Why do V6's sound so lame?
 

Hello:

Can someone explain why a V8 sounds great, and a V6 sounds like crap, seems like the rule says less Cylinders you have the poorer the sound is to listen to.

This said, you have a Harley V2 and they Sound Great.

(I know the V10's and V12's sound great, but they give off a completely different type of cool sound)

Is this a function of the Cylinder Head Shape, size and the shape of the valves, configuration of the exhaust etc.?

Since obviously the Harley's sound great, why can't the V6's be made to sound better? I'm guessing the Harley's have sub-par or outdated technology.

Why don't the designers of V6's use some of the same technology as the V10's and the V12's so they don't sound so lame in a sporty car?

What's the honest poop?

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal

There's a LONG list of things that affect the way a car sounds.


There are plenty of awesome sounding 6 and 4 cylinder motors and even an oddball 5 in there from time to time. One of my favorite exhaust tones for a long time has been from the Subaru boxer motors.There's also some really high revving low displacement motors like the former Toyota 4AGE Formula Atlantic motors. They could wind out to something like 12k rpm.

Each motor has it's own unique tone and whether or not you care for that tone is up to you.

I don't have an answer for you, but I think that the motor in the 350Z/G35 and the 370Z/G37 are the best sounding sixes out there. I think the Subaru boxer is the coolest sounding 4. The Cummins inline 6 diesels sound cool, but that is a whole different ball game.

Actually, the V10 Viper motors do not sound very good. Not muscular at all.

tractor like.

I would second that, I am not sure if I know of any v10's that have a good sound. The Ford V10's, while not a performance motor don't have a great sound either.

the lambo v10's sound sexy..

Correct. :thumbsup:

True, for some reason, I always think about them having 12's.

As does the Carrera GT's engine. First year at RTTC Nathan (track coordinator) let his dad put a few laps on his Carrera GT during lunch. :drool: