Toyota Engines Are Real Quiet

[madrid2k]

I really enjoy driving my Lara.

One very minor quibble to me though is the engine noise, or lack of.

I know Toyota's are renowned for their silky smooth and refined engines, but I find when driving a stick shift, it's nice to hear the engine respond.

The Lara's engine is soooo quiet. I'm used to shifting gears by ear, but when I have the stereo on, it's hard for me to hear the engine rev. I find myself glancing down checking out the rpms.

Is it just me? I know the sound of the car is part of the overall visceral experience. Ask any Harley rider or a Porsche owner...

I would like to have a little bit of a growl. I don't want anything annoying - or too boy-racerish. Rather, something smooth, sophisticated. Kind of like Barry White.

Any specific recommendations on intake, exhaust? Something not too expensive either?

[CosmicGrooves]

I've had different neighbors comment several times about how quiet my car is.

I do know what you mean about changing gears, though. I've hit the rev limiter lots when trying to manual shift the manu-matic.

[theprodigy79]

Do you have a V6 or I4? There are intakes available for both, and exhaust as well...

If you have the V6 and are looking for a tad more grunt, the Injen would probably be the way to go for a reasonable price. If you want a bit more performance as well, and want to kill a couple birds with one stone, the CP-e would be the way to go.

If you have the 4 banger, Weapon R makes an intake that works, as well as a couple other companies as well.

On these cars, you will get more sound out of the intake than you will with exhaust, unless you go full-back. They're just, well, quiet!

[woa_its_j3ff]

trd muffler. that's all i can say.

[ThatVietGuy]

The quietness of the engine is why my car has an exhaust and intake

As for what's available, your best bet is an Injen or CPE intake.

The exhausts around (JIC, GReddy, Apex'i) are relatively expensive in comparison to an intake (well, the Injen anyway), but they still give a nice tone at any point in the rev range. You could go custom, but the sound is heavily dependent upon the muffler.

[TMMK Toy]

dont know of anyone that makes a catback for our cars anymore but doing just the injen intake will add a pleasant tone to your ride and if you go custom exhaust go with a magnaflow muffler

[onefiend]

Hmmm, my 5SFE was noisy as hell at idle and even worse at start up.

4bangers are just noiser engines compared to a V6.

[Duffman]

I had to get the K&N high-flow air filter to even realize I had an engine sound. When I first drove her off the lot and went to go home, I stopped at a stoplight and thought it had stalled.

[WTF??]

Go to eBay and buy a whopping fart can.... just be sure not to roll next to another solaraguy

[(K)]

You must shifting way too early, try shifting around 3,300 RPM haha.

With 2AZ equipped Solara's it makes a good amount of intake noise around 2,800 depending on how much load you put on the engine and anything greater than 3,200 will be engine noise. Around 3,200 you get a combination of intake and engine noise, it's a pretty nice sound.

[CorCamrySE]

my camry is uber smooth and quiet....u can barely hear or feel the gearshifting, and my neighobors never hear me coming home

[SleeperSolara]

Shoot get a Greddy Evo exhaust.
Greddy Evo exhaust FTW.

[Kenz]

Ive only had mine a few weeks but noticed the same exact thing. Its really easy to hit the rev limiter by accident, its so smooth its hard to tell.
The engine feels like it is still pulling and wants to spin up another 1000 rpm after redline.

-Mack

[madrid2k]

Had a great day today.

I installed my new 18" DR6 Drag Wheels (black) on Falken rubbers. The new shoes looks absolutely sick. Thanks to Rachel of nextmod.com for hooking me up with a sweet deal.


Solarheno popped by later on and sold me his Injen short air ram kit. I had the shop install the kit on the spot.

The Injen sounds exactly the way I want it too. Really nice tone. It practically sings when you rev her. My only complaint is that it's just not quite loud enough.

I'lll consider putting in a muffler later on - My ass is broke. I just bought the car two weeks ago - installed a new set of 18" wheels, bought the intake, getting it tinted on Saturday, and just put a deposit down on Tein springs and Tokico struts.

The only other thing I want to do is slightly darken my tail lights.

In a couple of years, I'll look to get the Kamineri body kit and repaint the whole car.

My wife's gonna kill me....

[woa_its_j3ff]

hell if you want more sound.. cut the vaccum line

why didnt' you install the intake yourself? it really isn't hard..

make sure to post pics when you're done man.