---
title: "What ‘Great Sounding’ Cars Do You Think Sound Genuinely Terrible?"
description: "No cars are universally praised for how they sound besides the Mazda 787B. Everything else is loved and hated by a variety of enthusiasts."
date: "2022-10-31"
modified: "2022-10-31"
authors:
  - name: "Peter Holderith"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/peter-holderith"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/what-great-sounding-cars-do-you-think-sound-genuinely-terrible"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "QOTD"
---

# What ‘Great Sounding’ Cars Do You Think Sound Genuinely Terrible?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/31/car-exhausts-qotd-subaru.jpg>)
*\<em\>Subaru\</em\>*

Like black coffee, alcohol, or stinky cheese, many car-related noises, sounds, or smells are acquired tastes. Black coffee is a taste that apparently requires a lot of acquisition because like, really, literally any other way than black tastes better. No, really.

Back to cars and the sounds they make: I won't [name any names](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/44129/2022-subaru-wrx-review-grown-up-but-still-down-to-clown>) for the sake of discussion, but a lot of [widely appreciated exhaust notes](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/43577/2022-subaru-wrx-first-drive-review-wild-style-masks-the-most-mature-wrx-yet>) are supported by large groups of enthusiasts who necessarily will defend everything about a car. Again, I'm not pointing out fans of any [one car](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/42317/2022-subaru-wrx-new-platform-bigger-engine-and-271-hp>) in particular. I wouldn't do that. But as a result, even something as pedestrian as a Honda Civic or a Ford Fusion might be lauded as having a *sensational*-*sounding* exhaust. No offense, Fusion enthusiasts.

Which brings me to the question I'd like to level with you, dear reader. What's one particular vehicle you think gets praised a little too much for its exhaust note? I know "terrible" is in the headline but it doesn't have to be that strong of a conviction. Just a car someone told you sounded great once and, on a listen, you decided they were wrong and completely dead to you.

For instance, a flat-plane crank V8 is *probably* good, but is it at its full potential in the new Z06 Corvette? Is the Dodge Viper's odd-firing V10 just not cutting it for you? Some people think Bugatti's W16 doesn't sound like much of anything.

I won't inject my own biases into the post itself here—I picked the lead image completely at random *of course*—but I will be in the comment section viciously defending those who share my opinions. On the flip side, I am prepared to use *pointed* language in disagreeing with those who have false opinions. I'm not gonna cyberbully anyone's kids as a result of a friendly online disagreement, but actually, maybe I will. I retract that previous statement.

Sound off in the comments. Just don't make bad sounds.

## Author
Peter Holderith is a former staff writer for The Drive. He enjoys covering the regular news cycle, writing reviews, and hunting down long features on obscure pieces of automotive history.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-h-5ba447192/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/_baldtires>)