Car Throttle

One topic that automotive enthusiasts can never seem to agree on is: what is the best-sounding car? I realize it’s a HIGHLY subjective field, and there isn’t a possible definitive answer.  Everyone has different tastes in what sounds good -- heck, some people think Harley V-Twin’s sound good -- but I’ve compiled my top ten favorite automotive noises here for you to pass your judgement on.  I think they cover a wide spread, but I welcome your comments and critiques on my choices.

10) Subaru EJ20ET

Displacement: 2.0L
Mechanical Layout: 180° Horizontally-opposed Flat Four
Valvetrain: Dual overhead cam, 4v/cyl
Aspiration: Turbocharged
Applications: Subaru WRX

The EJ20 is one of the most unique sounding powerplants out there.  It’s got this off-beat staccato burble to it that’s just ummistakable -- you can always tell when a souped-up Scooby is coming down the road.  The truth is, it’s science -- it’s the unequal length headers and single-scroll turbocharger that give it that odd resonance.  STi “fixed” this “problem” in later GD-generation Imprezas, and they’ve never quite sounded the same.  For your aural amusement:

9) Volkswagen 24v VR6

Displacement: 2.8L/3.2L
Mechanical Layout: 15° V6 with shared head
Valvetrain: DOHC, 24v
Aspiration: atmospheric
Application: VW Jetta VR6/GLI, GTI VR6, R32, etc.

The VR6 has an absolutely delicious sound to it when it’s been uncorked.  It’s mostly due to the 15º angle of the V as well as the shared head -- making it more like a “staggered” inline 6 than a real V6, but whatever.  It sounds like a mixture of BMW straight six and Porsche air-cooled flat six, both of which sound amazing to my ears.  And it’s always coming out of such innocuous looking hatchbacks and stuff…  lovely sound.

8) Nissan VQ35DE

Nissan VQ’s seems to have two voices: one high-pitched, metallic and full of valvetrain noise like an old high-strung race engine.  The other voice is a little darker, a little deeper and more melliflous, a big dog’s bark.  It’s an instantly recogizable sound, and it’s s ound that comes out of a myriad of different tailpipes -- the VQ is under the hood of a large majority of Nissan/Infiniti Products.  And with good reason -- it’s been on Ward’s 10 Best engines every year since the award’s inception in 1995.  Bask in the glory.

Displacement: 3.0L/ 3.5L/ 3.7L
Mechanical Layout: V6
Valvetrain: DOHC, 24v
Aspiration: atmospheric
Application: Everything from the 350Z to the Maxima to the Quest minivan to the Pathfinder…

7) BMW S54B32

Displacement: 3.2L
Mechanical Layout: Inline 6
Valvetrain: VANOS, DOHC, 24v, ITB
Aspiration: Atmospheric, Baby!
Application: BMW M3/Convertible, Z4 M Roadster/Coupe

Race bred, knife-edge honed to perfection, and meaner than a bobcat in your basement.  That about describes the sounds that emanate from the rear end of E46 M3′s.  It’s that raw, metallic rasp that is so distinctive -- sure, it’s muffled up nice and quietly in most other BMW’s, but the M3 has the full vocal range it deserves.  And oh what a range -- 8,000+ rpm of screaming BMW is always nice.

6) Audi RS4 4.2L FSI V8

Displacement: 4.2L
Valvetrain: DOHC, 32v, Direct Injection
Aspiration: Natural
Application

It’s hard to put your finger on quite why the RS4′s V8 sounds so damn amazing.  But you can’t argue it doesn’t.  Maybe it’s the basso profundo undertone and the high-rev wail of 8,250 rpm.  Maybe it’s the throttle growl with open exhaust.  Who knows?  But the RS4 V8, used in the RS4 super-sedan as well as the R8 supercar, sounds magnificent.  My goodness.

5) GM Gen II/III Small Block V8

Displacement: 5.7L/6.0L/6.2L/7.0L
Mechanical Layout: V8
Valvetrain: cam-in-block, 16 valves
Aspiration: natural
Application: Chevrolet Camaro Z28/SS, Corvette, Z06, ZR1, Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac GTO, many others.

You just can’t have a list of “best sounding engines” without a gold old-fashioned American pushrod V8, and as far as sounding nasty and V8-ey, the LSx is where it’s at.   It’s a simplistic sound, a huge amount of induction roar as 348 cubic inches (LS1 guys, you know it’s true) haul your F-body down the road faster than the other next F-body next to you.  Redneck noise?  Perhaps.  But LS is GM for POWER,  and the LSx has it everywhere -- in a lightweight package.  That’s why there’s so many of the blasted things everywhere, blaring out that so well-known V8 rumble.  You gotta love it.

4) Audi 10v/ 20v Inline-5

Displacement: 2.1L/2.2L
Mechanical Layout: Inline 5 cylinder
Valvetrain: (dual)overhead cam, 10 valve (single cam) 20 valve (twin cam)
Aspiration: turbocharged
Application: Audi 5000 Turbo Quattro, Audi quattro, Audi 200 20v, Audi (ur)S4 and S6, etc.

Audi’s 5-banger has an absolutely distinctive howl to it that you just won’t mistake for anything else.  It’s knife-edged sharp, but has a touch of a warble to it -- that extra cylinder makes for some interesti ng harmonies.  A glorious sound in WRC trim.

3) Honda C32B

Displacement: 3.2L
Mechanical Layout: V6
Valvetrain: Dual overhead camshafts, 24 valve
Aspiration: Natural
Application: Acura/Honda NSX

The crown jewel of Honda’s engine stable -- and considering Honda is a brand that’s always been about the engine -- that says a lot.  The C32B was the second iteration on the NSX supercar engine, evolving from the 3.0L C30A  into 3.2L 290bhp spec.  It has a wonderfully mechanical, raw sound to it -- and it just revs forever and ever.  Lovely.

2) Lamborghini Twin-Cam V12

Displacement: 5.2L
Mechanical Layout: V10
Valvetrain: Dual Overhead Camshafts, 48 valves
Aspiration: Natural
Application: Lamborghini Countach

Do words really need to be said?  Just listen to the clips.

1) Porsche Carrera GT V10

Displacement: 5.7L
Mechanical Layout: V10
Valvetrain: Dual Overhead Camshafts, 40 valves
Aspiration: natural
Application: Porsche Carrera GT

Race-bred lightweight V10, the cream of the crop of Porsche’s road-going cars, an astronomic redline, a flywheel so light it sounds like there isn’t one -- the Carrera GT’s engine is aurul venom, headed straight for the center of your brain via your eardrums.  You’ll shiver.  It wins.

Well, that’s my top ten.  Feel free to leave what you think should be honerable mentions in the comments.  I personally am heartbroken that I can’t fit in the E92 M3′s V8, the BMW M1 engine, the Maserati 4.3L V8 in the Alfa 8C, the Aston Martin V8, air-cooled 911′s, the Nissan RB26DETT, Ford Modular supercharged V8′s, the Honda F20C (From the S2000) with individual throttle bodies…  oh, and ditto on the Toyota 4AGE… well, you know how these lists can go on.  Let’s hear your take on it!