Loud exhaust, does the general public care?

[Jack960]

I don't see how Harley's get away with it. Some of those have made my ears ache for hours, yet they don't get in trouble. My mate got EPA'd by an undercover cop and it costed him heaps, ended up only being a few dB over the limit.

[2011G6E]

Simple...own a Harely, put straight through open pipes on it with no mufflers, and you'll never have to worry about noise regulations again, as the laws regarding exhaust noise obviously have a exemption for them...
It's one of the mysteries of life...have a buggered muffler in your car making a bit of a backfire or blat, and you'll get fined heavily. Run a Harley...even a brand new one...with open pipes and literally no muffling at all, and the cops don't bat an eyelid. It's puzzled the rest of us motorcyclists for decades...

It is possible to have a quiet exhaust and still make real power. My son used to subscribe to an import car magazine...Auto Salon I believe...and it had a yearly comp which was called something like "Street car of the year". It was the most real-world, realistic set of tests I've ever seen in any magazine apart from possibly Wheels COTY.
The cars couldn't just be the most wildly modified or most powerful...they had to pass a long series of tests. First, they had to pass a proper roadworthy test to the standards of whatever state the car was from. Then, they had to do a braking test...this was a real world braking test, as if you'd just hopped in the car and drove off down the street, then had to slam on the brakes for an emergency stop. This meant the guys with massive competition brakes and pads that had to be really hot to even work were at a disadvantage. Some of the cars with huge carbon brakes and massive multi-piston calipers and racing compound pads, which were being driven on the streets regularly, actually stopped in far longer distances than a standard car would have...in the real world away from a racetrack, they're brakes never got hot enough.
Then they had to do a traffic test, to see if they overheated or just became pigs in real traffic. There were other tests as well, but the exhaust noise one was amazing.
The overall winner was a highly modified R32 Skyline GTR, which was putting out nearly 750hp...yet the exhaust noise was only 86dB...less than that required for a factory standard car. This as attained through an extremely carefully designed exhaust system.

Might not have been the loudest, look-at-me-look-at-me car around, but 750hp...


Get a proper shop to do a well designed system, and you can have a nice exhaust note (as opposed to "noise"...theres a difference) and an efficient system . The whole neighbourhood mightn't know when you're coming home from work, but the boys in blue won't glare sharply in your direction even time you drive past...

[Franco Cozzo]

I ordered the Pex 2.5" cat back exhaust for my EL because it has 2 mufflers and a resonator, rather than the single muffler redback system.

I'm cammed, head work and full exhaust, its still a touch too loud for my tastes though, my neighbor says he can hear it if he is awake when I start it up to let it idle before I leave for work at 5:45AM.

My GMC Sierra, the exhaust isn't loud but the engine is, its probably as loud as the Falcon exhaust, especially when its cold.

Its louder front on than if you're behind it.

[paule11]

Had neighbours with Harleys that was sometimes annoying had neighbours with fart cannons and 4 inch exhausts on 4 cylinders that was always annoying.

[Streets]

Originally Posted by mikeeman_ford

So if you can afford a Varex, go for it.

Aren't these illegal full stop?

I used to have a similar setup on my 351. It was lots of fun, never got pulled over, but I got rid of it eventually because I was afraid of the possible legal ramifications.

[calais]

I have a harley, and I live in a highrise apartment complex. I am considerate to my neighbours.

It never gets started in the underground carpark, at idle its reasonable and thats how I roll down the street in suburban areas...... Out on the open road it has a fair bark and I dont mind.

My neighbours compliment me on my manners and on the bike when they see me getting ready for an outing. Not firing her up at 5am and having a little consideration will do that.

It isnt hard to just look around and see that you arent the only person on this planet.

[calais]

I have a harley, and I live in a highrise apartment complex. I am considerate to my neighbours.

It never gets started in the underground carpark, at idle its reasonable and thats how I roll down the street in suburban areas...... Out on the open road it has a fair bark and I dont mind.

My neighbours compliment me on my manners and on the bike when they see me getting ready for an outing. Not firing her up at 5am and having a little consideration will do that.

It isnt hard to just look around and see that you arent the only person on this planet.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

The problem with these cretins seems to be that they fail to understand that without mufflers even a 2cylinder Suzuki mighty boy is impossibly loud

That's a bit rich - they are 3 cylinders.

