reddit
Any twin turbo, but more over a bmw twin turbo.
24STSFNGAwytBOY@reddit
Subarus.
ExpensiveChampion278@reddit
Coyote.
No-Transportation843@reddit
Mustang
The_Real_NaCl@reddit
Ford Ecoboost engines.
slammed430@reddit
I dislike rotaries often
InterestingFactor825@reddit
Do engines have a noise? I thought the sound from a car was mostly exhaust?
orneryasshole@reddit
The engine is making the noise,
Useful-ldiot@reddit
Yes and no. You can change the sound via exhaust but a VQ will always sound like a VQ.
Conspicuous_Ruse@reddit
Big V6s usually sound like ass. 3.x liter V6s from just about any company sounds bad
Bikerbass@reddit
Guess you don’t what a Busso V6 is then
Conspicuous_Ruse@reddit
Is that like the most common large V6 or something that would fall under the category of "usually", or is that an outlier?
Bikerbass@reddit
Take it you haven’t heard a VR6 either then.
There’s a quite a few good sounding 3.0 or bigger V6 I can list here. Granted most are from Europe
Conspicuous_Ruse@reddit
We used to have those in the US too. They're one of the better ones but only once they're tuned within an inch of their life. They still have a bit of that V6 trombone sound.
https://youtu.be/s5IKthNYhVY
Bikerbass@reddit
Ah the USA….. where they don’t want any of the good cars from Europe because they are intimidated by small efficient, yet powerful motors in smaller cars that aren’t stupidly big and oversized.
Conspicuous_Ruse@reddit
Correct. They would look goofy in our massive garages and you could fit like two of em across a single road lane.
Their frames would bend at the enormity of our waste lines.
Because of all that, we have A LOT of big V6 cars and most of them sound bad.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
Whatever that one in the old Mercedes Diesels from the late 80s was, they are the gloopiest sounding engine I've ever heard. Shit sounds like something straight out of spongebob.
Jef_Wheaton@reddit
The day is coming soon when you won't be able to hear a 30+ year-old Iron Duke growling its way up the street and think, "MAIL IS HERE."
Or maybe not. Those LLVs are definitely living up to their name.
jds8254@reddit
Nope. When that happens, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of mail, haha.
"why didn't you pay that bill?"
How could I, the mail never came! Haven't heard the mail trunk in months!
jds8254@reddit
The Iron Duke, sounding awful until after every cockroach on earth is dead. I will never not think of the mail when I hear one.
At least the 2.8 in my Fiero has the Pontiac rasp to it. The Duke is just not right lol. Good 3800 swap candidates!
abou824@reddit
It's bad sounding but so iconic. It's always been the sound of the mail coming for as long as I've been alive.
TapeDaddy@reddit
Mine sounded like a diesel as it rattled away at idle lol.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
We used to have one in an old Chevy Celebrity, the worst part about them is they don't even get the closure of dying and being recycled into a newer Vortec Iron Block V8, because they're ridiculously reliable and will running with the cockroaches after a nuclear bomb drops.
ApprehensiveAd6603@reddit
Most modern 4cyl sound like complete ass.
Carbed ones from the 60/70s sounded awesome though.
mega_rad@reddit
The Toyota v6 they used in 4Runners and trucks literally just sounds like a bayou fan boat. You can hear nothing but mechanical fan noise
Thebreach46@reddit
The newish 2.7 4 cylinder in full size GM truck
systemalias@reddit
most 4 bangers in most new cars.
Cornerweek313@reddit
Planes have been dropping off dead bodies here since 1970(Lunken Airfield) they have flashbacks wash them then cremate them with electronics, unstabbing, and the anuimals flashbacks about my face that broke in the fuel line explosion the males females my household pets reproduction
Suitable_Boat_8739@reddit
My lawnmower
TheJokhar@reddit
Basically any parallel twin that doesn't have a 270° crank
TCivan@reddit
The v6 in 5th gen 4Runner. It’s essentially a shop vac noise.
4boltmain@reddit
Gm 6.2, and 6.5. they just sound like a rock tumbler to me.
RelationNo9374@reddit
Recently drove an integra A spec and a Miata manual. Both those engines sound bad. They get the job done smoothly but there’s no hiding a loud gruff inline 4.
