Sprintbooster

[JCL]

Originally Posted by rocky1536

Have you ever actually used sprint booster, or are you a "band wagon basher"?

Is that relevant? I haven't used Sprintbooster either, but that doesn't stop me from understanding what it is, and what it does. It does the same thing as the sport button in an M series, or my Z4 for that matter. It changes the throttle pedal response.

If you like it that way, great. Several have posted that they don't, and that is fine too.

There was an absurd (IMO) comment by another poster earlier in this thread, to the general effect that if you haven't bought a SB you are not allowed to have an opinion, and everyone who tries it is delighted and changes their mind. There are lots of things that I haven't bought that I have developed opinions on, based on reasoned evaluation and experience. Calling someone a 'bandwagon basher' is pretty much the same as calling someone a 'fanboy'. Neither adds a whole lot to the debate, which isn't to say that calling it 'a stupid device' adds much either.

[rocky1536]

Originally Posted by JCL

Is that relevant? I haven't used Sprintbooster either, but that doesn't stop me from understanding what it is, and what it does. It does the same thing as the sport button in an M series, or my Z4 for that matter. It changes the throttle pedal response.

If you like it that way, great. Several have posted that they don't, and that is fine too.

There was an absurd (IMO) comment by another poster earlier in this thread, to the general effect that if you haven't bought a SB you are not allowed to have an opinion, and everyone who tries it is delighted and changes their mind. There are lots of things that I haven't bought that I have developed opinions on, based on reasoned evaluation and experience. Calling someone a 'bandwagon basher' is pretty much the same as calling someone a 'fanboy'. Neither adds a whole lot to the debate, which isn't to say that calling it 'a stupid device' adds much either.

I think it is valid.

It seems that Noodle and quite a few other individuals have read the generic "this device is worthless" posts or reviews by people who have no more real experience than looking at a graph, or assuming it makes the latter portion of the gas pedal useless.

I can even step out of my current shoes and agree that if you dumb down what this actually does, it sounds like a ripoff at $300.

The point is, it makes the driving experience MUCH more enjoyable and I am extremely confident that if you gave one of the blind opponent 2 identical vehicles, one with the poorly named (I sounds like a tool every time I say it) Sprint Booster, and the other without- 9/10 would comment on how much more controllable and responsive the one equipped with SB is. I would even go as far to say that they would think it felt quite a bit faster...Mashing the pedal to the floor to get any feedback, as easy as it sounds, can be a real downer.

Point is, I think the SB sounds a lot worse on paper (or an LCD screen) that it does when it is actually installed. I'd encourage anyone to take advantage of the advertised 30 day money back program...I would bet that you will leave it in.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by rocky1536

I think it is valid.

It seems that Noodle and quite a few other individuals have read the generic "this device is worthless" posts or reviews by people who have no more real experience than looking at a graph, or assuming it makes the latter portion of the gas pedal useless.

I can even step out of my current shoes and agree that if you dumb down what this actually does, it sounds like a ripoff at $300.

The point is, it makes the driving experience MUCH more enjoyable and I am extremely confident that if you gave one of the blind opponent 2 identical vehicles, one with the poorly named (I sounds like a tool every time I say it) Sprint Booster, and the other without- 9/10 would comment on how much more controllable and responsive the one equipped with SB is. I would even go as far to say that they would think it felt quite a bit faster...Mashing the pedal to the floor to get any feedback, as easy as it sounds, can be a real downer.

Point is, I think the SB sounds a lot worse on paper (or an LCD screen) that it does when it is actually installed. I'd encourage anyone to take advantage of the advertised 30 day money back program...I would bet that you will leave it in.

Well, it does make the last 25% of travel of the accelerator pedal useless. That is pretty straightforward.

It isn't a ripoff for you if you get $300 worth of enjoyment from it. Some of us who have had vehicles with variable throttle pedal gains (such as the BMW M or Z4 sport button) wouldn't pay anything for that feature.

I suspect that anyone who concludes that their vehicle is faster with it would similarly think that a CAI that produces intake roar, or a louder exhaust system, would make their vehicle faster as well.

[Weasel]

My question would be regarding the adaptive throttle vehicles... In personal experience if I clear all my adaptations and go for a drive the X5 feels MUCH faster than before, because the adaptations were set to me easing around in city traffic for the months before. So if you installed the sprint booster of course the throttle response will be much better initially, but will the adaptations eventually adjust enough to bring it down to normal pedal feel if you drive normally in city traffic?

