Reasons to have tunnel vision

The Tunnel Experience

As ‘drivers’ we’re always seeking out new roads and routes to traverse and here in the UK we’re not short of variety by any means. The routes tend to be rural and always include sweeping mountain roads with tight corners and usually, a backdrop of Tolkien-esque mountains that stretch as far as the eye can see. You also have to travel quite far from your home to reach such roads… But that’s part of the fun after all.

One thing that we don’t often do, is seek out a tunnel to hear our classic cars sing. This is partly because this behaviour is usually associated with supercar drivers. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a slice of the same cake; especially when the naturally aspirated purr of our classic or modern classic Mercedes-Benz is generally more palatable than that of the modern twin-turbo manipulated sounds.

For those of you that want to try something different on your weekend drive, we’ve put together a list of the UK’s longest tunnels for you to enjoy on your weekend drive. The list is not exhaustive but offers you ten to choose from, all of which are dotted around the country. The list is inspired by the work of Alfa Romeo and the UK’s leading acoustic sounding consultancies, Sandy Brown. The team who led acoustic improvements to the iconic Royal Albert Hall – measured the engine and exhaust sound, plus tyre, road and wind noise, to help rank these tunnels for their acoustic qualities. Their objective scores were then measured against a subjective score and added together to give you the list below. Take your pick…

1. Penmaenbach, North Wales

This U-shaped tunnel scored highest with thanks to its high-quality road surface and one-way traffic configuration.

2. Saltash, Cornwall

Despite a 30mph speed limit, this tunnel came out second in the analysis proving that you don’t need to go fast to enjoy a tune or eight…

3. Beaminster, Dorset

An extremely narrow U-shaped design gives driver and passenger a fully encompassing acoustic experience. Almost cinema-standard.

4. Hindhead, Surrey

The second longest on the list at 1,830 metres, this cylindrical bore tunnel features a great road surface and plenty of opportunity to get your combustion fix.

5. Holmesdale, Enfield

Being rectangular, the shape wouldn’t suggest a good sound quality, but this particular tunnel scored fifth due to its good road surface and separation of traffic into separate sections.

6. Queensway, Cheshire

One of the longest tunnels but also one with a bumpy road markers and narrow lanes that impact the sound emitted by your engine. But still worth a trip.

7. Dartford, Kent

The dartford tunnel requires constant engine work to keep you moving up the slope. This coupled with the one-way traffic systems allows for a good distribution of sound. However, constant high winds often impede the enjoyment.

8. Hatfield, Hertfordshire

The current state of the road surface cancels out engine or exhaust growls, causing this tunnel to score eighth. The tunnel is due to be resurfaced so there is potential for it to score higher in the future… You tell us.

9. Limehouse, Poplar

The long ascent and one-way traffic system mean this should rank higher, but unfortunately constant high-volumes of traffic impede the quality of sound acoustics.

10. Tyne, Durham, Northumberland

The one-way system wasn’t enough to give this tunnel a higher score since there is often too much traffic to enjoy the experience. Worth a go if you can find the right time of day to experience the tunnel.

Looking to make your SL purr more than anyone else’s?

We’ve developed a range of new exhaust systems for both the 300SL and 500SL models. Both feature unique elements that are not found with the original setup, which includes a new stainless steel manifold, straight single pipe from the centre box to straight tips rather than the angled ones found with the original.

Find out more about your exhaust options by using the links below:

500SL SportLine Exhaust

300SL SportLine Exhaust – Coming Soon.