Car guys: Best-sounding 4 and 6 cyl engines?

[Ron3]

I'm thinking my next car needs to be on the lighter-side weight-wise. (At least a few hundred pounds lighter than a Mustang so were talking about 3200 lbs or lighter) This probably means it's going to be a 4 or 6 cyl.

Sound is very important to me so it begs the question: What is the best / better sounding 4 and 6 cyl engines / cars?

[Adrenaline_6]

I don't think there are many for me. Some might be fast, but they sound buzzy obnoxious. Nothing like a V8/10/12.

Sixes overs fours.

If I had to pick, the Nissan makes a decent one (370Z) and the older Toyota Supra and the Audi TT is nice. Exotic would be the Alfa Romeo. Even Porsche's, although fast, are buzzy as hell.

If I had to pick a four...it wouldn't be a car; it would be the awesome sounding V-4's in the Aprilia RSV4 and Ducati's Panigale V4. No car compares. Edit:Forgot the STI and EVO if I had to pick a 4.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW0tElrjbrc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4LcChlzTHU

[Alex V]

Best V6 I ever heard was the Toyota 2JZ

The Nissan VR38 TT sounds bad ass too.

[Todd.K]

An I6 can sound good, other than that a turbo will sound more like a turbo, and much better to me, than an I4 or V6. Then there are boxers, that's it's own sound, with the turbo Subaru's unrefined but unapologetically brute force sound being distinct.

[Coal Dragger]

The 2JZ is an inline 6.....

Generally inline 6’s have a firing order that sounds great. V6’s not so much.

Inline 4’s are not much in the audio pleasure department. So find a horizontally opposed 4, they rumble.

My personal favorite I6 is the BMW S54, which is no longer in production and would be a horrible proposition to maintain long term because BMW build quality is barely a few steps above British or Italian garbage.

Otherwise the venerable H6 as used by Porsche is tough to beat when naturally aspirated. So find a 911 GT3 with the 4.0L H6, try not to cream your shorts.

[The Dumb Gun Collector]

Air cooled Flat six

[Alex V]

The 2JZ is an inline 6.....

You are right, my mistake,

[Todd.K]

Personally I think you are making a "lightweight" distinction without much difference. 200 lbs less than a Mustang isn't lightweight, while a difference in weight distribution and suspension can make different car models feel much heavier or lighter than they are.

Have you driven a Miata or BRZ?

[Ron3]

Personally I think you are making a "lightweight" distinction without much difference. 200 lbs less than a Mustang isn't lightweight, while a difference in weight distribution and suspension can make different car models feel much heavier or lighter than they are.

Have you driven a Miata or BRZ?

Miata, yes.

3000lbs is "light enough" for me. But there aren't many RWD or AWD cars that weight that and have at least 300 hp or even sound good and have less.

Why cant we have a RWD 3k lb car with a 3.0 - 4.0 L engine with just 300 hp that sounds good? That isnt asking for much. Yet, it is.

[Bulletdog]

Never once has the sound a car makes, or the weight, ever been a factor in my decision. Interesting...

Size, reliability, performance, features, fuel economy, appearance even, but never sound or weight.