Sport button
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
Sport button
I have a 07 4s with 6 speed. My question is I have the sport button which changes computer. It is so much faster and responsive with the button on. Why would porsche make this an option and not just make this standard setting? Also if you have this option do you keep it on or off?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,043
Likes: 84
From: Chesapeake, VA
The Sport button is doing jack-all for you but changing the throttle position map so less deflection gives more throttle. It's 100% psychological and doesn't change the performance of the car at all; all you ever really needed to do in normal mode was mash the fun pedal a little harder and you'd have gotten the exact same effect.
Now, it opens the PSM envelope a bit, and that can be a good thing on the track, but as you should never be getting even close to that on a public street, it's sort of N/A. The only real benefit to sporty street driving is the different gearshift maps in PDK cars. In making the throttle pedal map more aggressive, however, it reduces the fine control we have on the throttle, which is REALLY important in performance driving when a little too much or too little means winning, losing, or spinning off into an armco. I've found it's virtually impossible to properly modulate the throttle with Sport+ on, and makes it difficult to "steer with the throttle" in fast sweepers and properly nail corner exits. Porsche should never have mucked with the gas pedal map. The sport buttons should absolutely have been standard in ALL cars, though.
Now, it opens the PSM envelope a bit, and that can be a good thing on the track, but as you should never be getting even close to that on a public street, it's sort of N/A. The only real benefit to sporty street driving is the different gearshift maps in PDK cars. In making the throttle pedal map more aggressive, however, it reduces the fine control we have on the throttle, which is REALLY important in performance driving when a little too much or too little means winning, losing, or spinning off into an armco. I've found it's virtually impossible to properly modulate the throttle with Sport+ on, and makes it difficult to "steer with the throttle" in fast sweepers and properly nail corner exits. Porsche should never have mucked with the gas pedal map. The sport buttons should absolutely have been standard in ALL cars, though.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 8
From: Greater Philadelphia Area, USA
I find rev matching (heel and toeing) to be perfectly executable in Sport mode. In Normal mode, not so much. In Normal mode, you have too much computer-induced play in the pedal action.
But, if you drive around in Normal mode in traffic, you can modulate the clutch so well that you minimize wear to the bare minimum.
I'm rarely in traffic, so I opt to keep the throttle in Sport mod almost all the time. I consider 'Normal' as a mode to use when I am accelerating from at/near 0 MPH a bunch (puttering through a little town littered with lights or stop signs... or getting along in traffic).
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But, if you drive around in Normal mode in traffic, you can modulate the clutch so well that you minimize wear to the bare minimum.
I'm rarely in traffic, so I opt to keep the throttle in Sport mod almost all the time. I consider 'Normal' as a mode to use when I am accelerating from at/near 0 MPH a bunch (puttering through a little town littered with lights or stop signs... or getting along in traffic).
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Last edited by Philster; Aug 29, 2014 at 01:00 PM.
Race Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 72
From: Tampa, FL
I've only had my car a couple of weeks, but I find that around town, normal mode makes it feel like driving a Camry. That's a good thing as I live in the urban core of Tampa with brick streets, and lots of traffic. Sport mode makes it feel like a Porsche. That's a good thing when there's room to play a little. I really like that it makes the car have 2 personalities. It fits with the "Porsche everyday" philosophy. However, Sport mode on the PASM is good only for the smoothest of smooth surfaces.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 332
From: Central Jersey
Are you driving around town in such a way that PSM would be interfering if you'd left it on? If so, WTF?
Leaving it on only helps you. It will only work to save your *** when it's needed and it stays out of the way when you don't, which is 99.9% of the time. If PSM is getting in your way on a regular basis in your everyday driving, then you're doing something wrong.
I've left PSM on at car control clinics, on skid-pads, slaloms, etc. You have to do a LOT to get PSM to kick in. You'd have to be driving like a thoughtless idiot to get PSM to interfere on a regular drive so much that you'd opt to leave it off by default.
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 523
Likes: 5
From: Lower Left Corner
I have a 6MT and rarely use Sport mode. I drive in lots of traffic, and like the linear throttle response.
If I had a 991 or 981, where Sport mode gets you rev matched downshifts and (on the 991) dynamic transmission mounts, I'd use it more.
Last edited by kcheves; Aug 29, 2014 at 07:51 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
You're driving around town with the PSM off? Why would you want to do that? It puts you and other drivers (most importantly OTHER drivers) at unneeded risk.
Are you driving around town in such a way that PSM would be interfering if you'd left it on? If so, WTF?
Leaving it on only helps you. It will only work to save your *** when it's needed and it stays out of the way when you don't, which is 99.9% of the time. If PSM is getting in your way on a regular basis in your everyday driving, then you're doing something wrong.
I've left PSM on at car control clinics, on skid-pads, slaloms, etc. You have to do a LOT to get PSM to kick in. You'd have to be driving like a thoughtless idiot to get PSM to interfere on a regular drive so much that you'd opt to leave it off by default.
Are you driving around town in such a way that PSM would be interfering if you'd left it on? If so, WTF?
Leaving it on only helps you. It will only work to save your *** when it's needed and it stays out of the way when you don't, which is 99.9% of the time. If PSM is getting in your way on a regular basis in your everyday driving, then you're doing something wrong.
I've left PSM on at car control clinics, on skid-pads, slaloms, etc. You have to do a LOT to get PSM to kick in. You'd have to be driving like a thoughtless idiot to get PSM to interfere on a regular drive so much that you'd opt to leave it off by default.
