omar espinosa 5pts v12's sound and feel diffrent than w-12's, both of which sound MUCH diffrent than v8's. v12s and straight-6s are the only engines that are harmonically balanced, (not sure on the old chrysler/dodge slant-6) It is due to their inherent properties and very low vibration that they were chosen. They tend to have a little more reciprocating mass and thus losses of power are also slight. Modern transmissions make such things vanish. Most people who comment on v12's being merely status symbols usually have never owned a v12, and probably know very little about car history, engineering or car design and evolution. MANY people of a certain peerage who have been raised around money for two or more generations understand the implicit connection between a high-output, large displacement natural breathing engine and a hi torque feeling that is smooth and near silent in its delivery. Not everyone wants to hear a throaty burble or a hint of effort necessary to move them. It seems lost on you as to why v-12's were so popular, but in the 20's and 30's when their windows are down they wanted to be able to hear their friends conversation in the car next to them in London traffic which usually ran at about 10-15 miles per hour. Parties were planned, business was conducted, appointments set, and life was lived... Try that with a loud burbly v8! OFE.