I did a pretty thorough search using the search function but didn't find anything, so I'll ask it here:

In an automatic, what's the difference between using the Sport button and moving the selector lever to the left which activates the "Sport program" (as the Owner's Manual calls it)?

The Owner's Manual isn't clear between the two 'Sport' features. I understand engaging the Sport button makes the throttle more responsive, changes the shift pattern, and makes the steering 'more direct'. But does moving the selector lever to the left do the same thing? Or does it only affect the engine/throttle/shifting (i.e. steering is not affected)?

Thanks for any inputs!

 

Moving the lever to the left to the sport program places the car in the manual shift mode. You can either upshift/downshift the tranny via the shift lever or with the paddles. The car will upshift automatically if you redline it while in this mode.

 

Kinda, but if you don't use the paddles to shift, it's still an automatic that shifts in some sort of "Sport program" (<-not my wording, directly out of the Owner's Manual) way before you ever redline it. The digital display on the tach changes the D to DS (like it does when you engage the Sport Button).

However, unlike when using the Sport Button, the word SPORT never displays on the tach.

 

I don't have the auto, but the setup is the same as in BMW cars. My understanding is that by moving the shifter to the "s" position, shift timing is changed and gears are held longer.

Hitting the Sport button will also change the shift points, but it will also stiffen up the steering and change the throttle response when you hit the gas and raise the stability control intervention threshold.

 

Correct but why shift into Sport program if not to manually shift? It sets up for sport shifting with the lever move so that you get better performance in manual shifting. If you continue driving without using the lever or paddles it assumes you want to stay in auto mode.

In pure auto mode with the lever in "D", it will respond to the paddles as long as your shifts are within x seconds of each other. Otherwise, it quickly defautls to auto mode. I do this to decel/accel on my commute through the canyons when following slower traffic through the twisties.

I use the Sport Program when I'm carving those same canyon twisties on the way home and headed downhill alone or behind some fast traffic. It gives me the most control, almost like my manual car, with quicker shifts, lots of engine braking and holding rpm's to near redline to allow the most aggressive driving and the quickest way down the mountain.

When I use the lever mode and the shift paddles at the same time, the program does not initiate until I manually change gears myself, then the program will hold the gear until I up/down shift or I hit redline. "DS" displays on my tach until I shift manually and then the gear, M1, M2, etc. are displayed after that. The program will hold whatever gear I select and I accidentally let hit near redline a couple of times the first time I used it.

 

Patches, with all due respect, you're not answering my question and you're explaining something that I'm not wondering about.

To ask my question another way, is the steering stiffened when moving the selector lever to the left (forget about the paddles...I ain't usin' 'em in this discussion) like it is when you hit the Sport button?

NJ Mini's answer is more in-line with what I'm looking for, but it's still his opinion on what the difference is (which is what my opinion is, but I can't say for certain because I don't know the ins and outs of how the system is set up)...

 

Pressing the sport button and moving the shift lever does the exact same thing to the transmission. Puts it in DS mode as displayed.

HOWEVER, this is one difference. You can use the flappy paddles (if your model/year has them) to temporarily override the auto (and it will turn back to DS after a few seconds). Whereas if your shifter is over in the M/S mode and you hit a flappy paddle it will stay in manual mode.

As a side note the Sport button changes the throttle response and changes the power steering. But moving the shift lever to M/S only changes the transmission program.

 

HALLELUJAH! Thanks, strobeyprobey...your side note answers my question!

 

I have a '10 MCSa, and I don't have to be in Sport Mode for the paddles to react to shifting up or down. i down shift this all the time coming into turns and or down hills. Then, as mentioned, the trans reverts back to full auto (about 5 seconds).

I also heard, but did not confirm, that when in sport mode, the auto trans will not shift into sixth.

Sorry, I haven't played in the hills and canyons enough to figure out if the suspension stiffens up (I don't see how) or if the steering tightens up a bit.

 

I thought pushing the sport button and moving the lever over did the same thing until you shift manually. I will check again today on the way home.

To jmnegrin, the tranny will shift into 6th if you tell it to. Otherwise, while in sport mode the car stays out of 6th gear.

 

As strobeyprobey said, shifting the lever over doesn't stiffen the steering or change the throttle response. I do wish that I could be in full-auto sport mode and still have 6th gear (without the car changing back to 5th after 5 seconds) though, it's the one thing that bugs me about my MCSa. Sure, if I go to full manual I can get 6th and stay there but then I'll forget I'm in full manual and redline it after I pull off the highway It's happened more than once...

 

When you press the sport button and move the lever to the left you go in Sport + mode. It also changes the gear set up making allowing only up to 5th gear.

 

CFRM,

What's the source/reference for that table? Also, what exactly is "Sport +"?!?

It doesn't mention just having the Sport button engaged, but I assume it's:
Sport Sport Sport Sport
?

 

I got it off an email from my sales rep. I would think you are right about the sport button only mode. As for sport + what I heard was that it decreases the gear change by as much as 0.5 seconds if I remember correctly. Hope this helps.
Cheers!

 

Well I was stating this info based upon my 2009 MCSa, but as I drove my 2011 MCSa loaner I noticed that the sport button changes everything ans moving the stick over to the left only does the tranny. So I was wrong there.

Also, the car did seem to go into 6th gear with the sport button pushed. This would never happen on my 2009, so something is different there.