[duaned]

I don't give a damn if your car has a loud exhaust or not. To others though you are a to$$er and a hoon. Probably right, but personally, my time is better spent thinking about the more important things in life. You know, food, sex, money, the list goes on!

[Cuyper]

If you have a v12 ferrari feel free to drive past my house exhaustless. Just don't annoy me with a stinking six cylinder. Fours and eights sound OK

[mr smith]

Must be an old dude thing, I would never had said this 20 yrs ago but I now think the following is pox; too loud, too low, rims too big, paint too bright.
Always thought fatting up over sound systems was stupid.

[GazzF6]

The main offenders seem to be the V8 Commordore crew...
All Bark no Bite mostly

[Psi-Pop]

My car is very loud, its a very low and deep cammy sound from the 4" exhaust, no complaints so far. I always let next door know if I'm going out early as i have to warm it up before it will move properly.

I'm sure most people look at me driving down the street and think I'm some poor bloke with a hole in a muffler (fake exhaust exits). I'm sure other people think I'm a horrible person with a horrible noise. The last lot of people hear the wastegate open and have gone deaf and cant work out what the hell just happened.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

And there it is. Even if your car is loud, the old saying is: don't crap in your own nest.

Try explaining this to the pack of muppets several houses down from me who seem to want to drive flat out every time they go to/leave the house. Mostly on motorcycles with obnoxiously loud straight through exhausts (regardless of what you think, a 250 Hyosung with no muffler does not sound 'cool' or anywhere remotely like it). These guys must be extra special drop kicks though because they seem to drive everywhere flat out and feel the need to go to/from the house 50,000 times a day. I've subscribed to the theory that if their riding behavior is like their driving behavior, Darwin will sort them out soon enough.

late at night..

hide in bushs of neighbours house with an old bridgestone supercat..

lob old bridgestone supercat in front of annoying motorbike person..

leg it back home....

[Spurious]

The worst thing you can do is tell the muppets it annoys you...they'll do it deliberately and even louder. I used to have this nut in a v8 commy ute (of course), repeatedly opening the throttle as he new it ****ed me off. (he would enter the street quiet & blat it at my place, flip me the bird n' all). Til' one day I spoke with one of his mates across the road and simply said "your mate's lucky he left the street without the burnout yesty....I was filming him & I will every time I here his car from now on"! I'm sure it ****ed 'ol commy ute off but he toned it down shortly there after. It helped that the guy I spoke to was a better man, he convinced his friends not to crap in his & our street. After the first few time you witness it just grab a decent sized mate & politely confront the offenders. just keep it real, honest & to the point (don't enter a slanging match from across the street), tell em' it's not on & they know it. Say things like "you wouldn't like me doing that past you mums or gramps house so take it easy". Maybe get on their good side by asking the offenders about their car or bike....they will want to talk to you then! People loooooooove to talk about themselves.

[Spurious]

I have a sweet sounding exhaust tone and it roars when I tell it to. As I get older though the novelty is wearing off & I make an effort not to frighten old ladies as I drive past. Problem is that not every one has been raised with the same excellent moral standards as those who've replied to this thread. (brownie points, thankyou!). Best thing you can do, if your not on your own driveway, is rip out the phone & pretend to film the hooning lout. Nowadays everyone knows the power of "video evidence".

[Madaya]

A few words from Captain Quiet! I don't know where my desire for silent mechanical devices came from, but it's been there since I was a lad. Oh, and I totally love good quality ear popping music, I have Loud Speakers 6ft tall, 3ft across, but great HiFi quality, so no, I have no problem with loud.
But seriously
A Harley is a fine machine. A big V twin, hell, if I was rich, I would buy one just for fun. A good mate rides a Yamaha MT-01, a 1670cc twin, it would flog the Harley in every way. A slightly warmed street MT ran a 1/4 at 11.77. I can hardly hear it coming or going.
This idea that a loud bike is a safety factor is bull. I've been cruising on the highway...Ah ha, a Harley coming up in the rear vision mirror. You don't actually hear it until it's passing you - to late if I made some sudden lane change or avoidance manoeuver. On the road, visibility, rather than noise is the priority.
Loud bikes and cars are very much a 'look at me, look at me, LOOK AT ME' !!! The power gains are pretty much zip, unless you have a car setup for full on racing - i.e. cannot be driven on the public road.
Like I say, if I want to go fast or quick, I either buy another car or go racing and spend thousands of $$$. Or I spend a few hundred, (on sound deadener stuff) go just as fast and quicker than most factory stock cars whilst being able to chat with my passenger, listen to nice music and watch the world open before me and just disappear in my rear vision mirror.
Cheers

[T3rminator]

I think it really depends how you use it. If you let it scream in residential small streets or in car parks, then you are just asking for trouble. Just common sense really.

