308 sound compared to other exotic V8s

Earlier this morning I was surfing the ads and found this video of a Lotus V8 startup. I was struck by just how good it sounded and wanted to compare it to other non-American V8 sounds. Of course I had to include a 308, and the 928 is my own car. I think they all sound incredible. Who in the world would want a pushrod, iron-block lump when they could have something that sounds like this in the garage? I want all three of them. Of course the 308 flat crank sounds different, but so do the Lotus and Porsche engines.

Does your car wake up the neighbors? Mine does.

308QV with Quicksilver exhaust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWXOKryv14A

2002 Lotus Esprit V8 twin turbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wEafebfyeo

1983 928S 3" y-pipe into a Borla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOUM6YReFDQ

 

I totally agree, they all sound awesome. I LOVE the sound of the 308. I also enjoyed the dramatic garage door opening in the Lotus viddy.

 

Cast iron w/ pushrods can still be cheap fun. We purchased a less than desirable mid sized 1962 ford for about 1K, $500.00 on a craigslist rebuilt 302, a little more change for a race cam and $500 for a dual flowmaster setup. That car was a kick. We had about 4K into it when the entire drivetrain was made reliable and safe. Sounds great and still makes me laugh to drive it. It's a rediculous car, but I gave it to my brother when I purchased my F-car.

Thanks for throwing those three together, a good way to start the day.

 

Gotta love it!!!


PDG

 

180 degree headers on a Chevy can make for excellent sounds too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZTbR6C6Lw&feature=PlayList&p=BB4734C67D6ED8C7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5

 

I'm pretty sure the Lotus V8 is a flat crank as well.

 

Actually I think you're right. I wonder how many companies use flat-plane cranks? Ferrari, this Lotus V8, Lamborghini.

 

Two of my favorites...

Rumbly tumbly Detroit iron in a gt40: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNPgLg35I40

and the Alfa 8C: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNqzP_UFb6g&feature=related

Just amazing.....

 

I always laugh whenever anyone tries to bring crap-sounding U.S. metal into the same conversation with Italian...or even English symphony. I have heard virtually every incarnation of American muscle car exhaust and, at best, it all sounds like someone sitting on the throne after a particularly virulent case of food poisoning. Of course, aside from the Ford GT, I loathe all American cars so... And, yes, I know that the new Corvette ZR1 is the best performing sports car in the world for the money, and that the Z06 was the same when it came out and blah, blah, blah. No disrespect intended to any of you who will wrongly disagree ;-)

 

no arguement here...

 

Scott, it's really not that tough to be nice and to be collegial. If you're not understanding what I'm saying to you, saying somebody else's idea is "crap" is crass and inconsistent with the collegial nature of an automotive forum such as f-chat. For god's sakes man.

 

I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of Detroit iron, but take it easy. Have you heard the Shelby Super Snake? The supercharger whine is definitely different and the exhaust sound is very cool...but I think the 430 wins this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fttFyfQslB4

 

Flat cranks are not a new development. I had a flat crant in my ford flat head motor in the 50's and and the sound and power was awsummmm. It sounded like a hot 4 cyl at low rpm and then it burst into a fantastic v8 shond. As I recall the crankshaft was made by Norden.

 

That Quicksilver sounds great. Just spent a weekend in Daytona working a muscle car show and heard some of the boringest monotone loud pushrod V8 noises ever. Though i like the cars they sound almost as bad as a Harley (heard a bunch of those too).

Did anyone watch this ****** show off then hit and run leaving the poor econobox guy with a mangled front end?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK8ifITerKM&feature=related

 

Cliff, I wasn't saying that your idea(s) are crap; far from it...I have great respect for you and your posts. I was referring to the crap SOUND of U.S. engines, not that anyone who likes such sounds/engines is crap...or their ideas are crap. You'll also note that I said no disrespect to any who disagree ;-) In my opinion and, again, short of the Ford GT, there is something inherently "NASCAR" about all U.S. sportscars; I like Formula One ;-)

Cordially,

Scott

 

Amen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdqu8GsA6i0

 

I wasn't aware of this, is this why I always liked the sound of a Ford flathead?

 

Hi Scott,

Ah, understood. Sorry for the misinterpretation.

Yup, a lot of folks think detroit iron sounds like an old Harley....and I can understand that as not being too thrilling compared to Italian stuff. At idle a CanAm chev/ford in a McLaren or Lola can sound like an old F150 pickup with a bad muffler! But, going down the front straight at 140+ with the loud pedal mashed is quite a sound!

Cheers.

Cliff

 

Hi Cliff No worries at all! Maybe some day I'll be lucky enough to hear one of those "specimens" going down the straight at 140! And would of course love to go to an F-1 race...if they had any here in the U.S.; guess I'd better start eyeing Montreal...if they bring it back. Sigh.

My best,

Scott

 

I had to go to Monaco for the last of the V10 races... music. I've since been to races with the V8's. While they are spectacular V8's and would love for my Ferrari to sound like them, they just don't sound as good as the V10 era motors. The V8s certainly have a certain "grind" to them where as the V10's had a wail. Similarly, spend enough time at the track (we race GT-1) and you can tell the difference between a high end Ford and Chevy. Splayed valve Ford heads have a bit more snap in the exhaust note than the comparable Chevy motor. Which presents all sorts of problems when you have to answer to the sound Nazis.

Rick

 

Rick, couldn't agree more. +1.

I think detroit iron, even that which is running on a track and highly tuned, is an acquired taste, and not for all. Personally, I can appreciate the basic Ford/Chev V8s...if stuck in a Lola or McLaren and boiling down the straight at 140+: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thG9AeYVDSI Heck, Scott might even dig that kind of American muscle, even with his highly discerning tastes!

 

Geez, are you deaf or simply a snob?.
Here is some of that flatulence served up to an Enzo and graciously posted by another F-chatter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WftiQQcrH7A

 

The 917 dawdling along about halfway through sounded pretty nice as well.

Fact is any racing engine sounds good to me. There is a big difference between the station wagon V-8 in the superbird Clarkson uses as his "American" example(see other posts) and the high compression hot cammed 8s in today's Corvette for example.
Most Harleys sound like crap to me because most are understressed mild engines with loud pipes but one with big compression and wild cam running crisply is music. Kids with giant ebay mufflers on their Hondas make me want to stick my fingers in my ears but some of them are actually very healthy sounding, why, because they are. Any configuration can be "healthy" or not, it is manifested in how it sounds. At least to those who know.
The vast majority of street cars with loud pipes have nothing they ought to be advertising.
As for V-8s; an old 3 liter Cossie doesn't sound to bad around 11k. Nor does a top fuel dragster who's lowly pushrod stoneage engine assaults every one of your senses.

 

I'm deaf and a snob ;-) Or definitely a snob... (sorry, couldn't resist that one).