Quote:
Originally Posted by krayzie
I also hear rocks hitting the bottom side of my BRZ readily where I don't hear anything with other makes and models, yet nobody ever complains about that.  |
This part of your post hit home for me because I hear this all the time and always get out and check once I'm at my destination to ensure it was the underside and not the fender or quarter panel lol.
To answer your earlier question, no this is not my first direct-injection car, nor am I "inexperienced" when it comes to direct injection. My last 2 cars before my BRZ were BMW 335i sedans, an '07 and then an '08, and both had noticeable "ticking" coming from the engine compartment at all times, which I came to learn was the high-pressure direct-injection fuel pump. It never bothered me because it was better-insulated (as you mentioned) and because it was more of an innate unobtrusive "ticking" rather than an obnoxious and noticeable "squealing" like in the BRZ.
I also say I am experienced in GDI because I sell cars for Kia, which almost exclusively uses GDI in their new vehicles, so I need to be able to understand and explain the technology to prospective clients, and the Kia vehicles also have somewhat of a prominent noise from the GDI. Nothing like the twins though, which is what surprises me; you can put a quiet, insulated GDI pump on a $14,000 Rio, but can't put one in a more-expensive, performance-oriented vehicle like the BRZ/FRS? Doesn't make sense.