Sprint Booster review...

**goshjup** · 03-19-2010 03:19 PM

If you look through all of my threads they relate to startup hesitation from a stop with my car. I then found out it is caused by the drive by wire our cars are built with (wikipedia it).

Took a chance and payed the premium for the device. Install was a bit tricky but done in about 20min and a few tools to loosen the trim a bit to get hand room in a VERY tight space.

Initial impression: Problem solved for me, driveability is what it should have been off the lot. No more hard launches just to get going in stop and go traffic. I can now feather the throttle and clutch simultaneously to start out. Still need to test it on a very steep incline after I adjust in a day of driving.

It gets rid of any hesitation in the lower RPM's but it also accelerates higher up the RPM range you go too. I was zipping around faster than ever around town trying it out. I will adjust to the sensitivity though.

I can also say you have to do less shifting when driving normal too because the car actually performs right off idle in 2nd and there is major imrovement up to even 3000 RPM's when the car really starts to pick up.

Pushing down harder on the accellerator does NOT have the same effect. If you notice when you hit the gas (without the booster AKA stock) the rpm's do respond perfectly. Its the control of the throttle body that is causing the hesitation. If I am wrong please correct me with that statement.

Overall this is a great mod for anyone with lag or hesitiation. This engine has no turbo lag just throttle delay caused by the DBW.

I bought the less aggressive one (auto) and can't imagine what the manual one is like. This one is a great addition.

No gimmick here, just all smiles now. Sorry for the long post.

**hybridnrg** · 03-19-2010 04:13 PM

how much did you pay? sounds good...

**hercfe** · 03-19-2010 04:21 PM

save your 300 bux and just step on the gas further. This product is snake oil, and nothing else. There have been literally HUNDREDS, if not thousands, of reviews and 99.9% of them are negative. Actual testing of the electronics show that it does nothing more than what the driver could do if you stepped further down on the gas pedal. It DOES NOT speed up the signal from the pedal to the DBW TB. Spend your 300 on a flash tune.

**cory_can** · 03-19-2010 04:22 PM

No need to be sorry for a long post.....thanks for the good review and the good information.

As I pointed out on a previous thread regarding Sprint Booster there is a lot of negativity towards the product without actually trying it. However, it seems that everyone that actually tries it has very positive comments.

I read an interesting article recently on how manufacturers tune the factory throttle response/delay based on various options have "could" be on model. Things like FWD, all-season tires or global engine variants and other variables like possible road conditions and desired EPA numbers. All these possibilities are taken in consideration and the throttle mapping is usually quite delayed to make the average customer happy.

I'm wondering if the B8 DBW system has been programmed in such a lazy and fuel saving way that the device has more impact on these cars than most. This is especially true when the version we drive is on the far spectrum of possibilities....AWD w/ performance tires and a booted engine. Something to consider.

**goshjup** · 03-19-2010 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by hybridnrg

how much did you pay? sounds good...

Just check out their website...

**goshjup** · 03-19-2010 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by hercfe

save your 300 bux and just step on the gas further. This product is snake oil, and nothing else. There have been literally HUNDREDS, if not thousands, of reviews and 99.9% of them are negative. Actual testing of the electronics show that it does nothing more than what the driver could do if you stepped further down on the gas pedal. It DOES NOT speed up the signal from the pedal to the DBW TB. Spend your 300 on a flash tune.

I am just a regular Joe and it does work. I almost returned the vehicle but now I enjoy driving it so much more.

Have you tried it? Do some more research before bashing. This product is all over the previous models forums, read up.

**off** · 03-19-2010 08:05 PM

Thanks for the review. It seems the product works as designed. Does your car have any performance programming (APR, GIAC)? I have APR on my A3 and the first thing I noticed was the improved throttle response. That being said, I'm wondering if this product would work well with chipped cars?

BTW APR sale starts next week!!

**carlsA4** · 03-19-2010 09:52 PM

I'm interested, but have heard negative reviews.

**akaisuzu** · 03-19-2010 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by off

BTW APR sale starts next week!!

Seriously?!

**off** · 03-20-2010 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by akaisuzu

Seriously?!

Confirmed with my local dealer and Eurocode as well.

**T-Audi** · 03-20-2010 09:25 AM

The Sprint Booster really works.I have this in my car and it does axactly what he says.It makes a difference.You wont really know how it works until you get it done.I see people say this and that about the Sprint Booster but the question is did they have it done to there car?We don't know.I know cause i have it.hehehe.....I love it.

