Prairiedawg

Quick question, is Sport Chrono a must in a 981 like it is in a 997.2/987.2 with a PDK?

deilenberger

IMHO - yes. Sport mode makes it SO fun to drive, especially if you install a 992 steering wheel with paddles.

Sub

I just got a 981 and my opinion is... sort of! I use sport mode 90% of the time. Sport plus isn't really that great on the street realistically as it holds the revs too high for straights between twisties and when it shifts it sort of lurches badly sometimes, which as an enthusiast I thought I'd like but its kinda sucks. I also don't like it because with my PSE, it has less burbles and backfires in SP mode, and I like hearing those things! My go ATM to is just sport mode, manual mode shifting for pdk. Honestly, I'm really glad I have chrono, mostly for resale, but if I were to do it again, it would be much, much lower on my must have list - somewhere between a heated steering wheel and my ideal color, not up with having a S and low miles.. As I understand it the sport buttons on chrono to non chrono cars have the same mapping.

On Don's point about the paddles, I was all setup to purchase a SD wheel and go through the mods.. had it all planned out. After having the thumb shifter for a few weeks now. I'm totally ok with it. It took maybe 500 miles to get used to it (I have a bmw with normal paddles) and I have no intention of going to a SD wheel anymore. Its really nice to just have one hand on the wheel and be able to use it to do all of the shifting. I sort of rock my palm in to shift up and use my fingers to downshift. Its all good, I like it!

Prairiedawg

Thanks for your responses. I know not having Sport Chrono with PDK in earlier generations is a no go. I even like it with my manual 997 because it makes it easier to rev match with the throttle mapping. I'm trying to find a car with specific options (SC, PSE, PASM, 18 way seats etc) and they all seem to have all but one. There's a car nearby missing Sport Chrono and I'll probably go take a drive just to see, but I think you guys are right, it's a must then for all sorts of reasons.

Is the PDK Shifting the same in Sport/Sport + besides the shift points? One of the complaints of the 997 series is the lazy PDK in non SC cars.

CarAholic

Shifting in sport plus with pdk is worlds of a different shift vs just in sport. A lot more violent in sport plus.

Kitc2246

As above IMO Sport Chrono is a must with a PDK especially if you plan on tracking the car or drive aggressively.. Besides the separate throttle maps the shifts are firmer in Sport and aggressive in Sport+. Sport Chrono also dumbs down PSM so you can wiggle the rear end a little without the nannies shutting things down. You can have a dealer install Sport/Sport+ in the 2009-12 cars. There are several threads where it has been added to a 981 but involves a PIWIS and hacked codes.

Laszlo_Laz

It’s not a must but it’s an amazing feature and also would probably help resale value. In Sport + mode those adaptive motor mounts and shift response alone is worth it bar none. Not sure if the stop sale of sports chrono is still pending but at least a little while ago you were unable to purchase preowned from dealerships due to some sort of emissions issue. I’m also wondering if/when fixed how much performance will be siphoned out.

Sub

Did that affect 981's also? I thought that was 911 only.

txbdan

Sport Chrono gets you Sport Plus mode. I'd say Sport Plus is mandatory on track, but not on the street. I never use it on the street, its way too frantic. It's easier to just use Sport and manual paddle shifting to tear around on the street.

JamesBaxter

Sport Chrono and PSE are easy enough to add after the fact, at least (and to some, not having the clock is a plus). If you found the right car that has all the other options you wanted for the right price, I'd just add Sport Chrono after the fact (IIRC it's cheaper than PSE, so better to find a car with PSE already IMO).

Kitc2246

It is easy to add Sport/Sport+ to an 09-12, but unless something has change its a pretty serious hack to add Sport Chrono to a 981. Possible, but not easy.

txbdan

On 987s that is. You can't add it to a 981. I think one person on here said he did, but then never followed up with how. I don't think its been proven possible yet. At a minimum you need an order code from the factory in order for the computer to enable it.

Kitc2246

Basically everything Porsche built with Sport Chrono back to 2012. Supposedly too much nitrogen oxide in Sport+.

JamesBaxter

Silly me, I was thinking of 987s because that's what I looked into. I revise my statement - easy enough to add PSE!

Sub

Oh, weird. I just bought a 981 SC at a dealer.