Sport Button

[Stugoldthorpe]

Gents,
I have probably one of the very few PDK Cayman S that didn't have the Sport Programme fitted at the factory. Who knows why Porsche make a sports car that isn't set up in full tilt sports mode but there you go. I also have a BMW 330d M Sport Touring auto and the difference between sport and comfort is night and day with a much sharper throttle response and much quicker gear changes when used in semi auto/manual shifting. My wife has a Polo GTi with DSG and the sport mode on that is very noticeable. As I am about to hemhorrage further cash to have the sport and sport plus pack retrofitted I thought I'd best ask if other owners can tell me if the difference is very marked. What I'm interested in is not the higher up shift revs/throttle blips but the sharper throttle response and more rapid gear shifting as a mostly drive semi auto. Given that the Polo is from the VW stable it must share some of the DNA of its more powerful cousin (the DSG box for example) so I'm causiously optimistic the retrofit will achieve my desired outcome. In case some readers have manual gearbox equipped cars I'm pretty sure they won't benefit much so I'd like to hear from PDK equipped people!

Thanks again in advance all.

 

[oliver]

Don't they all have the 'Sport' button? What does that activate?

And how much is the 'Sport Plus' pack to retrofit?

 

[Stugoldthorpe]

No - it's an option. It's £815 including VAT. It basically alters the throttle map and gearshift programme in the on board software and I believe also sharpens up the steering.

 

[Briggy]

With Sport Plus, unless you're on a track, it's hard to live with. It'll wait forever to change up, but that's the point. With Sport, it'll wait longer to change up and used for when you want to get on with enjoy some twisties, but can't be bothered to go into manual mode.

Both modes sharpen the throttle response noticeably.

I can't tell any difference in how quickly it actually changes gears as they always seem almost instant to me in all modes.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

[Dylan1]

I go with sport button on mainly,as it also activates my sport exhaust which is fun and also switches off the stop start irritating function!!

holds on to low gears nicely and sharper response

with sport plus I can barely live with it because it seems to want gear one for ever and I'm constantly manually changing up for fear of overrevving so apart from the furka and grimsel passes when that was useful I just keep sport on

it's all fun though!!

 

[AndrewT]

On my 2.9 manual gearbox car the owners handbook indicates that enabling sport mode also invokes a slightly different configuration to the Porsche Stability Program - I'm not sure whether that would be the case if you were to fit an after-market sport button (although I'm assuming you're getting the genuine Porsche item fitted?).

I find that the sport button makes my car a little too sensitive on the throttle for driving in traffic, but it is a manual as previously mentioned, but the sport injects a bit more fun when out of traffic.

 

[oliver]

Just looked in the 981 Cayman brochure (2013 MY), and it states:

"Fitted as standard, the SPORT button provides even greater spontaneity and driving pleasure at the push of a button........"

I've had 'Sport Plus' on several Porsches, and agree that it's too aggressive for most circumstances

 

[Twinfan]

The OP has a 987 based on his profile pic. Sport mode/button was an option unlike the 981 where it was standard []

 

[Motorhead]

Stuart,

I presume that you're running a 987.2 in which case, as has been pointed out, the Sport Chrono Package was an option which altered the PSM intervention, throttle map, engine tune and rev-limiter as well as the gear shift timing on PDK-equipped cars (including Launch Control). If you had them fitted, the button also activated PASM and the PSE. A dashboard mounted stop clock was also included in the package.

The 987.2 has hydraulically assisted PAS so there aren't any switchable steering assistance modes.

You may well be able to get the package retro-fitted (minus the stop clock).....at a price!

Jeff

 

[MrDemon]

I have it retro fitted in my SPyder as I did not like the throttle map standard and the PSM intervention is much better, I tend to drive PSM off in my 987.2 cars though.

Exhaust on, sport on, PSM off are the default button press's when I get in the car

 

[Stugoldthorpe]

This is most helpful especially the confirmation that the throttle map is significantly changed. When I bought the car from the BMW dealership last July I noticed it was absent the Sport button and they were supposed to get it retrofitted for me by Porsche Nottingham prior to collecting it but they didn't so I have been pootling round in 'vicar' mode ever since. It's not an aftermarket fitment but the genuine Porsche product to be fitted at Porsche Leeds and yes it does come at a price (£815 incl VAT) but I think it's definitely worth it as to me it'll make the car drive as it should, particularly with my very subtle Hayward & Scott exhaust bypass I have had fitted that essentially replicates the PSE system but without switching....!

