Which Cars Sound the Best?
Last week, I started a discussion about the sound of a car. I discussed that there is a difference between sound and noise. I also discussed that sound in a car lends to the entire experience of the car itself. A car that makes noise rather than a nice sound can also have a negative impact on the one experiencing the noise that a car makes. Some of the best sounding cars in the world also happen to be the most desirable. I would even argue that the monetary value of a vehicle is elevated by the sound it produces.
Now, I have no way to prove that, but I have some evidence that this may be the case. We are going to look at some of the best sounding cars in the world. Take a close look at this list and see if you can pick out a trend. Maybe you can’t, and that is OK. It may be that you do see a consistent pattern with all of these vehicles. At any rate, I encourage you to briefly find these cars on YouTube or Google to experience the beautiful sounds that I’m talking about, and hopefully, you may catch a little of the magic. Oh yeah… one more thing before we get into the list.
You need to understand that sound is a subjective thing. Art is also a subjective thing. There are many who appreciate art. I tend not to be one of those people, but I can certainly appreciate a good painting or work of art on a surface level, and even become a little lost in the colors, brush strokes and designs. I have an experience even if it is a brief one even though I don’t actively seek it out. The sound of a car is the same way. Not everyone will understand… not everyone will get it, but the sound of a car is like a small part of the painting. Anybody can get lost in it, and everyone can appreciate, on some level, the symphony of an engine and a good exhaust system. My list of the best sounding cars will be different than the next person’s, but that’s fine! Here’s is my list of the ten best sounding cars in the world… in no particular order of course:
Subaru WRX Sti:
Ah yes… the boxer engine rumble! We start with the only four cylinder engine on the list, and it’s a pretty famous engine in a pretty famous car. The “boxer rumble” is produced because of the uneven header length as the exhaust gasses pulse out of the engine. This produces a booming rumble, and it is completely unique and beautiful. To be fair, I could include almost any Subaru in this list, but the WRX and Sti are the most iconic cars with the boxer. Sadly, Subaru is making some changes to most of these engines which effectively eliminate the unique exhaust note in their latest models.
Lexus LFA:
Everyone knows what a Lexus is. It is a Toyota on steroids, but did you know that they once made one of the most technologically advanced supercars in the world? They did! It was an engineering marvel, and each car costed more to make than what it sold for: $450,000 when new. If you ever have the chance to see one, you will be blown away. If you have the chance to hear one, you will remember the experience your whole life. Yamaha specifically engineered and tuned the exhaust to sound breathtaking. You can even find a YouTube video or two where the LFA is used to break glass with its high-pitched exhaust tones.
Jaguar F Type:
This is a fairly new car on the scene. Generally speaking, most of Jaguar’s performance cars sound pretty good, but the F Type is the king. Offered in V-6 and V-8 variants, the smaller engine doesn’t sound half bad. Add the two extra cylinders and you have a car that arguably sounds the best in the history of the automobile. A deep roar can be heard as the gas pedal is slammed to the floor, but to add insult to injury, the car cracks and pops like fireworks on the fourth of July when left to coast from a hard pull.
Porsche Carrera GT:
Ultra rare and unlike any other Porsche, the Carrera GT doesn’t have the traditional Boxer 6 cylinder engine. It is also arguably one of the best cars ever made… period. The V-10 engine used in the car was derived from a Formula 1 car racing engine. It is from this that the heavenly sound is produced. When I say “heavenly”, I mean it. The sound that the V-10 produces notes like the scream of a thousand angels cheering on their favorite sports team. It is epic…
Nissan 350Z and 370Z/Infiniti G35 and G37
While the Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35 use the previous version of the V-6 engine used in the 370Z and G37, both engines make a wonderful sound. Both of these engines were and are used in a surprising amount of other Nissan models, but none are tuned to produce the sound of the aforementioned cars. The VQ35HR engine – the older of the two – produces a more musical howl than the slightly coarser sounding VQ37VHR. While both sound just different enough to be distinguishable from each other, both engines sing to the world when revved.
Lamborghini Aventador
One of Lamborghini’s most recent hyper cars, the Aventador has a V-12 that howls. It isn’t annoying or sorrowful, but rather it’s exciting and crisp to hear. The Aventador isn’t the only car in which this engine makes its home, but it is probably the most well known. Hearing one will definitely give anybody a spine tingling chill, but it certainly also makes the driver want to push the car harder for the shear enjoyment of such a sound.
Ferrari F355
Any list like this wouldn’t be complete without mention of a Ferrari… After all, Ferrari is kind of like the benchmark for any supercar. My choice may come as a surprise to some, but maybe for others, not so much. For me, I would take any variant of the 355 for this list. What may come as a surprise to some is that the 355 was powered by only a V-8 engine. Most people think of a Ferrari as a super powerful, exotic car that is untouchable to most because of the cost to own and resale value. In terms of performance, by today’s standards, the 355 is really not incredibly far from the Mustangs, Chargers, and even some high-end family sedans available on the market. In terms of cost, well… it’s a Ferrari, but the 355 is fairly reasonable by comparison. As for the sound… the car is virtually unrivaled. It produces music more than sound, and I would personally pay money just to hear one drive by my house.
Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin is not the most popular car brand in America, so a lot of people here haven’t had the pleasure of encountering one in the wild. Like Ferrari, I could probably put just about any of the Aston Martin line on this list, both past and present. However, I am going to single out the Vanquish. It is one of the more sporty vehicles in the line, but Aston Martin, being British is always proper. The sound of a typical Aston Martin is deep and rich. It is never raspy or harsh. The Vanquish is no exception and with a wave of a hat… or rather a slight touch of the accelerator, the car roars to life. The sound is full and satisfying all while never being impolite or too loud… It is indeed, British, through and through.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT 350
In contrast to the Aston Martin, the Shelby GT 350 wants to make its presence known to everyone within a 10 mile radius of your location. The exhaust fits the car really well. It’s also very difficult to imagine the car without the sound it produces. The GT 350 was highly anticipated with the release of the newly redesigned Mustang for the 2015. While the Shelby’s younger brother, the Mustang GT, is a great car by itself, that car is often criticized for being a little too quiet in stock form. Of course that can be rectified with a good system. The Shelby needs no extra system to be louder, and I would venture to say that it walks the line of the “too loud” border. Rest assured that though you may not see a Shelby GT 350 everyday on the street, the minute somebody starts one somewhere in the world, you will know.
Audi RS 6
Currently in its third generation, the Audi RS 6 has two very unique characteristics. The first is that it is actually available in a station wagon body type called the Avant. The second is the sound of the car. The car grumbles. There is almost no other way to put it. The third generation’s V-8 exhaust note is very rounded and thick. It doesn’t scream and wail like some of the other cars on the list, but that is part of the reason it is so unique. On top of this, it doesn’t sound like an American muscle car either. If you have the fortune to hear one in person, you had better document it, because you may never have the chance to shake the hand of the man or woman who brought you your own personalized concert.
So that’s it everyone. Of course there will be people that say I missed this car or that car, and I did. Just remember that this is subjective. My list will be different than the next person’s list. Just for kicks and giggles though, here are some cars that I would very well put on a longer list:
Dodge Challenger/Charger Hellcat
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Volkswagen Passat W8
Nissan Skyline R32/R33/R34
BMW M3 E46
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8
Hondas with the “G Series” 5 cylinder engine
Just about any car with a big block Chevy V-8
Now that you know about some of the best sounding cars in the world, go find them on YouTube and see for yourself which cars sound the best to you!
–SWF
