Author Topic: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350  (Read 2066 times)

Online Julie

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #20 on: August 04, 2010, 10:08:41 pm »
On my 2000 in D the car start in 2nd gear and also shifts at a lower rpm, is that true for the new BMW's

Yes.  The starting in second gear may be the issue, or at least a part of it.  Even with manual shifting.  It's a bit of a PITA because I like starting off in 1st gear.

I don't think I save any gas even when it starts in 2nd...   :P  (re I'm developing lead foot disease...)
So why dont you just drive in sport mode all the time?

I'm stubborn.  I want the 'D' mode to work the way I want, dammnit.   :P   ;)

I did drive most of today in DS.  We'll see...

Online rrocket

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #21 on: August 04, 2010, 10:10:41 pm »
When I was paddle shifting in your car, I started off in first and still found the throttle troublesome...
How fast is my Supra?  I sh*t on Cessnas from a roll....

Offline Giant Dwarf

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #22 on: August 06, 2010, 12:27:24 am »

Regarding the BMW, it's funny you should mention how slow the throttle response is.  I find the stiffer accel spring in the BMW (along with stiffer steering, firmer controls, etc. etc.) mean you actually need to DRIVE the car,

Well I'm sure you'd come up with any excuse for the "ultimate driving machine".  I have never heard anyone make an argument that slow throttle response is a good thing in a sporty car.  But hey, whatever floats your boat....

And as far as playing with the throttle on a Lexus?  Well if it runs away on me, I'd actually have to DRIVE the car, ya know??   ;D

Wasn't intending to come across as a fan-boy statement.  Perhaps I was intermixing "slow throttle response" with greater throttle travel and a stiffer throttle spring.  Having greater (and more linear) throttle travel can only be a good thing for control, no?

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #23 on: August 06, 2010, 03:39:36 am »
^^It depends.  If the travel is excessive, then no.  You seem to think that pushing my pedal down 1/4 of the way is like flooring it.  LOL  It's not.  And it is still linear.

If it wasn't linear, it sure would have been a herky-jerky ride with Julie (never driven an IS350) at the controls.

And I never had an issue with 1/4 turn throttles I put on each and every one of my race bikes. 

Trust me..this is a great mod.  Surf over to the BMW forums and see how much love they give it there.

Offline safristi

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #24 on: August 06, 2010, 12:36:58 pm »
..if she cranks it only a quarter turn,,,,,,,,,,,,,,how much love is that............ :o ::) :P
THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....

Online Julie

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #25 on: August 06, 2010, 10:19:05 pm »
When I was paddle shifting in your car, I started off in first and still found the throttle troublesome...

Oh.  I don't really notice it.

Wasn't intending to come across as a fan-boy statement.  Perhaps I was intermixing "slow throttle response" with greater throttle travel and a stiffer throttle spring.  Having greater (and more linear) throttle travel can only be a good thing for control, no?

I should try a 330 for comparison.  I did some experimenting today and realized:

I don't push in the pedal much.  But when I push it in more, frak, the turbo really kicks in.  It doesn't lurch or anything, but it's not linear.  Although this turbo has been called the most linear of turbos, you can still feel the non-linear kick in.  Once it reaches >1500 rpms though, it becomes very linear - no different than a non-turbo engine - and lasts across a relatively broad rpm range.  The initial 'sprint off' is a bit too much in dense traffic though, for my tastes at least.  Maybe I'm just not used to it.

..if she cranks it only a quarter turn,,,,,,,,,,,,,,how much love is that............ :o ::) :P

Oh, don't you worry Saffy, I pushed the metal to the floor in rrocket's car.  ;D

Online rrocket

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #26 on: August 07, 2010, 03:27:41 am »
^^I was sorta wondering if they changed the DBW throttle from GD's 330i to yours??

Offline airbalancer

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #27 on: August 07, 2010, 06:36:37 am »
Even in an old my2000 it peddle to the metal if you want to go anywhere

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #28 on: August 07, 2010, 07:07:17 am »
Even in an old my2000 it peddle to the metal if you want to go anywhere

Really?  But that's not DBW is it?

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #29 on: August 07, 2010, 07:19:12 am »
Even in an old my2000 it peddle to the metal if you want to go anywhere

Really?  But that's not DBW is it?
I think that all E46 cars except the M3 are DBW.   I never noticed a delay/non-linearity on my 2003 but that was a 330 with more torque than Airb's 323.
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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #30 on: August 07, 2010, 08:53:44 am »
^^I was sorta wondering if they changed the DBW throttle from GD's 330i to yours??

I suspect it's programming.  Because there is no issue is DS.  It is linear in DS, from idle.

