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Why the Ferrari F355 sounds so good
- js2 3y agoFor context, here's what it sounds like: https://youtu.be/MCCYMys6aDw?t=890 https://youtu.be/MCCYMys6aDw?t=890 (14:50 in case the time link doesn't work.) And from the video embedded at the end of the article: https://youtu.be/zUU0aW3yyMc?t=32 https://youtu.be/zUU0aW3yyMc?t=32 (32 seconds in.) Meanwhile, here's the Ford GT40: https://youtu.be/KJJ0nIbn_Ts?t=120 https://youtu.be/KJJ0nIbn_Ts?t=120 This is a replica GT40 with a modern Ford 5.0 Coyote V8: https://youtu.be/6g3Ay83JLJE https://youtu.be/6g3Ay83JLJE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine#5.0_L_Coyote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine#5.0_L_Coyo... Now let's listen to a Porsche 917 (flat-12): https://youtu.be/5m8JrGD_ph4?t=82 https://youtu.be/5m8JrGD_ph4?t=82 I'll take that 917 any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Now let's listen to the ugliest sounding motor ever: https://youtu.be/CIwq71KZqbA https://youtu.be/CIwq71KZqbA
- the_sleaze9 3y agoI love the sound of that wankel engine
- pengaru 3y agoICEVs are absurd by modern standards, but sonically speaking the 917 has nothing on the 787B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjwwV20iZYE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjwwV20iZYE
- js2 3y agoI guess you either like the buzzy sound that rotary engines make or you don't. As someone who's been to the 12 Hours of Sebring a bunch of times, I'm not a fan.
- aae42 3y ago4-rotors not so bad, most of the sound in that video is straight cut gears Ferrari had a 2 liter V8 in the 208s that sounded way cooler than it was. My list would probably include the Pagani Zonda for Mercedes v12 goodness. Also the Carrera GT and the Lexus LFA are v10 cars known for their unique wail. Love the sound of a screaming 6 like a Honda cbx as well.
- QLazuli 3y agoHaha that rx7 video is so unfair, all you can hear is the straight cut gears. 4 rotors definitely sound better but it's still a cool sound imo https://youtu.be/MSbMeLE8qf0?t=19 https://youtu.be/MSbMeLE8qf0?t=19
- ce4 3y agoOne of my favourites is the Honda CBX 1000 6 cylinder motorcycle: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MBbskqcgs_o https://youtube.com/watch?v=MBbskqcgs_o
- fauria 3y agoGreat videos, thanks! About the second one, I'll leave this one here in case someone wonders why does the pilot hit the break and throttle pedals at the same time (heel & toe): https://youtu.be/xeoLRWCNGcA https://youtu.be/xeoLRWCNGcA
- _yb2s 3y agoIMO nothing beats the sound of a watercooled Porsche flat 6
- prmoustache 3y agoAnyone who has heard all these cars and then more on a racetrack, especially at the Hunaudières straight in the 24h of Le Mans will assure you the best ever sounding engine was the Matra V12: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tcPgE40t4dc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tcPgE40t4dc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jWmdIKXKh-g&pp=ygUJbWF0cmEgdjEy https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jWmdIKXKh-g&pp=ygUJbWF0cmEgdjE... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xxWJO-SZKW8&pp=ygUJbWF0cmEgdjEy https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xxWJO-SZKW8&pp=ygUJbWF0cmEgdjE... Even the contemporary Ferrari 312 and 512, which were also sounding glorious, couldn't quite match it. Obviously a video will never provide an accurate representation and the current remaining examples have a much lower rev limit than at the time to preserve the engines.
- layer8 3y agoSound like a higher-pitched TIE fighter.
- QLazuli 3y agoI've got to add my favorites too. Rob Dahms 4 rotor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOmDj9iPs5o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOmDj9iPs5o This 240z: https://youtu.be/9PAHenR3JgQ?t=10 https://youtu.be/9PAHenR3JgQ?t=10 Le mans hybrids that sound like world destroying alien spacecraft: https://youtube.com/shorts/HXD5Gao4F5k?feature=share https://youtube.com/shorts/HXD5Gao4F5k?feature=share and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqyGJTioXnc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqyGJTioXnc
- ehnto 3y agoI love the sound rotaries, but they are easily the most painful to the ear in regards to hearing damage. An open exhaust rotary is like a percussive area denial weapon. I had one on track with me and I lifted when we went down the straight together, as they just about blew my ears out.
