Sprint Power booster white paper

[Hedders]

I think the problem is in the name. It is evidently a given that it does NOT boost power. Why is it called a Power Booster? If I buy a power booster and it does not boost my power then I tag it as a scam. Call it what it is.

[SmartMadness]

Originally Posted by John_H

You've sold hundreds and hundreds of Sprint Boosters? The MDC cruise control I can understand. Sprint boosters?

I wasn't happy to see the price flaming either; the price is what it is.

Sergio suggested a Sprint Booster equipped smart should out accelerate a stock unit. Since the functionality is only a remap within the existing range, the stomp-to-the-floor performance would be the same. It's the feel that's much more satisfying in the midrange where most people drive. Animosity would ideally be absent from the responses pointing this out.

And I think most of us understand that the margin isn't as big at SmartMadness as it is from the manufacturer. I can understand the need to feed the engineers and/or company owner, others might not. Why does software cost so much? CDs are cheap!

John,

I am glad you understand the point brought up. The software example is great and hope most understand it.

To answer your question about Sprint Boosters.... Yes, we have sold 100's of them and 100's of Cruise Control with a similar feature. Those that want a cruise control get the unit we offer because it is a great value since it combines both features. There are a number of people that do not use a cruise control and those decide to purchase just the Sprint Booster plug in module. Believe it or not, but we have sold 100's of them and people love them.

I am sure our margins are slimmer than the manufacturer, but since they invested the time and money in to product development they are free to price it at a price point that they think is fair. They spend money in tooling, developing and marketing the product and I am sure they are in business to make money just like every company out there.

Some question why they charge so much, well to be fair I remember paying smart well over $1,000 for their Radio 10 Sound System when I got my smart. Now that we do sound system upgrades in our shop I have taken many of them out and can tell you that the door speakers probably cost less than $10 to make and should retail around $25, but they do not.

I think a company has a right to make money for a product or service they provide. We as consumers have the right to make a decision whether or not to purchase that product or use that service. For some the Sprint Booster or a cruise control is an unwanted option or one that they do not see the value of. For many these items are great and they gladly invest their money in to these products because it enhances their driving experience. Those that choose the Sprint Booster addition to their smart based on less than a 0.05% return rate love the product and think the price is fair. Would they love it even more if it was $20 instead of $320? Sure, I would love my smart even more if I could buy one for $2,000 instead of the $20,000 I paid.

Last thing.....

Some recall this same discussion taking place several months ago. A small group of people (good folks that were and still are our own customers) that have never tried the Sprint Booster swear up and down that it is a placebo and does not work. After our challenge they tried it and came back to this board and openly stated that the item worked. All anyone interested has to do is do a little search on this board about "Sprint Booster".

I really do not want to go back and forth and debate whether or not the product is good or not, whether it is worth the money or how much a manufacturer should be charging.

I simply want to appeal to some on this board and state the following....

This is an open board (thankfully) and you are certainly free to post anything you want, but please keep in mind that when you create posts that bash manufacturers, suppliers or even other people on this board it adds a negative tone to this place and really does not benefit anyone.

People come on this board to take their mind off their daily challenges and interact with fellow smart car owners and learn more or share more of their own smart related experiences. Sometimes reading posts from people that talk badly about products, manufacturers and suppliers about product they have never purchased and probably do not intend to purchase (unless they got them for next to nothing) just ruins this place for others and makes them not want to come back to this forum.

I just read a post where another vendor introduced a new armrest (looked pretty good from what I could see) and got slammed by a couple of people. There is no need for this. He invested his time and money and came to the board to show a new product. If you like it, think it is worth the money and have a need for it, than buy it, if you do not simply move on, but beating him up about it does nothing, but make him and others think twice before investing more time in money in a new item.

Just my 2cents.... I am not upset at anyone here, just asking for some to think a bit about the people you are bashing. Most are good folks, just trying to make a living like you and at same time provide a service that many benefit from.

Thank you,
Boris

[SmartMadness]

Originally Posted by Hedders

I think the problem is in the name. It is evidently a given that it does NOT boost power. Why is it called a Power Booster? If I buy a power booster and it does not boost my power then I tag it as a scam. Call it what it is.

It is called a Sprint Booster, not a Power Booster. I really cannot tell you why it is called a Sprint Booster. It is a name the manufacturer choose. They and us openly state that it does not boost power, but shortens the response time, which it does.

