Acoustics & Audio Technology

I vote for the sounds of flatulence.

Ha ha, when I first saw the headline, thats exactly what popped into my head.

AAH-OOO-GA!

Toss-up between "William Tell Overture" and "Ride of the Valkyries".

i can't be the only one who thought this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdWswvLPdE0

I have a 2011 Prius. I like most everything about it so far and tolerate the rest EXCEPT the back up alarm inside the car. It was funny when I test drove it. But, at 5:00 am leaving for work it's like finger nails on a chalkboard. When the warranty expires it will be the first item to be disconnected. Of course it will probably disable the whole darn car.

Pickles and Peppers by Adaline Sheperd

or

A Bag of Rags by William R. "Mac" McKanlass

Both used for The Keystone Kops

All the choices are boring and sound, more or less, like cars.

And why do so many people think there's no need for a noise? Someone actually said "pedestrians shouls learn to LOOK" - yes we should, but that doesn't help the blind pedestrians, the parents distracted by children...

Isn't that why there is a horn button? A quick polite burst works wonders. Someone had to do this to me this morning as I was daydreaming at a stop light that had changed. No road rage. We each just went about our day.

If the objective is noise for safety's sake, why not make it sound like a Harley? Add in a thrumming, denture-rattling bass track for good measure. The dissonance between the vehicle's appearance and sound would be stunning.

The dissonance between the vehicle's appearance and sound would be stunning.

This is the same reason we put a set of freight train air horns in a Chevy Luv pick up back in the 80's. Lots of attention in traffic.

How about "Flight of the Bumble Bee"?

I was thinking about this the other day. I thought, why not make the car sound like the sound is coming from an engine? It could be a TIE fighter or a Harley. Make it respond to the throttle and motor but sound like a land speeder or an x-wing fighter! I mean, the problem is the noise of the means of locomotion is missing from the electric system.....Put it back! Hell you could make it sound like a stampede of horses if you want when you are on the freeway, and then a leisurely moving herd when in town.

Let people change the sound profile to whatever they want, just fix the maximum and minimum loudness and let the throttle control the pitch, Viola! Sound effects with USEFUL information!

I like the idea of being able to change the sound. Just like a ring tone for the phone. I went back to the sound of an actual ring as I hate the ones that are bits of actual songs. Several other people have done this as well. I can only imagine we would be sick of the futuristic crap and have the cars sound like a model A or T. Do you think Homeland Security will let me add in the backfire noise too?

Make it respond to the throttle and motor.

There was a kit for this back in the mid 80's I saw in a muscle car mag. You mounted speakers under the rear bumper. Some how it was connected to the gas pedal and you could control the volume as well. The marketing targeted people living in areas with stick noise regulations on cars.

How about a steam calliope? Or a Good Humor ice cream truck bell? Or just crank up the bass on the stereo system? Or outriders/town criers announcing "There is an EV coming"?

I chose C. But I am disappointed. I have seen Priuses and Teslas gliding silently around Seattle and I liked the idea of the sound level on the streets going way down.

I think Ford should take a more light-hearted approach to the situation, as some comments have suggested. How about the Roadrunner sound? Or the sound of bike spokes flapping a card that we used to use to make our bicycles sound like motorcycles? How about a comedic voice announcing the approach of the vehicle, complete with model, year and color?

I found the Ford sounds a little spacey. I think we need something more down-to-earth. When I am approached by a flying saucer I want to know that it really is a flying saucer and not just someone's souped up Ford Focus!