Red cars perceived louder than green or blue ones
How much does color factor into your perception of how loud a car actually is? If a recently-conducted experiment is any indication, it plays a significant part, indeed. Sixteen individuals were told to listen to the sound of a car's engine while being shown photographs of identical cars in red, blue, light green, or dark green. The sounds were played at four different volume levels throughout the testing. The findings showed that the red car was perceived to be louder than the green or blue cars, even if the corresponding sound the others were shown with was of an equal level. This dovetailed with the results of a similar, earlier experiment which demonstrated that people felt red trains were louder than green ones. This is both good news and bad news for car owners. On the plus side, those Borlas you just installed are going to sound even louder (read: better) to folks if your ride's red. Unfortunately, when Officer Friendly pulls you over for having mufflers that are too noisy, good luck convincing him that it's really just his perception and not reality. Thanks for the tip, Buzz!
[Source: Acoustics.org]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yar 2:00PM (7/02/2008)
Who the hell researches this crap? Seriously, go do some community service or find a cure for cancer. I see absolutely no use for this kind of BS.
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Yar-NOT 12:20AM (7/10/2008)
Thanks for posting your imformative comment on this useless topic, they could learn a lot from you.
porschedevotee 5:39PM (7/02/2008)
I don't think I'd trust a cure for cancer provided by the guys who do this research.
Way of the Future 2:09PM (7/02/2008)
Red Rules!
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rypt 3:27PM (7/02/2008)
black or carbon gray rules :P
Seoultrain 2:13PM (7/02/2008)
Seems like a 5th-grade science fair project. I'd give it Honorable Mention.
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broosewee 2:16PM (7/02/2008)
I guess I'm just gonna have to put louder exhausts on my car... you know, just for perception.
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DanMan 2:18PM (7/02/2008)
Ohhhhhhhhh, bad news for my "Radio Flyer Red" 97 Escort Wagon. That thing must look and sound like a 427 Cobra Jet to the cops and my solid law abiding neighbors.
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DanMan 2:54PM (7/02/2008)
sorry i didn't think the first one posted, damn slow servers
Aprime 3:02PM (7/02/2008)
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, your car is the same as my old one.
DanMan 2:20PM (7/02/2008)
I guess I'll just have to watch out when I drive my Radio Flyer Red 97 Escort Station Wagon. Wouldn't want to be pulled over in such a loud fast car.
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DCragtop 2:21PM (7/02/2008)
My Mustang is Blue and Flowmasters rule.
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Aprime 3:02PM (7/02/2008)
It still won't turn though.
DCragtop 3:07PM (7/02/2008)
Doesn't have to. People hear it, then see it, then GTFOMW. So that helps. Besides, my commute bypasses the 'Ring by several thousand miles. So it's really not even ness to turn. I'm good.
SayWhat? 2:41PM (7/02/2008)
We all obviously know that the color of a vehicle has nothing to do with the sound of the engine.
However, various studies have shown that red colored vehicles tend to be ticketed more than any other color.
So if there is indeed any difference in the sound of a red car over another color, it's only because the driver may be driving faster thus revving the engine higher.
Oh look! Flashing red and blue lights in the rear view mirror!
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tankd0g 2:54PM (7/02/2008)
They are also faster and a higher insurance risk. It's a fact, or is that myth? I always get those confused.
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Freestyle4x4f150 3:21PM (7/02/2008)
Ride RED!!
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Motor Trade Insider 4:56PM (7/02/2008)
It's true, red is indeed a loud colour and judging by the number on the road it's popular too (depite what people believe).
Cheers
Http://www.motor-trade-insider.com
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f650 8:21AM (7/03/2008)
Probably because red catches the eye, so you'll more often look at or in the direction of the car and it's perceived to be louder because you're paying attention to it. Stupid study.
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