Mod that I never thought I'd want: a horn

[Moto-P]

Originally Posted by mike_ekim1024

Some people can't drive, err make that many people can't drive.. And when I honk, it sounds like a vs bus "meeep".. Not very intimidating. Anyone upgraded their horn? A semi-truck horn would be pretty fun I think

I've had a electronic horn with a solid-state box in my old car stash for a while. And while I meant to use it on my Lexus LS430, I just stuck it in my FR-S when I had the bumper off the car for oil cooler installation.

The result is that I have a fairly loud and much deeper note similar to a Mercedes 450SEL from the 1980's.

Horn upgrades are easy as long as you know how to take the bumper off the FRS/BRZ and you can connect and/or lengthen two wires, depending on where you mount them. There are two inside the front bumper and they both have ample voltage rating in the fused systems to take just about any horn.

Here are some guidelines for choices.

FIAMM Air Horns - Similar to what was used on older Pre-90's Ferrari and other Italian sports cars. They have a very high pitch, trumpet sounds much like that of soccer game referee horns. Although these are very much fitting to the sporty nature, and gives the car a very European nostalgia flair, they are powered literally by air compressors, and multiple trumpets, and require regular maintenance of the compressor.

Generic OEM horns from American cars have a deep, very loud horns. They are almost always a direct fit on most modern cars.

European car horns have a medium tone, and luxury segment European cars often have a very wide tonality, and are very effective in reaching remote distances, as well as pierces through high wind velocity at extreme speeds.

Junk yards are the best places actually, to go look for a nice horn for cheap. You can take a battery booster box or any strong 12V power source along and remove/test each horn on site and take them home for less than $20 a pair.

[DarkSunrise]

I had to use my pathetic OEM horn going home from work yesterday. It was not able to adequately convey my colorful range of emotions to the guy who swerved out of his lane and nearly clipped my front fender.

[ft_sjo]

It may be worth noting that the horn sounds quite different from the outside than it does inside the cabin. Some filtering going on with the body/interior of the car.

[Books]

Originally Posted by humfrz

DANG, that don't look too "plug & play" to me .....

humfrz

No cutting or splicing, you just unplug the old and plug in the new. Relays and wiring are already set up for you in the harness.

[whaap]

From years of riding motorcycles and learning what defensive riding/driving is all about I only use my horn in my neighborhood for waving at neighbors.

[campy]

Originally Posted by ft_sjo

I spent $15 on some OEM type twin horns by Bosch which are just as good as the overpriced Hella junk, and don't look so rice behind the grille either!

Yeah I've gotta agree, the red/black color scheme always seemed a bit too ricey for me.

[USMC]

I felt the same way. I got a set of Hella supertones in red. The do the job. Cars can hear me now.

[frs10]

i have a question and maybe im crazy, my horn sound changes when i hold down the horn for over 2-3 seconds. is that how the horn was designed or is my horn screwed up?

and dont ask why i hold the horn down for so long, i live in NYC lol

[mike_ekim1024]

Originally Posted by kALMIGHTY

Do you want to be this guy?

Ha ha One step further - mount a motor and some wheels to a ship horn and ride that around

[mid_life_crisis]

Originally Posted by Books

Hella supertones! I did it myself, very easy. Even easier if you buy a harness like I did so everything is plug and play.

Where did you get the harness? I prefer to avoid cutting the factory harness if possible. Especially under the hood.

[Books]

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

Where did you get the harness? I prefer to avoid cutting the factory harness if possible. Especially under the hood.

I got it from subimods. It's expensive for what it is, but imo it was worth it in terms of convenience.

[ftc~brz]

I try not to use the pathetic horn we have stock. I have better replacements on my xmas list

[bkblitzed]

i never use my horn just because it's never my first reaction. I do rev at people if they dont hurry up at lights though.

[mid_life_crisis]

Originally Posted by Books

Hella supertones! I did it myself, very easy. Even easier if you buy a harness like I did so everything is plug and play.

Sorry, I just remembered a question I should have asked. Does this harness add the new horns to the factory ones or does it replace the factory horns?