**goshjup** · 03-25-2010 03:08 PM

Just an update. I went through a tank of gas and am getting the same or slightly better mileage (manually calculated). My commute is mostly highway and I get 29MPG stock and with the booster it went up 1.5 MPG on the same commute one week later. I drive 80 miles a day so I go through gas pretty fast.
Overall I am extremely satisfied with the product. I can now shift into higher gears at lower rpms around town now and have it not bog down like when it was stock.

**NWS4Guy** · 03-25-2010 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by hercfe

save your 300 bux and just step on the gas further. This product is snake oil, and nothing else. There have been literally HUNDREDS, if not thousands, of reviews and 99.9% of them are negative. Actual testing of the electronics show that it does nothing more than what the driver could do if you stepped further down on the gas pedal. It DOES NOT speed up the signal from the pedal to the DBW TB. Spend your 300 on a flash tune.

This is accurate. If you have ADS, using Dynamic does pretty much the same thing. This doesn't change your drive by wire to not be drive by wire. It makes the range of the pedal more sensitive, but doesn't change that range any. All it is doing is giving the car more throttle (like you pushed the pedal farther) without having to do that specifically. FI cars do better with a little more throttle anyway to get the SC or Turbo spooled, you will get worse mileage (esp in stop and go) from light use of the pedal than pushing it down for shifts in the ~3k range. As such, of course mileage will go up for many using this, and it will feel like the car has more power because it does have more power, just at the same place on the pedal. If like hercfe says - you push the pedal farther yourself, the results are identical.

**goshjup** · 03-25-2010 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by NWS4Guy

This is accurate. If you have ADS, using Dynamic does pretty much the same thing. This doesn't change your drive by wire to not be drive by wire. It makes the range of the pedal more sensitive, but doesn't change that range any. All it is doing is giving the car more throttle (like you pushed the pedal farther) without having to do that specifically. FI cars do better with a little more throttle anyway to get the SC or Turbo spooled, you will get worse mileage (esp in stop and go) from light use of the pedal than pushing it down for shifts in the ~3k range. As such, of course mileage will go up for many using this, and it will feel like the car has more power because it does have more power, just at the same place on the pedal. If like hercfe says - you push the pedal farther yourself, the results are identical.

Incorrect once again. Believe me I have tried it for over 2k miles with no success. Try it and then give a review. 30 day money back.

Kinda tired of people that have never tried the module quoting their claims are cast in stone.

Do more research, like I said it is the DBW simple as that. Happens on any car with it. People with autos just deal with and accept it because they can. With a MT it can be dangerous in certain conditions. I am an Electronics Engineer I think I can grasp all the concepts thrown around here. Wikipedia it.

And if having ADS solves it, most people don't have it so there should be another solution. Point taken though.

**B8_Jim** · 03-25-2010 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by goshjup

People with autos just deal with and accept it because they can. With a MT it can be dangerous in certain conditions.

Hey - glad you like what it does. I've got 10k on my 6MT and I've never run into the kind of issues you have been complaining about, nor would I say my throttle response is anything even close to dangerous. In fact my '09 6MT was easier to drive from day 1 than my '01 1.8T 5MT.

I have researched this product as well as driven 2 cars with ADS - in my opinion, neither this or the ADS throttle adaption is worth the money (even if it's just return shipping for this) - I can drive my car just fine without either (actually prefer the non-dynamic ADS setting for non-track use).

People have different tastes, you like it, that's great. Others can vote with their wallet.

**NWS4Guy** · 03-25-2010 05:48 PM

Please understand I am not attacking you or the product. I am merely clarifying what this product does.

The fact is that you cannot solve "drive by wire lag" with a piggy back drive by wire solution. Their own graph from their own site shows very clearly that all is happening is that the pedal is opening the throttle sooner with less pedal, but the overall throttle range between closed and WOT is not changed one bit, just the curve between these two. You can very clearly see that the voltage controlling the throttle has not changed from min to max, just how they are modulated with a given pedal depress. Therefore it is 100% accurate to state that you can get the exact same effects from pushing the pedal harder without using this mod.

Here is the excerpt from their site about it as well:

How It Works
Sprint Booster modifies the signal between the accelerator pedal module and the electronic throttle body. This modified signal forces the throttle body to open 'more' than the stock signal at a given pedal position. In effect, the idle-to-full-throttle pedal travel is reduced. This makes your car 'feel' more powerful because a given pedal input produces greater throttle opening. This is especially evident in the low to mid rpm range where most cars spend their time on the street.