- lutorm 3y agoMy money is on the 360-degree crank Honda V4s as in the RC30/NC30 bikes: https://youtu.be/uTxe1_MPdiw https://youtu.be/uTxe1_MPdiw
- mulmen 3y agoI love my 1991 VFR400. The Tyga exhaust takes it to a whole new level. Worth every penny. The extra 3500 RPM on top of the RC30 are nice too. Plus an NC30 can be had for about 1/5 the price of an RC30. https://youtu.be/f-1HwvLLNEI https://youtu.be/f-1HwvLLNEI Does a good job capturing the exhaust along with the straight-cut gears in the valvetrain and the intake noise.
- vr46 3y agoThe VFR had such a great unique sound, could hear them approaching in the city. I had a 1998 which didn’t last too long but it was fabulous sounding. Only four cylinder bike I owned, it’s been twins all the way for me otherwise and for my ears, nothing beats the V-twin grin :) But older VFRs before they got heavy are wonderful. On the subject of the article, I hooned an F355 around Silverstone and while it sounded good, it was dull to drive at lower speeds and the Elise spanked it for fun.
- mulmen 3y agoThe VFR400 ran for three generations (NC21, NC24, NC30) from 1986 to 1992. The successor was the RVF400 (NC35) which had a similar (same? different cams?) engine to the NC30 but a different intake and tank and inverted forks. It only ran as late as 1996. There were complimentary VFR750s for some of those years, including as late as 1998. Was your VFR a 400 or 750? If it was a 750 you had one highly desirable bike. From what I understand the last Soichiro himself developed. Regarding the heavy weight in the later 1990s the VFR name was applied to sport touring bikes that had V4s but not big-bang 360 cranks. My NC30 weighs less than 400lb wet and is definitely not a touring bike. Agreed on the V-twins. I would still love to have a RVT1000 but those command too high a price when Ducati Superbikes can be had for half the price.
- sgt 3y agoFor reference, here's the Tesla plaid: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZlBfE6PWQU0 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZlBfE6PWQU0
- wkjagt 3y agoLast year, I was driving through the mountains, behind a motorcycle that sounded so good I had constant goosebumps from it. The sound of it echoing between the mountains, slowing down, accelerating for like 30 minutes was such a special experience. When I was behind it, I didn't know what it was, but I had to find out. When we came to a village, we both stopped at the same traffic light, next to each other, so I could see what it was. It was an Aprilia RSV4. I will never forget it, and the sound it makes. I think the guy on the bike saw the OMG look on my face and we both had a laugh. Here's two videos of how it sounds. I just had goosebumps again watching them a bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WdxhXlLpc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WdxhXlLpc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY_Bca6158s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY_Bca6158s
- Faaak 3y ago> The sound of it echoing between the mountains And sadly, annoying thousands of people during its trip
- wkjagt 3y agoThanks for pointing that out. I hadn't thought of it that way.
- tdehnel 3y agoWaking babies, causing anxiety attacks, generally disturbing the peace for many many people all so a single person can go vroom. I almost entirely always say we should err on the side of more personal freedom, but loud motorcycles need to be completely banned.
- moralestapia 3y ago>loud motorcycles need to be completely banned Agree 1,000%.
- maartenh 3y agoAs a motorcycle drivers myself, I think that the obsession of my fellow drivers with producing loud noises is childish. I really enjoy the acceleration though (when it's safe to e.g. accelerate away from a traffic light or when getting on the freeway). The feeling of way faster responding control, and being exposed to wind, smells, sounds makes it a very relaxing immersive experience for me.
- HybridCurve 3y agoI was always partial to the sound of the Alpha Romeo GTV6: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pJpN5pGCrCw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pJpN5pGCrCw
- ChainOfFools 3y ago> Now let's listen to the ugliest sounding motor ever: Which happened to win LeMans the very first time they tried, humiliating all the Europeans and subsequently being banned
- kristaps 3y ago> As a four-stroke engine only fires twice for every rotation of the crankshaft Should be the other way around, each cyinder fires once every two revolutions.
- mlyle 3y agoYup, I spotted that two. He correctly divided by 2, though.
- rob74 3y agoGood? I'm just imagining what life would be like if all cars sounded that way. And, as anyone who ever had to drive a car with a broken exhaust muffler can say, it's also nothing special...
- morsch 3y agoYup. Made me think of https://nitter.net/GretaThunberg/status/1608056944501178368 https://nitter.net/GretaThunberg/status/1608056944501178368
- tmh88j 3y ago> And, as anyone who ever had to drive a car with a broken exhaust muffler can say, it's also nothing special... Loud isn't the goal, the tone is. The Lexus LFA is a perfect example of this[1]. It's not extremely loud for a car of that caliber, but it's lauded as one of the best sounding cars ever made. Poorly designed exhaust (or no exhaust in the case of your broken muffler) on an otherwise great sounding engine almost always ruins the tone and makes it unbearable to listen to. Bad exhaust on a bad sounding engine is just miserable. [1] https://www.hotcars.com/heres-why-the-lexus-lfas-screaming-v10-sounds-so-good/ https://www.hotcars.com/heres-why-the-lexus-lfas-screaming-v...