No_Professional_4508@reddit
Rotary engines . Just yuck
Prestigious_Oil5794@reddit
The rattle of a duramax, Then the exhaust sound, the whoosh I was driving a real pickup.
Any-Description8773@reddit
GM 2.2 I can tell that engine just by the tick they had when they were new. Good reliable engine but sounds like trash lol
Dizzy_Veterinarian12@reddit
My 944 😔
I love it though for real. Shout out to four bangers
AdIndependent8932@reddit
Pretty much all 4cyl and V6 engines
1994TeleMan@reddit
Ford 3.8 V6
Afraid-Evidence-5256@reddit
Ecoboost Mustang
Willing-Bit2581@reddit
Kias
Ballamookieofficial@reddit
Toyota 1vd.
Strict_Pie_9834@reddit
All diesels sound like shit.
MarkSpenecer@reddit
Hell no. A BMW inline 6 diesel sounds way nicer to me than any 4 cylinder petrol. And many v6 petrol too.
That_Other_Person@reddit
The entire current Mopar V8 lineup sound horrendous straight piped. It's neat that your hellcat and trackhawk now make 1000whp but they sound like shit and the giant sticker you plastered on the side make it worse.
4x4Welder@reddit
VQ and VR.
Zociety_@reddit
VHR
4x4Welder@reddit
It's surprising that the VG didn't sound that bad, when all of the followups Nissan stuffed into cars at least sound like a shart in a long hallway
Zociety_@reddit
lol yeah there’s not much you can do to a v6 to make it sound good imo. Now an in-line 6 is different. I like those
Pandaemonaeon_NZ@reddit
Nissan SR20 Nissan RB when it doesn't have a turbo (especially with an automatic behind it), even a lot of the turbo ones sound awful. The 3SGE that they put in the Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS200?)
No-Card2461@reddit
Dons flame suit
Volkswagen air cooled flat 4...
BigCarl@reddit
glad im not the only one
nemam111@reddit
5.0 ford. It's loud as fuck but like ... In a garbage can falls down the stairs kinda way.
All the mustangs with it sound like crap. Not sure what it is. I like the sound of Camaros, Challengers what have you... I can hear a mustang from around the corner mainly because it just sounds broken, lame...
mrblahhh@reddit
VQ
West-Librarian-7504@reddit
The modern gm 2.0 I4 motors sound like garbage... actually so does the modern 3.6 V6 now that I think about it
Hot-Gap-7553@reddit
VQ
User_Name_Is_Stupid@reddit
Facts. You know a dumpster trombone when you hear one. 🤜🏻🤛🏻
User_Name_Is_Stupid@reddit
VQ. Dumpster trombones.
KuwatiPigFarmer@reddit
All 6s and 4s that rev less than 13k.
Huge_Sheepherder_310@reddit
KIA, the injectors sound like engine knock. It almost sounds like a Diesel.
kurodoku@reddit
Eco-tick owner form Germany here: same. Love my lil whoosh diesel sounding ahh subcompact though.
NoExpression1137@reddit
It’s really just any modern engine, it’s just most newer cars (that don’t have really old engine designs) have a lot of sound deadening in the engine bay.
Good, modern direct injection is really loud. The BMW B48 will actually hurt your ears if you take the foam cover off.
kurodoku@reddit
The funny thing is, said ecotec isnt a DI and it's a really old engine design (2000's, just revised 3-4 times). It has DOHC, VVT and a turbo, but the base design is old.
It's known as Eco-tick in the states in Chevy Cruzes and such. In Germany it doesn't really have a name, nor is it known as Opel sadly doesn't play much of a role here anymore..
DI engines are loud yeah and most new cars have more foam inside the bay than engine it feels like.
dewrew80@reddit
You can say ass on reddit
inaccurateTempedesc@reddit
It's an issue that plagues all the GEMA alliance engines. The ticking was so bad on my Jeep Patriot that I assumed something was wrong with it, but no they just sound like that lol
le-battleaxe@reddit
Wife has a Sorento. It's easily one of the worst sounding turbo 4 cyl I've ever encountered.
