What is the fascination with "as loud as possible"?

I know it's nothing new, I knew many who liked it when I was a "young toad", I experimented with it some even (but each time I rapidly realized what a PITA it was), and I spent enough time writing for it over the years, and I still don't understand why some want to annoy all others and draw heat on their car / truck / MC hobby activities?

Just last week of May while "Wife Unit" and I were down in Ga visiting with family, out on I-285, a late model grey Mustang GT passed by over in far left lane (he maybe running 80, my BIL was running maybe 65-70 in the mini van), and the further he got ahead, the louder it seemed he was until finally he was out over a crest out of sight. Then when we came over crest, there was that "noise" again and by then he was a good 1/2 mile ahead. As it passed it was a little loud, but then when he was ahead and pipes pointed back at us, it was just ridiculous noise, super "loud" and nothing nice about it either (and maybe 3-4 miles later we saw that he had a Ga. Trooper pulled over) (BTW, that was a "good hit" if you read this Trooper! ... ).

I like a good sound, a good sound that soothes. A "purr" soothes, is music to the ears as throttle / load changes, is never an irritant, just lets you hear her working.

 

When I was younger, I loved loud exhausts. Now that I'm older, I enjoy a good deep exhaust note that comes alive when you stomp it, but is fairly quiet while simply cruising down the interstate. That's why I went with the GT500 quads...just as quiet as stock at cruise but loud enough when on it.

 

That's one of the things I like about my V6. She growls some when you really get on her but is very quiet otherwise. I rode a bike with straight pipes when I was much younger, but don't want to have that noise now.

 

Have to agree about 'too loud' exhausts. There's that fine line between a sweet deep exhaust note and an obnoxious ear irritation.
I still find that straight pipe motorcycles are the evil of the earth though. Man, those are loud. I remember them setting off bank alarms when they rode by some closed banks on weekends. Just rattled the glass.

 

Sometimes it's the more quiet ones you have to watch out for.

 

I agree. Mine were the evil of Taiwan over 50 years ago.

 

As already mentioned, loud exhaust has been around a long time. It could be one or more of the following reasons:

Peer pressure
Seeking attention
Power gains
Psychological

On the other hand, a well tuned Mustang having just the *right* exhaust note usually discourages the competition.

 

Loud does not equal fast.

The 4 cylinder tone I loved was the MGB - Deep and throaty but not harsh. I went to a muffler guy and he got what I was wanting, and my Nissan NX (with typical bolt-on mods) had the nicest, deepest tone - very MGB or British sportscar-like with no thrashy sound at all.

Of course I love that nice V8 sound, but I'm not going to go chasing it down with my V6. Stock sounds fine to me and when I need to replace the system (I usually keep cars for a LONG time) I might go with something a little more free-flowing, but definitely not obnoxious sounding.

 

for me its not loud im looking for its the deep exhaust note that says "Im here to discourage you" that im wanting...yes I am a young guy still...(well I guess...im only 28 say the numbers...)

 

Loud Pipes Save Lives, obviously...

 

I had a 3" Gibson catback installed on my 2-day old '15 5.0...and the wife told me it had to go...way too loud. I now have a Ford Racing/Borla Touring exhaust and both of us are happy with it. I had high flow cats, and a Magnaflow competition exhaust on my '04 GT and it drove me nuts until I finally sold it.

 

I love the sound of a loud exhaust....on other people's cars.

My GT500 A/B's are a good compromise between sound and sanity.