Sport Mode

"TDIGuy" (owenrosier) 10/06/2016 at 16:19 • Filed to: None

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What does oppo think of sport mode on Automatic transmissions ? Not “manual” mode but Sport or “S”. I really got to play with mine today, and while its not excellent, if your on a windy road I think its better than manually shifting, it does a pretty good job of keeping you in the torque range and shifting up and down as needed. I’ve never really had another car with “Sport” mode (or and Automatic for that matter), what are your experiences ?

Not my car by the way, wouldn’t own a 200C ^^

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:24

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If paddles are an option, I use the paddles. Otherwise I use sport because that’s typically closer to what I want it to be doing, but still usually falls short. If you are going to force me to not drive a manual, I want paddles that have a mode where they don’t upshift unless I tell them to.

notsomethingstructural > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:25

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If you need a car with a sport mode transmission you should have bought a manual. My $.02.

Tripper > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:28

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Most cars I prefer the shifting in sport mode. On my S3 however sport mode is super aggressive unless you are incredibly dainty with the gas pedal. Downshifts are great but up, the trans holds for longer than I like even for spirited driving. So I go manual mode with the paddles when I’m out for a spirited drive.

Milky > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:30

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I don’t own a manual (yet) and I know its stupid but using the manu-matic actually helps keep it in gear. Plus it sounds good on the over run instead of just changing gears. In my SC400 “power” mode shifted about 500rpm higher and noticeably quicker.

so yea its dumb, but better.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:31

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A joke because there’s nothing sporty about a fully automatic transmission.

DynamicWeight > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:31

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My Tacoma has two “sport” modes. One is the S position on the shifter which allows you to control the highest gear the truck is allowed to shift to. The other option is the “ECT” button which, from my understanding, controls shift points and throttle pedal response.

The ECT (Electronically Controlled Transmission) button makes a world of difference. Instead of puttering along at 1200 RPMS the engine sits closer to 2000 RPMs (while cruising), and the pedal stiffness reduces to invite you to push it in just a little bit more. You really have to deliberately push the throttle if you want the truck to drop a couple gears in normal mode.

Choosing what gear the truck is in obviously also helps out quite a bit. I get reasonable engine braking using this method (nothing like a V8 truck, but it’s a V6 so that should be obvious).

If I’m on a twisty mountain road, I find both the ECT button engaged and selecting gears in S mode really helps navigating through those tight turns since the trucks momentum can be controlled pretty much entirely with the go pedal and the brakes are seldom used.

phenotyp > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:35

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It’s a dramatic difference in my 5er. Especially when the sport suspension is turned on, too— just holds revs (feels like a manual) instead of upshifting, shifts noticeably quicker, everything about the car buttoned down and far faster and more responsive.

Never really get to use it, though.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:38

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Varies a lot from car to car, I think. In my XJR I never bothered with Sport mode - all it did was make starts less smooth by starting in first not second, and make it a bit more eager to kick down part-throttle, which you could do in normal mode by just giving it a bit more boot.

In my DSG GTI, Sport mode is really aggressive - it tries to stay in the top 3rd of the rev range at all times. Which makes it useless for everyday, unless you like buzzing round town at 4000rpm, but perfect for canyon carving; definitely better than manual shifting. Manual shifting is still better when you’re 10/10ths on the track though - Sport mode can’t anticipate what you’re going to do, just react really fast to what you’re doing now.

TysMagic > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:40

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I have a loaner base model Fiat 500 at the moment. My Abarth is manual and loud and fun. You press the sport mode on this loaner car and you get shifts held for way to long and the worst engine noises you could imagine as the 1.4 liter spins up to 6k rpms before slamming you in to the next gear. While it’s doing all that and causing a general ruckus I wouldn’t even describe it as “peppy”

HammerheadFistpunch > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:43

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I don’t have a sport mode, but I do have a PWR button that was the predecessor to the sport button. It’s nice to have but it doesn’t do much other than use the WOT shift map earlier. Nice for towing though.