Huge_Sheepherder_310@reddit
Yes, that 1.5 turbo GDI is terrible for a lot of reasons. Sound is just one.
le-battleaxe@reddit
I hate that car. She half hates it. Big buyers remorse, but not much we can do about it now.
Huge_Sheepherder_310@reddit
Yeah, I had a Forte5, same. Dumped it at 55K miles.
Your trade in or sale value on that is about to skyrocket.
le-battleaxe@reddit
Are you thinking the tariffs will have a huge impact? If so, I’m on the other side of the border, so not sure how that’ll impact resale
Huge_Sheepherder_310@reddit
Ahh, sorry. Yes, the used car market in the US is about to go nuts. Agreed, it won't help you.
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
Nissan getting fucking trounced in herr
SpecMTBer84@reddit
5.0 Coyotes with the factory exhaust removed. Great motor, ot gonna lie, but all these mustangs running around with the stock exhaust ripped off are annoying as hell.
-HELLAFELLA-@reddit
The worst, so much noise, so little go
the_one-and_only-nan@reddit
My buddy in high school had a straight piped long tube header 5.0 with a 10 speed. I think that car gave me tinnitus
Lower_Kick268@reddit
No clue why you're getting downvotes for this, Coyotes sound absolutely terrible without a muffler
Vhozite@reddit
The first Mustang I ever drove was a straight piped 13 or 14 GT and i almost didn’t buy my car (2011 GT) because of how dog shit it sounded
ValentinaSauce1337@reddit
V-6's. IDK why but they just sound like whining every time they are under load or revved up. Just, yuck.
suboptimus_maximus@reddit
Nissan VQ!
There's not even a close second. I have had many experiences where I was on the highway or in a parking lot and thought my car was making a funny noise, like a weird vibration or something, only to realize it was a VQ with a loud exhaust a few lanes or parking spaces away.
I used to work at an office near a local community college and if I walked to lunch, I would hear the symphony of G37s and 350/370Zs pulling out of their parking lot and it always cracked me up!
Mr_Diesel13@reddit
Nissan VQ35. I’ve never hear one that didn’t sound awful.
Tanst1395@reddit
Vqs nissan bros fight me
SupermarketFluffy123@reddit
Eco-boost anything
OppressorTron@reddit
Viper V10, Audi R8 V10 both sound terrible. Viper sound like a milk truck, Audi sounds like it has a pound of gravel in the cylinders.
GeneralLeeWON@reddit
I know I'm picky but I'm not a fan of how any 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder engines sound. I've always had my heart with a v8.
74orangebeetle@reddit
The subreddit is supposed to be 'ask car guys' and the top voted answer isn't even an engine... Good job guys.
🤡
toby_wan_kenobe@reddit
Any V6. You can make them sound better than another V6, but no V6 ever sounds as good as a V8, V12, inline 6, or even a 4 banger. I hate the sound of a loud 4 cyl. A loud V6 is worse.
cdixon34@reddit
Old Honda civics, especially straight piped. Sounds like farting into an empty tomato soup can.
f16loader@reddit
Subarus. Especially if they have an aftermarket exhaust. They sound like the noise I’d make for a car when I was 4.
alexanderh24@reddit
What … the EJ engines sound fantastic. You are just wrong
SSWhat2014@reddit
No, they don’t. They sound like an old biplane crashing.
alexanderh24@reddit
WRONG
SSWhat2014@reddit
RIGHT!
The only people that think they sound good are fellow Subaru owners.
Warbly, farty junk.
alexanderh24@reddit
Bro theres no way you don’t like the rumble of unequal length headers
SSWhat2014@reddit
The only flat anything that sounds good is a Porsche.
alexanderh24@reddit
I hate how they sound on cold start and low rpm’s
EveryDayWe@reddit
They sound like rod knock snd burning money.
Lunanautdude@reddit
I’ve got a stock 3.6 I like the sound of, especially when wide open
Pmmeyourfavoriteword@reddit
The Subaru boxer engines are some of the only good sounding 4cyl engines. But to each their own 🤷♂️
snootchiebootchie94@reddit
Agreed. I love they way their boxer engine sounds.
