Sport mode is fun!

[Waynerm002]

So today I was out cruising and after coming out of a mall area a lady in an S60 pulled out from the right lane, went into the left turn to make the light, I presume. Those of us in the other lane to turn left went over to the right to get to the right ramp and I notice her coming over and looked over my left shoulder to see what she was doing, she was smiling as she was coming towards me then decided to get behind me as there was no room. When we got on the main I noticed her making a move to go all the way left so I moved back into the right lane ahead of an Audi Q8! I was shocked to see it as I didn't know they were on sale here already, not a bad looking ride. OK, so I'm in the right lane next to an R32 and as the light changed and we moved off, the S60 took off then the R32 went after her, I heard that Pshhh sound next to me and the the R32 was changing, so I gave her some more gas and left them behind! That was pretty good.

At the next light the guy in the R32 comes up, I put it in Sport mode as I figure we would be doing this again. He rolls his window down and we started talking cars, said his buddy got one and he mentioned they were RWD only, told him mine was AWD, his eyes lit up, said he didn't know they came that way! Asked if it was my 1st KIA, told him 4th after 2 BMWs, said he had 4 BMW. Asked if it was quick I told him yes but I stay out of Sport mode as it is too aggressive. Light changed and he moved off, I floored it and holy crap I was gone by the time I heard the sound of his blow off valve, everything was at a distance behind me! Forgot I had switched over to Sport mode before he stopped beside me. Wanted to run a bit more but saw the law a few cars ahead so put it back in Comfort and cruised. That little run was exciting but I will leave sport mode alone until I have some place to use it.

 

[rocket23]

believe it or not the new sorentos have a mode button...(not a knob)....but it definitly picks up the pace ,no question.

 

[Soca Boy]

Sport mode is an addiction I refuse to get treatment for.

 

[rocket23]

yup........just a simple twist...but like the auto shut off needs to be addressed at every start up....eco mode stays on eco interestingly enough.

 

[Waynerm002]

Well my use of Sport mode emptied my tank in a matter of 3 days! It was nice accelerating from stops into 90 degree turns and hearing the tires squeal throughout, skipping past lesser powered cars that got the jump on a start and just blasting away from crazy drivers on the freeway that want to block you when you make a lane change. You know the folks that hog the left lane and if you try to pass and get in front of them, they speed up. Well, I just leave them in the dust and see if they want to catch up, typically they don’t. I did have a Fusion Sport that I followed through traffic then when it cleared, he floored it and I stayed at a constant distance behind him, then floored it and blast past him.

I’ll agree it is addictive, which is why I stay away from it as it’s a rush, both in terms of excitement and speed! It’s been a while since I drove a Sorrento but I don’t think they have an adaptive suspension. Their sport mode is more engine, transmission and steering change however, with the ride height being lowered, it should still handle well. Imagine if they made a performance version with either a lowered or an adaptive suspension and more power, with say the 3.3T and 8 speed from the Stinger, that would make for a fun CUV! Not sure it would fit but if they did put something with more power in, I think it would draw more folks to it.

 

[Kamauxx]

Imagine if they made a performance version with either a lowered or an adaptive suspension and more power, with say the 3.3T and 8 speed from the Stinger, that would make for a fun CUV! Not sure it would fit but if they did put something with more power in, I think it would draw more folks to it.

It'll fit just fine. Sorrentos have been using same 3.3 that we have (with the exception of turbos) for many years. Given how small our turbos are I doubt Kia would have an issue making it work, if they wanted to.

In this pic you can see how much space the Lambda II T-GDI's turbos take up.

 

[Waynerm002]

I was thinking more the transmission, i’m fairly certain the engine in the Sorento sits sideways as it’s FWD based. That RWD transmission in the Stinger is pretty big in a longitudinal layout. Maybe they might do it in the next gen version or just leave it FWD based. Now if they decide to do it, that would be nice.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I did the first 2K plus miles in Sport mode: mainly because I found the 600 miles break in period easier to do: keeping the RPMs between 2K and 4K as recommended. Then as I was finishing that first 600 miles up, I was on my to Texas; a thousand down and a thousand back. After that, I decided to use Custom almost exclusively, putting engine in Eco and everything else in Sport. When I get "pole position" at a traffic light, I will nearly always move the "T" shifter to the left (manual gate) and take off using the paddles; sometimes I will twist it back into Sport, just because.

