Sport vs normal mode?

[Mksupra55]

Which one do you guys tend to drive in? I feel like sport mode wears on the engine more and hurts it but I’d like someone to change my mind cause honestly the cars better in sport mode!!

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[Baperrin]

Not sure that I would say it wears the engine more. I wouldn't feel bad about using it in sport mode though. That's what it's made for!

 

[Paolo]

Well I'm still breaking the car in 95% normal about 5% sport. Sports is great and it's like a manual and holds the gear longer which as manual driver for 20+years I, like a lot.

The normal is great too and economical for cruising around. It's rapid too but less drama and I like that 2x.

 

[Baperrin]

Well I'm still breaking the car in 95% normal about 5% sport. Sports is great and it's like a manual and holds the gear longer which as manual driver for 20+years I, like a lot.

The normal is great too and economical for cruising around. It's rapid too but less drama and I like that 2x.

The paddles still make me wish it had a good old fashioned MT myself.

 

[Mksupra55]

You are a hero for following the break in period. I couldn’t resist I let it rip like 10 times when I got it and about 10 more before my break in period ended

 

[MA617M]

sport mode, but with the transmission in normal.

perfect for cruising around, and over to manual if you want to have fun,

 

[ArthurWick]

Normal mode when I’m just cruising or commuting.

To have fun, Sport mode = transmission in manual.

This way you chose how fast your engine revs when cruising. In sport auto, the car will run like 3000-3200 rpm in 6 at 60 mph, you can almost feel the engine floating and I really don’t like that.

In sport mode, I only use automatic shifting at the drag strip or when I « race » between 2 traffic lights because the transmission shifts at the best moment for maximum traction and acceleration, I really like how it shortshifts when detecting wheelspin in first 3 gears.

 

[RRF985]

I use Sport most of the time but switch to Normal for highway cruising.

 

[Bkuu18]

Sport when I want draw attention. Normal to cruise. Only had it for two weeks though, haven’t gotten over 20 mpg yet lol

 

[Paolo]

The paddles still make me wish it had a good old fashioned MT myself.

Maybe it's my age, but driving the zf8 is such a pleasure I have forgotten about the manual experience.

I like how when you brake it also downshifts and you can align braking with the downshifts.

 

[MYNEWFAST]

Manual Mode 100%

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Sport mode exclusively. Only time it comes off is when my oldest daughter asks for “sporty” mode to go off when I’m dropping her off at school (wants it quiet). As an engineer, yes, the engine/tranny are seeing higher stresses in sport mode. But isn’t this why you bought it? Sports cars are very bad investments so enjoy it to its fullest!

 

[Highhorse]

This isn’t my first vehicle with sport mode (other is a ‘15 Z06) and I have preferred normal most of the time in both. I simply find no advantage to sport most of the time, as I don’t need sport most of the time. Those times when a faster shift and stiffer springs etc actually benefit the drive are just rare, so I don’t throw away fuel, wear and tear when that expenditure doesn’t mean anything. I’m not shy about swapping modes for those times when it can give me the jollies though, and am very pleased with the fact that I have the option then.

 

[Armen383]

Start in normal, drive till the engine and transmission have warmed up to proper temperatures. Put everything apart from the suspension (unless ripping through twisties) into sport, enjoy. Plus I noticed that the ZF is less jerky in normal city speeds in sport; looking at the gears chosen - just feels more smooth going 1-3(4) than ripping through 1-7 by 50 km/h... Maybe the tune will change that - we'll see after the break-in is complete.

 

[puzzled]

I drive 99.9% of the time in Sport mode with manual shifting. As for jerky shifts, I found that the ZF likes to shift up at 2100-2200rpm for smooth 1-2 shifts, around 3000rpm for 2-3, (other gears are smooth at wider RPM range), and down shifts I gently blip (more like a gentle tap) the throttle while braking at various inputs as it varies by speed and RPM to assist in the rev matching.

If crawling in traffic I usually hit the shift up paddle from 0mph to crawl in 2nd gear which eliminates any 1-2 jerky shifts.

I am a MT driver so these inputs are normal and keeps me entertained while driving my weekend toy. There is a little learning curve, but got the hang of it rather quickly. I've not hit 1000 miles yet..