Glittering-Show-5521@reddit
The older boxer engines had a unique sound for sure. I likened it to a Harley. It's actually a little sad not hearing it on the newer motors with VVT. You can still hear a hint of it sometimes on the regular 2.5, but I don't really hear it in my XT with the 2.0.
snootchiebootchie94@reddit
From what I have read, it had to do with the uneven length of the headers due to the positioning of the engine and how it is designed that gave it the distinct sound. I loved it.
Vhozite@reddit
The ones with UEL headers are the decent sounding ones. The rest are meh
stillcantshoot@reddit
Loved the way my STi sounded with a HKS exhaust, my the 350Z I got after sounded like dookie even with the top secret exhaust
AwkwardYeti32@reddit
I hear you. But… what if… resonators with equal length exhaust🤷♂️🤷♂️
parting_soliloquy@reddit
Then it sounds almost like a regular 4cyl
Consistent-Day-434@reddit
It's the unique sound of the unequal ain't exhaust that they like. To me this sometimes sounds like a car with a misfire and other times it sounds good. I don't understand why one car didn't sound good and the other one does with the same motor to me.
Evvmmann@reddit
There’s a lot more to exhaust note than headers. The better sounding Subarus you hear today, are almost always tuned. Unequal length headers gave early Subarus a unique tone, but they aren’t used by Subaru anymore in support for the newer dual scroll turbos that are used.
Consistent-Day-434@reddit
Wow, I didn't think I had to explain that part just stating why the boxer engine traditionally has that unique sound but ok
le-battleaxe@reddit
I love the boxer sound, but hate the majority of them with aftermarket exhausts. Most of the time they sound awful
Electrical-Bacon-81@reddit
Lol, the worse they sound, the faster they go.
EveryDayWe@reddit
This is going to upset the subi bros… “but but but ThEy SoUNd GReaT AND Are UnEquAl LeNgTh blah blah”
Subarus are the Harleys of the cars. Loud and obnoxious and… super slow, like Harleys. They just want attention and believe noise is the best way to get it, like many other high school boys.
From an engineering perspective, the boxer engine makes no sense for a turbo AWD front engine configuration. It’s the sound that keeps the high schoolers coming back.
ptchapin@reddit
Suped up 4 cylinders, sounds like a chainsaw.
AssociateSea5613@reddit
N54, it's a "powerhouse" but sounds like hot fuckin garbage
MedicinalJenker@reddit
Might get hate for this, but almost anything straight piped
JD0x0@reddit
Any 4-stroke single cylinder. It will never not sound like a lawnmower.
Viper V10. IDC how legendary this car is. The fact that it fired 2 cylinders simultaneously gave it a ton of torque, but a very odd exhaust note.
mistertoo@reddit
Dodge / Chrysler 2.4 sound like they got piston slap & lifter noise when they're brand new.
Prestigious-Grand-65@reddit
N20 BMW engines. I have one. And no matter what you do, no matter how healthy it is, you still get that N20 clank.
squatting-Dogg@reddit
Internal combustion?
MDethPOPE@reddit
VQs from 350Zs. I forget but I was told ELH vs UELH compared to G35s?
Entire-Ambassador-94@reddit
The 4.8L vortec in my 01 Sierra. Other 4.8L vortecs sound fine, but I can't get 2 of the cylinders on mine to fire for the life of me.
lender704@reddit
F80 m3
Latios19@reddit
In my experience, this is my exact feeling when driving a Toyota. I’ve owned Corolla, RAV4, Highlander and driven Camry, Yaris, and Avalon. And none of them gave me a pleasure sound when accelerating.
I hated to merge into the highway because every single time you rev those engines it sounds like they’re going to fall apart.
Definitely not a sound that give you goosebumps of excitement lol
prestonjenn98@reddit
Coyotes sound bad no matter what.
jblanton78@reddit
Subaru wrx
Melodic_Fee_5498@reddit
Pretty much any modern (as in the last 20 years) economy car. They either sound like vacuum cleaners or two stroke chainsaws.
ajm91730@reddit
Every v6 that isn't a busso or Detroit diesel.
A-Wolf-4099@reddit
This GUL outboard engine. It's a cheap air cooled throw away engine from the WW2 days. You know there's still some still running.
thebarrcola@reddit
The VW 4 cylinders in the golf r s3 etc. it can get louder but never better.