Lately, I've been trying to watch the G force meter as I corner onto the freeway donuts or take the interchanges at speed. It's tricky, keeping your eyes on the traffic situation, the speedo and the G meter. So far I have noticed that what I took for fairly aggressive cornering doesn't even break past two-thirds of a G; and supposedly this car will do .93 G on the 300' skid pad (is that roughly the same size as a donut/cloverleaf onto the freeway?).

 

[Sabz]

I did the first 2K plus miles in Sport mode: mainly because I found the 600 miles break in period easier to do: keeping the RPMs between 2K and 4K as recommended. Then as I was finishing that first 600 miles up, I was on my to Texas; a thousand down and a thousand back. After that, I decided to use Custom almost exclusively, putting engine in Eco and everything else in Sport. When I get "pole position" at a traffic light, I will nearly always move the "T" shifter to the left (manual gate) and take off using the paddles; sometimes I will twist it back into Sport, just because.

Lately, I've been trying to watch the G force meter as I corner onto the freeway donuts or take the interchanges at speed. It's tricky, keeping your eyes on the traffic situation, the speedo and the G meter. So far I have noticed that what I took for fairly aggressive cornering doesn't even break past two-thirds of a G; and supposedly this car will do .93 G on the 300' skid pad (is that roughly the same size as a donut/cloverleaf onto the freeway?).

Merlin I thought you had base GT version?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Merlin I thought you had base GT version?

There should be no doubt, GT1 is in my signature; I had to have the 15 speaker surround and sunroof; both missing on the base GT. If they had been on the base GT, I'd be driving a Yellow right now.

 

[Sabz]

There should be no doubt, GT1 is in my signature; I had to have the 15 speaker surround and sunroof; both missing on the base GT. If they had been on the base GT, I'd be driving a Yellow right now.

Lol I’m an idiot I should have look in the sig hahah

 

[Doel]

I've only had a handful of cars with this new fangled fancy smancy tech, but I must say the difference between comfort and sport mode in this car is unlike any other car I've driven. Comfort is nice and comfortable, I honestly feel like anyone could drive it in this mode, it has passing power still but you have to really push for it. Kind of like an older horse, she can get up and go but you can tell she rather take a nice steady trot. Sports mode though is so aggressive, I wouldn't want my girlfriend to drive it in this mode, it's more like a bull in a pin that's ready to thrash as soon as those doors open, I love it.

 

[brancky3]

I've only had a handful of cars with this new fangled fancy smancy tech, but I must say the difference between comfort and sport mode in this car is unlike any other car I've driven. Comfort is nice and comfortable, I honestly feel like anyone could drive it in this mode, it has passing power still but you have to really push for it. Kind of like an older horse, she can get up and go but you can tell she rather take a nice steady trot. Sports mode though is so aggressive, I wouldn't want my girlfriend to drive it in this mode, it's more like a bull in a pin that's ready to thrash as soon as those doors open, I love it.

Agree, I love it. I wish the suspension would be stiffer in sport though.

 

[Doel]

Agree, I love it. I wish the suspension would be stiffer in sport though.

absolutely agree, I can't really tell a difference in suspension between the two. That would complete the package.

 

[MARC A FREDERICK II]

After two months I finally tried Launch Control. HOLLY CRAP this thing is fast.

 

[Waynerm002]

The difference in sport mode is slight but noticeable, the response though is fast! Still haven't tried launch control yet.

 

[MARC A FREDERICK II]

The difference in sport mode is slight but noticeable, the response though is fast! Still haven't tried launch control yet.

Don't. If you do try it, you will want to do it again and again. BTW, if you do, get used to driving "from the back seat".

 

[MerlintheMad]

Launch control is a foreign concept to me. Thus, the single occasion when I tried it, twice, I botched the first one (was in manual gate and forgot, and when it red lined the nanny upshifted for me, spoiling the launch), and didn't feel like the second attempt produced the same acceleration that I got out of my subsequent two or three "launches" from "auto hold", where I just mashed the accelerator while bracing with my left foot on the step: I thought (and still do) that accelerating that way was better; it felt better anyway, that the weird disconnect of pushing brake and accelerator at the same time and letting off the brake. I need to do this again but haven't found the opportunity yet.