Put your car on a dyno with and without it and the results will be the exact same. "Butt dyno" and preceptions are not valid, emperical data is - as a EE you should know and accept this. Taking in an electrical signal, and then modifying it and forwarding it will only add delay, there is no way to make the elctrons travel faster. What it's doing (to cover this once more for clarity) is instead of you just pushing the pedal farther, it's doing this for you by changing the modulation at a given pedal position. Yes, this is exactly what ADS does for setting the "throttle" to "Dynamic" - it causes the throttle to open sooner and faster with the same amount of pedal compared to when it's in "Auto" or "Comfort."

**a4b7smallturbo** · 04-25-2010 06:39 AM

just put in my sprint booster and what a diffrence its a great product its worth every penny!

**T-Audi** · 04-25-2010 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by a4b7smallturbo

just put in my sprint booster and what a diffrence its a great product its worth every penny!

You won't know til you get one put in.Im happy with mine.

a4b7smallturbo

**Alkivar** · 04-25-2010 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by a4b7smallturbo

just put in my sprint booster and what a diffrence its a great product its worth every penny!

**johntnethk** · 04-25-2010 06:30 PM

Didn't we have like 50 threads on the usefulness of this "product" already?

**Cronogr** · 04-26-2010 06:47 AM

Oh god another topic about how awesome sprint booster is, thank you goshjup for supporting Greece at this difficult time :)

**Alkivar** · 04-26-2010 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Cronogr

Oh god another topic about how awesome sprint booster is, thank you goshjup for supporting Greece at this difficult time :)

I support Greece... I buy Ouzo, and Metaxa brandy... not this crap :P

**T-Audi** · 04-26-2010 03:10 PM

I personally like this because I don't have to press on the gas too much for the car to accelerate.In other words It do what this product is made to do.Its opening up the throttle alil quicker than stock does.Not to increase horse power or anything.Some might like what this does some don't.Who cares what other think or have to say about this product.I really don't care what others think.I have one on my car and I love what this do to my car.If you who don't like this "Sprint Booster"then maybe you should see you way out this page.N one here want to hear all that.Before I leave out of here one question to all those mouth piecing this product.Have you ever have one of this or have you ever tried it?I really want to know.????????

**goshjup** · 04-26-2010 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by T-Audi

I personally like this because I don't have to press on the gas too much for the car to accelerate.In other words It do what this product is made to do.Its opening up the throttle alil quicker than stock does.Not to increase horse power or anything.Some might like what this does some don't.Who cares what other think or have to say about this product.I really don't care what others think.I have one on my car and I love what this do to my car.If you who don't like this "Sprint Booster"then maybe you should see you way out this page.N one here want to hear all that.Before I leave out of here one question to all those mouth piecing this product.Have you ever have one of this or have you ever tried it?I really want to know.????????

Exactly T-Audi, without this little "useless" device I would have traded this car back in due to the lack of throttle response. I along with all the countless porsche owners and other german car owners that love the product too.
Glad you are enjoying it as much as I do. I just wonder what the manual version is like (the one they recommend for racing).

If someone has tried the product and can give any input on the subject please do. Others just please keep your inexperience out of the subject. Thx.

I think its funny too hearing some of the S4 guys complaining of the hesitation too and it is a simple fix but anytime anyone mentions sprint booster all the cry babies come out saying "just hit the gas more, does the same thing". Lol. Flame on

**T-Audi** · 04-26-2010 05:02 PM

IF only they have the extra money to go and get one put in there car and see what this product exactly DO.Maybe they wont go saying what they are saying here.All I hear is this and that about the Sprint Booster.Every guy/person I know or hear that have this in there car they seems to love it.Why?Cause it do what it was made to do.A quicker throttle response.Some just don't get it.And you're right there's guys out there complaining about hesitation and this is why they even made the "Sprint Booster"Need to stop Yappening if you don't know whats Happening.

**johntnethk** · 04-26-2010 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by T-Audi

IF only they have the extra money to go and get one put in there car and see what this product exactly DO.Maybe they wont go saying what they are saying here.All I hear is this and that about the Sprint Booster.Every guy/person I know or hear that have this in there car they seems to love it.Why?Cause it do what it was made to do.A quicker throttle response.Some just don't get it.And you're right there's guys out there complaining about hesitation and this is why they even made the "Sprint Booster"Need to stop Yappening if you don't know whats Happening.

L o L.

**T-Audi** · 04-26-2010 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by johntnethk

L o L.

Hehehehehe....

