Piston Slap: The Ear of The Beholder

by Sajeev Mehta

Published: October 27th, 2010

TTAC Commentator Seminole95 writes:Dear TTAC, I enjoy this page every day. Thanks for your great work. I especially enjoy the business news and analysis. I will be shopping for a new car in the next year or so and would like a car with low NVH. Do you know of a publication that tests cars for this extensively? I have been unable to find one on the web.I am looking for a low NVH car with a stick. I am guessing the Lexus IS 250 might work but I haven’t driven one yet. I like to listen to podcasts and music in isolation from the daily grind of a commute but still want to enjoy the pleasure of controlling the car via a stick shift. I am a long time Honda buyer but don’t think I’ll buy another for this very reason. I drove a 09 Accord V6 stick Coupe the other week. Nice looking car and sweet power train but man was it loud. Thanks a lot.Sajeev Answers:Not that you’re doing it intentionally, but the phrase “barking up the wrong tree” comes to mind. NVH is a matter of personal taste and scientific analysis. No matter how many decibels are measured by a machine, you could beg to differ. Humans (obviously) come to different conclusions than machines. More to the point, we bicker amongst ourselves because our tastes (and eardrums?) are subjectively different.Nobody in their right mind thinks a Corolla is as NVH-perfect as a Lexus LS460, but you made the mistake of driving basic transportation (Accord) against its upscale (Acura) sibling. Luxury cars usually earn the title for a reason, so compare cars in the same class. Just don’t expect NVH calculations to bear fruit: it’s in the “ear of the beholder.”I thought I was clever for coming up with that phrase all by myself, until I googled it. Thanks a lot for raining on my parade, Dr. Pranab Saha. And while the good doctor’s twenty-something years in the NVH biz isn’t fully utilized in the snippet-link above, it’s safe to say that others agree with my belief. If self-shifting NVH is your primary measuring “stick”, I suspect the Acura TL or Lexus IS250 manuals are your best choices. Test drive ‘em both.Bonus! A Piston Slap Nugget of Wisdom:Sometimes NVH problems are cured via the automotive aftermarket. Strategically placed Dynamat, Fat Mat or any other kind of “mat” out there is good for door panels (inner and outer skins), quarter panels, pillars and even the roof. Especially the roof, it’s often the most neglected body part. Case in point: last weekend I installed Fat Mat’s foil-backed insulation + hood mat on the roof of my brother’s 1991 Mustang notchback. Not that I wanted to, but the headliner-to-roof insulation crumbled in my hands after removing the 19-year-old headliner assembly. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. The difference is stunning: the Mustang’s roof makes a firm thud while Lexus’ products make a tinny bang with the same effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if this Fox coupe has the quietest thunderstorm cabin short of a CL-Mercedes. And all it took was 5-7lbs of product, an afternoon’s work, and about $100. Moral of the story? Buy whatever you like, make it perfect later. Send your queries to mehta@ttac.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.

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Sajeev Mehta

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Seminole 95 on Oct 27, 2010

Thanks to everyone for the posts. I look forward to this column and it is pretty cool to see mine answered.

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Mach on Oct 28, 2010

What about a 2010 VW Jetta TDI? I recently got one and am frankly impressed with the interior quietness, and also disappointed with the engine loudness. The turbo, diesel particulate filter, catalytic converter, and muffler really chop the exhaust note off at the knees, but it still has plenty of power and gets outstanding fuel economy. I also listen to podcasts, streaming radio, etc and the car works great for that. Just personally wishing that I could hear the engine a little more when I put the hammer down.

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Recent Comments

MaintenanceCosts "GLX" with the 2.slow? I'm confused. I thought that during the Mk3 and Mk4 era "GLX" meant the car had a VR6.
Dr.Nick What about Infiniti? Some of those cars might be interesting, whereas not much at Nissan interest me other than the Z which is probably big bucks.
Dave Holzman My '08 Civic (stick, 159k on the clock) is my favorite car that I've ever owned. If I had to choose between the current Civic and Corolla, I'd test drive 'em (with stick), and see how they felt. But I'd be approaching this choice partial to the Civic. I would not want any sort of automatic transmission, or the turbo engine.
Merc190 I would say Civic Si all the way if it still revved to 8300 rpm with no turbo. But nowadays I would pick the Corolla because I think they have a more clear idea on their respective models identity and mission. I also believe Toyota has a higher standard for quality.
Dave Holzman I think we're mixing up a few things here. I won't swear to it, but I'd be damned surprised if they were putting fire retardant in the seats of any cars from the '50s, or even the '60s. I can't quite conjure up the new car smell of the '57 Chevy my parents bought on October 17th of that year... but I could do so--vividly--until the last five years or so. I loved that scent, and when I smelled it, I could see the snow on Hollis Street in Cambridge Mass, as one or the other parent got ready to drive me to nursery school, and I could remember staring up at the sky on Christmas Eve, 1957, wondering if I might see Santa Claus flying overhead in his sleigh. No, I don't think the fire retardant on the foam in the seats of 21st (and maybe late 20th) century cars has anything to do with new car smell. (That doesn't mean new car small lacked toxicity--it probably had some.)