Ok guys, my apologies for this taking a few more weeks to get done than I planned, my front tires finally gave up the ghost and I had to replace them and break the new ones in a touch... (and they're vastly better, but that's a story for another thread).

This will be very long.



Anyway, the folks at Sprint Booster were kind enough to provide me with their product in exchange for a thorough review, and I think I've now gathered about as much useful data as I can without ECU datalogging hardware, which is goofy expensive for this purpose, especially given what I could get from accelerometers that I already had.

I'm going to start by saying I was long a critic of this device, because based on both my decent knowledge of cars, and how this device must be doing its job based on how and where it is installed, I was absolutely certain it would, in fact couldn't, do any more than lie to the ECU about how far you pressed the gas pedal... and that further it couldn't do anything for $300 that simply pressing the gas harder could do for free.

Having now installed, tested, and used the device for most of roughly two months now I can say this-

Objectively, my initial thoughts are accurate.

BUT- there's a certain subjective entertainment value to be had from the device, and I'll get more into that in a bit.

But first the hard data-

Since there's no local dragstrip I found a reasonable flat and straight piece of road I could safely do 0-60 testing on. I used an Escort G-timer GT2, it reads 0-60 down to hundreds of a second.

All runs were started from the exact same point, and logged to 60 mph.

All runs were followed with a brief slowdown, turn, return to the start point, and turn.

Important: These runs were not done to get the best possible 0-60 time out of the car. For that I would have had as little weight as possible, cold weather, I would have brake-torqued, etc...

Instead, these runs were done to maximize consistency of conditions between runs.

That means I had more fuel in the car, and a couple of people (to insure no tire spin). Traction control and VSC were off for all runs. All runs done in ECT-Normal. All runs done with left foot held on brake, GT2 set to begin run, then foot slammed over full on the gas.


The sprint booster has 3 settings, I will call them off, SB1, and SB2. (off is obvious, and SB2 is more aggressive than SB1).

I did 3 runs off, then 3 runs in SB1, then 3 runs in SB2 and then, to insure there wasn't any heat soak messing up my results (I wouldn't expect there to be with 5-6 second runs following by a minute or two of cooldown as I returned to start), I ran again in off mode.


Results as follows:

Off:
5.50
5.53
5.60

SB1:
5.65
5.60
5.65

SB2:
5.65
5.65
5.63

Off again:
5.63


It's probably safe to say there was a touch of the engine heating after the first 1-2 runs, but times remained very consistent after that point... never varying more than 0.05 seconds between runs, regardless of the sprint booster being off, on SB1, or on SB2.

I can only conclude from this that, as expected, the Sprint Booster makes no measurable performance difference for a WOT run.



Now, that's the objective performance settled.

How about subjective?

Well, I'm going to repost part of a previous post I made shortly after I got the device, because my observations then remained true-

-----------------------------------------------
Imagine 3 drivers.

One is sedate, rarely takes the car over 3k rpms, and generally gives the gas a very light touch.

Driver 2 is moderately aggressive, he revs things a bit, and isn't overly conservative on the gas pedal.

Driver 3 is nuts. If his foot is on the gas at all the tach is generally north of 5k.


Now, put driver one behind the wheel.

With the device set to "off" it's his normal driving experience.

With it set to level 1 (green light on the button) he still actually drives as normal, but the car will feel to him like driver 2 is driving it.

With it set to level 2 (red light on button) he still drives normally for him, but the car feels like driver 3 is driving it.

I suspect if you normally drive like driver 3 you won't really notice any difference on any setting, since you're already providing max input all the time.

If you "normally" drive like driver 2 then you'll have a subjective experience a bit closer to 3 on level 1, and probably similar to him on level 2.

----------------------------------------------

I was consistently able to duplicate the "feel" of SB1 or SB2 modes, simply by pressing the gas more. I had 3 different "control" passengers that rode around with me on a number of occasions... they were never told which setting it was on. None could tell a difference between say actually driving "normally" and SB2 on, versus SB off and driving like a maniac on the gas.

This confirms to me that the "gains" here really are in the head of the driver... because he's the only one who "knows" how far he pushed the gas... and when the car suddenly acts like it's "faster" for the given input he's used to, it feels like a gain.

It's a mind trick, but a very fun one.


So, that established, I began to wonder what would happen if you kept it in a given mode for a while... would your brain re-adjust your use of the gas pedal so the car reverted to acting like you "normally" drive?

In "normal" driving to work and back driving I'm probably someplace between driver 1 and driver 2... (in other conditions I can certainly go as far as driver 3, but not normally on my way to work or back).

