AT Sport Mode - What does it do exactly?
 

What does the Sport Mode button do in the AT? I know that it holds lower gears for longer when in D, but does it do anything else?

The reason I ask is because my car is in M mode 95% of the time, and I have been pressing that Sport mode button because I thought there may be a benefit to throttle response or maybe result in faster shifts.

So, what does it do?

From what I understand it's only useful in D mode. I usually leave mine in M as well and haven't noticed a different between Sport On / Sport Off. Sometimes it feels like there is a quick response / shift but I think that's just me...

What Sport seems to do while in D mode:
Holds gears longer during acceleration, less upshifting
Hard breaking (like before a corner) will result in downshift / gear hold to let you power out of turn
Shifts faster

Let me take it on the short track at Dakota County early next month and I could give you an idea of what it does.

I believe it improves throttle response but not 100% sure...
I've spent a lot more time in manual mode recently and it is really fun... it really is like having a manual without the clutch

Thanks please let me know if you notice a difference. In the meantime I think I'll be driving with Sport on. :burnrubber:

From my exp it seems to keep the motor about 800RPM higher for any given speed. This seems to keep it up in the powerband more from my exp.

You're talking about Drive mode, correct?

Yeah.

The manual says it doesn't do anything in Manual mode, but I normally drive mine in manual mode and it feels like the shifts are firmer when sport mode is on vs. off so I always hit the sport and VSC sport buttons.

Quicker shifts. Holds gear longer. Will have no effect in manual mode. Just like snow mode will have no effect in manual mode(assuming you can pick 1st gear).

Ok thanks for all the replies. This confirms what I thought initially.
:thanks:

So Im curious......how's the gear transition in the Automatic? Smooth like butter, or is it like any other Auto not a DSG?

It's very quick. I rarely find myself needing to bump it. It will rev-match downshifts. In Sport mode it's positively maniacal. Someone used to Camry-like autos would probably find it scary in Sport mode, honestly.

It's not quite DSG-level, but it's damn close. It's worlds better than my tC's auto and it utterly embarrasses the MX-3s slushbox.

Thats the exactly how I felt when I test drove and tried the sport button. I somehow even felt the suspension more firm :iono: but it could be my mind playing tricks.