How often do you use the sport button?

[SkinnyP]

I find the throttle response of my 987 3.4 DFI Cayman a little mediocre although I suppose it’s a balance for every day driving, I also wish PSM allowed some slip.

So my question to you is how often do you use the sport button it and is it worth the £620 retrofit cost? (£400 software license, £100 button, the rest is labour)

I’ve driven a 981 and found the sport button did exactly what I wanted, a sharper driver and some shallow skids but nothing too hairy. I suppose I have answered my own question, I’m just struggling to justify the cost.

Yes I could turn PSM off but to be honest I’ve tried that...unfortunately when these cars let go they let go! In comparison I didn’t realise how much harder they are to slide compared to a front engine car with a long wheel base

Maybe I just need more practice

[hondansx]

For me the Sport button is a little psychological in my 997; once you turn it off the dulled throttle response makes the car feel slow! But then we you get used to driving in 'normal' mode, it fades away.

When i get in the car i switch on the PSE, put the PDK across to manual and turn off the TC. I rarely use the Sport mode.

[cervezaman]

On my Boxster 981 it's the first thing I do - especially as it deactivates the stop/start!

[Koln-RS]

I drove a 997 Turbo 'S' last year. Blisteringly fast, but you need to press 'Sport' to get the full experience. There's also 'Sport Plus', but that's so violent it's frightening.

This year I drove a 991 C4'S' - which I actually thought was a much better car - but you still need to press 'Sport' to get it excited. 'Sport Plus' was a lot less violent than the Turbo, but very impressive for a fast overtake.

Prefer it if 'Sport' was a thumb operated button on the steering wheel.

[blueSL]

I use Sport mode all the time. Normal mode is all about maximising economy and it's just getting worse.

I test drove a 991 turbo S at a Porsche driving event at Milbrook last December, hated it in normal mode and the idiot minder to my left refused to let me put it in Sport mode so I never really got to see what the car is capable of.

Sport Plus is, for me, a step too far on normal roads.

[lingus75]

My 997.1 turbo button gets pressed as soon as the car is warned up. I don't get to drive it often, so it's still an event on full boost.

It not just the boost though, the car response feels sharper everywhere which I like.

The sport plus feels 'violent', is that because the shifts bang home with a thud, or that it gives more power?

[Alf Essex]

I have a 997 Turbo S Cab and use sports plus all the time...only drive it a few times a week, so want the full experiance

[bing]

lingus75 said:

My 997.1 turbo button gets pressed as soon as the car is warned up. I don't get to drive it often, so it's still an event on full boost.

It not just the boost though, the car response feels sharper everywhere which I like.

The sport plus feels 'violent', is that because the shifts bang home with a thud, or that it gives more power?

This ^^^ in my 997TT or when I have a fully loaded car

[Magic919]

I use the Sport button most days in the 997. However, in the 981 loaners I've had I drive around in Sport all the time.

[SkinnyP]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I should add, my car is a manual.

As an extension of my original question, to those that use it to you think its worth £620?

[Trev450]

IMO no, unless you plan on doing a lot of track work. My CS has it but also has PASM and PSE so one press of the button completly transforms the car.

[Asterix]

My standard start up routine is get in, belt up, clutch in, check neutral, start the engine, hit the sport button, put PASM back to standard, turn on lights (in Dubai so I want to make a little silver car as visible as possible), set the AC to 'Low' with face vents only, drive off.

I always drive with Sport. I don't like the standard throttle map.

[Durzel]

hondansx said:

For me the Sport button is a little psychological in my 997; once you turn it off the dulled throttle response makes the car feel slow! But then we you get used to driving in 'normal' mode, it fades away.

When i get in the car i switch on the PSE, put the PDK across to manual and turn off the TC. I rarely use the Sport mode.

That's it exactly really, Porsche even say that it doesn't increase power. From my experience in a PSE/Sport equipped Cayman S the throttle definitely felt more responsive in Sport mode, and of course the PSE elevates the whole aural experience. Louder/more growl seems faster somehow. As hondansx said once you're used to how it feels in Sport - normal feels pedestrian somehow?

Worth noting also that the retrofit also unlocks some personalisation options on PCM, so it's not all smoke and mirrors.

[Adam B]

997.1 turbo:

ignition on
sport on
PASM back to normal

but then sport button gives an extra 50lb/ft on overboost

annoying that sport button turns PASM to sport too

Edited by Adam B on Wednesday 1st October 00:50

[SkinnyP]

Do you ever turn sport off when on the motorway or in town, can it be overly sensitive?

[bensimmons]

i retro fitted sport shopped around and got the code from OPC at adsicount and got an indi to load it for me. about £520 that way manual 997.2 C4S cab. I drove the car in normal mode for a few weeks but didnt really like it compared to my previous cars that had sport - so i upgraded without the dash wart.

std op procedure: Start, sport off with PASM on with the PSE.

You will find it takes a little longer for the traction control to kick in so you can safely get it a bit sideways on the round about - esp if a C2S. You have to push the C4S much harder to get the back to step out.

Worth the money in my opinion and much much better for track days if thats your thing. Should help you sell it after too. Sport Chrono vehicles always more attractive.

[Trev450]

SkinnyP said:

Do you ever turn sport off when on the motorway or in town, can it be overly sensitive?

No its not at all overly sensitive. In fact it actually feels better than the standard throttle map.

[mrdemon]

Trev450 said:

No its not at all overly sensitive. In fact it actually feels better than the standard throttle map.

this, unlike Audi which is stupid when on, Porsche Sports mode is how a car should be, I have it on 100% of the time and norm PSM off .
Car feels a bit dead to me Sports mode off.

[SkinnyP]

I think you gents have just cost me 600-odd quid, or maybe just over 500 if I can get the discount. Bugger!

Cheers ya'll.

[SkinnyP]

One last thing, do we know how much extra slip sport mode allows? I've read conflicting answers, 10% up to 50%.