I never understood the appeal for synthesized, faux V8 sounds. It’s so unrealistic and cheesy, especially in a Mini Cooper. The R50 is a bit quiet, but doesn’t sound bad. The R53 Cooper S has a smooth throaty sound on its own, accentuated by the right amount of Supercharger whine, making it one of the few modern 4-cylinder engines that actually has some character and doesn’t just sound like a sewing machine. Either way, why cover it up with fake noises?