TDIGuy > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 10/06/2016 at 16:47

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Yeah my Passat has sport mode that is the same way and the CC I drove had a super aggressive sport mode just like you describe with your GTI

TDIGuy > notsomethingstructural 10/06/2016 at 16:47

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I agree, but it just seems that there are so many regular cars that come with sport mode now

TDIGuy > Tripper 10/06/2016 at 16:48

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I like sport mode if I’m out for a drive but if I’m on the highway like most of my commute it doesn’t matter. With paddles manual mode is always better

TDIGuy > phenotyp 10/06/2016 at 16:49

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Yeah I have a friend with an A8 L and with his car in Sport and suspension in dynamic, it is pretty mad

TDIGuy > Milky 10/06/2016 at 16:50

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Agreed, dumb, but better in the right situation

TDIGuy > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2016 at 16:50

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Yeah I remeber a few cars like that and to be fair most newer cars basically do the same thing

TDIGuy > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/06/2016 at 16:51

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True haha, I think thats why alot of manufacturers don’t sell it as Sport mode just “s” haha

TDIGuy > DynamicWeight 10/06/2016 at 16:52

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That sounds kinda cool since it has a bit more control, I feel like its a really good way to manipulate towing

phenotyp > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 16:53

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There are (obnoxiously, IMO) TWO sport buttons in the 5: one for transmission, the other for suspension. So you can set the suspension at awesome-active (which bumps your revs about 500RPM), but still have the lazy transmission setting. No idea why they’d think anyone would want one without the other.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural 10/06/2016 at 16:59

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Nah, it’s kind of like regular mode is economical for driving around town, but when a fun road appears, switch to sport to keep the revs in the sweet spot.

jjhats > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 17:02

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i like it. holds gears longer and drives the car like i would be if i were in charge

mazda616 > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 17:05

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The “sport” mode in my ‘16 Mazda6 actually changes the car quite a bit. Shift points and such are way, way different. So is the throttle response.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/2016-Mazda-MAZDA6-Overview-c24781

Sport mode plus manual shift mode makes it pretty damn fun for a family sedan.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 17:06

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The Mark VII GTI has a great sport mode for the DCT auto. It keeps the revs up so that the turbo stays on nicely and produces the best power. In addition, it does fun blips when downshifting to a stop.

It is useful to have two modes for the auto for me, since I do a lot of boring commuting, regular is more efficient, but the sport programming makes the occasional fun road enjoyable.

DynamicWeight > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 19:20

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Yup, haven’t towed with it yet, but with a fully loaded bed it worked really well. I have to say, I was seriously going back and forth between stick shift and automatic and I am happy with my decision.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TDIGuy 10/06/2016 at 19:51

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On my wife’s Fit it does keep the engine up in the 4,000+ rpm range were it has at least some power.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > TDIGuy 10/07/2016 at 08:07

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S can also stand for “shit.”

TDIGuy > phenotyp 10/07/2016 at 10:46

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Yeah like lets talk this corner at 80 while churning 1800RPM haha

TDIGuy > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/07/2016 at 10:51

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Yeah that’s kinda true because drive on my car is mad econ mode, like short shifts all the time

TDIGuy > mazda616 10/07/2016 at 10:55

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Yeah I’ve heard the Mazda 6 is a great car to drive anyways !

TDIGuy > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/07/2016 at 10:56

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Yeah mine blips down too which is pretty fun esspecially on elevation change before a turn

bhtooefr > phenotyp 10/07/2016 at 11:41

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Depending on the car, you might want the other way around, sport transmission mapping, with soft suspension.

IIRC, the Mk7 GTI was faster at Dunsfold that way.

bhtooefr > HammerheadFistpunch 10/07/2016 at 11:44

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My automatic car’s PWR button just changes throttle mapping... Although, considering that the throttle is just requesting a certain amount of power, and the systems figure out how much engine RPM (if any) is needed for that power, and gets it to that exact RPM quickly...

TDIGuy > DynamicWeight 10/07/2016 at 14:01

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Yeah my dad’s new Tacoma doesn’t have the ECS I don’t think

TDIGuy > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 10/07/2016 at 14:02

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Yeah I feel the same way, I’ve been switching beween S or “manual” mode depending on where I’m driving like if I need to hold a gear manual is nice but sport does a good job at making downshifts more fun

DynamicWeight > TDIGuy 10/07/2016 at 14:21

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It doesn’t exactly jump out at you. It’s a little button in the center stack.