Dash details about drive mode

[ivantwilliams]

Maybe I'm simply missing this. But, to me, on the dash, shouldn't there be a symbol or something that shows what Drive Mode am in?

Failing that, even the switch (knob; whatever you want to call it), should show in an 'on' or 'off' position, no?

Maybe I'm over thinking this...

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[kz]

Maybe I'm simply missing this. But, to me, on the dash, shouldn't there be a symbol or something that shows what Drive Mode am in?

Failing that, even the switch (knob; whatever you want to call it), should show in an 'on' or 'off' position, no?

Maybe I'm over thinking this...

There is - if you have drive modes. Unless you think about "drive modes" on the Base...

 

[ivantwilliams]

Hmm, I have a GT Premium, and thus have the switches/knobs near the gear shift.
My idea is if I use the knob to switch to Normal, Sport, etc. there should be a symbol on the dash display showing which mode I'm in.

I hope that makes sense...

There is - if you have drive modes. Unless you think about "drive modes" on the Base...

 

[Ace]

There should be a small symbol in the lower right corner if you are in a mode besides normal. Examples:

 

[ivantwilliams]

Ah, I see brilliant, thanks!

I guess I'm in Normal mode currently, hence why I've not noticed a symbol :(

 

[IsolatedSnail]

Another tip: Drives modes reset to normal at every power off. So every time you start the car you are back in normal regardless of what you changed it to last time you drove. So if you want it to be in Sport, you'll have to change it each time you start the car, then you should see the symbols posted above.

 

[ivantwilliams]

Hmm, well, that's interesting! I wonder why Ford designed it this way...

Another tip: Drives modes reset to normal at every power off. So every time you start the car you are back in normal regardless of what you changed it to last time you drove. So if you want it to be in Sport, you'll have to change it each time you start the car, then you should see the symbols posted above.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Probably to force you to start out using their default settings every time for throttle response, steering feel, and particularly TC and AdvanceTrak.

Having to do the switching every time avoids the possibility of a different driver unexpectedly finding himself with a reduced level of nanny support or (for him) a too-sensitive throttle.


Norm

 

[texasboy21]

Hmm, well, that's interesting! I wonder why Ford designed it this way...

Because its logical.

 

[DickR]

Hmm, well, that's interesting! I wonder why Ford designed it this way...

Actually it is the "law"because the vast majority of US drivers, including performance car drivers, don't have the driving skills and/or the attention span to be able to handle a lot of situations and even the best drivers can benefit from help when things go suddenly bad.

Anyway, lots of performance cars from companies other than Ford and GM do not have the option to disable the nannies.

Back on the original topic of drive mode differences and especially throttle feel.

My car is a base GT PP so my modes are normal, sport (same as track in drive mode cars), TC off, and Advance Trac off. No tune.

I cannot feel any "throttle response" difference between the modes. I've driven cars in the past with very non linear throttle response (i.e. the pedal ratio opens the throttle blades much quicker at first to make the car feel more powerful than it really is) so I have a decent idea what to look for.

The service manual provides no details and the marketing hype could simply be describing very small calibration changes, at least in the PP cars.

Confused

 

[texasboy21]

Actually it is the "law"because the vast majority of US drivers, including performance car drivers, don't have the driving skills and/or the attention span to be able to handle a lot of situations and even the best drivers can benefit from help when things go suddenly bad.

Anyway, lots of performance cars from companies other than Ford and GM do not have the option to disable the nannies.

Back on the original topic of drive mode differences and especially throttle feel.

My car is a base GT PP so my modes are normal, sport (same as track in drive mode cars), TC off, and Advance Trac off. No tune.

I cannot feel any "throttle response" difference between the modes. I've driven cars in the past with very non linear throttle response (i.e. the pedal ratio opens the throttle blades much quicker at first to make the car feel more powerful than it really is) so I have a decent idea what to look for.

The service manual provides no details and the marketing hype could simply be describing very small calibration changes, at least in the PP cars.

Confused

The throttle mapping is very much changed on the premium package drive modes.

With your foot on the gas cruising at a set speed, switching into sport+ will actually cause the car to accelerate (with no change of foot position on the throttle).

I personally doubt the non-premium cars drive modes are the same as the premium pack - based on the forum member's descriptions.

 

[ivantwilliams]

Clearly I'm not thinking 'logically'...

 

[texasboy21]

Clearly I'm not thinking 'logically'...

You have to remember, majority of people are idiots and when given a Mustang with all the nannies off (in track mode for example) they WILL crash.

 

[ivantwilliams]

...touche'

You have to remember, majority of people are idiots and when given a Mustang with all the nannies off (in track mode for example) they WILL crash.

 

[Rdot9]

Once you switch to the other modes (Sport+, Track and Wet/Snow) there will be something that indicates what mode you are in the opposite side of the odometer. S+ = Sport... Racing Helmet = Track and The Snowflake/Rain Drops is... you guessed it, snow/wet mode.

I don't think this is the case for steering modes though. You can change from normal to sport and it will initially show what mode you're in, but won't continue to display on the screen after.

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