Can you be a car guy who doesn’t enjoy engine sounds?
Posted by DrfluffyMD@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I really like cars. Grew up in SF bay area and was immersed in car culture. Drove a ton growing up, roadtrip acrossed the country 5x. I love spirited driving and actually bought a house on a local mountain road where folks joyride a lot and where I used to joyride growing up, so I spend half of my daily commute canyon carving.
I appreciate ICE sports cars but I REALLY enjoy driving EVs. I like the energy management while driving, the torque etc.
For some reason, engine noise never really appealed to me. My car guy friends love to rev up and down and even decat their vehicle. I get that it’s part of the “emotion/experience”, but I feel plenty of emotion driving my cars and one of my favoriate sound is the motorwhine of my Rivian R1S quad motor.
coopnjaxdad@reddit
Yep. Car guy your way.
As long as you are being safe and not fucking with other folks doing takeovers and shit you are good.
And like just don’t be a dick.
Level-Setting5094@reddit
With an older v8, I like a soothing rumble at highway speed but NOT loud. In my vintage and modern 4wds I like them as quiet as possible. I have snuck up on so much wildlife to photograph only to have a loud sxs come up a mountain road in Colorado and the moose or elk scatter.
Hotrods, performance cars and offroad rigs on the quieter side give me the impression of refinement, tech, and quality. But that’s just me.
DrfluffyMD@reddit (OP)
I actually like the rumble a lot. Its the decatted exhaust that drives me nut
gotcha640@reddit
Another vote for do what you like.
There are amazing racing drivers who don’t know which way up to bolt a wheel on.
There are mechanics who have no particular interest in driving, just like fixing problems.
There are people who love detailing, have a 1992 Corolla they drive every day and has perfect paint and the velour is all combed the same direction.
I’ve been a car guy with a minivan and a base Escape.
Cool-Negotiation7662@reddit
Yes. Sleepers are a thing. Exhaust valves exist. Double mufflers fit with creative piping.
You can have horsepower and quiet. They are not mutually exclusive. Loud is cheaper though.
Interesting-Key-8105@reddit
There's no wrong way to be a car enthusiast. Gatekeepers can suck it.
Fun_Mastodon3230@reddit
This might be pushing it, but A little kid who just has matchbox and hot wheels cars and some car and driver magazines might even be a car enthusiast…
Fun_Mastodon3230@reddit
Yes! It’s all about what makes you happy; some people like nimble sports cars or roadsters, others like luxo land yachts, some people like modding their cars… some people are obsessed with hyperbolic or collecting old cars.
Some people lift their cars ; other people like low riders.
If it makes you happy that’s what matters.
Electric cars are pretty cool and they don’t make the sound of a V8. You can be a car guy and only love EVs.
ForeskinForeman@reddit
What about takeover people?
ratrodder49@reddit
Or squatted truck people?
s4ltydog@reddit
I mean be an enthusiast however you want to be. I drool over the sound of a Subaru flat four, even in my wife’s Outback I just love a good boxer motor. V8’s are just obnoxious to me.
aipac125@reddit
Absolutely. When I am asleep at 3 in the morning, I absolutely hate hearing neighbors rev theirs.
Aggressive_Ask89144@reddit
Natural EV sounds are actually pretty cool and I'm shocked carmakers don't lean into them. I saw a video the other day of a Tesla 3 Performance that took out the back seats (a simple job) and you get to hear the motors and whir and all.
You also have a lot of Prius fiends who drive very particularly to make the funny number go up. Lots of ways to enjoy a car.
DrfluffyMD@reddit (OP)
Yeah. I appreciate the sound of gear shifter in my friend’s Ferrari F360 but I can’t help but to compare it to the sound of EV’s relay closing.
Talentless_Cooking@reddit
As a kid I always liked the sound of the transmission gears, whe wine and wher just sounded so cool to me.
brokensharts@reddit
Yeah, some car guys are in to really gay cars. Its okay
TheKiddIncident@reddit
You like what you like. No wrong likes.
PwillyAlldilly@reddit
I think that’s most miata people. At least I hope so because their cars sound like go karts.
dustyrags@reddit
The first Miata had an exhaust specifically tuned to sound like a vintage sports car.
LoudBrick609@reddit
Well the Miata is the car equivalent of a go cart that's the point
Mykonethreetripleone@reddit
No
Dr---Beeper@reddit
Wtf?
What culture are you speaking of?
Are you talking about want to be hillbillies to spend $1,000 to make their perfectly good exhaust sound like, they need to get their exhaust repaired?
You probably like the sound of your electric butt plug too.
DrfluffyMD@reddit (OP)
I don’t have an electric butt plug but I am glad you like the sound of yours.
Nervous_Hurry_9920@reddit
I don't know what the deleted comment said but now I'm imagining a gas powered butt plug hooked up to a goped/chainsaw/weedwacker engine as the alternative to an electric one
DrfluffyMD@reddit (OP)
Oh you know, the standard comment that suggests EV owners enjoy the sound of their electric butt plug.
xTheGame69@reddit
You can drive whatever you like
My current daily has a fully stock exhaust. Just because I enjoy being stealthy and being able to rip it wherever I please and not have everyone know
afraidofthe-dark@reddit
Yes, I like my cars quiet. If I’m hearing something, it’s the wastegate. I find actual engine noise overwhelming, especially on a daily basis
otterland@reddit
I grew up driving sticks where engine noise was useful for clutch engagement. Then I was engaged to a gal who had a Prius. I hated it the first time I drove it. She told me it was a "me problem" and to let go and just glide and let the technology do its thing. I quickly became a big fan of driving hybrids to the point of being mildly obsessed with hyper miling hers on long trips. I still enjoy a stick but own two automatic Hondas that I do all the work on. I'm looking forward to getting a used electric in the near future. Cars are fun. Tying your personality to the propulsion system limits the fun.
John02904@reddit
Yea why not? Off roaders are a subgroup of car guys and they don’t pay attention to engine sounds. Same with hyper-milers. Or the stance crowd.
Strictly speaking sound is just wasted energy, it may be unavoidable, but if you are into engineering aspects of cars it would make sense not to care about it.
Reddit_Commenter_69@reddit
I've met a good amount of off-road enthusiasts who hate loud aftermarket exhausts especially when they have big showy tips. Purists want to be able to enjoy nature, communicate and maximize departure angle. To each their own.
John02904@reddit
Yea and it cuts both ways too. I know tons of people driving lifted jeeps or pickups that are not car guys and have no clue about off roading or vehicles. It’s like someone buying a rolex for status only. Doesn’t make them a watch enthusiast. Lots of eva and tesla fans like this. Doesn’t mean a car guy can’t be into that stuff though
Ajpeterson@reddit
I’ve got a friend who is very sensitive to noise and wears earmuffs much of the time. He is one of the biggest car guys I know.