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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The farting exhaust

40 replies

LanternFields · 23/08/2023 21:30

Am I right to imagine it's just about everywhere now?
I first noticed it becoming a thing about 5 years ago, but only in the rougher parts of towns. And then it increased through the pandemic to the point where almost every road in my home town is heaving with them, and it is bloody loud!

I lived in a small village through the bulk of the lockdowns and it was a rare occurrence, only to grow in popularity as time went on. Even tiny enclaves in the Lake District were heaving with them - we climbed Loughrigg Fell nr Ambleside during the summer of 2021 and could hear them circling the town from the top, crushing the sounds of nature to a pulp.

So it's a thing, but I am wondering, is there anywhere where this hasn't caught on yet? I live close to Ludlow in Shropshire and it is here too. I am not sure if there is even a 'type' of person who loves this racket, but it makes so many built environments incredibly noisy. I was once sat having my hair done in a quiet salon when one flew past the window, the sound was so violent and shocking that I nearly flipped out of my chair Grin

I know a lot of people obviously like it, but it is the dominant sound in so many places now, which is sad because it drowns out the general ambience of a place. Maybe I am old fashioned or something, but I don't like it! Grrr..

OP posts:
HeatherMoores · 23/08/2023 21:35

Oh that’s a bit disappointing. I was hoping for a good farting thread but this seems to be about cars.

Daffodilwoman · 23/08/2023 21:35

It sounds awful and I’ll probably get flamed for this but the word which springs to mind is Chav.
Same type of person (usually male) who owns certain types of dogs, wears thick gold jewellery, is self centred, has loud bbqs, drinks lager out if a can at said bbq, let’s their children scream and shout until all hours etc etc etc oh and probably wears a track suit whilst not engaging in any type of exercise.

LanternFields · 23/08/2023 22:18

I know what you mean, we used to call them boy racers, but I have honestly seen it from all social backgrounds, the only thing that varies is the price of the car!

OP posts:
CandidClarisse · 23/08/2023 22:39

The thing is some cars do this as standard now. I've had a Mercedes that did this in sport mode and a work colleague has a Golf which sounds the same. The ones that sound like guns going off even when going slowly are purposely annoying mind you.

Oakbeam · 23/08/2023 22:44

Around here, guns going off are more frequent.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 23/08/2023 22:46

CandidClarisse · 23/08/2023 22:39

The thing is some cars do this as standard now. I've had a Mercedes that did this in sport mode and a work colleague has a Golf which sounds the same. The ones that sound like guns going off even when going slowly are purposely annoying mind you.

I'll bite.

What model, because unless it's outrageously expensive they don't do that.

CaroleSinger · 23/08/2023 22:50

I'm disappointed too. Not actual farts then?

LanternFields · 24/08/2023 03:37

Maybe people have grown to ignore, normalise or even love ghastly uncivilised noise..Grin

OP posts:
ladycardamom · 24/08/2023 04:22

I'm sure I remember those popcorn exhausts in the late 70's, early 80's. Often teamed with a Dukes of Hazard horn.

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/08/2023 04:27

I have one. Because I like it, and I’ve spent enough time living in suburbia amongst parents and dog-owners to realise that those people will allow their favourite toy to make noise; so I may as well do the same.

DogOnTour · 24/08/2023 04:58

There’s a few mums who have very loud cars/exhausts at my children’s school. Everyone just rolls their eyes and their teens look embarrassed. My friends sons girlfriend has one and my friend isn’t impressed. 😬

flashbac · 24/08/2023 05:03

They should be banned. Stupid things.

SociableAutist · 24/08/2023 05:12

What is the point of them?
Do they actually have any function beyond making a racket?
Because if not, that means people get them just to make a loud noise, it's a purely antisocial act.

OldTinHat · 24/08/2023 05:23

My neighbour has one. It's a Range Rover that looks like it's been modified.

Honest to God, I hear it roads away and my windows rattle when it parks outside. So antisocial when they come and go in the early hours and wake the whole neighbourhood up.

araiwa · 24/08/2023 05:28

SociableAutist · 24/08/2023 05:12

What is the point of them?
Do they actually have any function beyond making a racket?
Because if not, that means people get them just to make a loud noise, it's a purely antisocial act.

