I just looove the sport button on my car. It's still shocking. When it's turned on, it's almost like I woke up a sleeping lion! I was scared to touch it for three weeks because I was still stalling every three days while I learned the art of driving with a stick shift. After feeling a bit bold, I switched it on. Kazzie kicked me in the back when I hit the throttle. I hit 6th gear much earlier. I use the sport button more frequently. It's great for wringing the maximum out of a normally aspirated engine. I'm so glad it's not put down as an option that will cost you more money. But then, it would still be worth paying another $50 for (that's how much I'd charge if it was optional). So, how often is YOUR sport button on?

 

My Sport button is always on... Seatbelt, door lock, sport button..car into gear and off I go.......

 

It is always on, I kind of wish the button was on the steering wheel.

 

I love sport-mode...and so I only use it sparingly, usually for twisty bits so the steering is tighter. Each day I run into a series of sweepers...I turn on sport-mode for that 30 seconds of my drive. Otherwise it is off.....I seem to get slightly better mpg this way, I think due to more curved throttle inputs.

 

I am trying both ways. Drove 300mi with it on and got a whopping 28mpg. Now will drive with it off and see what I get.

Trouble is, with it on, I drive a bit 'harder'. Guess it is like a 'control' button for me. With it off the response is more 'sluggish' so I drive slower. With it on it is so responsive it just begs to be driven harder

So, I may limit myself to certain times so I don't suck all the oil out of Saudi Arabia :D

charlie

 

Gas prices in my state are *just* at $2 a gallon for mid-grade and about $2.09 for super unleaded. I think the Saudi sheiks and a certain dictator named Hugo are weeping right now over their accounting reports for the last quarter of the year! I'll be driving a little bit more than usual but I doubt gas will stay there. They'll "cut the losses" by pushing them back up slightly next year but I don't think it'll hit $3.95 like it did earlier this year.

 

100% of the time. I think they should have made it so you push a button to turn it off not on. I also find it helped my wife with stalling when she was learning how to drive.

 

Mine is on 95% of the time. The other 5% is the time when I forget to hit it before driving off. I too wish it was an "always on" feature, or perhaps part of the key fob programming.

 

Oil prices always depend on demand. I think the pricing backfired on the oil speculators. They pushed the prices beyond the limit, thinking demand was a fixed or increasing number, and caused a huge backlash in the form of decreased usage by the consumers (world wide). Combined with the financial situation of many not sure about their job status, and we have a low demand for oil. Interesting how the market works if you just leave it alone.

But, back to the topic, after I determine mileage with the sport button off, I will probably go back to driving with it on all the time

charlie

 

Pls post your results.

 

close door, seat belt, starter, sport button. always.

 

I turn it on most of the time, not so much for the throttle response, though that is nice, but more for the steering.

Mark

 

With the mod in this thread, https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=103258, it will do just that.

 

In EssEff fighting for limited pavement-100%
Around my town or commuting, only on moments I NEED the power and handling-10%

 

I only turn mine on in the twisties. Around town I don't need the extra throttle response. My Mini is a manual so there is no change in shifting points, etc that affects MPG like with the automatic.

 

Just twisties in the country. Mine is an automatic, if I feel I need maximum power to get on to a parkway (that has archaic entrance ramps built for The Edison) then I might put it in "sport mode" - as opposed to the sport button.

 

Always on. If I forget, the sluggish response reminds me very quickly.

 

I have mine on all the time, mostly because I miss all the power I had with my M3. At least with the sport button I can come more closely to the throttle response I'm used to. I also love the tighter steering.

 

Exactly the same with me. As I pull out into the street, I can immediately tell if I forgot to "hit it"! Although, I'm pretty good at remembering.

So its on 99.99% of the time.

 

I have more less been saving mine for a special occasion which came this weekend in the form of my first group run with some "spirited" driving. It was on most of the trip in an effort to hang with the S's.

 

I can't drive without the sport button on! The other day I began to pull off, something seemed odd, the car was slugish, then I realized that "The Button" was off!
Gas mileage is really no different with it on or off. Got gas today at COSTCO for $1.93 for 93 octane...ummm, the gas companies are running scared - "better lower the prices, or the new Prez will put us out of business!" Strange how they all price EXACTLY the same at the SAME time!

 

Is it just me, I can't hardly tell the difference whether it's on or off. Of course it's not an S model but I can tell the steering is a bit tighter and a bit better throttle response but not the miracle button everybody claims. The car runs great button on or off.

 

Looks like you have a std tranny. I can understand what you say. If not for the more aggressive shift points on the auto I would not be able to tell much of a difference either.

 

Never. I haven't figured out what it does other than make the steering a little stiffer.

 

Gas stations are told by their suppliers what to set prices at. A weird business. And they don't all go at exactly the same time. Usually one sets a new price. Within hours (minutes sometimes) the others find out and change. It is a game at the local station level to see who has to go out and change the signs. The 'lucky' crews are the ones who have electronic signs.

Gas companies scared of the new Prez? Hardly. He's the one who wanted prices at $3-$4 a gallon and was disappointed 1) that prices went up so fast and so high, and 2) that they dropped lower than he wanted. Now there's not a huge push to do the alternative energy stuff.

I'd actually expect prices to jump next year.