Sport button vs Sport Chrono Pack

[Brian_Innes]

In my opinion the Sport Response Button is nothing more than a gimmick. I've never used it on either of my 718's.

At PEC it was demonstrated on the test car, and I found it a completely pointless feature. A keen driver will already have the car in the optimum gear and turbo boost for any prospective overtaking manoeuvre.

As Philip rightly points out, when overtaking another vehicle you should be concentrating on checking the mirrors and the road ahead. Not fumbling for a button on the steering wheel.

The correct procedure is, use manual shifting in Sport mode, selecting the appropriate gear for the overtake, and if the road is safe, accelerate swiftly past. Easy.

Reading the handbook on the use of the Sport Response Button, it is essentially for use when the car is in Normal "D" mode. Activating the SR button will programme the turbo for a faster spool-up, and deploy the rapid-fire gear shifts normally reserved for Sport Plus for a period of 20 seconds only.

SR does not provide any extra "boost" from that already programmed on the ECU.

In other words it's a complete waste of time in my opinion and has no place on a car such as the 718.

Brian

 

[Daveotto]

In my opinion the Sport Response Button is nothing more than a gimmick. I've never used it on either of my 718's.

........blah blah.......

In other words it's a complete waste of time in my opinion and has no place on a car such as the 718.

Agree it does not give you any response greater than you get in Sport Plus and might be a bit of a gimmick but has its uses as a “lazy button” for overtaking when an opportunity arises to overtake or get out of trouble that you might not have anticipated IMHO

 

[Brian_Innes]

Dave,

The resulting aggressive power surge when activating the Sport Response Button, is hardly conducive to smooth driving. Also bear in mind that in SR, the rev limit before upshifts will be to the 7500 rpm redline.

So, imagine you are overtaking a slower vehicle doing say 45 -50 mph, and you decide to overtake using the SR button. In auto "D" mode your car will probably be in 6th gear. Activating SR results in the PDK downshifting rapidly from 6th to 2nd gear, and during the overtake manoeuvre the engine will be screaming at 7500rpm. Not a good look to other road users who will brand such antics as hooligan driving. The intelligent driver will not deploy SR, rather using manual shifting and the appropriate gears, in this case 3rd and 4th, to overtake the slower car in a far less dramatic manner. The big torque of the flat-4 turbo between 2000 - 5000 rpm provides more than enough poke to overtake safely at 40 - 50 mph speeds using either 3rd or 4th gears.

As for using SR to get out of trouble, I would argue it would create more trouble not less. The driver has to be aware of the resulting extreme dynamics when the software takes over control. Using manual shift keeps the driver in control, and not governed by a gimmicky 20 second software "boost" facility.

Just my opinion from my own experience.

Brian

 

[Daveotto]

Brian,

While I agree with your response which describes text book driving and for sure you have much more experience in these cars than me I don't think you view is truly balanced as by your own admission you have never "pushed the button" yourself

I prefer to just paddle shift down when i need a few extra beans but in my limited experience of pushing the button on 2 or 3 occasions, yes the engine screams, but is not dangerous if used in the right circumstances and I always argue that anything which allows you to keep both hands on the wheel at all times can only be an advantage

we beg to differ on this, I think

Regards,

Dave

 

[Brian_Innes]

Dave,

Agreed.

We all have our own thoughts on the Sport Response feature.

I've only used it on the demo cars at PEC and that was enough for me.

Best regards,

Brian

 

[gmcraib]

Just to add to the button overtaking, using it is a very bad idea!

for one, if it is so tight that you need it then you are cutting it fine.

for two, if you rely on this for overtaking then you will get used to it and judge overtaking distances accordingly.

for three, what happens if it fails and doesn't quite give you the same boost?

I would use it sparingly for fun and track days (can over take then!).

To add to the PDK/Manual chat - I'd probably stick with manual.

Did try a 981S with PDK when they first came out (it was buttons not paddles), really did not get on well with it. So far this has been my only experience of PDK. Tell a lie, I had a shot of a 991 a couple of years back and think it also had PDK.

My daily driver (3 series BMW) has semi-auto with paddles and I think this suits the car (simplicity/laziness, not to mention rapid shifts through 8speed sequential box) but personally I don't think I would have one on a Porsche. Even though it is faster/easier.