- trgn 3y ago> Loud isn't the goal, the tone is. I wish this was actually the case in practice. There s definitely something special and musical about some ice engines, a true sensual experience. But then in practice, people who actually value that (as in, pay money), their cars just ends up being loud and obnoxious. So where are they, all these quiet, beautifully aurally tuned cars (emphasis on quiet)? Not everybody is driving thos3 lexusses just judging from the racket.
- tmh88j 3y ago> So where are they, all these quiet, beautifully aurally tuned cars (emphasis on quiet)? You won't notice them if you're not interested in cars, but there are tons of them and Lexus/Toyota are responsible for quite a few. The RC-F, IS500 and LC500 sound amazing, as did the GS-F and IS-F. Toyota also made some iconic engines such as the 2JZ-GTE in the MKIV Supra and the 2GR engine that Lotus used in the Evora.
- dylan604 3y agoThis reminds me of a fun little experience on a production shoot. The producer had hired a company that specializes in recording the sound of a car. This wasn't just the sounds of the engine running or driving, but the sounds of the car handle from outside and inside, the sound of the door opening/closing again inside/outside. Apply this to every aspect of the car. Pedals, shifters, ignition switches/buttons, trunks, and on and on. Basically, a sound designer's wet dream. This shoot was not meant to have any dialog delivered, it was all about the car, so these were the only sound team available. When a typical snafu with scheduling was announced, we needed to get a quick sound bite from an actor but gear was unavailable. When the producer asked the car company to help out, they were aghast at the gall to even ask them to demean themselves. Ultimately, it was recorded with an iPhone voice memo. The final mix of the car was amazing though
- nimbius 3y agohi, im a professional diesel engine mechanic and can easily explain what youre hearing. Most italian/european sports cars (with the exception of Mercedes in the past 3 years because American customers) have machined their crankshafts as "flatplane" cranks. Flat-plane cranks, no matter what firing order they have, will always alternate from bank to bank. This yields optimum exhaust scavenging and thus doesn't require the more complex header primaries that have to cross over from one bank to the other. Due to their design they don't need huge counterweights, which is why they rev up so quickly. The downside is that they suffer from secondary vibrations and have lower torque. Americans typically machine closer to if not dead-on a crossplane crank or cruciform crank. the four crank pins are positioned in two planes, offset by 90 degrees. Typically the two outer pins are perpendicular to the outer and the two end pins are in one 180-degree plane. exhaust gas scavenging isn't as efficient as with a flat-plane crank, but that sound is worth it. This design necessitates larger counterweights to achieve a proper engine balance. The result is that you don't have the secondary vibration problems associated with flat-plane cranks. But they also don't rev as fast or as high. pick crossplane when you want torque imo. I personally understand that a euro flat-plane crank is superior in its efficiency and power for racing, but the crossplane sound just melts my cold American heart when i hear it.
- xchip 3y agoThanks, this reply is better than the article's
- startupsfail 3y agoHi, I’m a longtime student of the American culture and I think the primary reason why Americans love it so much is because it temporarily masks their tinnitus and not because it melts their cold hearts. Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. adult population — over 25 million Americans — experience some form of tinnitus. And an even larger percentage is suffering from hearing impairments. Broken mufflers and loud engines mask the tinnitus sounds and finally they can relax. This is also the reason why they prefer to hang their Freeways in the air, in the middle of the city. And why their cafes are unbearably loud with the sound of refrigerators competing with the loud music.
- QLazuli 3y agoI'm surprised at how similar it sounds to a Honda S2000. It's making my day to see a Hot Version video on the front page of hacker news, though. They make the best car content imo, and I never would have expected to see it here.
- ehnto 3y agoI love that Hot Version still produce content, and it has barely changed in decades. Perfect enthusiasts content.
- bagels 3y agos2000 has a higher rev limit than most cars, which helps contribute higher frequencies. One of the best sounding 4 cylinders ever made.
- kehrin 3y agoMy thoughts exactly. The F355 sounds like an angry, big 4 cylinder. Very much like a race car (but in street form). Love it.
- ummonk 3y agoFunny, because it doesn't sound good to me really. I prefer more of a rumble (like that from my Subaru's flat boxer engine) than a drone sound like the Ferraris.
