aduong

WhipE350

I have a 991.2 and yes, the shifts in Sport Plus will thump under heavy load. Not sure if it was for our enjoyment or actually necessary.

SG1214

Churchill

Thump in the back is another fake "sporty" thing Porsche programmed in, like the extended flatulence when you lift off the throttle. The dynamic engine mounts creates the lurch feeling. I don't like it. It's unnecessary and on the track, when I'm already sliding the car around, I don't like the jerky feeling when pulling a paddle.

hbear

BlueNorther

No. Not if you are skilled with the third pedal.

K-A

On the .1, it should make the same fire crack sound between shifts in Sport or Sport+. I believe only the .2 Sport+ doesn't make the crackles.

Anyone know if the "thump" engineered into the Sport+ shifts are harder on the tranny? Especially or even if superfluous?

I'm usually in Sport+ and manually shifting when driving for sport. Shifts do seem faster and I get the benefits of the dynamic engine mounts which will further enhance handling.

StormRune

The reason for the thump in Sport Plus is that the ECU doesn't back off the engine's torque like it does in the other modes. You can feel it in 997.2 models as well, before dynamic engine mounts were in the Carrera models, so those aren't the cause although they certainly would make it even more apparent.

Here are the published reasons Porsche provides for the stiffer shifts in the different modes from Porsche's Technik Introduction manual section addressing the PDK:
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Driving in selector-lever position “D”, Sport and Sport Plus button not active.
When the selector lever is moved to position “D”, an extremely intelligent driving program is activated. Shifting adapts continuously and almost seamlessly to the driving style and route profile over the entire operating range. Gearshifts and gear changing speeds here are changed from economic/comfortable to sporty. Gearshifts are essentially performed with more emphasis on comfort. Also for improved comfort, the engine torque is reduced during upshifts and downshifts.
Downshifts in deceleration state and deceleration downshifts are accomplished with very little intermediate throttle application and are therefore hardly audible. The vehicle moves off in 1st gear

Driving in selector-lever position “D”, Sport active
An extremely intelligent driving program is also activated in this position and shifting adapts continuously and almost seamlessly to the driving style and route profile over the entire operating range. Basic sportiness is increased with faster pick-up and slower deceleration. Gearshifts are more performance-oriented and the engine torque is only reduced slightly during upshifts and downshifts.
Downshifts in deceleration state and deceleration downshifts are accomplished with intermediate throttle application and are therefore audible. The vehicle moves off in 1st gear. 7th gear is avoided for the most part and is engaged only at higher speeds.

Driving in selector-lever position “D”, Sport Plus active
Shift map adaptations are not active in this program. The most sporty map is activated permanently. Gearshifts are performance-oriented with reduced gearshift comfort. Downshifts in deceleration state and deceleration downshifts are accomplished with intermediate throttle application and are thus very audible. Gearshifts are performance-oriented and the engine torque is not reduced during upshifts and downshifts. The vehicle moves off in 1st gear. 7th gear is not available. The racing start function is available.

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It doesn't appear the harder shifting is going to do any harm to a PDK. There is a video of a guy taking a Turbo S out and doing 50 back-to-back Sport Plus launch-mode runs with a PDK. The car never showed any ill effects (although the driver starting getting sick from the repeated G's). If a Turbo S PDK can withstand 50 launches in a row with the massive torque of that engine, I can't see how a little torque bump during Sport Plus shifts in our mere Carreras could lead to problems. The PDK has been around long enough now that such a problem would be well known.

Mark993TT

hbear

Perhaps not "fake" but not required to be jerky and lurch either. Although slightly different PDK, full throttle shifts on the GT3 are smooth not jerky.
What do they say in racing? Smooth is fast?

chuck911

Chris Harris complained about this. Skilled drivers like Mr Harris all know smoother is faster. The fact Porsche still feels compelled to do something they know is wrong can only mean they know their market. The only solution therefore is more skilled drivers.
Not that I'm holding my breath. Just telling it like it is.

K-A

GroupJ

K-A - do you find that manual shifts in Sport + are noticeably faster than in normal mode? How much difference from Sport to Sport + manually shifting. I am considering getting a Sport mode software upgrade from Porsche (OEM) which gives a car without SC the sport and sport+ buttons. The reason I want that upgrade is for track use - and I want to shift manually. Once I drive in sport + on a track will I ever want to go back to normal mode for track? Is the upgrade worth it for a track car?

Fullyield

Excellent post and thank you for reminding us of the Technik info. I agree that a torque bump during Sport Plus shifts should not lead to problems. But I have watched the 50 launches by Turbo S video. My only comment is that the PDK in the Turbo S did not suffer a catastrophic loss during the video. One cannot say that the PDK was not damaged however. Launch control causes increased heat in the clutch oil which the system can handle once or twice. Launch control 50 times put sustained excessive heat into the clutch packs and clutch oil. At a minimum, I expect that if caused a breakdown of the clutch oil. The Cobb Accessport has the ability to monitor PDK oil temp in live data. I wish the 50 launch video had tracked PDK oil temp after each launch so we could compare oil temp after launch 1 to oil temp after launch 2.

usccharles

if you are talking about the violent torque between shifts in sport +, i feel it most during mid throttle acceleration. when my pedal is floored while i'm shifting at the track, i don't feel that oomph at all. that oomph doesn't exist outside of sport + mode because i believe the computer either manipulates the throttle or slips the clutch alittle to give you a smoother shift. sport + does not do that, which i why i believe you feel the oomph, most prominently during shifts in mid throttle acceleration, but when you are shifting in full gas max rev situations at the track, the car is butter soft, in my opinion.