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Sport Button

13403 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Gallatin
I just cracked 1k miles on my 718C 6mt. For the first time since I picked up the car I pushed the sport button. The first thing I noticed is that it bumped the idle up from about 800 RPM to about 1,000 RPM. It also makes the throttle more responsive, gives the standard exhaust some extra noise and disables auto stop/start. Does it change anything else in the car? For example, does the spoiler go up at lower MPH? I do not have PASM, Sport Chrono or any other similar option.

One other question. Though I did not buy the car because of fuel economy, I have been pleasantly surprised that I have been getting almost 27 MPG in Los Angeles in mixed city/freeway driving. Assuming my driving characteristics stay the same with the button pressed, how many MPG do you figure I will lose by driving in sport mode?
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In sport Mode the throttel response sharpens, the sound aktor between the seats rumbles more then in normal.
Also the exhaust gets a tad louder and start to fart and backfire when you release the throttel.
With manual gearbox the car blips the throttel on down shift (heal and toe), atleast i think it does even without sport Chrono (?)


In theory the backfire cost you gas, if you have PDK in automatic it will definitely cost since the up change comes later.
Also the sharper respons will prob cost to.
You do not get rev matching unless you have Sport Chrono.
With manual gearbox the car blips the throttel on down shift (heal and toe), at least i think it does even without sport Chrono (?)
Nope, no rev-matching on manual downshifts without Sport Chrono. We get to practice doing our own throttle-blips on downshift (and hopefully get good at it!).

The thing not mentioned here (but discussed at some length in an earlier thread), Sport Mode causes Oil Temp to run cooler -- in the range of 15 degrees. Likely due to running a richer mix (this would also play a role in exhaust pops and crackle on overrun, so the two are related). How much this impacts fuel consumption, I've never read....
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I have noticed that after a spirited run on Sport, a cruise return can cause the <expected distance to fill-up> to increase substantially.
You do not get rev matching unless you have Sport Chrono.
Nope, no rev-matching on manual downshifts without Sport Chrono. We get to practice doing our own throttle-blips on downshift (and hopefully get good at it!).

The thing not mentioned here (but discussed at some length in an earlier thread), Sport Mode causes Oil Temp to run cooler -- in the range of 15 degrees. Likely due to running a richer mix (this would also play a role in exhaust pops and crackle on overrun, so the two are related). How much this impacts fuel consumption, I've never read....


Ouch, i have the PDK and was not sure.
In older models of Boxster/Cayman the pedals sits to close for proper heal & toe, is it the same in 718?
I also have a 6 MT with the base engine and drive in Sport Mode most of the time. I did do a caparison between Sport and Normal modes and found at most a 1 mpg difference. However, my typical driving is 75-80% hi-way (70-80 mph) and my mileage is usually 28-29 mpg.
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Nope, no rev-matching on manual downshifts without Sport Chrono. We get to practice doing our own throttle-blips on downshift (and hopefully get good at it!).

The thing not mentioned here (but discussed at some length in an earlier thread), Sport Mode causes Oil Temp to run cooler -- in the range of 15 degrees. Likely due to running a richer mix (this would also play a role in exhaust pops and crackle on overrun, so the two are related). How much this impacts fuel consumption, I've never read....

Don't think it has to do with richer mix, its the same on constant highway driving :)
At least it was so for me this morning, going back to normal the oil temp slowly raised to around 103 C and dropped to 90 in Sport.
Don't think it has to do with richer mix, its the same on constant highway driving :)
At least it was so for me this morning, going back to normal the oil temp slowly raised to around 103 C and dropped to 90 in Sport.
@ZuffenHouseRules : It is not because of a richer mix; it is because Porsche (and several other manufacturers) designs the ECU mapping so that the car runs cooler in sportier modes -- the theory being that the engine has more 'headroom' for more spirited driving that inherently places more stress on the drivetrain.

My most recent car, a BMW 228i, does this as well, and the technical manual for the N20 engine in that car described the theories behind the practice in significant detail. The technical manual for the BMW N55 straight-six has a similar passage.

A richer mix may very well be one of the methods used to induce a cooler-running engine, but there are many others (earlier thermostat opening, extra oil coolers, variable cam timing, etc.). It's a means, not an end.
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The sport button also seems to increase the rotating range on the Porsche dynamic light system (pdls) - that is, the light swivels more into a turn in sport mode.
Nope, no rev-matching on manual downshifts without Sport Chrono. We get to practice doing our own throttle-blips on downshift (and hopefully get good at it!).

The thing not mentioned here (but discussed at some length in an earlier thread), Sport Mode causes Oil Temp to run cooler -- in the range of 15 degrees. Likely due to running a richer mix (this would also play a role in exhaust pops and crackle on overrun, so the two are related). How much this impacts fuel consumption, I've never read....
I have the base Boxster MT and no Sport Chrono. I am able to rev match "OK" but my heel-toe skills are lacking. In my defense I have very wide feet and it is difficult to nearly impossible to heel-toe--at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. After all you know what they say about men with wide feet--no wait--maybe I got that wrong.;)
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After all you know what they say about men with wide feet.;)
Is it wide shoes?????? ;)
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You do not get rev matching unless you have Sport Chrono.
Not sure if it’s a UK model thing but I drove 6MT on a test drive and that had throttle blipping, the SA was surprised as he thought it was only on models with Chrono / Sport + which this one didn’t have (it was a new car to the dealer). (I have the spec sheet the SA sent me somewhere if anyone wants to know what options it had)

I’ve just checked “Good to know” app on my iPad and that too says “Throttle blip during downshifting” is active in both Sport and Sport + modes.
Not sure if it’s a UK model thing but I drove 6MT on a test drive and that had throttle blipping, the SA was surprised as he thought it was only on models with Chrono / Sport + which this one didn’t have (it was a new car to the dealer). (I have the spec sheet the SA sent me somewhere if anyone wants to know what options it had)

I’ve just checked “Good to know” app on my iPad and that too says “Throttle blip during downshifting” is active in both Sport and Sport + modes.
Perhaps in the UK this is different. I know that in the US when on the configurator for a 2018 718 it says that you get rev matching in both sport and sport plus mode when you have Sport Chrono. I know when I ordered my 2017 Boxster I asked my SA and he said that the rev matching feature only comes with Sport Chrono. As I stated earlier I wish I had added that feature.:(
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