I've never been a big "sound guy". Granted I'm looking at exhausts for my BRZ simply because the OEM one is...um...not great, but in general I prefer a more quiet experience regardless of how fast I'm going and working the car.
Very interesting point, and proof that we all get something different out of our common hobby.
I'd say engine sound and feel sits at the top of my list when it comes to cars. To me, the engine forms the majority of a cars character, which then becomes a make or break deal. For example, I've owned or driven cars that were extremely capable as a total package, excellent ride, handling, steering, braking, styling, interior presentation, up to date technology...........................but I ended up not falling in love because of how bland they sounded.
The problem is, over the last 15-years, engines have become more and more sanitized and standardized across the car industry, so they all do roughly the same thing, and all sound virtually identical. Which is such a shame because the decade prior to that was the golden age of internal combustion cars and engines. The V10 Lexus LFA, N/A Ferrari V8's, the BMW M V8 & V10, the E46 M3 3.2, the naturally aspirated flat 6 Porche's, V8 and V12 Aston Martin's, Jaguar's, 5.4 and 6.3 V8 AMG's, VW VR6, hell even that throbby beat of a flat-4 Subaru WRX.
While I waited two years for Ford to build me a Mustang, I had the Supra and BMW M2 on my list. I've always wanted a BMW inline 6, and both Supra and M2 would have been a far better quality proposition, but I just cannot stand that fake engine sound they pump into the cabin through the speakers. The engines themselves have that lovely inline 6 rasp, the fake noise isn't needed. All they have done is made a REAL car sound like a racing simulator. I ended up staying with a Mustang because of the naturally aspirated a sound and feel.
I'm not entirely sure why, but engines have always fascinated me. I grew up in a country where "everyone talks V8, but drive a 6". In a basic sense, your first car was a 6-cylinder Falcon or Commodore, and if you were that way inclined, you go on to have a V8 at some point. And I certainly followed that path, but I always loved the diversity of different engine layouts and cylinder counts.
Back in the mid-2000's, I remember being at a car event in town and a fabled E46 M3 CSL turned up. While I was having an eargasm as it punted around a short gymkhana course, my mate thought it sounded like crap. What! No! Never! If you looked up "induction sound" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of the 3.2 M3 CSL engine. Probably my holy grail engine.
Then there is the Jaguar 5.0 V8, at its best in the F-Type R or SVR. This is one of those rare occasions where the induction and exhaust notes were equally good, as apposed to one dominating the other. And note how JLR keep the character in their forced induction engines, don't get me started on AMG and BMW turbo V8's, total trash. How could you not fall in love with the sound of that engine.
While on the V8, I've always had a thing for the Lexus 5.0 V8 as used in the ISF, GSF, RCF and LC500. By no means is it the most powerful engine, or as fast as a German competitor, but at least I'd enjoy listening to it. Again, induction and exhaust, oh and that rev limiter sound is just epic. Who would have thought Lexus could make such a beast.
And a long-term dream car, the old 5.9 Mondeo V12 used in the Aston Martin DB9. The earlier examples were better.
And while on Porsche, I'd actually take the GT4 RS over the 911's. While they technically have the same 4.0 flat-6, the GT4's version has that metallic rasp over the last 1000 revs. Apparently, it's so loud that it can be quite fatiguing. This one is all induction note for me, the exhaust is ok but not where its best heard from.
Anyway, I'll never be in a position to buy any of those dream cars. Still, its nice to dream via Youtube.
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