On a properly tuned engine they can increase performance

A bean can on a 1.0 Corsa not so much

Many people also think they sound better. Again on a 1.0 corsa, not so much

hallana · 24/08/2023 05:32

They are terrible and owned by terrible people. It's just a type. They let their kids play shooting games in the quiet carriage on trains, throw their rubbish on the street, and leave their dog shit in the park. Some people are assholes. All we can do is avoid them, really.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 24/08/2023 06:31

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/08/2023 04:27

I have one. Because I like it, and I’ve spent enough time living in suburbia amongst parents and dog-owners to realise that those people will allow their favourite toy to make noise; so I may as well do the same.

Am I reading this wrong? Are you referring to children as toys?

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 24/08/2023 06:34

There's one bloke on our street whose mate has one. His mate drops him off around 11pm/midnight a couple times a week and it makes a hell of a noise.
DH told him if he's going to draw so much attention to his car, he could at least get one worth seeing. Seems to have worked!

Dockdive · 24/08/2023 07:05

Daffodilwoman · 23/08/2023 21:35

It sounds awful and I’ll probably get flamed for this but the word which springs to mind is Chav.
Same type of person (usually male) who owns certain types of dogs, wears thick gold jewellery, is self centred, has loud bbqs, drinks lager out if a can at said bbq, let’s their children scream and shout until all hours etc etc etc oh and probably wears a track suit whilst not engaging in any type of exercise.

Agree with you

Flickersy · 24/08/2023 07:21

araiwa · 24/08/2023 05:28

On a properly tuned engine they can increase performance

A bean can on a 1.0 Corsa not so much

Many people also think they sound better. Again on a 1.0 corsa, not so much

You don't need to increase performance unless you're racing, and public roads are not for racing.

I'm with you OP, I'm in London and the amount of them that come flying through in the early hours of the morning is atrocious. They must wake up hundreds or thousands of people.

It's completely antisocial and has no place outside of the race track.

Shade17 · 24/08/2023 19:21

You don't need to increase performance unless you're racing, and public roads are not for racing.

Of course you don’t need to be racing to want improved performance. Most of my cars have mods which improve performance, from simple induction/exhaust mods up to fully forged internals and all the supporting ancillaries to make big power. Hell, even the family wagon has a remap.

Not all of us want to drive dog-slow shitboxes.

Flickersy · 24/08/2023 22:38

Shade17 · 24/08/2023 19:21

You don't need to increase performance unless you're racing, and public roads are not for racing.

Of course you don’t need to be racing to want improved performance. Most of my cars have mods which improve performance, from simple induction/exhaust mods up to fully forged internals and all the supporting ancillaries to make big power. Hell, even the family wagon has a remap.

Not all of us want to drive dog-slow shitboxes.

Are you aware there are options beyond "anti-social noise" and "dog-slow shitboxes"? You don't seem to know much about cars if not.

I regularly manage fairly high speeds (triple figures) in mine without needing to make a racket into the bargain.

Keep it, and the noise, to the track like I and the others do.

JaneyGee · 24/08/2023 23:11

Oh god, don’t get me started. I heard one today as I was walking into Tesco. It sounded like a firework display. I believe they attach something to their exhaust pipe to make it bang and explode. Apparently it’s illegal, but the police do nothing. I’m in rural Essex and these little idiots drive me mad. They fly past the end of my road in the evenings, and their exhausts (and engines) are so loud the noise goes right through the house. I can even hear them with the windows closed and the TV on.

I remember in the Spring going for a walk with a friend. But instead of birdsong, or the rustling of leaves, all we could hear was the screeching and exploding of boy racer cretins. God they make me SO angry 😡

GrimGrinningGhosts · 24/08/2023 23:22

One of ours has what they called a ‘monza exhaust’ and it came that way from the factory. Something to do with changing airflow to improve performance I believe. it has not been modified and is completely standard. As was said above a few cars are factory standard with louder exhausts and not all are modified.

XenoBitch · 24/08/2023 23:27

Your thread title made me smile. I knew exactly what you were on about (but I also do love a good fart thread too).

I hear them a lot where I live too. They scare me silly if I am walking under the railway bridge and they drive past too. Is even louder than normal then!