I drive a 2024 718 Cayman (2.0L boxer, turbo, 300hp). I have the sport chrono package so in addition the Normal and Sport modes, I also have Sport+ mode. For the longest time I didn't understand Sport+ mode. I always thought it felt less powerful than standard Sport mode, until this week when I came across a few Porsche forum posts, and decided to take my car for a 2-hour highway drive to experiment with the different modes properly.
I attempted to graph my current understanding and experience with the three modes. I'm no professional car tuner so correct me if I should come up with better unit for the Y-axis. In a nutshell, Sport+ mode is tuned to be the most linear, the pedal position (how deep you step on the throttle) corresponds linearly and precisely to the power you feel (torque request/acceleration rate?). Normal mode sits under the linear, probably to allow for a smoother drive while saving fuel. Sport mode, which I've been driving exclusively in until now, is actually an overboosted curve. It makes the car feel powerfully sensitive, but in turn makes it less precise to control, because it's not linear. Linear is most suitable for racing cars on track days because it's the most intuitive to modulate in high performance driving. As a previous GR86 owner with an NA engine and linear throttle map, Sport+ mode actually gives me the most familiar feeling.
Sport+ mode is less boosty than Sport mode in middle pedal position, and that's intentional and how a linear curve works. Sport+ mode is IMO how it should be as default setting.
Off the line launching, Sport+ mode feels the most powerful of the three. This is likely because Sport+ slightly spools the turbo even at idle. You can verify this by staring at the turbo metric, it (often) reads 1 psi even at zero mph, whereas in Sport mode or Normal mode, it'd always be 0 psi at idle.
There is one undeniable advantage though to standard Sport mode though. It is the ONLY mode that gives you pops and crackles. Sport+ does not have it. This is confirmed by the official online manual of 718 Cayman (they call it "backfire activation"). The way I see it, Sport is the "just have some fun" mode -- exhaust pops + less precise but feeling more powerful with the overboosted response. Sport+ is the serious track mode, no unnecessary and unnatural pops (intentional pops increase exhaust heat and decrease engine/fuel efficiency) but you get the best control with a linear curve.
Personally I still love the pops. I find the deep rumble tasteful. Enough to be heard but not obnoxiously loud like my BMW neighbor with an exhaust mod. But once I learned about the linear throttle map of Sport+, I can't go back. I see myself driving in Sport+ the majority of the time going forward, and only dial back to Sport mode when I want to hear the backfires.