CelebrationPuzzled90@reddit
BMW N20.
thedirtydave696969@reddit
360 magnum in the mid 90’s dodges. Also V10 fords sound dumb, imo. If a mustang sounded like that, I wouldn’t be upset. But I hate when I pass an excursion that sounds like it’s Italian made.
BreedableToast@reddit
95% of hondas and nissans.
ironeagle2006@reddit
238 Detroit Diesel sounds like a bucket of bolts in the crankcase and it's not going anywhere fast also you risk them running backwards.
epandrsn@reddit
BMW straight-sixes from the 90’s and early 00’s (probably later too, just more familiar with those).
CarCounsel@reddit
I4 turbos generally speaking
Buttchunkblather@reddit
Original Minis always sound like work vans.
2222014@reddit
Coyotes are the v8 VQ, wayy too raspy they sound like a proper v8 with a digeredoo as a muffler.
MrBiggleswerth2@reddit
Ford Ecoboosts
incubusfc@reddit
Inline 6
StrikingFlounder429@reddit
Ford Raptor V6
Flash-635@reddit
Crossplane Ferrari V8 like in a GT 308.
ifallallthetime@reddit
Every engine with less than 8 cylinders unless it's horizontally opposed
snekymouse@reddit
This dude I knew had a Suzuki Samurai and he put cherry bomb mufflers on it. It sounded like a weird moped after that.
AuburnSpeedster@reddit
Anything made by Royal Enfield, lately..
BRING_ME_THE_ENTROPY@reddit
(Probably) unpopular opinion: rotaries sound like shit. Every exhaust I’ve seen put on them just makes them ear piercingly loud and raspy
Northwindlowlander@reddit
Ford Duratecs inline 4s. Well, if you turbo them they sound like any boring turbo 4 pot so that's not so bad.
But they're almost all NA and no matter what they're in from fiestas to fusions to mx5s, they sound like shit. And every exhaust pipe ever made for them makes them worse. I put hotter cams and a decat midpipe in and now it sounds shit AND broken.
Pahlevun@reddit
Gonna go with a controversial one here but the V10 in the E60 M5. That is quite possibly the worst sounding “sports car engine” ever. I get that odd firing V10s never sound as good as even firing ones but holy fuck. The M5 just sounds like AAAHHHH there is no tone no music mo refinement nothing to the sound just loudness. Kind of like a higher revving version of a Viper V10. To think people compare the E60 V10 with ones like the LFA or Gallardo makes me sick
ZombieBreath13@reddit
Corolla
xampl9@reddit
The Toyota 2.4 turbo four cylinder (T24A-FTS) sounds bad to me. Like it has loose bolts inside it.
IMO it should never have been used in Lexus models.
SRTbobby@reddit
VQ motors generally sound awful. The 3.0 Ecoboost also sounds like ass no matter what you do to it
Ilikejdmcars@reddit
BMW S54. It’s just so raspy.
FC1PichZ32@reddit
V6s, mainly VQs.
fuzzycuffs@reddit
Personally I feel like the EA888Gen3 sounds too raspy, and I have a car with one!
dohvb1@reddit
The 4 cylinder hybrid in the new Land Crusier. Didn’t even take it for a test drive. Sales guy started it up, let it run for a bit and moved it a few feet. It sounded like it was dying, can’t imagine what it’s like trying to pass or towing something.
CelestialBeing138@reddit
Rotary always sounds wrong to my ear.
unmanipinfo@reddit
To me they go from sounding great at idle to lawnmower under load. High performance ones obviously different.
CrazyMarlee@reddit
Not always wrong.
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/video-listen-to-a-crazy-mazda-rx-7-group-b-car-rev-to-10000rpm/
GMEStack@reddit
4.9 ford straight 300. Stop putting glass packs on it.it will always be a v6.
dark_arc_fab@reddit
Ecoboost VQ D series
dugg117@reddit
VQ
SR
jxckgg@reddit
Bad exhausts set up ≠ bad stock engine noise
k0uch@reddit
2.7L ecoboost engines in the trucks, in my opinion, never sound good with an aftermarket exhaust.
