SW17LS

Thought that this was an interesting question.

When we had the LS400 and LS430 I would leave them in ECT PWR mode, I felt they responded much quicker, and it did away with the considerable throttle lag the LS400 exhibited. My ES's did not have such a mode, and when I got my GS I rarely used Sport mode unless I was in Sport + for handling, because it held the throttle so long when you would get off the gas it annoyed me.

I've started driving my LS460 some in Sport mode and I find it behaves a lot like my other LS's did in ECT PWR, annoying thing being the 400 and 430 would stay in that mode after a restart, with the 460 I have to engage it every time.

I find the throttle response much quicker, and acceleration much more effortless in that mode, makes the car feel a good bit livelier.

What is everybody else doing with these modes?

Scrutator

In my 2013 F Sport around town and on the freeway I use the default Comfort mode; no need for anything else. When I head up the mountain highway and the weather is good and traffic is clear I'll use Sport or Sport + and pass everything except Corvettes and other true sports cars.

roadfrog

I use my PWR mode quite often. I do so anytime I want a little fun, or when driving mountain roads and want more pedal response and quicker shifts, etc. Anytime I need to get ahead of the car beside me, I'll switch it too.

Rhambler

I can't tell much of a difference in sport mode. Granted I don't have air for suspension adjustments, but to me the only thing I really notice is that the brakes get even more sensitive. Can't really tell on any transmission shifts, and I would presume this would be impacted heavily. If anything, it seems to up shift faster where I would think it would hold gears longer.

I get better response just leaving it in normal and switching to manual shift if needed, although flooring it in normal is good enough for me lol.

Dr. Jekyll

iTrader: (1)

Great poll although I was personally wondering about the other modes myself. When I had my LS430 I noticed a complete absence of engine braking aka rolling for miles and with my LS460 in comfort mode the car felt like there was considerable engine braking. I recently switched to eco mode and found that the resistance was dramatically reduced. Sorry for the hijack but maybe open up the options in the poll?

If not it's primarily Comfort mode for me.

Unsober1

I use pwr mode for the rare times that I want to get on and off the throttle quickly and repetitively. I think it holds the RPM a bit higher so it doesn't downship too early.
Since I live in Colorado and run up and down the mountains every so often, I usually shift between the gears. Use it for going up and down.

caha14

I used it regularly in the 460 (and do in the 570, for that matter). On both vehicles, throttle response is much improved, shifting is crisper, and as others pointed out, gears are held for extra time when you let off the throttle (instead of upshifting/RPMs dropping immediately).

I also use it on the 600h. I mention this car separately because compared to the other models I've tried PWR mode on, the improvement in throttle response is much, much more pronounced. The 600 is very responsive in 'Normal' mode, but in 'PWR Hybrid' mode it is an absolute beast.

SW17LS

I'm really surprised that you don't feel a difference. To me the throttle response and the cars willingness to downshift is significantly improved in sport mode. The car feels heavy and sleepy in normal mode, and doesn't seem that way at all in sport.

There isn't any difference in the braking I don't believe.

I didn't include ECO because pre 2013 LS's don't have an eco mode.

Unsober1

Steve, I think you are mistaken. While the pre 2013 models did not have the driving selector **** on the center council, they did have other buttons. I have a 2011 with an Eco button. It is located adjacent to the steering wheel heater button. Close to the drivers left knee.

caha14

Yes, this was added as part of the refresh at the same time that the little green 'Eco' light was added to the cluster.

Gbp

Yes, Eco mode was added in the 2010 MY, along with auto slide-away (for driver's seat), full Bluetooth streaming, etc.

Kbueno

Love ECT Power Mode...holds the gear much longer...perfect for road carving

SW17LS

That's something I did not know. Figured it was like the 400 and 430 was.

jasone36

On my 2002 SC430, I always keep the ECT mode enabled (unless it's snowing).

I really wish the 2013+ LS460 could "remember" the sport setting (like it does with the "eco setting")... but most of the time I'm too lazy to even take it out of Eco mode... but when I do, oh wow is the car a beast (even my reduced horsepower AWD version).

I wonder if a software change could make it remember the setting...

SW17LS

Setting can't be remembered. Reason is the EPA regulations for stated fuel economy. They test cars on the most aggressive drive mode that will default to on after a restart.