Auto transmission sport mode.

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Generally do not like the sport mode. The G37X has great torque and I rarely find myself wanting. The sport mode bothers me the way it down shifts, and I can't really feel a difference when my foot is on the floor. Which is about half the time when I'm on the highway.

My question is, exactly was does the sport mode do...and what are the pluses and minuses of its use?

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Btw I'm 50+ and have driven stick all my life prior to this infinity. Best car I have ever owned, including a BMW 2002tii!!

[audtatious]

DS mode pretty much keeps the transmission in a lower gear when in hilly or curvy roads. Thus, somewhat more aggressive in normal driving conditions "in city". When really getting aggressive on curves and such DS mode can easily lose it's mind and delay gear shifts. In those situations I use the paddles in true manual mode so I have my hands on the wheel and can hold gears/RPM's and properly downshift multiple gears if necessary.

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Thanks,

I have been told incorrect info regarding it. I do sense the trans sometimes downshifting when I move to sport, conditions permitting. It just bothers me when I have it in sport mode and start deaccelerating and it does an obnoxious downshift.

A mechanic told me I misundertood transmission and better "read the manual" I did ......the owners manual has little info.

One think is clear, when I go pedal all the way down, the car knows I want the max, and it goes to redline before shifting. I think it's the computers way to automatically select sport....by drivers foot!!

[audtatious]

Yes, it's more aggressively tuned so it downshifts earlier to keep you in a better powerband for acceleration (thus, lower gear). Being computer controlled it kinda does a poor job of it when you are actively wanting it to function, like on a track.

I use DS for all non-highway travel. I like it even though it can be a tad harsh at times.

[kmckis1029]

DS mode will "engine brake" much sooner than regular D... and even in regular D if you are in a curve it will not down shift "as to not effect the stability of the car in the turn" (im paraphrasing but thats the just of what it says in the FSM) that is a good thing for most drivers who dont want to drift lol. But in manual mode you can down shift to your delight in a curve and get some rotation. DS mode will obviouslly effect your MPG since its logic is to stay in the lowests gear possible vs. D which wants the highest gear possible.

There is a software update the effectively takes "engine braking" about of D mode, but retains "engine breaking" in DS mode. Ask your dealer to get it installed, it greatly smooths out D mode.

[audtatious]

DS mode using the paddles or manually shifting is different than in DS mode and letting the car do it by itself.....Get into some heavy switchbacks and curvy road and the transmission forgets what it's doing.