Disappointing Ferrari noise

[300bhp/ton]

I saw a red Ferrari California parked up on Jermyn Street today.

It looked nice enough and it was sat there ticking over. Now I know modern cars are all made to be quiet, but I was truly shocked by the noise it was making.

It actually wasn't silent, it was rather noisy but what surprised me the most was the actual sound it was making. It had almost no tone or sporting quality to it at all. In fact it didn't sound all that different to a friends Ibiza ticking over.

Now, I'm sure once on the move things must improve. But is this typical of modern Farrari's these days?

I seem to recall the F355, 360 and even 430 having quite a nice tickover rumble. Or at least a pleasant sound from the engine. This one didn't seem to have either?

[Dift]

Are they doing MR2 California conversions already?

http://www.superreplicas.org/ferraricalifornia.htm...

Ah yes... the good old 406 or MR2... you take your pick

Edited by Dift on Wednesday 19th May 16:53 Speeling

Edited by Dift on Wednesday 19th May 16:55

[adycav]

I saw a white one at the weekend and I was underwhelmed somewhat.

[hornetrider]

No patch on a Camaro eh, these Fezzas.

[tomtom]

EU regs probably.

My 355 has a nice 'frantic' idle about it.

[steelej]

You've got to remember the California is a GT car, it's meant to offer a comfortable journey while still being a bit wild when required. Something like the 430 is a balls out sport car, loud, stiff suspension etc. Just because it's a Ferrari doesn't mean it has to have a 100db idle note.

John.

[Animal]

A few weeks ago I saw a white California driving along Bond St. The noise was malevolent: very loud and aggressive, definitely not to be mistaken for a Seat Ibiza!

What's wrong with a nice quite idle though? Don't all current Ferraris have an exhaust bypass valve to make them quite and PC around town and PH on the open road?

[300bhp/ton]

steelej said:

You've got to remember the California is a GT car, it's meant to offer a comfortable journey while still being a bit wild when required. Something like the 430 is a balls out sport car, loud, stiff suspension etc. Just because it's a Ferrari doesn't mean it has to have a 100db idle note.

John.

It's not that. It was actually quite loud, ticking over, it was that is was non descript.

My old V12 XJS had a near silent exhaust at all times, but on tickover it still sounded nice just very quiet. Both in terms of engine noise and exhaust.

Or put it this way, if you had been blind folded and stood infront of this Ferrari you simply wouldn't have guessed it was one, it sounded more like a 4 cylinder. I was so shocked I nearly walked into it.

[bazking69]

No, I'm with the OP on this one.

I saw one on Italian plates a few weeks ago. It looked awesome (red) but I have to admit it sounds far from Ferrari when it went past, at speed.

Far from the naughty shriek I was expecting. Very dull and muted.

[300bhp/ton]

Animal said:

A few weeks ago I saw a white California driving along Bond St. The noise was malevolent: very loud and aggressive, definitely not to be mistaken for a Seat Ibiza!

What's wrong with a nice quite idle though? Don't all current Ferraris have an exhaust bypass valve to make them quite and PC around town and PH on the open road?

See my post below yours. It wasn't the volume, but the actual noise. Just didn't seem Ferrari, or sporting or special at all.

[al1991]

hornetrider said:

No patch on a Camaro eh, these Fezzas.

[The Wookie]

Funny enough, my plumber mate once compared the sound of the old man's idling 430 to a compressor pump of some description.

Sounds great once it's going, but I have to say it's still not a patch on an F355

[Edmundo2]

So sounds sh**e and looks sh**e then!

[Deranged Granny]

It was probably not in sport mode

[300bhp/ton]

al1991 said:

hornetrider said:

No patch on a Camaro eh, these Fezzas.

wow funny comment

Try YouTube........................

[Gad-Westy]

Does the California have a flat plane crank like the 355, 360 etc? They all sound pretty ordinary at idle, it's the nature of flat plane cranks. Sound pretty animal with a few revs dialled in though.

[Justayellowbadge]

Flat plane cranks are never that inspiring at idle.

You don't get the lumpy burble you do with lesser V8s.

4000 upwards and however.

[Trommel]

Justayellowbadge said:

Flat plane cranks are never that inspiring at idle

Agreed.

Someone down the road has a black one - it sounds pretty good to me when it goes past. Don't want one though.

[mrobin33]

hornetrider said:

No patch on a Camaro eh, these Fezzas.

Correct. Having driven both, and a 430, 599 and 612. I chose a Camaro SS and a Z06 and had lots of money left over.

[300bhp/ton]

Justayellowbadge said:

Flat plane cranks are never that inspiring at idle.

You don't get the lumpy burble you do with lesser V8s.

4000 upwards and however.

True, although the TVR Cerbera AJP8 sounds good on tickover as have other Ferrari's. This one just sounded like a Eurobox on tickover.