Thanks again all.

 

[SV_WDC]

I know your question has been answered, but there is a thread on Pistonheads (Porsche section) recently titled: 'how do you drive your PDK' which offers useful enlightenment.

Although the option is on my car, it was interesting to see how other people drive their cars in those modes, and reassuring I am not the only one that thinks Sports+ is just way too violent for anything other than a track.

That said there is definitely a noticeable difference in gear changes between the modes, mostly in +; it is quite violent and not easy to live with.

Mostly it is the throttle map though. Sports you can leave on and will calm down/change up if you are driving slower, but 'wake up' much more quickly.

 

[Motorhead]

Sounds good Stuart. My CS is a manual with PASM and Sport Chrono so doesn't have the additional features you get with PDK, but the sharper throttle map is good for open road/track driving - although I prefer the less aggressive standard setting when driving in traffic.

I may be wrong but I don't think that you'll get throttle blipping on downshifts, even with PDK. I think the feature was only introduced for the 981 but for me it's not a problem as I like to heel-and-toe..!

Enjoy the feature when you get it fitted.

Jeff

 

[AndrewT]

I may be wrong but I don't think that you'll get throttle blipping on downshifts, even with PDK. I think the feature was only introduced for the 981 but for me it's not a problem as I like to heel-and-toe..!

I asked about throttle blipping on another thread and the answer was that you only get it on the 981 models ( I don't recall whether or not you also need Sport +), but as you say heel-and-toe is easier in Sport mode.

 

[Ray]

So far only having had my Cayman S for three weeks I thought it best to get to know the essentials first. Failed at my first attempts to work the entertainment system or the navigation system. Thinking of seeing if there is a Uni course out there as there seems to be a course for every other thing on this planet.

So the other evening I thought I would try out the "Sport" button, now that's how a sports car should react and drive. Needless to say I shall not be trying out the "Sports Plus" button as I am not that brave.

What a car. The grin gets wider every time I get in to drive it.

Ray

 

[Stugoldthorpe]

Totally agree. Had the retrofit done on Wednesday at Leeds Porsche Centre and am very pleased whilst also slightly bemused. Whilst returning home to Scarborough where I live my wife, sitting next, to me asked what exactly the sport button did. We were travelling in a tunnel at the time, windows down, at about 3500 rpm so I pressed the button and floored it. My tastefully modded exhaust system yowl (thanks again Hayward and Scott) and now instant throttle response pinned us back in the seats and her laughter confined to me that there was a very significant difference. One word - stunning. It now felt like a Porsche should do.

So why am I bemused? As Ray says, in 'sport' this is how a porsche should feel. With my exhaust modded this is how a Porsche should sound. I'm bemused because you'd think that Porsche would have sport mode as statndard an an optional 'comfort' mode. My business partner's TVr Tuscan 350 doesn't have a sport mode. It's bonkers by default but then again it doesn't even have ABS....

i get it with BMW that the comfort mode is default with a sports option but Porsche? It's a sports car after all and perhaps the clue is in that description.......!!!

Anyway, that aside, I thank you all aagin for your input and am incredibly pleased. Leeds Porsche were brilliant as well, taking us into Leeds centre and picking us up again in a black V8 Cayennne made us feel like VIPs.

if anyone wants to talk about the Hayward and Scott 'bypass' pipe for the exhaust I can 100% recommend it as being incredibly tasteful making that flat 6 sound like it should!

 

[Twinfan]

In my opinion "Normal" mode is there for EU emissions tests, mpg calculations etc. Rather than dumb the whole car down you have Sport mode to bring it up to where it should be. It should have been standard like it is on the 981.

 

[Ray]

Twinfan could have a point especially when it comes down to emissions. However, in "Sport" or "Sport Plus" mode is the vehicle outside of those EU emissions?

Whatever the reason, this does not take away the "Plus" side of driving a Cayman or any other Porsche come to that and that is enjoyment.

Ray

 

[Twinfan]

I would say the official figures would be recorded in Normal mode - with a leaner engine map, stop-start enabled etc so in Sport mode you would get worse than the stated MPG, higher emissions but more power and a lot more fun

 

[Stugoldthorpe]

That's a very good point regarding the emissions. Although I doubt the fuelling is altered to give a richer mixture (as in more fuel injected at the same level of manifold depression) in any way the throttle map change MUST mean that there is an effective increase in 'electronic' throttle depression per mm of physical pedal travel therefore under 'real' driving conditions a user wouldn't be able to drive economically.