How quiet is the cabin at cruising speed?

[BRZ FTW]

I love the BRZ and can't wait to get one. I am wondering from those that have driven one, how does the interior sound? I currently drive a Scion TC. This thing is a rattle trap. I hate it. My wife just got a 2012 Chevy Cruze, and by comparison the Cruze is dead silent at highway speeds. What should I expect from the BRZ?

[colHolm]

I thought it was quite composed at highway speeds; a little wind and tire noise, but nothing too intrusive.

[BRZ FTW]

Good to know, thanks!

Originally Posted by colHolm

I thought it was quite composed at highway speeds; a little wind and tire noise, but nothing too intrusive.

[avholic]

I was just researching this topic the other night, as I wanted to compare my current DD (2nd in the list) to BRZ.


CABIN SILENCE (according to Insideline):

Lexus IS 350 (2006):
Sound level @ idle (dB) 40
@ Full throttle (dB) 73
@ 70 mph cruise (dB) 68

BMW 335i sedan (2007):
Sound level @ idle (dB) 46.9
@ Full throttle (dB) 76.3
@ 70 mph cruise (dB) 62.5


BRZ Interior Sound Level (according to Car & Driver)

IDLE ....................................... 42 dBA
FULL THROTTLE ........................ 85 dBA
70-MPH CRUISING ..................... 73 dBA


Not bad I think. At 65 MPH in 335i, I could talk on the speaker phone via bluetooth without the other party noticing that I'm driving. I guess not with the BRZ. lol

[rawbz]

Originally Posted by avholic

I was just researching this topic the other night, as I wanted to compare my current DD (2nd in the list) to BRZ.


CABIN SILENCE (according to Insideline):

Lexus IS 350 (2006):
Sound level @ idle (dB) 40
@ Full throttle (dB) 73
@ 70 mph cruise (dB) 68

BMW 335i sedan (2007):
Sound level @ idle (dB) 46.9
@ Full throttle (dB) 76.3
@ 70 mph cruise (dB) 62.5


BRZ Interior Sound Level (according to Car & Driver)

IDLE ....................................... 42 dBA
FULL THROTTLE ........................ 85 dBA
70-MPH CRUISING ..................... 73 dBA


Not bad I think.

Are these figures based on engine noise? I'd expect it to be quite high compared to luxury brands since the car is funneling engine noise into the cabin intentionally.. I'd be more concerned with wind and tire noise.

a good sound system would solve all of the above anyway?

[avholic]

Here's the source for the BRZ sound level (bottom 2nd page).

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...napoleon-1.pdf

[dsgerbc]

Why take numbers from different magazine?


IL BRZ test:
Sound level @ idle (dB) 44.2
@ Full throttle (dB) 81.6
@ 70 mph cruise (dB) 69.0

And 1 dB is quite a bit more noise.

[avholic]

Originally Posted by rawbz

Are these figures based on engine noise? I'd expect it to be quite high compared to luxury brands since the car is funneling engine noise into the cabin intentionally.. I'd be more concerned with wind and tire noise.

a good sound system would solve all of the above anyway?

As for tire noise, I'd suppose the BRZ is more quiet with the 215/45/17 'grand touring summer' rated Michelin Primacy compared to my staggered RFTs (225/40/18, 255/35/18). Run flat tires are terribly harsh and noisy.

The BRZ has better aerodynamics and would beat the sedans hands down in that category.

So I think the BRZ's piped-in engine noise contributes to the majority of the 73 dB at 70 mph.

[old greg]

Originally Posted by BRZ FTW

My wife just got a 2012 Chevy Cruze, and by comparison the Cruze is dead silent at highway speeds. What should I expect from the BRZ?

Originally Posted by avholic

BRZ Interior Sound Level (according to Car & Driver)

IDLE ....................................... 42 dBA
FULL THROTTLE ........................ 85 dBA
70-MPH CRUISING ..................... 73 dBA

Those numbers would mean that it's as noisy on the interstate as my '03 WRX. It's not obnoxiously loud, but it will mean you'll need to turn the stereo up, and IMO it starts to get tiresome after about 30 minutes (I wear earplugs on extended drives). It will be ~50% noisier on the highway than your wife's Cruze.

[bestwheelbase]

I can't want to see a comparison where someone measures cabin noise and then removes that Bose-wave-radio-snorkel-dorkel coming off the inlet pipe and shows how much quieter it gets.

I personally don't need anything piped in to my cabin. If the car ain't good enough to hear on it's own, it ain't worth piping into the cabin. Same complaint with the new BMW M5 -- apparently it has some stereo integration to simulate engine sounds. What is the world coming to?

/Rant.

[avholic]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

Same complaint with the new BMW M5 -- apparently it has some stereo integration to simulate engine sounds. What is the world coming to?

/Rant.

I think you have just given Lexus an idea to integrate engine-noise-cancelling-sound into their sound system.

[Subie]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

I can't want to see a comparison where someone measures cabin noise and then removes that Bose-wave-radio-snorkel-dorkel coming off the inlet pipe and shows how much quieter it gets.

I personally don't need anything piped in to my cabin. If the car ain't good enough to hear on it's own, it ain't worth piping into the cabin. Same complaint with the new BMW M5 -- apparently it has some stereo integration to simulate engine sounds. What is the world coming to?

/Rant.

The alternative would be to develop a valve that would be closed below a certain RPM or throttle position to block the noise, but open at higher RPMs or a wider throttle opening to allow the sound to come through.

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by avholic

I think you have just given Lexus an idea to integrate engine-noise-cancelling-sound into their sound system.

Actually they've had active noise cancellation for a long time. Other makers too. Here's an illustration of the system in the Toyota Crown Hybrid (JDM).



PS: With all that leg room, nobody would mistake this for an FRS illustration!

[Subie]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

Actually they've had active noise cancellation for a long time. Other makers too.

Even Honda uses it with their VCM implementation. It makes for a seamless transition between 6 and 3/4-cylinder operation.