mechanical cams can be loud every vw do sound like my moms old sewing machine X2 .i have 4 inch ex on a car never seen it go do the road. i let a good friend drive it. i wanted to hear what it sounded like going down the road the 4 inch was loud but not as loud as the soild roller cam in the 14.8 cr 548cid bbc sounded like a thrashing machine i would not of guess that