Byprodrive

iTrader: (1)

RollsRoyce Ghost is the quietest & smoothest vehicle I have ever driven followed by Maybach 62

rcf8000

Differences of 1 or 2 dB in 70 mph cruise measurements must not be taken too seriously. Were all of the measurements taken with the vehicles traveling over the same road surface? With the same wind speed and direction? I think not. Also, has has been noted, the tires make a huge difference. For example, my GL450 has the 20 inch run-flat tires, which I suspect are noisier than the 19 inch standard tires. The measurements were probably taken on a vehicle with the standard tires. Final note: My LS430 is as quiet as any car I've driven, much quieter than my GL450, especially over coarse surfaces.

IS350jet

I agree 100%. I'm finding it very difficult to believe that a BMW 335i is *quieter* than a Lexus ES350. I'm finding it even harder to believe that a Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, and even a Mazda 6, are all *as* quiet as an ES350.

rcf8000

One more point: note that the GL450 is shown as being 3 dB quieter than the GL320. Unless engine noise of the GL320 is the main source of noise at 70 mph, which I seriously doubt, then the comparison is meaningless, since the two vehicles are essentially identical. However, the GL320 presumably had run-flat tires, which the GL450 may not have had. I agree that the ES350 is a very quiet car. I've driven a lot of them as loaners, and I've been quite impressed with their noise levels, compared to, say, an RX350.

IS350jet

Here's another one; Are we really to believe that a Volkswagen Passat is quieter than a Cadillac STS?

bagwell

these lists are all over the place....


Top 3 Quietest Cars
Sunday, February 13th, 2011
http://blog.iseecars.com/2011/02/13/...quietest-cars/

Remember when you were a young child and all you ever heard your parents wish for was some peace and quiet? You could never figure out what was so big about peace and quiet; it seemed pretty boring to be sitting around by yourself doing and saying nothing. And then you grew up…funny how things turn out, isn’t it? Now all you can hope for is a few moments throughout your day when someone isn’t screaming at you, kids aren’t breaking things, and televisions aren’t blaring sound through your head, shattering the windows of your mind. For most people, those few peaceful daily minutes come when they’re driving. If you crave just a few moments a day where the outside world isn’t blaring in on your thought process, think about making your next automotive pick one of the top 3 quietest cars, found by research from independent testers at Car and Driver, Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Motor Trend.

2011 Lexus ES350 New Model MSRP: $36,025

Lexus has nearly cornered the market on quiet with their insulation standards. The ES350 is quiet enough to hear Grandma actually speaking when she’s up front and you’re stuck in the back holding a conversation with a gray-haired headrest. “At highway speeds, the cabin remains remarkably silent, mostly devoid of wind, road, or engine noise. Bumps and ruts in the road are absorbed with barely a hint of their presence reaching the passengers.” (www.consumerreports.org) The cabin should be the flagship of Lexus design, packed with high-quality materials and features you’d expect to find for a much higher price.

2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan New Model MSRP: $49,400

It’s pricier than the Lexus ES350, but when you drive it you may find out where the difference lies. The cabin is built to reflect the reliable quality of Mercedes past. Both space and comfort are at a level of their own, and the seats are firm, yet soft enough to not get uncomfortable over long rides. Sticking with the 3.5L V6 engine will keep you near the base MSRP, but if you want to upgrade to the 5.5L V8 you’ll need to deepen your pockets. Though it possesses a sleek design, visibility is ample, and the aerodynamic features of the cabin only enhance the interior silence by reducing wind noise to a minimum.

2011 Hyundai Genesis New Model MSRP: $33,000

The Genesis is packed with extensive sound insulation, and it’s noticeable at whatever speed you drive. This would be the perfect vehicle for someone who works and drives every day in a big city, and wants to shut out the sounds of the world for awhile. For being a car of luxury-class quality, the Genesis features a remarkably reasonable price. For a bit of an upgrade in price you could get the 4.6L V8 engine and boost your horsepower from 290 hp to 378 hp, and the torque would jump from 264 lb-ft. with the standard 3.8L V6 engine, to 324 lb-ft. with the V8. There is a $10,000 increase in price for that upgrade though, so you may want to simply stick with the quieter engine and enjoy your few more moments of peace.

MadMax96

+1000!!! My ES350 came with these directional treaded Goodyear Assurance tires - they were horribly loud. I knew the ES couldn't be THIS loud.. this was confirmed after driving a loaner ES350 with OEM tires.

After about a year the tires were shot and the new Michelin Primacys are night and day quieter and smoother.

IS350jet

I've got Primacy's on my Accord. By far, the quietest tire I have ever experienced.

mmarshall

LOL. Yes, the ES is quiet, but the idea that it is a senior citizen's car is a bunch of nonsense. There is no reason why younger people can't own and drive one...and a number of them do.

Slvr surfr

iTrader: (1)

What happened to the LS460 in these comparos? You mean to tell me it lost its crown to its little brother and the Genesis????

ydooby

It's right there at #5 isn't it?

What's baffling is the GS450h being so much noisier than the GS350 at speeds. Perhaps the GS450h comes with noisier tires? Can't think of a good reason otherwise.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

found another, much bigger listing, in the comments from that link...

http://www.auto-decibel-db.com/

i've downloaded it to a spreadsheet so i can sort.

edit: turns out the website page is sortable too.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

so with the spreadsheet filters, i found the quietest/loudest at each speed:

idle, quietest, saab 9-5 (must be engine auto-stopped?), followed by boxster(!), prius, LS600hL...
idle, loudest, bmw 1 cabriolet, porsche gt2 corvette, viper...

60mph, quietest, MB E63 (!), dodge ram 5.7, acura tl, subaru legacy, lexus LS600hL...

60mph, loudest, corvette, elise gt-r, viper, 911 gt3...

70mph quietest, dodge ram 5.7 (!), MB E63, acura tl, lexus LS600hL...

70mph loudest, corvette, elise, gt-r, viper...

there's a lot of other surprising results in there too...
a ford f-150 is quieter than a bmw 750iL ActiveHybrid at all speeds except idle.

mmarshall

Yeah, I may be a little biased because I own one, but, for the money (low-high 20s), you can't beat the Buick Verano's sound-insulation.

Mr. Burns

How is an Acura TL among the quietest at 60mph and 70mph? Acuras and quiet don't mix.