[jwight]

Not to drag this out, but the SM site shows the product as "Sprint Booster Power Converter."

Sprint Booster is an application-specific hardware based product designed specifically for cars like the smart car. This device is engineered to improve acceleration on drive-by-wire cars by continuously measuring and converting the digital signal providing the ECM (Electronic Control Module) with a new and altered signal.

[SmartMadness]

Originally Posted by jwight

Not to drag this out, but the SM site shows the product as "Sprint Booster Power Converter."

Correct!

Sprint Booster Power Converter. That is exactly what it does. Converts the digital/power signal sent from the pedal module to the ECU.

[pmolink]

Hey Boris -

Does this do the same thing as an ECU remap, or can you get more out of an ECU remap?

I spent the big bucks on a Veloce remap and I love the difference it made in the way the car drives, but I don't know if it makes more power.

[SmartMadness]

Originally Posted by pmolink

Hey Boris -

Does this do the same thing as an ECU remap, or can you get more out of an ECU remap?

I spent the big bucks on a Veloce remap and I love the difference it made in the way the car drives, but I don't know if it makes more power.

I have a remap as well (not Veloce), but the remap and the Sprint Booster do different things. The remap should have improved shifting and given you more power (that is what it did for my smart). The Sprint Booster gave me better/quicker pedal response.

If you want to try it out we have a money back guarantee. Order it, use it for a month and if you are not happy or do not think it is worth the money simply let us know and send it back. Once we receive it we will issue a refund.

If you would like to find out more simply give us a buzz and we will be happy to help out. We install these daily in to customers cars in our shop and Rachel and all the guys know the item very well.

Our number is 562-961-6800

Thank you,
Boris

[buellwinkle]

I got the Sprint Booster from SmartMadness yesterday and they were very nice, put it in for me at no additional cost. It does shorten the lag when you take off to the point the car is safer to drive. Before this, as an experiment, I tried mashing the pedal as fast as I can but there's still a good lag before the engine starts reving and forward motion begins, this removes it.

It's not a quick snap like I would have liked, but certainly better than that weird feeling you get when you try and pull into a busy street and the car hesitate long enough to feel like your not going to make it.

Warning: don't go to SmartMadness's shop with a credit card with a high limit, you'll be tempted to buy everything in the store. They had a white Smart that was lowered with dished 17" wheels that looked awsome, if they weren't looking, I was going to take it.

[SmartDrive]

The Sprint Booster has real benefits from what I can see. It reduces pedal travel because it's amplifying ECU signal. This has a very real benefit for the following major reasons: One, the ECU means less pedal travel, making it easier for people to get the power they need with less movement which will always be more kinetically efficient than using more movement. For the same physical effort you get more result, but it takes finer contol. For those who are shorter of leg, the Sprint Booster is a huge bonus as well, since you can tap into more power with less travel and you can still sit comfortably away from the steering wheel. Lastly, this more immediate response simply due to ECU amplification helps when merging on to a busy street. Yeah, you can mash the pedal harder, but this is less efficient than only having to push the pedal half as much, especially for shorter drivers who really have to stretch to get that extra power without a Sprint Booster. Think of the idea behind a short-throw shifter too, such as the one in the Miata.So, there's no placebo here at all. There's a real effect, but it's not a boost of power, it's getting that power with less movement....in a real sense it's just more kinetically-efficient.

[mvaldes]

Originally Posted by SmartDrive

The Sprint Booster has real benefits from what I can see. It reduces pedal travel because it's amplifying ECU signal. This has a very real benefit for the following major reasons: One, the ECU means less pedal travel, making it easier for people to get the power they need with less movement which will always be more kinetically efficient than using more movement. For the same physical effort you get more result, but it takes finer contol. For those who are shorter of leg, the Sprint Booster is a huge bonus as well, since you can tap into more power with less travel and you can still sit comfortably away from the steering wheel. Lastly, this more immediate response simply due to ECU amplification helps when merging on to a busy street. Yeah, you can mash the pedal harder, but this is less efficient than only having to push the pedal half as much, especially for shorter drivers who really have to stretch to get that extra power without a Sprint Booster. Think of the idea behind a short-throw shifter too, such as the one in the Miata.So, there's no placebo here at all. There's a real effect, but it's not a boost of power, it's getting that power with less movement....in a real sense it's just more kinetically-efficient.

If you like that you'll probably love the pedal mapping coming soon from Area451 . Here is a graph of the 16 choices available: