Interesting Discoveries Thread (Good or Bad)

[MerlintheMad]

Never happened. Doesn’t matter how hard you accelerate it never changes to anything except comfort. It’s irrelevant really as I don’t use smart mode, I don’t see the point. Also the car doesn’t really learn anything or help you with anything, it simply decides to use eco or comfort drive modes (or in your model sport) based on how hard you’re depressing the accelerator. At best all it’s doing is better managing your fuel economy by dropping back into eco when you’re not pushing it hard. Honestly the fuel savings are minimal when spread over a full tank of petrol. Try driving it in one mode only for a full tank then next time you fill try a different mode and go again for comparison. In no way at all is smart mode helping you be any safer or more careful in bad driving conditions.

Either your vehicle is "deficient" or the Aussie Stingers have different "Smart" programming that keeps Sport out of the mix.

Smart mode "learning" is a gimmick in a car with lots of gimmicks. Modern cars offer lots to fiddle with and set up: it all keeps the driver engaged and happy that s/he is choosing things: but I doubt that much of it matters, especially in the fuel consumption end of things. I agree that the different drive modes don't really show enough of a difference to make a difference. But if I drive in snow in Smart mode every time, then over time my car Knows Me in winter conditions. (I imagine.)

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'll take a look thanks

How To Adjust Headlight Beam Height

 

[Coast GT]

Either your vehicle is "deficient" or the Aussie Stingers have different "Smart" programming that keeps Sport out of the mix.

Smart mode "learning" is a gimmick in a car with lots of gimmicks. Modern cars offer lots to fiddle with and set up: it all keeps the driver engaged and happy that s/he is choosing things: but I doubt that much of it matters, especially in the fuel consumption end of things. I agree that the different drive modes don't really show enough of a difference to make a difference. But if I drive in snow in Smart mode every time, then over time my car Knows Me in winter conditions. (I imagine.)

There’s nothing deficient with it, it operates the way it’s meant to. Perhaps they are different to the US models, but it doesn’t make them deficient, there’s plenty of differences between the US and AU models of the car, especially in the 17/18 models.

Also you don’t need to mansplain the features of modern cars. Fuel consumption is about the only thing smart mode would have an impact on by keeping it in eco for the majority of the time unless you give it some and then it changes to a more responsive mode, but the impact is minimal.

The only accurate comment here is that it’s a gimmick. It doesn’t learn anything, it doesn’t know you, it doesn’t have a brain or independent thought. It can’t tell the difference between you or the wife or anyone else driving it, or if it’s in the snow or rain or desert or on bitumen or gravel or anything else. You’re imagination is great but it’s not the Jetsons, the cars aren’t really smart. Even the so called smart cars made by Electric Jesus can’t operate properly on their own or learn stuff despite the marketing hype. Just google Tesla fails for proof of that. Anyway I’m done with this ridiculous conversation it’s going off topic yet again.
Lastly re Electric Jesus, enjoy: (now it’s really off topic)

 

[MerlintheMad]

There’s nothing deficient with it, it operates the way it’s meant to. Perhaps they are different to the US models, but it doesn’t make them deficient, there’s plenty of differences between the US and AU models of the car, especially in the 17/18 models.

Also you don’t need to mansplain the features of modern cars. Fuel consumption is about the only thing smart mode would have an impact on by keeping it in eco for the majority of the time unless you give it some and then it changes to a more responsive mode, but the impact is minimal.

The only accurate comment here is that it’s a gimmick. It doesn’t learn anything, it doesn’t know you, it doesn’t have a brain or independent thought. It can’t tell the difference between you or the wife or anyone else driving it, or if it’s in the snow or rain or desert or on bitumen or gravel or anything else. You’re imagination is great but it’s not the Jetsons, the cars aren’t really smart. Even the so called smart cars made by Electric Jesus can’t operate properly on their own or learn stuff despite the marketing hype. Just google Tesla fails for proof of that. Anyway I’m done with this ridiculous conversation it’s going off topic yet again.
Lastly re Electric Jesus, enjoy: (now it’s really off topic)

It's not off topic yet: because I discovered Smart mode has Sport, and yours doesn't, and that is a discovery. So somebody can take what we've said and try it for themselves and "discover" either or.

"Mansplaining" lol. I was pointing out in a conversation how modern cars are "gimmicky" more than actually, differentially functional: I wasn't just talking "to" you. It's a forum. Others are "listening".

Smart mode isn't monitoring the weather or road conditions: I never asserted that: I said I use Smart when the roads have snow/slush/ice on them. That means my driving style in those conditions are what the "learning" 'puter "remembers"; it won't go by anything but throttle input and brakes and maneuvering/cornering input over time. Kia says it "learns" and you say not: and I say my imagination is engaged and it does my morale good to be told that my car is learning a limited venue of driving habits and will "help". It certainly won't hurt.

 

[Coast GT]

It's not off topic yet: because I discovered Smart mode has Sport, and yours doesn't, and that is a discovery. So somebody can take what we've said and try it for themselves and "discover" either or.

"Mansplaining" lol. I was pointing out in a conversation how modern cars are "gimmicky" more than actually, differentially functional: I wasn't just talking "to" you. It's a forum. Others are "listening".

Smart mode isn't monitoring the weather or road conditions: I never asserted that: I said I use Smart when the roads have snow/slush/ice on them. That means my driving style in those conditions are what the "learning" 'puter "remembers"; it won't go by anything but throttle input and brakes and maneuvering/cornering input over time. Kia says it "learns" and you say not: and I say my imagination is engaged and it does my morale good to be told that my car is learning a limited venue of driving habits and will "help". It certainly won't hurt.

If you believe that Merlin there’s a guy I know that wants to sell you some snake oil.

Perhaps your learning Stinger could help you hunt for unicorns or that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If it helps you find either one let us know. Anyway I’ve got to go I’m pretty sure I just saw a pig fly

 

[ShannonC]

Look! Up in the sky.

 

[Fboost]

I actually like smart mode. The throttle response is definitely snappier then comfort. And according to my display my fuel economy is much better then comfort as well (I expect it to be better but it's a lot better).
In comfort the car feels heavy and lazy.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Anyway I’ve got to go I’m pretty sure I just saw a pig fly

We have pork in the treetops around here this morning. But, this place has been hailed as "The Twilight Zone" before. ​

In comfort the car feels heavy and lazy.

One of the reasons I use the paddle shifters (the other being I prefer it because it's fun) is because in automatic a press of the throttle, even a little bit beyond moderate, downshifts and wakes up the turbos, creating the feeling of the throttle being an "ON/OFF" switch. Using the paddles lets me choose when to downshift and get on the gas.

Oddly enough, Eco feels like a beast when the turbos kick in. I've imagined it as more peppy than Comfort.

 

[Metalmania82]

I actually like smart mode. The throttle response is definitely snappier then comfort. And according to my display my fuel economy is much better then comfort as well (I expect it to be better but it's a lot better).
In comfort the car feels heavy and lazy.

That's funny, I drove quite a bit this morning to my Kia dealer for some work and then slightly further on the way back to go to work and I did the return trip in all Smart mode and found that it feels fat and lazy and slow compared to Comfort. Difference between markets, or maybe my JB4 unit that makes it feel that way? Who knows.

 

[Dodger Blue]

We have pork in the treetops around here this morning. But, this place has been hailed as "The Twilight Zone" before. ​

One of the reasons I use the paddle shifters (the other being I prefer it because it's fun) is because in automatic a press of the throttle, even a little bit beyond moderate, downshifts and wakes up the turbos, creating the feeling of the throttle being an "ON/OFF" switch. Using the paddles lets me choose when to downshift and get on the gas.

Oddly enough, Eco feels like a beast when the turbos kick in. I've imagined it as more peppy than Comfort.

Eco feels to me like it's got old-school turbo lag, probably just because it's fighting to keep the revs low, short shifting until you really bury the throttle for a second or so. Perhaps that's the kick in the pants you're noticing?

I've been driving around in smart mode today and while it's interesting to watch the display move through the modes I really don't see much benefit.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I've been driving around in smart mode today and while it's interesting to watch the display move through the modes I really don't see much benefit.

Supposedly Smart mode does a lot of gear selection and engine braking because of the sensors in the brake system and steering wheel and throttle. If you have AWD and ECS then Smart mode also adjusts to each wheel according to how you are accelerating, steering and braking the car. The manual says that it is normal to hang on to a lower gear when you've been driving around in Smart Comfort or Smart Sport, being ready for the next acceleration, or performing engine braking; this can last longer than the driver intended, and the holding of the lower gear is "normal".

All of this is what I have been terming "learns", and now, rereading it after over a year of experience with the car's "habits", I can see that my perception was wrong from my first (old) reading: and now my imagination has taken yet another hit. The manual actually says "... by judging the driver's driving habits"; and memory substituted "learning" for "judging".

(Thanks a lot, @Coast GT. Some people just won't let me have my view of the world: which is always more fun, before someone has to point out the fallacious aspects that annoy them but tickle my fancy.)

