Ford Puts Engine Roar Back into Refined Focus ST Cabin

[felixthecat]

So a turbo & direct injection & having a noise restriction in different parts of the world = a sound synthenzer or engine noise vent. Louder inside then out side, huh?

[felixthecat]

More noise inside then outside, huh? Great for not calling attention for the police, thou.

[mmmoose]

I wish manufacturers would stop doing this. They've been adding them to BMW's... they started added them to the new GTI's... and now the Focus ST. Why not just offer a better designed stock exhaust?? It's not impossible to make 4-cylinder, turbocharged (and even NA!) engines sound aggressive. And if you want to channel more of that sound into the cabin, simply remove or use thinner sound dampening materials to accentuate the car's sportiness (you also have the added bonus of less weight!).

It's absolutely ridiculous to me how they've created this sort of paradox between "quiet refinement" and "intimidating sportiness". I feel like they're trying to cater to two completely different demographics at the same time, and failing at both.

Personally if I'm going to buy the sport trim of any car, I can tell you right now it's not going to be because I want something quiet and comfortable. And you can bet that an older driver who is looking for something more quiet and refined sure as hell won't be happy when loud noises are artificially channeled into the cabin. It's just plain stupid IMO.



Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go out and tape some playing cards onto my bike's spokes and add some "GT-R" stickers to the frame.

[StockTalon]

Maybe I'm old but, I'd rather have it be quiet than hear it over everything.

[felixthecat]

Originally Posted by mmmoose

I wish manufacturers would stop doing this. They've been adding them to BMW's... they started added them to the new GTI's... and now the Focus ST. Why not just offer a better designed stock exhaust?? It's not impossible to make 4-cylinder, turbocharged (and even NA!) engines sound aggressive. And if you want to channel more of that sound into the cabin, simply remove or use thinner sound dampening materials to accentuate the car's sportiness (you also have the added bonus of less weight!).

It's absolutely ridiculous to me how they've created this sort of paradox between "quiet refinement" and "intimidating sportiness". I feel like they're trying to cater to two completely different demographics at the same time, and failing at both.

Personally if I'm going to buy the sport trim of any car, I can tell you right now it's not going to be because I want something quiet and comfortable. And you can bet that an older driver who is looking for something more quiet and refined sure as hell won't be happy when loud noises are artificially channeled into the cabin. It's just plain stupid IMO.

Agreed ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go out and tape some playing cards onto my bike's spokes and add some "GT-R" stickers to the frame.

Is that going to make it go faster, oh no thats just for the noise factor!!! LOL

[mmmoose]

Originally Posted by StockTalon

Maybe I'm old but, I'd rather have it be quiet than hear it over everything.

Fortunately a lot of sport trim cars currently offer that. It's really only a matter of rolling the windows down to hear that sweet exhaust note.

And honestly I'm perfectly fine with that too. It still beats having artificial sound IMO.

[2008 Ford Focus]

For me, to have engine noise in the interior is pretty boy racer.

Ford should have this as a stand alone option or a means the customer can bypass it.

2008 Ford Focus

[swansong]

At least the solution is simple for ST owners: install an aftermarket exhaust. Magnaflow has theirs out now, and Borla is working on one as we speak.

[felixthecat]

Originally Posted by mmmoose

I wish manufacturers would stop doing this. They've been adding them to BMW's... they started added them to the new GTI's... and now the Focus ST. Why not just offer a better designed stock exhaust?? It's not impossible to make 4-cylinder, turbocharged (and even NA!) engines sound aggressive. And if you want to channel more of that sound into the cabin, simply remove or use thinner sound dampening materials to accentuate the car's sportiness (you also have the added bonus of less weight!).

It's absolutely ridiculous to me how they've created this sort of paradox between "quiet refinement" and "intimidating sportiness". I feel like they're trying to cater to two completely different demographics at the same time, and failing at both.

Personally if I'm going to buy the sport trim of any car, I can tell you right now it's not going to be because I want something quiet and comfortable. And you can bet that an older driver who is looking for something more quiet and refined sure as hell won't be happy when loud noises are artificially channeled into the cabin. It's just plain stupid IMO.



Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go out and tape some playing cards onto my bike's spokes and add some "GT-R" stickers to the frame.

Originally Posted by swansong

At least the solution is simple for ST owners: install an aftermarket exhaust. Magnaflow has theirs out now, and Borla is working on one as we speak.

Thats great. ^^^^ But you still paid for that noise vent & its still there.

[swansong]

Originally Posted by felixthecat

Thats great. ^^^^ But you still paid for that noise vent & its still there.

Hopefully the development and parts cost of the symposer didn't add too much to the overall price of the car ($50? $100? Who knows?). As for it still being there, I don't see that as a problem. It's inactive with light throttle, and you get engine noise on heavy throttle. That's a good thing, "artificial" or not. Plus if the exhaust is aftermarket, you get exhaust noise all the time.