I've recently fitted a catback system on the 3v, and at first it was loud and boomy. I was really worried my neighbours would complain, so have sourced an alternative in case they do. But just the other day one of my neighbours gave the thumbs up as I was driving in, so that is one I don't have to worry about.

If you have a loud exhaust, don't let it idle in your driveway for too long, and don't boot it in areas where it will echo. Common courtesy.

[Spurious]

[QUOTE=Madaya;4797850]
A Harley is a fine machine. A big V twin, hell, if I was rich, I would buy one just for fun.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The harley noise is, as the smell of a 2 stroke is....BEAUTIFUL! Besides, who in their right mind is going to confront a big leather clad bearded guy on a Harley & ask him to "pipe down". (stereo type yes I know) Seriously it 'aint worth the risk. Put the shoe on the other foot for a mo', If I had the doe' I would like to own a Harley for a while. Pure freedom on the open road. The stereo type can get you into hot water though. A cous' of mine bought a Harley davidson 'fat boy' years ago, a work of art (TERMINATOR 2, Arnold style), unfortunately he was forced to sell it after the local bikie gang leader said....."I like your bike"!

[Neale]

I had girlfriends neighbour complain about how loud my standard 2l focus is at idle. She also whinged when my girlfriend didn't park he car in the garage because it made the street look untidy. Some people are just pains in the ****.

Like what's been said, if you don't act like a DH then you probably wont be hassled about a noisy car.

The only thing that annoys me is there is a roundabout out the front of where I work in a residential area. There are a lot of trucks use that road & a lot of them will use the exhaust brake approaching the roundabout & then floor it again exiting the roundabout. With some of the old trucks you cant even hear the radio over them when they go past.

[MercurySilver]

Only when they are idiots and leave it in second revving off its nuts coming home at 2am in a quiet country town.
Trying to proove god knows what.

[stace650]

The lovely older lady that lives next to us told my wife she likes hearing my GT arrive home. (It's pretty loud but I just crawl into the driveway). She said it makes her feel secure knowing I'm home. And she like the 'big gold car'. Nice.

[Random Ranger]

Interesting how many of these tossers are in commodores! (I know, ford forum)
Seems falcons are the domain of the hoons/******* here in Cobram, all six cylinder pov packs with 20s and "racing" exhausts, 1000hp when it rains and sitting on the limiter,
Makes me ashamed of being a car enthusiast.

[Spurious]

Hey(light bulb going on)...thats the reason holden is still in business, people that own 'em flog 'em...then they break and got's to buy's a new one....to flog!

[Thornie]

I can't understand harleys either though I'm not much of a fan I prefer late model jap bikes but there's a guy a couple of doors up from me leaves for work about half an hour before I do, I hear him start it, but he eases so quietly out of the street you dont even hear him leave. Iwas going to get another exhaust for my 8 but its quiet when i'm doing the speeds we're aloud to do and growls like an 8 when you open the throttle up a bit.

[jpd80]

If you get it wrong, sometimes the exhaust is noisier inside the car than outside.....

[UberKnee]

Never had any issues with it personally. My old VZ Ute was cammed and ran hotdog mufflers in the rear. Being a Chippie I was off to work at 7 in the morning but never had any complaints. Even the fuzz when they pulled me up only cared about how low it was, and when putting it over the pits they didn't even check db level.

[OCTANEBOSS]

Nothing wrong with loud exhausts as long as the tune compliments the noise.

[MITCHAY]

I'm sure most people wouldn't care if you don't drive around at all times of the night/early morning with the boot in it. Same with car stereos. Time and place.

[trentski]

people that have vehicles with loud exhausts are inconsiderate people, it's nothing but noise pollution.