When I fully depress the accelerator with minimal pressure it appears to come to an end stop, except that if I press slightly more firmly it 'clicks' down a bit more (this is a description of the feel rather than an indication that there is any noise involved). It's like there is a button beneath the pedal.

 

I must admit that I haven't got on my hands and knees to see what's there, I'd kind of forgotten about it until just know, but does anybody know what it is? Is there an under pedal switch and if so what is it for? Or did I just break something?

It's there for kick down on DSG cars, also overrides Eco mode on manual cars.

Thanks Neily!

 

Do you know if there's any official detail on what Eco mode and Sport mode actually do, specifically the engine setting? Having tried them I was figuring that it was just a throttle response change, i.e. pedal position vs. actual throttle position is roughly linear in Normal, exaggerated in Sport and reduced in Eco. I don't believe that the 'engine' is actually changed at all (i.e. mix, timing, power output etc. is unchanged)?

 

I have settled on engine=normal and steering=sport, which seems to be the default choice from what I have read elsewhere on here.

Thanks Neily!

 

Do you know if there's any official detail on what Eco mode and Sport mode actually do, specifically the engine setting? Having tried them I was figuring that it was just a throttle response change, i.e. pedal position vs. actual throttle position is roughly linear in Normal, exaggerated in Sport and reduced in Eco. I don't believe that the 'engine' is actually changed at all (i.e. mix, timing, power output etc. is unchanged)?

 

I have settled on engine=normal and steering=sport, which seems to be the default choice from what I have read elsewhere on here.

 

None of the modes have any effect on the engine itself.  They just do what you've listed there.

 

I also run my steering in sport and engine in normal, but also have AFS lights in sport as I have xenons.

I've just done the sensible thing and hit the search bar, I see there's plenty of previous discussion. I think a fair summary is that the engine bit of the mode button is really only of any significance with the DSG box. On the whole I'm underwhelmed by it, but it's nice to have the option to adjust (reduce) the steering assistance though.

Im probably the only one, but i have my throttle setting in Eco!

 

It was mentioned that perhaps in Eco, you would use slightly less fuel on a motorway stretch in cruise. So ive just kept it like that.

 

There is definitely a slight difference (driving wise) between normal and eco, and normal was a nicer driving experience, but i cant be bothered to keep changing it!

I think this can be true only with DSG. I have read on the other threads that there is a coast mode with the DSG which disengages the clutch to remove the engine load when zero drive is required. This might activate going downhill with cruise on I guess, but if (as I believe it to be with a manual) none of the real engine settings are changed and it is only a throttle response curve modification then cruise control should get the same economy in both modes.

 

The only other effect I can think of is if you have to knock it off for any reason, if you re-engage it from a lower speed it may speed up at a different rate depending on the driving mode. This could give a fuel saving in Eco mode related to cruise control, but if you're knocking it off and re-engaging it a lot then you probably shouldn't be using it under those traffic conditions. A couple of re-engage events in a 100-mile trip aren't going to impact the overall fuel economy.

 

I think with a manual box the Eco mode is doing nothing for you, and by extension the button under the accelerator is useless. Of course, I could be wrong! :|

In Eco mode with a manual it definitely accelerates slower when re-enabling cruise control, also the throttle response is dulled a lot. I quite like the Sport mode, it feels a bit more responsive but generally just drive in Normal mode.

 

Also in Eco mode I think it changes the auto settings for the air-con so it isn't as aggressive at trying to obtain the set temperature.

I was playing with the Mode button on mine (1.4 DSG) and if I put it in Sport, it put the DSG into S as well.

 

As others, I'm using Individual with Sport steering (standard was too light for my liking), normal everything else.

Not quite the same Phil, I have eco for the climate control. Not sure there's much real saving over and above normal mode, but it's cooling me adequately at present so I left it like this. So for me it's sport steering, normal engine and eco climate control.

 

Ask me again next week though and I'll probably have changed my mind!

Somewhat related...

 

In the manual it states that the first level of Crew Protection (or Proactive Passenger Protection)is disabled if you are in Sport mode...  What happens though if you choose 'Individual' mode and then set everything as for sport mode (i.e. sport steering, sport engine, normal aircon)?? I like the Sport mode setting but would rather retain all the stages of Crew Protection???

I have a 1.6 diesel with the DSG box.

I drive around mostly in eco mode as this steps down the climate control and throttle response and will drop out of gear when you left of the go button to save diesel but it will not coast if the CC is switch on.

If I need to move of sharply say at a round-a-bout just tap the auto selector back, into sports mode, and away you go.

Yes the first stop you come to on the throttle is for the 'kick down' and it works best with the DSG box , just peddle to the metal and your out of the problem.

IMHO the SS and Driving Mode work best with the DSG box.

I have a 1.6 diesel with the DSG box.

I drive around mostly in eco mode as this steps down the climate control and throttle response and will drop out of gear when you left of the go button to save diesel but it will not coast if the CC is switch on.

If I need to move of sharply say at a round-a-bout just tap the auto selector back, into sports mode, and away you go.

Yes the first stop you come to on the throttle is for the 'kick down' and it works best with the DSG box , just peddle to the metal and your out of the problem.

IMHO the SS and Driving Mode work best with the DSG box.

