Sport mode response

[Jovin]

Hi All
I rarely use Sport mode but when I have done Ive nearly been caught out when pulling away at roundabouts especially. I find that from an almost standing start I have to ram the throttle to the floor to get it to go, once moving it takes off but the initial getaway seems very slow, much more so than in drive or eco. Is this normal behaviour?
Car is 2018 Leon ST FR 1.4 ACT DSG, a quick check with dongle in diagnostics socket shows no fault codes.

TIA for any help or advice
John

 

[martin j.]

I drive ours in sport mode all the time, best driving feel and economy, maybe you need morerevs as you drop the clutch to ensure the turbo is awake?

oops missed the DSG bit.

 

[Paulie_Walnuts]

He doesn't have a clutch, it's a DSG. In sport mode, it should be MORE responsive as the idle speed is raised and holds gears for longer. Has it always been this way?

 

[Jovin]

He doesn't have a clutch, it's a DSG. In sport mode, it should be MORE responsive as the idle speed is raised and holds gears for longer. Has it always been this way?

Always been like it yes. It does, as you say hold the gears longer which is why I dont often use it as dont like the banshee scream of that engine at high revs but its that initial pull away that seems slow and seems a lot worse than when in D or even E when you can squeeze the throttle and off it goes. I do also find that its not easy in D or E to pull away without a jerk unless you are featherlight on the throttle and in S if you do that you aint going nowhere.
All in all I dont find the whole DSG very refined somehow, wish I had gone for manual but got to live with it for now.

 

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Always been like it yes. It does, as you say hold the gears longer which is why I dont often use it as dont like the banshee scream of that engine at high revs but its that initial pull away that seems slow and seems a lot worse than when in D or even E when you can squeeze the throttle and off it goes. I do also find that its not easy in D or E to pull away without a jerk unless you are featherlight on the throttle and in S if you do that you aint going nowhere.
All in all I dont find the whole DSG very refined somehow, wish I had gone for manual but got to live with it for now.

It seems a bit back to front! You said you used a dongle, I don't suppose you've tried tinkering with the throttle settings? I changed mine to direct and it's way better than standard.

 

[Glosphil]

I have exactly the same car - July 2018 Leon FR Technology 1.4TSi (150) DSG.

I always drive it with steering & engine in sports mode (for slightly heavier steering & sharper throttle response), but with DSG in D (not S). I don't experience what you describe.

 

[Jovin]

It seems a bit back to front! You said you used a dongle, I don't suppose you've tried tinkering with the throttle settings? I changed mine to direct and it's way better than standard.

I will have a play with throttle settings, if I remember rightly I think I have done before but can't remember what currently set to.

 

[Paulie_Walnuts]

I will have a play with throttle settings, if I remember rightly I think I have done before but can't remember what currently set to.

If its not that, looks like you might have a problem that needs looked at, as glosphil has the same car with no issue

 

[Jovin]

I have exactly the same car - July 2018 Leon FR Technology 1.4TSi (150) DSG.

I always drive it with steering & engine in sports mode (for slightly heavier steering & sharper throttle response), but with DSG in D (not S). I don't experience what you describe.

When in sport mode, as selected from the mode button do you find any further difference between D and S selected from the gear lever?

 

[Glosphil]

When in sport mode, as selected from the mode button do you find any further difference between D and S selected from the gear lever?

No. DSG not affected, only steering & throttle response. I don't use Sport mode, I use Individual mode with steering & throttle in Sports mode.

I find Sports mode on the DSG unnecessary. It only changes up later & holds the engine at higher revs. I prefer to use D & over-ride with the paddles before an overtake or when descending a steep hill. At all other times I find D performs perfectly well.

I never use Stop/Start (except when in stop & go queues) as I find it stops the engine at inconviniant times such as on entering a roundabout or joining a road from a side road.

 

[Jovin]

I drive the same with regard to using D and the paddles to change down as necessary. Also turn off stop start for same reason, it seems a bit too keen to switch off and sometimes stops the engine before the car's stopped moving.

 

[CupraRST]

I have my stop/start reprogrammed at TVS: At starting the engine it is now off, but I can activate it if needed. You can switch between D and S in every mode bij pulling the lever back shortly.

 

[Glosphil]

I drive the same with regard to using D and the paddles to change down as necessary. Also turn off stop start for same reason, it seems a bit too keen to switch off and sometimes stops the engine before the car's stopped moving.

I have my stop/start reprogrammed at TVS: At starting the engine it is now off, but I can activate it if needed. You can switch between D and S in every mode bij pulling the lever back shortly.

Yes, I know how to switch from D to S using the selector but see no benefit. Prefer to use the paddles to select the gear(s) I want, & to temporarily drive in Manual mode, then use the right paddle to return to D.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Yes, I know how to switch from D to S using the selector but see no benefit. Prefer to use the paddles to select the gear(s) I want, & to temporarily drive in Manual mode, then use the right paddle to return to D.

2 benefits to sport mode on the dsg.

it raises the idling rpm to around 1100 giving you a better launch when the clutches engage.
disables the start stop temporarily

Using the paddles or moving the selector to manual mode does not increase the revs meaning your launch is from approx. 800rpm and is always going to be slower than in DSG S mode

I use that function all the time at junctions and roundabouts regardless of what mode the car is sat in (Comfort, Sport or Cupra). This launches the car way better than in D

 

[Glosphil]

2 benefits to sport mode on the dsg.

it raises the idling rpm to around 1100 giving you a better launch when the clutches engage.
disables the start stop temporarily

Using the paddles or moving the selector to manual mode does not increase the revs meaning your launch is from approx. 800rpm and is always going to be slower than in DSG S mode

I use that function all the time at junctions and roundabouts regardless of what mode the car is sat in (Comfort, Sport or Cupra). This launches the car way better than in D

I'm not a racing driver on the start line. The fraction of a second difference in 'launching' from 1100rpm rather than from 800rpm is of no interest to me. I never do full bore standing starts anyway - I have too much mechanical sympathy for engine & tyres for that. I keep my cars for 5-7 years (bought for cash rather than a 3-year PCP or lease) so future running costs & reliability matter to me.

When joining traffic I like to have a safety margin so keep something in reserve.

Driving styles differ! Not saying I'm right & others are wrong.