Offline mmret

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #31 on: August 07, 2010, 12:56:10 pm »

Is the throttle response faster or is it just pushing the pedal MORE than you actually are doing it?  LIke you push 1/10th and it inputs 5/10ths instead?



It's not THAT sensitive.  It's on the order of 30% I'd guess.



Figured it did something like that. For $330 is pretty steep imho vs. what it should cost to make (couple of op-amps...)

I have also found the Z4 tip-in in D mode to be really slow. DS is better. TSX feels more like its in DS all the time (but obviously slower overall).

Don't want to drive in DS all the time though, holds low gear too long when I'm just trying to cruise.
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Offline Flinter

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #32 on: August 07, 2010, 01:36:25 pm »

Is the throttle response faster or is it just pushing the pedal MORE than you actually are doing it?  LIke you push 1/10th and it inputs 5/10ths instead?



It's not THAT sensitive.  It's on the order of 30% I'd guess.



I certainly don't dispute the claims that this device improves throttle "feel" around town and makes the car feel more responsive to a given acceleration pedal input. However, I'm having some trouble understanding the graph you quoted above.

The Y-axis is ETC Output in volts which makes sense. However, the X-axis is confusing. Is it Elapsed time in seconds, or does it represent throttle input via your acceleration pedal (per green dotted lines)?

I found this description on the website:
http://www.sprintboostersales.com/whyitworks.cfm
Quote
How It Works

Sprint Booster modifies the signal between the accelerator pedal module and the electronic throttle body. This modified signal forces the throttle body to open 'more' than the stock signal at a given pedal position. In effect, the idle-to-full-throttle pedal travel is reduced. This makes your car 'feel' more powerful because a given pedal input produces greater throttle opening. This is especially evident in the low to mid rpm range where most cars spend their time on the street.

If I'm understanding this correctly, this unit is increasing throttle sensitivity by effectively reducing the pedal travel by making the ETC voltage output larger for a given pedal input. If this is the case I can definitely see how it could improve feel and responsiveness around town. Especially for an automatic transmission where (as I understand it) the ETC voltage inputs are used to decide when to downshift etc.

However, I can also see that for someone using a car on the track, this effective reduction in idle-to-full-throttle pedal travel "could" make it a little more difficult to modulate the throttle inputs.


Offline mmret

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #33 on: August 07, 2010, 03:28:15 pm »
However, I can also see that for someone using a car on the track, this effective reduction in idle-to-full-throttle pedal travel "could" make it a little more difficult to modulate the throttle inputs.

Yes

This product is basically a replacement for mashing your foot down more. So if you turn up the gain (from pedal position to throttle %) you will lose granularity.

Online Julie

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #34 on: August 07, 2010, 09:57:38 pm »

I have also found the Z4 tip-in in D mode to be really slow. DS is better. TSX feels more like its in DS all the time (but obviously slower overall).

Don't want to drive in DS all the time though, holds low gear too long when I'm just trying to cruise.

^^ Feel the same way.

The transmission in the 335i is overall really good though.  Manumatic shifts are fast and smooth.

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #35 on: August 09, 2010, 08:49:53 am »
However, I can also see that for someone using a car on the track, this effective reduction in idle-to-full-throttle pedal travel "could" make it a little more difficult to modulate the throttle inputs.

Yes

This product is basically a replacement for mashing your foot down more. So if you turn up the gain (from pedal position to throttle %) you will lose granularity.

Yeah that's where I was going with my question.  Calling the "fastest" mode "race mode" is kind of the opposite of what I would want for the track. haha


Offline johngenx

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #36 on: August 09, 2010, 04:55:13 pm »
You guys need to spend some time in an 80's vintage 911 with floor loaded pedals (um, not peddles, btw...) and you'd stop being quite so picky...

 ;D
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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #37 on: August 09, 2010, 08:10:46 pm »
I tried manual shifting, but starting off in 2nd gear all the time from a stop, rather than first.

No problem; throttle response is quick.

I now believe it's a programming issue with 'D'.

You guys need to spend some time in an 80's vintage 911 with floor loaded pedals (um, not peddles, btw...) and you'd stop being quite so picky...

 ;D

 ;D

Offline airbalancer

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #38 on: August 09, 2010, 09:06:22 pm »
D is design for EPA rating

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Re: Product Review: SprintBooster Power Conveter on an Lexus IS350
« Reply #39 on: August 09, 2010, 09:19:41 pm »
D is design for EPA rating
Exactly right.   The GTI's DSG in D mode is obviously in fuel saving mode and if one happens to drive gently around town for a few days the programming goes even more that way.

trouble is the S mode is too much biassed the other way.  Oh to be able to get at the programming of the DSG to make a mode about 1/2 way between...