SS works fine on a manual, it's just the engine mode choice that I've decided is pointless. Although that said, I do switch my SS off a lot. If I've been driving fast and the turbo's hot I don't want the engine shutting down (although I don't actually know how the turbo's cooled and whether it might still get cooling with the engine off and fan still going). It's also quite common that I do long journeys, say 150 miles of motorway with 5 miles or less A or B-road at either end. With the 150 miles under cruise control in the middle a couple of SS events at either end isn't going to improve my overall fuel economy, so I'd rather be certain that the turbo is getting adequate cooling.

 

I know that the starter motors are uprated, but I'd also be concerned that those people that drive mainly in town might see premature failure. So where it doesn't affect fuel economy much (i.e. for me) it's fairly pointless and where it has a significant impact on fuel use it could be causing future repair bills in starter motor and turbo failures. As you can see, I'm a fan!

 

Of course, if somebody more mechanically minded than me wants to correct my misunderstandings on how these things work then feel free!

I believe the turbo has its own electric coolant pump to circulate coolant after the engine stops. Although what kills turbos is the loss of oil supply from an engine being stopped whilst they are still spinning at high speed - hence the good practise of allowing a turbo charged engine to idle before turning it off.

When you consider that even Porsche use SS then I would hope designers have protected the turbos , and uprated the starter motor. It might be that the SS doesn't shut the engine down if it detects unsafe conditions which could damage the turbo - I wouldn't want to test this out on my own car though !

In my manual vRS TDi, whatever engine mode I am in, if I depress the accelerator pedal down till it stops (pre button), I get what I would say is an 85% full throttle response.

It was my wife who noticed the button/kick down switch, that gives a significant increase in GO from the engine (first 3 gears it is properly noticeable) which broadly matched what I was expecting from the car when I bought it.

My Golf Mk5 GT TDi 170bhp also had this button but it did nothing in that car, I must state that I have no experience on how this button alters the response of a DSG gearbox or other engine/fuel version.

Hope this helps.

In my manual vRS TDi, whatever engine mode I am in, if I depress the accelerator pedal down till it stops (pre button), I get what I would say is an 85% full throttle response.

The button does nothing in normal and sport modes, but you do need to press it to get 100% throttle in Eco.

The button does nothing in normal and sport modes, but you do need to press it to get 100% throttle in Eco.

I think I'll have to confirm that next time I drive zee motor as I rarely change the mode out of Normal.

Thanks for the correction.

I need to have a track day, never got close to hitting the button so far. Not even noticed when blasting up the mountain roads. ECO mode is well fast enough for town driving. Doesn't last long when switching to Sport mode as there's no room to use it even with little traffic jams and just uses extra petrol with no benefit.

Edited 25 June, 201411 yr by Steveh3

Geek, I work in Wokingham if you wanna try my dsg out & you don't have to be gentle with my car cause I ain't.

PM me.

Im probably the only one, but i have my throttle setting in Eco!

 

It was mentioned that perhaps in Eco, you would use slightly less fuel on a motorway stretch in cruise. So ive just kept it like that.

 

There is definitely a slight difference (driving wise) between normal and eco, and normal was a nicer driving experience, but i cant be bothered to keep changing it!

And that's because it is implemented badly, I think.  (On my July 2013 example), you have to press a button in front of the gear stick THEN choose the option on the screen.  Why can't the button cycle round the 4 choices and keep looping?  If you need to change Individual settings, do so on screen.  Making you find a button then take your eyes to the screen is poor design, especially if you are anticipating a bit of spirited driving and want Sport in a hurry.  That's the kind of change they could make in a software update, and for all I know, they have - I have done 15500 miles so haven't had a service yet.

Sorry, that was a bit of a mild rant...

And that's because it is implemented badly, I think.  (On my July 2013 example), you have to press a button in front of the gear stick THEN choose the option on the screen.  Why can't the button cycle round the 4 choices and keep looping?  If you need to change Individual settings, do so on screen.  Making you find a button then take your eyes to the screen is poor design, especially if you are anticipating a bit of spirited driving and want Sport in a hurry. 

 

Totally agree with you on this.

Totally agree with you on this.

I wonder if there is a channel for communicating with User Experience people at Skoda...

And that's because it is implemented badly, I think.  (On my July 2013 example), you have to press a button in front of the gear stick THEN choose the option on the screen.  Why can't the button cycle round the 4 choices and keep looping?  If you need to change Individual settings, do so on screen.  Making you find a button then take your eyes to the screen is poor design, especially if you are anticipating a bit of spirited driving and want Sport in a hurry.  That's the kind of change they could make in a software update, and for all I know, they have - I have done 15500 miles so haven't had a service yet.

Sorry, that was a bit of a mild rant...

Agree there. It could be an awful lot easier. Makes little difference to me though, as im always in 'individual' setting. Actually just changed the engine setting to 'normal'. Boy oh boy, id forgotten how much shift this car has. There is definitely a lot of difference between eco and normal when it comes to throttle setting. The engine revs a lot more freely, and it is a lot easier to free the available power.

I know it doesntchange anything on the actual engine, but I think there is quite a difference with the throttle. Im not sure you see 100% power on eco, no matter how much you push the throttle. Even when you push it past this little click/ button that we are on about. Im also under the impression that the throttle stiffens up. I seem to have to put more effort in to push it down even the same amount, when in Eco. Im guessing thats why the engine seems to rev so much more freely in normal.

Hmmm. Fit a pedalbox and be done with all the faf.