Sport Chrono Package

When buying a Porsche, I think many people really struggle with the question of “which options to choose.” My husband often uses the configurator and mutters things like, “This option is a must… but if I add everything, it’s way too expensive, so maybe I should cut something…” (He even configures models we have no plans to buy, lol)

Among the many options that people agonize over whether to get or not, one is the “Sport Chrono Package.” According to Porsche Japan’s website as of January 2020, the option price for a standard 911 is 388,056 yen. (Prices vary by model: Panamera is 313,705 yen, Cayenne is 182,315 yen)

Stopwatch on a 981 Boxster

When you add the Sport Chrono Package to currently sold models, the engine, chassis, and transmission performance are actively enhanced, enabling even more spirited driving. Specifically, three functions are added to the vehicle:

・Launch control system enabling the most efficient acceleration from a standstill (PDK only)
・Four selectable driving modes—Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual—adjusting to your driving style. A dial to switch modes is mounted on the steering wheel.
・A Sport Response mode switch that maintains maximum throttle response for about 20 seconds.

Also, unrelated to driving performance, the Sport Chrono Package adds a stopwatch mounted on the dashboard. I’ve heard many people choose the Sport Chrono Package simply because they want that stopwatch.

Stopwatch on a 971 Panamera

Furthermore, when combined with the Porsche Connect navigation module, you can measure lap times, check driving data, record and manage results, and even share and compare data with other drivers. (*Source: Porsche Japan “Sport Chrono Package”)

By the way, the Sport Chrono Package can also be retrofitted. When we bought our 970 Panamera Edition new, it didn’t come with the Sport Chrono Package, so we had the dealer install it later. However, in that case, the stopwatch itself cannot be installed.

What’s the Sport Chrono Package Like?

All the water-cooled Porsches in our household have the Sport Chrono Package. The Boxster GTS (981) and 911 GT3 (991.2) come standard with it, and we added it as an option on the Panamera (971).

When I drive on winding roads, I always switch to “Sport” or “Sport Plus” mode. Changing the mode stiffens the suspension noticeably, and with PDK, you can experience sporty driving at high revs. Even a large car like the Panamera can smoothly carve through corners, which is a lot of fun.

For the Boxster, Sport Plus mode activates auto-blipping (I heard for the 718, auto-blipping turns on at Sport Plus or higher), and the roar of the Boxster’s engine—“Vroooom, vroooom”—echoes with every downshift, which feels amazing. So on winding roads and highways, I always drive in Sport Plus mode.

Before I really knew much about Porsche, I thought, “Whether or not you get the Sport Chrono Package doesn’t really matter. It’s expensive, so maybe you don’t need it.” But now, I’m glad my husband chose to include it.

Thanks to the Sport Chrono Package, even a novice like me can bring out more of the Porsche’s performance and truly appreciate how incredible it drives.

When I attended a Porsche driving school, I stayed in Sport Plus mode throughout the program and was amazed many times, thinking, “Wow, even at these high speeds during slalom runs, it turns so sharply!”

My Husband’s Take on the Sport Chrono Package

Regarding the Sport Chrono Package, my husband often says, “If you’re buying a Porsche, you have to get it. There’s no option not to!” When I asked him why, he explained like this:

Sport Plus button on a 981 Boxster GTS

“Everyone has their own values, but I don’t see Porsche as a ‘luxury car’—I see it as a ‘high-performance car.’ So if there’s a mode that lets you unleash 100% of that performance, I don’t want to deliberately lock it away and drive without it.”

I see—high-performance car, huh? He continued,

Depending on the model, Sport and Sport Plus modes feel quite different. For example, with the Boxster GTS, switching to Sport Plus feels like the driving dynamics improve by about 10% in a way you can really feel. It feels like a waste not to experience that. That’s why I absolutely want the Sport Chrono Package.
Personally, I don’t care much about whether the stopwatch is there or not.”

When I said, “Our family values driving—whether on mountain roads, circuits, or long highway trips—so the Sport Chrono Package is essential,” he replied,

“Yeah, that’s true. But if you don’t drive that aggressively and mostly use your Porsche as a ‘luxury car’ in the city, then you probably don’t need this feature at all.
Also, Porsche options usually don’t add much to resale value, but the Sport Chrono Package does make a noticeable difference in price. So in that sense, paying for this option isn’t really a loss.”

He also mentioned other options like PDCC and rear-axle steering, so I’d like to ask him about those opinions another time.