Sport Mode ILLEGAL?

[tombox]

Was it a HoCo officer or State? I live in Howard County, too. My car is loud (lots of mods), windows tinted, and no front tag. I got a warning for no front tag (from MD state police) but nothing yet on noise or tint. I have the burble setting pretty low like 25%. I also hit comfort mode whenever Waze tells me police are ahead.

What really ticks me off about the front tag warning is that Howard Country has TONS of Teslas and unscientifically I’d say 25% or more don’t have front tags…NEVER heard of one getting a ticket but lots of Supras get harassed for it.

This was a HoCo Officer. State Troopers are ALOT more strict.

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[concept]

I think 95% of any car or non car people hate the absurd "POP (2 secs later) POP" tunes. The really obnoxiously loud ones. Downshift burbles is what we like.

Many years ago when I had a rotary engine mazda, when accelerating and then abruptly lifting the gas pedal, the exhaust pipe would emit what sounded like a shotgun blast. If I were downtown in a rough section, people would dive for cover. It was very funny unless a police officer were standing on the corner.

 

[omfgzilla]

Many years ago when I had a rotary engine mazda, when accelerating and then abruptly lifting the gas pedal, the exhaust pipe would emit what sounded like a shotgun blast. If I were downtown in a rough section, people would dive for cover. It was very funny unless a police officer were standing on the corner.

 

[FuzzyRev]

By the way, a noise level law without a specified distance from the vehicle's exhaust pipe(s), and the engine's rpm level is worthless.

My point exactly. When the DOT tests and certifies the sound level, it's done under lab/repeatable conditions, and performed the same for EVERY vehicle. There's specific throttle levels and rpm sweep, done under an acceleration load to a certain speed.

The greatest modern example of how this test affects exhaust design, is actually the new Nissan Z. The automatic trans model gets away with a much more aggressive muffler setup than the manual version, all because of what they could sneak through the specific test conditions.

If your local government wants to cite me, I request they be willing test my vehicle properly.

 

[concept]

My point exactly. When the DOT tests and certifies the sound level, it's done under lab/repeatable conditions, and performed the same for EVERY vehicle. There's specific throttle levels and rpm sweep, done under an acceleration load to a certain speed.

The greatest modern example of how this test affects exhaust design, is actually the new Nissan Z. The automatic trans model gets away with a much more aggressive muffler setup than the manual version, all because of what they could sneak through the specific test conditions.

If your local government wants to cite me, I request they be willing test my vehicle properly.

Well said, RT.
When I came up with a kinetic watch winder, my description includes motor noise at a constant RPM and at a certain distance away (at room temperature of 75-80F). When Car & Driver tests interior noise levels of a vehicle, they have to be consistent, not only with microphone position, but also with the road surface and ambient temperature. Colder, more dense air transmits sound at a faster rate.

 

[nebulous13]

I believe your state prohibits aftermarket exhaust so that's probably why he wasn't buying it.

Nope. MD and VA both allow exhaust mods. You can even swap entire engines as long as emissions remain legal. What’s illegal is any mod designed to amplify the sound beyond factory. Some exhausts obviously do that. Avoid those ones.

 

[omfgzilla]

Well said, RT.
When I came up with a kinetic watch winder, my description includes motor noise at a constant RPM and at a certain distance away (at room temperature of 75-80F). When Car & Driver tests interior noise levels of a vehicle, they have to be consistent, not only with microphone position, but also with the road surface and ambient temperature. Colder, more dense air transmits sound at a faster rate.

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