Understanding the drive modes in the IS 500
03-09-23, 07:56 AM
#16
I disagree on the steering between S and S+. I would say the steering between Normal and S is barely different - ever so slight. But in S+, on-center heft is obviously higher, and it feels a little more reluctant to steering corrections while in a corner. Honestly, I like the heavier S+ steering a lot.
Tangentially, I don’t enjoy artificial heft to steering when it doesn’t add any more feel or feedback.
03-09-23, 08:01 AM
#17
03-09-23, 08:05 AM
#18
drives cars
Thread Starter
I've heard it described as removing some of the assist before.
To me, it never seems to have a ton of feel either way. It's not like in the 911 I recently drove, which had heavy electric steering, but sometimes I could actually feel little bumps in the road through the wheel. It was pretty good, even if people love to hate on modern 911 steering setups. They're still better than 99% of other electric steering. Anyways, I like that in Sport S+ it has a bit more resistance. I always wished there was a little more weight in the steering. Whether it's adding feel... I'd need to get it on some different roads and test it out. The roads I've been on so far have all been very smooth.
To me, it never seems to have a ton of feel either way. It's not like in the 911 I recently drove, which had heavy electric steering, but sometimes I could actually feel little bumps in the road through the wheel. It was pretty good, even if people love to hate on modern 911 steering setups. They're still better than 99% of other electric steering. Anyways, I like that in Sport S+ it has a bit more resistance. I always wished there was a little more weight in the steering. Whether it's adding feel... I'd need to get it on some different roads and test it out. The roads I've been on so far have all been very smooth.
03-09-23, 08:06 AM
#19
03-09-23, 12:43 PM
#20
I have this same setup for Custom, mainly because there's not a default way of having this combination of options. I like the more progressive throttle pedal in Normal. If I want to drive it fast, I can just go to manual mode.
Edit: I drove a little in my Custom mode today, and can confirm the steering is much heavier than it is in any other mode except for Sport S+. This seems to confirm my suspicion that Chassis: Sport is what's used in Sport S+.
Edit: I drove a little in my Custom mode today, and can confirm the steering is much heavier than it is in any other mode except for Sport S+. This seems to confirm my suspicion that Chassis: Sport is what's used in Sport S+.
03-09-23, 01:09 PM
#21
This whole thread got me to fool around with the custom modes. Prior I had them written off as unnecessary. I pretty much agree with Arentz that Normal and Sport S steering doesn't feel all that different and S+ has a good weight. I found I'm now happy with Custom (power, sport, normal ac), you can get the steering from S+, but with the throttle response and gear behavior from the Sport S. I noticed that on the freeway in S+ it didn't like to go to 8th gear, and in Sport S it would. Also in custom it does as well. So it's a great middle ground between Sport S and S+
03-09-23, 01:41 PM
#22
I have always waited until the car is at least somewhat warmed up before changing it to sportier driving. But I may be overly cautious and don't think it's really necessary.
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03-09-23, 01:52 PM
#23
drives cars
Thread Starter
This is more reliable, since the kind of driving I am doing has a lot of influence on the oil temps (as well as transmission fluid, etc.).Nothing wrong with going into those modes, but you have to use some self-control.
Also, I noticed today that if I move to Sport S+ before the car has fully warmed up, the transmission doesn't seem to want to automatically downshift when I change modes. Something to note. At the end of the day, the control systems in the car are going to try and prevent damage by disallowing too many shenanigans if temps are too high or too low.
Last edited by arentz07; 03-09-23 at 02:25 PM.
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Oreois500 (03-09-23)
03-09-23, 02:00 PM
#24
My rule of thumb is 15 minutes in cold weather and 10 minutes in warm weather, but now that I have an oil temp gauge, I just wait till it's at the middle of the range. This is more reliable, since the kind of driving I am doing has a lot of influence on the oil temps (as well as transmission fluid, etc.).
This is more reliable, since the kind of driving I am doing has a lot of influence on the oil temps (as well as transmission fluid, etc.).
03-09-23, 02:07 PM
#25
drives cars
Thread Starter
From what I understand, it is calibrated such that operating temp is near the middle. If it goes above the middle, your oil is getting hot. Below that, it's not fully up to temp yet.
I'm not aware of any aftermarket options at the moment, though I suspect there are some generic OBD2 smartphone apps that could work.
03-09-23, 02:22 PM
#26
... I am just using the gauge in the cluster.
From what I understand, it is calibrated such that operating temp is near the middle. If it goes above the middle, your oil is getting hot. Below that, it's not fully up to temp yet.
I'm not aware of any aftermarket options at the moment, though I suspect there are some generic OBD2 smartphone apps that could work.
From what I understand, it is calibrated such that operating temp is near the middle. If it goes above the middle, your oil is getting hot. Below that, it's not fully up to temp yet.
I'm not aware of any aftermarket options at the moment, though I suspect there are some generic OBD2 smartphone apps that could work.
01-03-24, 01:34 PM
#27
Driver School Candidate
Thanks for this thread, even though it’s an old one! The manual isn’t very clear on exactly what changes in the different modes, and whatever changes going form Normal to Sport seems to be very subtle . Like others, I prefer the heftier steering of S+ but most of my driving is in normal and Sport. Guess it’s time to explore the custom mode. Cheers!
01-03-24, 01:52 PM
#28
Pole Position
Thanks for this thread, even though it’s an old one! The manual isn’t very clear on exactly what changes in the different modes, and whatever changes going form Normal to Sport seems to be very subtle . Like others, I prefer the heftier steering of S+ but most of my driving is in normal and Sport. Guess it’s time to explore the custom mode. Cheers!
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chartram (01-10-24)
01-03-24, 02:42 PM
#29
drives cars
Thread Starter
Yes, or even Sport S throttle with heavy steering, which is how I have mine. As far as I know, it is not possible to use S+ powertrain with Custom Mode, for whatever that is worth.
I have started to like my current setup a little more because I don't see a point of having the heavier steering and firmer suspension unless I am driving it spiritedly, or at least a little bit spiritedly.
I have started to like my current setup a little more because I don't see a point of having the heavier steering and firmer suspension unless I am driving it spiritedly, or at least a little bit spiritedly.
01-05-24, 05:09 AM
#30