I personally just kick the shifter over to sport when I want faster response and altered trans patterns.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Weasel

My question would be regarding the adaptive throttle vehicles... In personal experience if I clear all my adaptations and go for a drive the X5 feels MUCH faster than before, because the adaptations were set to me easing around in city traffic for the months before. So if you installed the sprint booster of course the throttle response will be much better initially, but will the adaptations eventually adjust enough to bring it down to normal pedal feel if you drive normally in city traffic?

I don't think the adaptations bring it back to a stock response with a SB installed. That said, several posters with the SB installed made a point of the fact that they clear their throttle adaptations regularly to get the most out of it.

[Weasel]

I don't think the sprint booster is for me anyways as I do tow trailers (every weekend at this point) and that isn't where I want to have a "shorter pedal" with snappy throttle response.

[sedate_driver]

Originally Posted by JCL

I don't think the adaptations bring it back to a stock response with a SB installed. That said, several posters with the SB installed made a point of the fact that they clear their throttle adaptations regularly to get the most out of it.

Does anyone know of a way to permanently disable throttle adaptation?

[JCL]

Good question for Weasel or killcrap. It is beyond my expertise.

[sedate_driver]

Originally Posted by rocky1536

I think it is valid.

It seems that Noodle and quite a few other individuals have read the generic "this device is worthless" posts or reviews by people who have no more real experience than looking at a graph, or assuming it makes the latter portion of the gas pedal useless.

I can even step out of my current shoes and agree that if you dumb down what this actually does, it sounds like a ripoff at $300.

The point is, it makes the driving experience MUCH more enjoyable and I am extremely confident that if you gave one of the blind opponent 2 identical vehicles, one with the poorly named (I sounds like a tool every time I say it) Sprint Booster, and the other without- 9/10 would comment on how much more controllable and responsive the one equipped with SB is. I would even go as far to say that they would think it felt quite a bit faster...Mashing the pedal to the floor to get any feedback, as easy as it sounds, can be a real downer.

Point is, I think the SB sounds a lot worse on paper (or an LCD screen) that it does when it is actually installed. I'd encourage anyone to take advantage of the advertised 30 day money back program...I would bet that you will leave it in.

Rocky, I hear you on the sensation experience but at the same time, I also find JCL's explanation and the white paper pretty compelling from the purely analytical side. Given all the electronic aids in our cars these days and in particular, automatic trannies, I wonder if the SB somehow disrupts the programed response and through a combination of all the other systems "tricks" the car into a better response for some of us. Or is the sensation all in our head (or butts or foot)? Keep in mind not everyone would appreciate the altered response just as not all of us would appreciate a certain shade of red.

As for the $300, it being a simple amplifier, and the insane profits the Greek is making, I actually don't have a problem with it per se (I'm sure there are plenty of options that cost a dime but we are charged a king's ransom) so long as the product does not damage the car, and does what it claims. I admit knowing what I know now the last one is a bit troubling because the SB's response curve is contradicted by the white paper's. Nonetheless I do enjoy the altered response.

I'll be rather mischievous here: Is there a response gain through a sum of the parts or is it all in our heads? Any theories?

[Noodle555]

Originally Posted by JCL

Is that relevant? I haven't used Sprintbooster either, but that doesn't stop me from understanding what it is, and what it does. It does the same thing as the sport button in an M series, or my Z4 for that matter. It changes the throttle pedal response.

If you like it that way, great. Several have posted that they don't, and that is fine too.

There was an absurd (IMO) comment by another poster earlier in this thread, to the general effect that if you haven't bought a SB you are not allowed to have an opinion, and everyone who tries it is delighted and changes their mind. There are lots of things that I haven't bought that I have developed opinions on, based on reasoned evaluation and experience. Calling someone a 'bandwagon basher' is pretty much the same as calling someone a 'fanboy'. Neither adds a whole lot to the debate, which isn't to say that calling it 'a stupid device' adds much either.

Thanks JCL. Took the words out of my mouth.

For the record I never said the SB was stupid. I said the Sport Button on my own vehicle was. That's my opinion of a feature on my car.

The reason I chimed in on this thread was to lend some of what I had learnt over the years regarding SB, and I have done a lot of reading on the subject.