**GMP Performance** · 03-21-2011 12:00 PM

Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to post up on your actual experiences. We feel that the Sprint Booster is the second best mod we install on cars locally. Once the car is chipped, it has so much more power yet the DBW hinders the ability to control the added performance accurately. Adding the torque means you have to modulate the throttle to be able to drive and control the car quickly. Granted, if your driving style is to stomp on the gas and try and spin tires every chance you get, then this product may not be of added value since you can "achieve" the result by pushing the gas pedal harder. However, for those with a more refined driving style, adding the Sprint Booster really allows you to maximize driver control with less input be it clutch actuation, throttle modulatiuon, heel-toe downshifts, etc.

We have this unit on our shop A5 and every customer is welcome to drive the car. They turn the unit on an off and they all comment that the car is much more nimble. The boost also comes in quicker when the unit is in green mode and significantly drops the boost entry point in red.

Its sad that there is a constant battle between those that have tried the Sprint Booster (and love it) versus those that haven't (and hate on it). If those guys would spend 20 minutes of their lives installing it to try, versus 20 minutes on the keyboard, this community would be a much happier place.

FWIW, these units are successful in reducing throttle lag in all vehicles, not just German. We launched www.SprintBooster.us to cater to the Domestic and Japanese enthusiasts and people love them as well. The Corvette and Jeep Wrangler and Chysler 300's are the most popular.

**turbochips** · 03-22-2011 10:46 PM

300 for a device that...if you press the pedal 20% it really opens 40% or so..... What´s the point? If you plan and WANT to accelerate only 20%???
oh!! you feel more responsive!!! perhaps...is acting more responsive.... but is not doing what you tell it to do!. Period.

**B8Phil** · 10-15-2011 08:47 AM

I know this thread is old, but I think these replies are hilarious... With all of the stupid vagcom modding people are doing, they think THIS is a useless product?! I wonder how many of them have installed s4 pedals and short shifters... With the same logic, why upgrade your brakes when you can just press harder?! i don't have the product and even I can see the benefit of overcoming the lazy throttle mapping to have the pedal "feel" more responsive...

**DavidB8** · 10-15-2011 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by B8Phil

I know this thread is old, but I think these replies are hilarious... With all of the stupid vagcom modding people are doing, they think THIS is a useless product?! I wonder how many of them have installed s4 pedals and short shifters... With the same logic, why upgrade your brakes when you can just press harder?! i don't have the product and even I can see the benefit of overcoming the lazy throttle mapping to have the pedal "feel" more responsive...

I see your looking to make friends. I'm one of those people who not only discovered but have completed "Stupid vagcom" mods. Glad to see you have research in order, why would any switch to S4 pedals? If you mean RS then yes I have done that and the short shifter. Don't be such an ass. You come in and slap 95% of us in the face? Hope your not expecting much support in the future.

**B8Phil** · 10-15-2011 10:08 AM

Not trying to make enemies or friends, just trying to put this into perspective... What purpose does the needle sweep on ignition serve?.. But better throttle response is unnecessary... Yeah...

**B8Phil** · 10-15-2011 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by DavidB8

I'm one of those people who not only discovered but have completed "Stupid vagcom" mods.

I shouldn't have said "stupid". Some of them are actually probably very useful.

**Miles M** · 10-15-2011 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by B8Phil

Not trying to make enemies or friends, just trying to put this into perspective... What purpose does the needle sweep on ignition serve?.. But better throttle response is unnecessary... Yeah...

Do you pay 300$ for vagcom mods?

**DavidB8** · 10-15-2011 10:40 AM

I suppose using a VCDS cable to turn on the ADS and enable dynamic mode on the Engine/Transmission wouldn't make sense either. Considering that would also enhance the throttle response.

**Okan509** · 10-15-2011 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by B8Phil

I know this thread is old, but I think these replies are hilarious... With all of the stupid vagcom modding people are doing, they think THIS is a useless product?! I wonder how many of them have installed s4 pedals and short shifters... With the same logic, why upgrade your brakes when you can just press harder?! i don't have the product and even I can see the benefit of overcoming the lazy throttle mapping to have the pedal "feel" more responsive...

this post is 100% moronic

**joneze93tsi** · 10-15-2011 10:44 AM

**B8Phil** · 10-15-2011 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by mmaroney

Do you pay 300$ for vagcom mods?

Last time I checked the cable/software isn't free...

**B8Phil** · 10-15-2011 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by DavidB8

I suppose using a VCDS cable to turn on the ADS and enable dynamic mode on the Engine/Transmission wouldn't make sense either. Considering that would also enhance the throttle response.

This would be useful. But what is wrong with someone spending money on a plug and play device? My point is that there are people on here bashing a product that works as described and one post later, turning around and waxing poetic trying to figure out how to stop their seatbelt chime...