Why a WRX sounds like it does

[RazorGTR]

Have you ever wondered why a WXR sounds like it does? Many claim it is the exhaust system but that isn't entirely true. The boxer engine has a very unique firing cycle.

See here

 

[HRT_Maloo]

Not just the WRX. Have you ever heard a Legacy RS? They sound similar as well, and bloody good. I have always suspected it was the boxer engine as a lot of Subarus Ive heard (from STis to 1.8L Imprezzas), and the current cars from Porsche all have a similar, but different sound. Quite hard to describe

 

[GilesGuthrie]

You should be present when there's 30 of them idling in the same car park. Now that's a noise.

 

[vat_man]

Yeah - even the 2.5 litre flat four in the Legacy/Liberty we run has a unique sound when you stand on it at 3 - 3,500 rpm. When driving in tunnels I love winding down the window and playing with the throttle just to hear it. It's a great sound.

 

[Cobraboy]

Boxer's have quite a unique sound however they are too common in my area and can get quite annoying at times.

The real clean Subaru's are good, but then you get the odd one with a 3"+ exhaust and it's loud and very annoying.

 

[eddieturner2002]

apparently the nearest Suburu dealer told my dad that to get the best sounding ones you have to buy one 4+ years old.

 

[HRT_Maloo]

Yeah, my favourites are the Legacy RS turbos from the late 80s to the mid 90s (over two shapes). A guy at my school had one last year. He used to go up the drive in first gear. ****ing awesome sound

 

[Rue]

I have to agree, aural ecstasy!

 

[Nightmage82]

anyone have some wavs of that?

 

[Gil]

I truly love the sound of a Flat-6 N/A Porsche!!!

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by Gil
I truly love the sound of a Flat-6 N/A Porsche!!!

Best orchestra there is Porsche Turbo Cabriolet....dream wheels......

 

[Nightmage82]

Originally posted by Gil
I truly love the sound of a Flat-6 N/A Porsche!!!

yeah sounds a bit like a lion purring or something at low revs hehe

 

[SiGNAL]

Originally posted by Gil
I truly love the sound of a Flat-6 N/A Porsche!!!

mmmmm, i love a big twin/ turbo'd one!!! Love hearing the blow-off valve!

 

[Nightmage82]

Originally posted by SiGNAL
mmmmm, i love a big twin/ turbo'd one!!! Love hearing the blow-off valve!

as far as i know factory porsche turbo's don't come with an audible blow off valve. can anyone confirm/deny/provide a reason?

 

[import_fantasy]

yes the wrx's flat 4 has a very distict sound, my stepdad has a 02 WRX w/ HKS downpipe, all 3 catalytic converters gutted out, and Blitz Nur Spec exhaust AND IT IS ONE LOUD ASS MOFO(probably loudest street car i've ever heard)

 

[Hell Patrol]

yeah usually a turbo charge car is quiet!
my friend B18 was one loud car
now he got a turbo..it so quiet

i'm about to go catless next year and yes it will be loud!!!

Boxer baby!

 

[AWDrifter]

some of that sound is due to the exhaust setup yes, but most of it is the mega-high output boxxer engine. They way the boxxer is designed is just odd lol. Well, what happens is that when the gas/fuel mix is compressed and discharged, it doesent go POP or BOOM, it goes BOINK lmao. I have no idea why or how, but it does. You dont notice that it actually sounds like that cuz it happens so fast, and it gives it that trademark WRX Thump which everyone loves. And what happens with the exhaust is another thing, Well, its designed kinda "odd" since its a VERY bad setup for a turbo, but thats another topic. Well that maze of exhaust piping makes the thump of the engine echo and gives it more bass as it exits the pipe into the exhaust, which then (if u have a can made ESPECIALLY for the boxxer) will give it even more of a thump. And thats pretty much what ive gotten about it form the guys at Fast WRX (www.FastWRX.com)

 

[I6-4-eva]

Originally posted by Nightmage82
as far as i know factory porsche turbo's don't come with an audible blow off valve. can anyone confirm/deny/provide a reason?

because it probably has a bypass valve. meaning it dumps the air internally or into the exhaust system as far as i know.

 

[Nightmage82]

Originally posted by I6-4-eva
because it probably has a bypass valve. meaning it dumps the air internally or into the exhaust system as far as i know.

yah sure, are there any benefits though? or is it just more discreet?

 

[Attila_Da_Hun]

I ready in a car mag. that there is a problem with the turbo placement with with the boxer. It said every blown boxer engine they saw/heard of was in the #3 cylender. The turbo for some reason over pressures/over heats cylender #3 causing most engine problems to be centered around there.

Does anyone know whay exactly this happends?

 

[Nightmage82]

Originally posted by Attila_Da_Hun
I ready in a car mag. that there is a problem with the turbo placement with with the boxer. It said every blown boxer engine they saw/heard of was in the #3 cylender. The turbo for some reason over pressures/over heats cylender #3 causing most engine problems to be centered around there.

Does anyone know whay exactly this happends?

doesn't blown mean supercharged? can it also mean turbo-ed?

 

[AWDrifter]

Originally posted by Nightmage82
doesn't blown mean supercharged? can it also mean turbo-ed?

I think he ment blown as in it exploded. And no, Blown only refers to supercharged engines

 

[Nightmage82]

Originally posted by AWDrifter
I think he ment blown as in it exploded. And no, Blown only refers to supercharged engines

oh, yeah i think ur right!

 

[I6-4-eva]

Originally posted by Nightmage82
yah sure, are there any benefits though? or is it just more discreet?

hmm nope nothing i can think of.. blowoff/bypass they both basicaly do the same thing which is dump excess compressed air.
It's also possible to silence a loud blow off valve too.

WOOSH!