Also all the kids with the gm 4.8/5.3/6.0/6.s with straight pipes and no cats. Same with coyote 5.0s with super raspy exhausts
stillcantshoot@reddit
V6 Camaros, pukes
FineAssYoungMan@reddit
I’m biased , but I love how bad the indirect injection 1.6 naturally aspirated diesel engine in my mk1 VW golf sound. It’s a unique kinda bad imo.
MadMan2250@reddit
Oh god I love Saabs, but the old Slant B and H engines just sound like garbage. So much lifter noise
EnlargedChonk@reddit
I can't imagine anything being done to the little i4 that powers the chevy aveo that can redeem it.
Senappi@reddit
Mercedes-Benz' 4 cylinder diesels.
PineappleGrandMaster@reddit
Any Honda or Toyota engine. The whole lot of them. At best: the intake noise is tolerable with a whale penis
itsjakerobb@reddit
Inline fours unless they are spinning faster than 6,000rpm — at which point pretty much anything sounds good.
Especially Toyotas. 🤮
1975shovel@reddit
that Subaru WRX.
decimation101@reddit
ecotec and ecoboost. they sound like a stick blender
NeverNotDisappointed@reddit
VQ
Th3yca11mej0@reddit
VQ’s
chevygabe350@reddit
VQs they're decent engines they just sound awful
NoOpportunity3561@reddit
GM odd fire V6 is awful sounding🤢
iMakeUrGrannyCheat69@reddit
1st and 2nd generation ford focus. Give your girl an experience everytime they ride in it ⚡️
CooperSTL@reddit
Not a car, but Jet Skis. I used to work for a boat dealership, when running on a hose they sound like they are going to blow apart.
Hms34@reddit
Camry 4-cyl 2.4 and 2.5, the AZ and AR, were noisy and sound like tractors. They reminded that you should have gotten the V6. The Corolla 1.8 wasn't much better.
Legitimate-Event-420@reddit
Diesel engines!!!
OkMode3813@reddit
unmuffled ones
goranlepuz@reddit
VW diesels.
Some_Call_Me_Danno@reddit
Audi/VW 2.0t
UnderwhelmingAF@reddit
Can confirm. The 2.0T in my Passat sounds like coins rattling around in a dryer when it’s under heavy throttle.
Tulip_King@reddit
VQ sound like shit from the ass
Corninator@reddit
My experience with any type of performance vehicle is limited, so I'm just going with what I know. All Nissan Frontiers sound bad. That 4.0 is a tough motor but it sounds like an air conditioner.
Vicv_@reddit
Just about every v6.
BrokeBankNinja@reddit
718, 4 cylinder
Fart box king for the wealthy
Thereelgerg@reddit
I know I may be alone in this opinion, but I just don't like the sound of an S54.
AGCAce@reddit
VQ engines
Repulsive-Way272@reddit
Pentastar 3.6. There is a piped challenger and a Subaru forester with the exhaust fallen off that go by my house and they sound the same.
ParticularExchange46@reddit
Vq
gapgod2001@reddit
BMW S55 and S58
djg88x@reddit
you're so right. BMW somehow managed to fuck up the sound of a turbo i6 in the S55. Everything that people do to these in the F80/F82 cars makes them sound like a cross between rocks in a garbage disposal and the tool chest falling down the stairs in Home Alone.
matamon_@reddit
Not sure why you're being downvoted. Came here to say the same thing as a former owner.
375InStroke@reddit
Every 4cyl. Aftermarket exhaust just makes them sound worse. How can a 45CID, two cylinder Harley sound good, but these can't?
skspoppa733@reddit
Anything with Honda CVT
kjoe362@reddit
Infiniti
snatch1e@reddit
The Nissan QR25DE always sounds like it's struggling.
Beautiful_Ad_4813@reddit
Ford Dragon 1.5 Turbo 3 Cylinder found in the 2020 Escape
Apparently it’s normal to sound rough
House_King@reddit
Vw 2.0 tsi. I can’t stand the way they sound, even if they made great power.
Machinesmaker@reddit
All imports with fart can mufflers. And Challengers
TheBupherNinja@reddit
Hondas
3800s
ChiknBizkits@reddit
Nissan VQ
Total-Improvement535@reddit
Nissan/Infiniti V6 and… the Coyote 5.0.