So I set it to SB2 for a couple of weeks and just drove it everywhere like that, and just forgot about it. (this is fairly easy as you can disconnect the remote and put it elsewhere and the Sprint Booster will remain on whatever setting you left it on).


Sure enough... initially it "felt" faster because I was inputting like driver 1, and it was reacting like I was driver 3... but after about a week or so, it was acting like driver 1 again. Because my brain had quietly recalibrated the level of pedal input I need to make the car drive like I "normally" do.

Oh, on the occasion I had to punch it a bit it still reacted like I'd punched it "more" but the normal day-to-day stuff mostly reverted to acting like it did with SB-off, because I was now giving it even less pedal.

Then... I went back to the remote, and switched it to SB-off... and drove it another week.

Initially, it felt a bit slower, and certainly so when I had to punch it a bit... but once again, after a few days, my brain adjusted back to how I used to drive and it felt normal again.


Of note- as one would expect, when using it in SB1 (or especially SB2) your mileage will decrease, especially if your brain hasn't readjusted your inputs. This makes sense, since the car is using more gas.



So, my conclusions?

Objectively the device doesn't do anything at all that you can't get for free by pressing the gas harder.

Subjectively? If you only turn it on from time to time, rather than leave it on all the time, it's a fun little device to use... it'll let you "feel" like the car is being driven more aggressively (much more for SB2) than the driver driving it is actually trying to do. This is the mode I expect I'd continue to use it... occasional for-fun use.

But you'll get used to it eventually for the most part. It'll still feel a little better when you really get on it. And this is the other way it can be used and useful- leave it on SB2 all the time. In this case it'll be something you forget about in your normal driving, which after a while will mostly go back to normal... but when you occasionally get on it a bit it'll act like you got on it a bit more than you really did, and that can be fun too.

The last thing I'd add... the Sprint Booster folks have appeared to offer nothing less than stellar customer service so far...and they offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

So you really do not have anything to lose by 'trying' it other than a little time to install and test....and if you don't like it it should be even easier to put back to stock. I just want folks to understand what they're getting here.

It is not a performance mod in any sense I've been able to measure.

But it can be a fun mod anyway, long as you understand what you're buying and what it does, and does not, do.


Anyway, thanks to anyone who actually read all that... if you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.

 

Wow, great write-up Kurtz, and now you have some first-hand experience and objective data to back up your initial thoughts.

IMO, sounds like it gives the same mind game/"feel" as if you always drive in normal mode and then select the ECT-Power mode occasionally.

 

Thanks again for going in depth on this Kurtz. Not a performance booaster, but it sure could give that rush and feel which is good enough for most.

 

Neat. Like "Mikes rx" stated, I do a similar subjective improvement by alternating between the factory normal and power modes.

 

good review.

 

Good review.

 

Excellent review. Your analysis of the Sprint Booster throttle controller is similar to mine - I keep my Blitz unit off unless I want add a bit of fun to my driving experience. But it does add a smile to my face when I use it!

 

^ does it also give you a smile when you look at the gas tank ahaha j/k!

Great review Kurtz none the less. Was already expecting this.

 

I floor the car every where I go - gas stopped being a priority long ago.

 

Great review with an easy to undertand unbiased evaluation. Thanks Kurtz.

 

Good review. A friend of mine got this thing for his SmartForTwo and it helped the "driving experience" tremendously. It was obvious to me when they were installing it that it was doing was remapping the throttle position sensitivity, much in the same way the factory Power/Normal/Snow button does on our IS250, because it on the Smart it only connects to the back of the gas pedal. In any case, thanks for taking the time to confirm what I initially suspected.

 

Yes, I read the whole thing, great review.

I think there are 2 type of people when it comes to "performance mods": those who modify for what mods actually do or improve on the car... and those who mod because it makes their car feel better to them... this mod makes peoples car "feel" better, and if it improves the driving feel, then its worth it for those who are looking for a better feel and not necessarily actual improvements. Making your car feel better or more enjoyable is a good thing, even if it doesn't actually improve real performance.

 

kURTZ
thank you for that write up. now i know what to to when i receive it. that 30 day guarantee came in handy.
Kurtz
Have you did anything with the computer upgrade from Jet.

 

Far as I know everything jet sells is complete snake oil

I know one prelude guy found Jet had charged him for a blank chip...

In another case a guy paid for programming from JET and finds they didn't actually do anything but put a JET sticker on his ECU

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=144424