Okay, then: my car doesn't actually, really LEARN or REMEMBER how I drive in Smart mode. But it does respond to what I am doing now and anticipate that I'll be doing it in the immediate future: this is probably going to benefit me in winter driving, as I have said, because if I am driving "Mild", to survive wintery driving conditions, the car's interface with Smart mode will select power, suspension response and braking in anticipation according to what I am doing right now: which will help me in the event that I momentarily panic and brake too hard, for instance; or throw the wheel like an ass: the car might "cover for me" in that moment when I screw up, if I have been driving properly up till then. Anyway, it's worth a go. Anyone driving in winter conditions can use an extra dose of "Smart", don't you think so?

 

[Nasscar]

Supposedly Smart mode does a lot of gear selection and engine braking because of the sensors in the brake system and steering wheel and throttle. If you have AWD and ECS then Smart mode also adjusts to each wheel according to how you are accelerating, steering and braking the car. The manual says that it is normal to hang on to a lower gear when you've been driving around in Smart Comfort or Smart Sport, being ready for the next acceleration, or performing engine braking; this can last longer than the driver intended, and the holding of the lower gear is "normal".

All of this is what I have been terming "learns", and now, rereading it after over a year of experience with the car's "habits", I can see that my perception was wrong from my first (old) reading: and now my imagination has taken yet another hit. The manual actually says "... by judging the driver's driving habits"; and memory substituted "learning" for "judging".

(Thanks a lot, @Coast GT. Some people just won't let me have my view of the world: which is always more fun, before someone has to point out the fallacious aspects that annoy them but tickle my fancy.)

Okay, then: my car doesn't actually, really LEARN or REMEMBER how I drive in Smart mode. But it does respond to what I am doing now and anticipate that I'll be doing it in the immediate future: this is probably going to benefit me in winter driving, as I have said, because if I am driving "Mild", to survive wintery driving conditions, the car's interface with Smart mode will select power, suspension response and braking in anticipation according to what I am doing right now: which will help me in the event that I momentarily panic and brake too hard, for instance; or throw the wheel like an ass: the car might "cover for me" in that moment when I screw up, if I have been driving properly up till then. Anyway, it's worth a go. Anyone driving in winter conditions can use an extra dose of "Smart", don't you think so?

There you go again Merlin. What does fallacious mean. I couldn't be bothered looking it up this time.

 

[MerlintheMad]

There you go again Merlin. What does fallacious mean. I couldn't be bothered looking it up this time.

It's the root word of "false" (or at least in the etymology of the word "false"). Means the same thing. Vocabulary is a hobby of mine, I guess.

 

[rdromance]

I use ECO all the time. I installed the Racechip XLR Pedalbox and setting it on Sport+ gives me the same pickup in ECO as though I was in SPORT.

 

[turboAWD]

I use ECO all the time. I installed the Racechip XLR Pedalbox and setting it on Sport+ gives me the same pickup in ECO as though I was in SPORT.

So then why not just use OEM Sport mode? Does ECO mode give you some other advantages? Personally, I can't stand throttle response in any mode except sport. Even then... it's much better when in manual mode, because I can control it, but I can't be in manual mode all the time..

 

[Rango]

I use ECO all the time. I installed the Racechip XLR Pedalbox and setting it on Sport+ gives me the same pickup in ECO as though I was in SPORT.

I have the XLR also ... absolutely love it! S+ setting gives me much better throttle response. No need to mash the right foot.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Oddly enough, Eco feels like a beast when the turbos kick in. I've imagined it as more peppy than Comfort.

That’s just because your going from a very conservative throttle response and lower torque to finally hitting boost again. Comfort mode doesn’t reduce performance like ECO does so it’s simply the difference between suddenly feeling boost once you get to 60-80% throttle.

I use ECO all the time. I installed the Racechip XLR Pedalbox and setting it on Sport+ gives me the same pickup in ECO as though I was in SPORT.

FYI- ECO mode actually lowers power output so you’re throttle response may be similar but the actual pickup or acceleration will be noticeably less when using ECO vs Sport.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Trying to determine the skinny on DRLs staying on or turning off, I had my car in Park, and was alternately engaging and disengaging the parking brake, getting out and looking at the front. Yep, parking brake engaged, DRLs OFF. Disengage parking brake, DRLs ON. Looked at the difference between auto and headlights position. And the DRLs are dimmer with the headlights on than when the DRLs only are on (auto position). Now, tell me you already knew this.

 

[tomoffel]

speed limiter is an EU thing I guess. I have it too. I had it in my civic too, but I would never use it. What if you have to accelerate hard to avoid some thing bad? You can't cause you are limited to the speed you set.

If you floor your gas pedal the limiter will deactivate and the car goes over the speed you set. At least in the stinger!

 

[Schpok]

If you floor your gas pedal the limiter will deactivate and the car goes over the speed you set. At least in the stinger!

Really?! thats interesting
still not my favorit feature