What is the performance button on the 1997 Saturn sl2?

Answer 1

The button allows you to select between two different transmission shift patterns.

The "economy" shift pattern allows the transmission to shift a little sooner, which tends to keep the engine RPMS down a little and saves some fuel.

The "performance" shift pattern shifts a little later and results in a little higher engine RPMs at the cost of a little of the fuel economy.

In some vehicles, the "performance" pattern also disables the transmission lockup circuit. Lockup helps considerably with economy, since it bypasses the torque converter.