Chrono sport option

[Dino944]

What do you guys think of the chrono sport package without pcm?

Do you guys use the chrono function? Is it something any of you now wish you had gotten? Or if your car has it, is it something you could care less about now that you have it.

Thanks in advance.
Dino

[No HTwo O]

The Sport Chrono function on the 987 is very good. And greatly misunderstood. It was the hardest option to learn about when I was doing a custom build about 4 years ago. I am glad I got it and for $940 IIRC, it's a pretty cheap option by Porsche standards. I do not have PCM.

As for the timing device and the "wart" I could do without that part.

Sport Chrono gives you:

1) A harder redline
2) Allows for more drive input, by changing the PSM (Porsche Stability Management) thresholds
3) Improved throttle response

[lithium1330]

Another option is... (if you'r looking for the performance without the clock/chrono hump on the dash), you can get the DME tuned by a tuner and they can also enable those features. Though, you'll not have the benefit of turning it off when you don't need it (like driving in rain, snow, daily driving). I've heard folks who have the sport button not use them (unless on track) b/c the throttle becomes very sensitive and makes driving more challenging in stop & go traffic.

[No HTwo O]

Originally Posted by lithium1330

I've heard folks who have the sport button not use them (unless on track) b/c the throttle becomes very sensitive and makes driving more challenging in stop & go traffic.

I have never had this problem/issue. The first I do after starting the car is turn on the "sport" button. Then put on the seat belt!

The Sport Chrono is also nice if you plan to incorporate the PSE (Porsche Sport Exhaust) in the future, through Tequipment. It has a nice interphase.

[Dino944]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input on the sport chrono. While I'm not crazy about how it looks on the dashboard, the improved throttle response and revised redline sound like nice features.

Thanks again.
Best regards,
Dino

[lithium1330]

Originally Posted by Dino944

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input on the sport chrono. While I'm not crazy about how it looks on the dashboard, the improved throttle response and revised redline sound like nice features.

Thanks again.
Best regards,
Dino

Forgot to mention another option, besides the DME tuning.. you can also get the Sprint Booster to help improve the throttle sensitivity - they sell these units for e-gas cars.

[00r101]

Personally, after trying it once or twice I never use the stop watch. I do like the changed throttle map, hard rev limiter and reduced psm intrusions (although when I autocross I turn the psm off completely unless there is heavy heavy rain). It's really a pretty expensive option for what you get. If I were you and did not plan to track or autocross the car then I would skip it. But if you plan on being competitve in the car its really worthwhile.

[Dino944]

Thanks for the input guys. I hate to ask a stupid quesiton, but I want to be clear that when you guys say it gives the car a "harder redline" or "hard rev limiter" does that mean the car has a higher redline than a car without the chronosport feature?

I'm not that interested in the stop watch feature, but I do like the idea of improved throttle response.

Thanks again.
Best regards,
Dino

[No HTwo O]

What is meant by a "hard red line" is that the DME does NOT start pulling power (fuel cut off?) at say 500 RPM before redline like a non Sport Chrono car will.

With Sport Chrono, the rev limiter kicks-in "hard" right at red line....not 200-500 RPM before. Make sense??

Red line is the same for both cars. It is just a small matter of having the final few hundred RPM available with a SC car.

[Dino944]

Originally Posted by No HTwo O

What is meant by a "hard red line" is that the DME does NOT start pulling power (fuel cut off?) at say 500 RPM before redline like a non Sport Chrono car will.

With Sport Chrono, the rev limiter kicks-in "hard" right at red line....not 200-500 RPM before. Make sense??

Red line is the same for both cars. It is just a small matter of having the final few hundred RPM available with a SC car.

Got it !!! Thanks for clarifying that for me No HTwo O.

Best regards,
Dino

[Besty]

Dino,

I would'nt buy one without it (the sports button) if its a PDK car, I call it the "smile" button because thats exactly what happens after i press it and drive. My new 987 has Sports Chrono without PCM.

Cheers,
Carl.

[Dino944]

Originally Posted by Besty

Dino,

I would'nt buy one without it (the sports button) if its a PDK car, I call it the "smile" button because thats exactly what happens after i press it and drive. My new 987 has Sports Chrono without PCM.

Cheers,
Carl.

Hi Carl,

We are getting a 6 spd manual, but it looks like we are also getting the sport chrono w/out PCM.

Thanks and best regards,
Dino

[BoxsterG]

Dino,

I had a 6 speed manual with S/C and PCM. It is useful if you lap your times and want to be able to review them later. however, you dont need PCM but I do advise that you get S/C

[Dino944]

Thanks BoxsterG. Looks like we will get S/C.

[RonCT]

Hate to say it, but you need to do a little more research on what SC does and doesn't do. It doesn't change the redline and with about 10,000 track miles on 987/997 platforms the non-SC clearly doesn't suffer from any drop-off near redline. In fact, some report that the SC "hard" drop is worse because it's abrupt. SC doesn't change how the car drives / performs, especially on the track, mostly because normal PSM limits are already extreme.

As to throttle, it simply "advances" the throttle pedal. For example, drive a car w/ SC and as you cruise, press the Sport button. The car's throttle "jumps" slightly and you think "wow, my car has more power". False impression. If on normal it takes 10mm of pressing the pedal to get 50% throttle, when you press the button it only takes say 8mm. The alternative to get the same amount of throttle is simply push your foot down 2mm, which takes about a micro second. It tricks you into thinking it does something. This is why a 987 w/ SC has the exact same power, torque, acceleration figures, etc.

If you really want Sportier performance, your best option is to get some ECU tuning, which will give you a better, more linear throttle map, better tuning suited to the gas you get (ie: OEM assumes the worst, 87 octane, while ECU software is optimized for 91 or 93). Many like Softronic because it's undetectible, you can install and de-install at will via the OBD port, etc. I've had it in 2 previous Porsches and am waiting for the DFI version for my 997S to be released.

This is a hotly debated issue and if you do a search in 997 you will find dozens if not more threads on the subject.

P.S. Advanced track guys like me that bought SC assuming it would be a good thing ultimately try it and ignore it realizing the advanced throttle setting is actually worse than stock - it's jumpier, less linear, etc. The increased PSM limits, and when PSM would kick in again if turned off, are totally irrelevant because in order for PSM to ever kick in, you'd have to be experiencing more than 20 degrees of yaw (I have normal and leave PSM on as a back-up and I've been 15-20 degrees in yaw at 100+ in the Esses at Watkins Glen and PSM still didn't bother me - I did a smooth correction and was back on).