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I know this topic has been covered for many of the other F or F-Sport models and the officially stated difference between S and S+ is tighter/sharper/heavier steering and adaptive dampers set firmer. From both the 2014 and 2016 IS350 F-Sport Series 3s that I had, this was the case.
I've only had the IS500 for about a week but I swear that the throttle mapping/shift programming changes from Sport to Sport+
I thought it was my imagination but twice when I switched the **** from S to S+ (maintaining throttle position) it dropped a gear (or overdrive) and the car had better throttle response.
I'll need to try this again but maybe I'm imagining this as I get used to the car.
Agree 100%.
Also, in custom mode, when you set the engine mode to high power, it is still not like Sport+
Agree 100%.
Also, in custom mode, when you set the engine mode to high power, it is still not like Sport+
Agree. It seems that if you set Custom to performance for engine and chassis, normal for climate, it approximates Sport mode. Sport+ definitely is more aggressive.
Agree. It seems that if you set Custom to performance for engine and chassis, normal for climate, it approximates Sport mode. Sport+ definitely is more aggressive.
It's definitely confirmed - Sport+ is different in the IS500. I guess the car is adapting to my driving style because in Sport it still gets to 8th gear whenever possible. Sport+ is now often in 6th or 7th. It's nice to have 3 different throttle/transmission profiles like BMW ///M.
It's definitely confirmed - Sport+ is different in the IS500. I guess the car is adapting to my driving style because in Sport it still gets to 8th gear whenever possible. Sport+ is now often in 6th or 7th. It's nice to have 3 different throttle/transmission profiles like BMW ///M.
I noticed the difference on my drive back from OKC to ATL. In my 2016 IS 350 FSport, the only difference (I could feel) between Sport & Sport+ was the suspension and steering wheel weight. Neither would go into 8th gear unless over 85mph. I had the same mindset when we started the drive home, but after an hour in Normal, I couldn’t stand it and clicked into Sport. When it shifted into 8th a normal (non-ticket) speeds, I was like…now we’re in business. Also remembered in Matt Farah’s review, he said the car should only be driven in Sport and Sport+, because the gearbox was just too lazy in Normal.
Since the transmission came out of the RC-F, does it have the same characteristics? Or has Lexus totally changed the software mapping in the IS 500 application? I haven’t driven the RC-F, so I was curious. 😎
It's definitely confirmed - Sport+ is different in the IS500. I guess the car is adapting to my driving style because in Sport it still gets to 8th gear whenever possible. Sport+ is now often in 6th or 7th. It's nice to have 3 different throttle/transmission profiles like BMW ///M.
I noticed the difference on my drive back from OKC to ATL. In my 2016 IS 350 FSport, the only difference (I could feel) between Sport & Sport+ was the suspension and steering wheel weight. Neither would go into 8th gear unless over 85mph. I had the same mindset when we started the drive home, but after an hour in Normal, I couldn’t stand it and clicked into Sport. When it shifted into 8th a normal (non-ticket) speeds, I was like…now we’re in business. Also remembered in Matt Farah’s review, he said the car should only be driven in Sport and Sport+, because the gearbox was just too lazy in Normal.
Since the transmission came out of the RC-F, does it have the same characteristics? Or has Lexus totally changed the software mapping in the IS 500 application? I haven’t driven the RC-F, so I was curious. 😎
So another quirk I have noticed now is that right when you start out in Sport+ it doesn't engage its hyper mode until you stab the throttle at least once. It gets itself to 8th asap. But the moment you provide throttle showing you want to play it kicks it back down to 6th and continues to hold gears or respond sharply to throttle inputs until you switch it back to comfort. I've never seen such a temperamental drive mode system before!
^^ that's Sport, not Sport+, gotta flip the **** twice for Sport+
You know what…my bad. I thought the convo was on whether or not Sport would go into 8th gear. In my 2016 IS 350 FSport, neither Sport or Sport+ would go into 8th gear unless I was over 85mph. Just re-read the post and got the clarification. 😊😊😊
IIRC I've seen 8th gear in Sport S+, but it's been extremely rare and at speeds greater than 100mph, on closed circuits, of course. Generally, the car doesn't like to be below 2500 rpm in Sport S+. There's no green "ECO" light happy reward on the left side of the dash, no matter how well you behave, in Sport S+.
02-09-22, 02:40 PM