- sgt 3y agoDo you also enjoy the sound of a BMW boxer twin motorcycle engine?
- BoorishBears 3y agoSubaru's exhaust note is the textbook definition of drone. To the point that people are sticking steel wool in their stock exhausts: https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2014-stock-wrx-exhaust-drone-fix.822491/ https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2014-stock-wrx-exhaus... I get exhaust notes are subjective, but I've found Subaru owners are the only people who appreciate Subaru exhaust notes, and at which point it starts to feel a bit like a sunk cost thing.
- ummonk 3y agoI expect I'd be annoyed by that sound too if I drove the WRX but I don't. I drive a Forester and don't hear any exhaust note - just the rumble from the engine up front.
- ehnto 3y agoI already know why in general, but a similar detailed breakdown of the sound differences between inline 6 and V6 would be fun. The RB, the JZ, the Australian Barra, all iconic sounding motors to enthusiasts. A breakdown of the difference between the raw sounding RB and clinical JZ would be cool too. Though owning an RB I think the rawness came from the terrible factory timing optical encoders, since upgrading that to more accurate kit it sounds much closer to a JZ.
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- HPsquared 3y agoIt's also because the engine has a 90-degree V-angle, so the cylinders on the left bank are 90 degrees out of phase to the cylinders on the right bank. Each bank is effectively a 4-cylinder which fires once every 180 degrees, so having the two banks 90 degrees offset means the engine fires evenly every 90 degrees, producing a higher-pitched sound. In audio terms, there are no audible "1x engine rotational frequency" or even "0.5x engine rotational frequency" components. It's perceived as an octave higher than an inline-4 at the same RPM.
- iancmceachern 3y agoI'm partial to the sound of the Merlin
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- dekhn 3y agooh, I thought that was the sound of gasoline being wasted. I never realized how much car noise bothered me until I got an EV; it's silent at speed and you hear the wind.
- pornel 3y agoI have no doubt people actually love the sound of the engines, but I think it's an acquired taste through association with fast cars. But once you get used to fast cars without the noise, those ripping engines are just bothersome.
- mauvehaus 3y agoWe have a 1947 Willys Jeep. It is the objectively worst vehicle I've ever driven, but it sounds magnificent. I've not had it into third gear yet, at least in high range. Second is quite fast enough, thank you very much[0]. I assure you it's not just speed. [0] How fast is that? Who knows; the speedometer doesn't work, along with many other things.
- speedgoose 3y agoI always been into internal combustion engine noise for some reasons. I like the harmonics, the vibrations, the feeling of power. It’s wasted energy but it’s fun. But when I’m driving to the kindergarten at 7am, I want silence and peace. When I’m part of the traffic going back home and you have one guy making so much noise for fun while barely moving, I wish for bad things. When you are in the mountains and you hear some middle-aged men enjoying their vibrators with wheels, I wish they would drive electric. I think we should eventually restrict the noisy and smelly cars to racetracks and special events. Like we do for horse carriages. I would gladly make noise in a Ferrari for a few laps in an industrial area far from people.
- ilyt 3y agoI'm similar; I do like nice sounding engine but not necessarily want it loud
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- rmason 3y agoOne of my favorite videos of a Ferrari driven hard is Derek Hill driving a 250 GTO on a hill climb. Note Derek is the son of the former Formula One champion Phil Hill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHgD0wJGcR0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHgD0wJGcR0
- dist-epoch 3y agoMany "sports" car have engine noises intentionally exaggerated. This is why a Maserati crawling along at 10 MPH sounds like it's engine has a pair of bricks inside and is about to explode.
- foxes 3y agoWhy do some people think loud cars or machines sound good? Do you want hearing damage? What makes that attractive to some humans? Have you just forced yourself to like it? I absolutely hate it along with other loud sounds. If you are in the middle of nowhere whatever. But I hate people driving around my suburb in their loud stupid “exotic” sports cars or bikes, it just signals you are a POS.
- ilyt 3y agoI like good sounding ones, sadly loud often comes with that, especially on aftermarket where nobody bothers to make "reasonable volume but nice sounding"
- TacticalCoder 3y agoI own the model just before the F355, the Ferrari 348. A big difference between the two, in addition to the F355's much better handling, is that the F355 has got 5 valves per cylinder (355 is for "3.5 liter / 5 valves per cylinder while 348 stands for "3.4 liter / 8 cylinders and has only 4 valves per cylinder). The music the 348 produces is already beautiful (especially with a non stock exhaust) but the F355 is indeed one of the best sounding V8 of all times. Italians know how to make cars sing. Sadly they don't much about electricity/electronics nor reliability ; )
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