Portofino - Driving in Auto Mode | FerrariChat
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Portofino - Driving in Auto Mode

Discussion in 'California/Portofino/Roma' started by BarryL, May 10, 2025.

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  1. BarryL

    BarryL Rookie
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    Jun 30, 2007
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    Boca Raton, Florida and Centerville, MA
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    Dr. Barry Lehman
    #1 BarryL, May 10, 2025
    There have been a number of previous posts discussing driving a Portofino in the Auto mode. It is a very disappointing experience. In Auto mode, the Portofino upshifts far too quickly and it is already in 7th gear at 30 mph at only 900 rpm's. To get the car to downshift, you need to mash on the throttle. The engine is never in its power band. This constant driving at 900 rpm's around town cannot be healthy for the engine long term. It seems clear that Ferrari did this either to meet current emissions standards or mileage requirements. I have given up and I now drive my Porto in Manual mode at all times. The Portofino performs brilliantly with the paddles and I keep the engine in its power band at all times. The question I have is does anyone offer a fix for the Portofino's Auto mode like an engine tune or some software to recalibrate the shift points in the transmission? The Portofino badly needs a solution to this obviously unsatisfactory condition. In contrast, I also drive a 2023 Bentley Bentayga with a similar transmission that I drive only in Sport Auto mode. It automatically upshifts and downshifts around town imperceptibly always keeping the engine in its power band. The Bentley handles the automatic shifting so much better than the Portofino. If anyone has a solution to this problem, please chime in.
     
  2. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
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    #2 Cigarzman, May 10, 2025
    Barry , use the paddles all the time. Problem fixed. Btw is much more fun anyway. I’m not sure my Porto even works in auto mode.
     
  3. BarryL

    BarryL Rookie
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    #3 BarryL, May 10, 2025
    That is exactly what I am doing. Thanks.
     
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  4. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
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    #4 Cigarzman, May 10, 2025
    You are correct though the auto mode is total crap at best.
     
  5. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
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    #5 Cigarzman, May 10, 2025
    You are correct though the auto mode is total crap at best. Btw it’s not any better in any Ferraris. Same crap in the F8 too.
     
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  6. ferrefeh

    ferrefeh Karting
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    #6 ferrefeh, May 10, 2025
    In my 488, the auto mode program is exactly as you stated, that's why I never use it lol
     
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  7. Redneck Slim

    Redneck Slim Formula 3
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    #7 Redneck Slim, May 10, 2025
    1) The reason for the stock shifting is what you stated (ditto for the stop/start).
    2) My Portofino operates just like yours and it doesn't bother me at all. I use Auto while the engine is warming up and then go to paddles and think about the thousands I saved in gas-guzzler fees.
    3) Vivid Racing/VR Tuned in Arizona reprogrammed my ECU for a BIG increase in power and also disabled the stop/start. Can they reprogram the shifting? I don't know,but the person there to talk to is Blake Hansen.
     
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  8. Snewton94024

    Snewton94024 Formula Junior

    Apr 24, 2015
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    #8 Snewton94024, May 10, 2025
    Who would ever want to drive in Auto? No fun there. Ever.
     
  9. mcw

    mcw Formula Junior
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    #9 mcw, May 10, 2025
    I use "auto" mode for stop-and-go freeway driving.
     
  10. jproject

    jproject Rookie

    Oct 17, 2024
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    #10 jproject, May 10, 2025
    That's all I use auto mode for as well. In this scenario I don't mind it upshifting early and keeping revs low. Like others I'm in manual mode pretty much in all other situations.
     
  11. ipsedixit

    ipsedixit Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2014
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    #11 ipsedixit, May 10, 2025
    I use auto mode when I am drinking my espresso and texting my mistress.
     
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  12. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #12 vjd3, May 12, 2025
    I never used Auto mode on my Cali 30 or Cali T, either, even in crawling traffic on the freeway ... I do find it interesting that Porsche is able to program the PDK gearbox to auto shift extremely well in Sport and Sport Plus modes ... I mostly used it in manual mode on my 991 and 991 Turbo S but would occasionally use the paddles leaving it in the auto mode and sometimes, comically, the gearbox would downshift a fraction of a second before I hit the paddle to do it myself and I would wind up down two gears.
     
  13. Zarakoff

    Zarakoff Karting

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    #13 Zarakoff, May 12, 2025
    Yeah auto for cruising on motorway that’s all it’s good for
    And it’s fun using the paddles anyway

    My svr in sport always stays in the lowest gear ready to pounce.
    The Portofino is a gt cruiser and needs to find the highest gear possible and as quickly as possible.
    I doesn’t bother me it’s like that like others as said
    Put it in manual
     
  14. jsh458ft

    jsh458ft Formula Junior
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    #14 jsh458ft, May 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
    If you're driving hard, with significant throttle and brake pressure, then like most other cars the automatic mode will be dramatically better at shifting (even more so in Race compared to Sport) including aggressive downshifts and near-redline upshifts. When I tracked my 458 I found the automatic shifting very effective for allowing me to focus on executing a lap.
     

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