FR184 Sport mode sound

[Max Damage]

Done about 300 miles in my 184FR and the car is outstanding, but why oh why the stupid made up engine sound in sport mode? On the motorway it is too noisy and the only way round it is to go into normal mode or set up the individual one to normal on engine, and peace descends

In sport mode I want all the improved response etc, but don't need the fake sounds. bad idea from VAG.

Anyone else, or is it just me being picky?

 

[madduffyx]

I love the sound in sports mode Makes me want to drive it faster and more irresponsibly

 

[Crafoo]

I still can't believe they did this, I remember chavs in their Saxo's back in the day doing similar stuff with fake dump valve noises lol

 

[ZBOYD]

Its not that new an innovation as far as SEAT are concerned, both the Mk5 Ibiza Cupra/Boc and the FL Mk2 Cupra/ R's were fitted with sound actuators too

 

[Crafoo]

I can't understand why they thought it was a good idea though it's just really tacky imo

 

[ZBOYD]

It's mainly because modern engines are pretty bland in the sound department, so its a way of giving a car an involving engine note I guess.

It could be as bad as Renault's approach where you can make your Clio sound like a selection of different cars, including V8's That to me is even more tacky.

 

[Crafoo]

I suppose that is a whole new level of tack yeah, it would just be nice if the exhaust system was designed to make the noise and not rely on trickery to do so.

 

[ZBOYD]

Though the exhaust is a part of sound, its the engineering of the engine that truly gives it a sound. Just a fact of life that modern turbo engines don't have much character about them.

I always thought my old normally aspirated 16V 2.0Litre Ibiza sounded better than the turbo-charged 16V 2.0Litre in the Mk2 Cupra

However after hearing almost any tuned V8, everything else is pretty irrelevant.

 

[Crafoo]

Yeah that is true, the rattle of most modern engines today is quite uninspiring but surely a little work tweaking the exhaust could replicate what they are doing electronically (although I guess cost is a big factor too )

 

[DeanC]

Its a shame we did not get the option of the exhaust actuator as fitted to the new GTD.

 

[Max Damage]

The thing is the sound is so bad, and tacky. I drive the car, not listen to it On twisty roads sport mode, on motorways and round town, normal/eco mode gets pressed. Especially on the motorway to avoid the drone from the fake sound

 

[Fred99]

As a matter of interest is the Sport mode (excluding the sound) actually any different from the standard mode in a non FR model or are the Eco and Normal modes just reductions from the standard mode that you get in the other cars?

 

[Max Damage]

Throttle response is sharper and the steering is heavier with more feel to it. So for me the Sport mode is ideal on twisty roads such as those in the yorkshire dales, but on the motorway it is straight into eco mode for quiet and relaxed cruising

 

[Fred99]

Sounds a useful feature. Just a pity you are stuck with the sound.

It would be nice if it altered the suspension settings. The harder ride on the FR is just a bit too hard for my OH otherwise I would probably have gone for it.

 

[fatal3rror]

In the settings, is it possible to just turn off the sound actuator but retain the rest of the behaviour of the Sports mode?

 

[roger7248]

Maybe the sound is an introduction ready for the all-electric Mk4 Leon

 

[Max Damage]

Not so far. The individual setting allows sport steering, and normal on the engine, as the best compromise. As soon as you put sport for the engine, back comes the silly noise, which is fine on twisty roads as it is not intrusive at all. On the motorway though it is intrusive

 

[DeanC]

Just unplug the actuator under the scuttle

 

[Max Damage]

Just unplug the actuator under the scuttle

Where and how? Total novice here

 

[Walpurgis]

It would be nice if it altered the suspension settings. The harder ride on the FR is just a bit too hard for my OH otherwise I would probably have gone for it.

I think that this will be possible when they introduce the Dynamic Chassis Control option (which was announced when the ST was launched and will probably be available on other models too). IIRC, there will be a new "Comfort" option that will make the ride softer if you have the DCC fitted.