People don’t try to make them sound good, they just make them loud as hell and think it’s the same thing.
ninhibited@reddit
Nissan CVT
atkinsonda1@reddit
Almost any v6, you can make the louder, you can go lower pitch, higher pitch, but they always have that off note of the v6. I'm sure there are exceptions, but there always is.
Defiant-Access9572@reddit
My old 2015 Passat with the 1.8T EA888 Gen3 engine literally sounded like a tractor. Owned for 4 years and put over 80k miles on it but never learned to love the sound. It was a rather solid engine, but it reminded me of living on a farm when I was younger. So glad I got rid of it.
davidwal83@reddit
A lot of V6 engines sound terrible. The ones in the 90s all the way up to the turbo 4s sounded like crap. The Z and G only sound good stock. The slightest modification makes it sound like a brass band.
habsfanalreadytaken@reddit
Slant 6
Mattsmith712@reddit
All Subarus sound like an underwater misfire.
All 4 cylinders with a modded exhaust.
Harleys
Hereforthedung@reddit
My 2.0 diesel skoda sounds like i use washers in the oil and every pulley bearing is lubed with sawdust. Few have looked and listened and said that's normal. I had a few Toyotas a d Honda before this so I'm not familiar with this wonderful German engineering... 🙄
Southtxranching@reddit
Dualed out v6
Mr-Garrison@reddit
Ford Raptor v6
Ch1ldish_Cambino@reddit
Literally any VQ ever made
Gregfromva@reddit
Audi 3.0t. Rasp or drone. Pick one.
NoLie129@reddit
Om617. Sounds like pouring gravel into a wheelbarrow.
Italiano1967@reddit
2.7 4 cylinder GM turbo.
MikeWANN@reddit
The answer is once again Miata
No-Valuable8453@reddit
Nissan VQ 🎺
Sweaty_Promotion_972@reddit
Alloytech 3.6
somebodystolemybike@reddit
B16.
TaylorSwiftScatPorn@reddit
Turbo 4's, and all 4's in general. Louder than my ex, whinier than her 6 kids, and grittier than a 40-year smoker snorting black pepper.
Exhaust "improvements" virtually never are.
5141121@reddit
V6 with loud exhaust on a driveway princess truck
spacepope68@reddit
2-cycle engines.
ZimaGotchi@reddit
Non-turbo straight 4s
Sjmurray1@reddit
Plenty of great sounding 4cyls that aren’t a boxer. Alfa 2.0ts Ford BDA Rover K series especially the fruitier ones like the VHPD BMW S14
Lewis358840@reddit
I was disappointed with how the Alfa 2.0t sounded on the Giulia with the stock exhaust. I haven't heard how it sounds with an aftermarket exhaust in person though. I'd imagine it wakes up considerably
Sjmurray1@reddit
Ah no I mean the old Alfa twin cam. That new one has nothing to do with Alfa
Lewis358840@reddit
Oh ok, I definitely agree with you there. I was thinking too new
Tommy_the_Pommy@reddit
Nice to see a nod for the K-series.
aaronskarloey@reddit
C'mon, 4AGE!
HumanNipple@reddit
350z with catless exhaust is a crime against humanity. They sound fine with cats though.
Seaworthypear@reddit
B58, Honda's, and Miata's
bluemagman@reddit
V10. They sound like a loud V6.
SaurSig@reddit
We used to have a couple Ford v10s at my work. One of them had the exhaust reworked and opened up a bit. It sounded very weird, like a different engine at different engine speeds. At certain RPM/load combinations it was like Chewbacca with strep throat.
prawnpie@reddit
Early 90's Subaru Loyale. Those valve lifters clicking.
babicko90@reddit
4pot turbo.
Worth-Every-Penny@reddit
Whatever engine the cheapest base model cars have, after they get a louder muffler put on it.
Shit sounds like my impact driver.
ZZZ-Top@reddit
Vq
Any_Pace_4442@reddit
Ones with no rod bearing
Zombie256@reddit
GM Iron Duke
LeadfootYT@reddit
VQ
KetchupOnThaMeatHo@reddit
Ford 3.5 ecoboost
bigtony8978@reddit
Ecoboost v6 and any Tacoma/ Toyota v6
NaturallyExasperated@reddit
Nissan VQ