Drive modes

[mizer67]

My impressions, never having driven a tuned '15, but having driven all the "modes" is that: tuned>track>sport+>normal>wet/snow in terms of the aggressiveness of the throttle mapping, although I'm sure your tuner could tune the throttle mapping however you'd like it for a custom tune. There are a few other options I looked into as well that trick the ECU into a more aggressive mapping that are stand alone ~$275 options I recall.

I personally think the stock map in normal mode for the throttle is terrible and makes the car feel slower to respond than it should/less powerful. Track or sport plus improves this to a degree (but it's still not great). I don't like driving around in those modes though as they don't drop the revs completely when you're done fooling around like with other automakers (BMW, for instance) i.e. you're up to slightly extra legal speed on the highway, they keep the revs higher.

However, I really like some of the premium features. The head unit is much nicer looking and has better features. The base version looks like a last generation unit and dates the car to my eyes. Appearance wise the rear bumper/valence is more attractive, given the black accent at least with lighter colored cars and the toggle switches are kind of nice. Probably not enough to drop the coin for me, but they do make the cabin really is a nicer place to be and the exterior (rear) looks a bit better to my eyes.

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[WeinerDog]

I think you can change the settings anytime you want not just the start up.
Yes I have a sport mode and sport plus on the automatic version.
But I think you can always select sport mode and then change the steering mode back to comfort. I just prefer normal.

Yes, of course. What I was getting at is it RESETS when you turn the car off. I do a lot of short trips around town, may stop several times in just a few minutes. Getting a little tired of four clicks on the toggles every time I get in the car...

I'll have to do some research and see if a tune can overcome some of this behavior. The car's, not mine.

 

[ManBearPig]

Do we really know that throttle map is any different in the premium modes? Or is that just speculation? I was always under the impression the different modes were just combinations of traction control, stability control, and steering feel.

 

[Tony Alonso]

Do we really know that throttle map is any different in the premium modes? Or is that just speculation? I was always under the impression the different modes were just combinations of traction control, stability control, and steering feel.

Go to the Wiki and find the 2015 dealer sourcebook, which describes the drive modes. Yes, the modes affect throttle sensitivity.

 

[ManBearPig]

Go to the Wiki and find the 2015 dealer sourcebook, which describes the drive modes. Yes, the modes affect throttle sensitivity.

If that is the case (not challenging you, I'm just curious), which of the "modes" throttle map is equivalent to the base throttle map?

 

[Tony Alonso]

If that is the case (not challenging you, I'm just curious), which of the "modes" throttle map is equivalent to the base throttle map?

It's fine to challenge me, as I sure could be wrong :-) I've read other threads that discuss this. I don't recall a definite conclusion, but some have said that they experience something that approaches the Sport mode as what you would find in a non-Premium model standard for throttle sensitivity.

I've driven a base manual GT and compared to my Premium GT in Sport, and the acceleration feel seems to me. I notice it in the 1500-3500 rpm range. Above that, they are similar to me.

 

[kz]

Do we really know that throttle map is any different in the premium modes? Or is that just speculation? I was always under the impression the different modes were just combinations of traction control, stability control, and steering feel.

Very obviously so. It takes about 30 seconds of driving in each of the modes to really know they're different. I ended up driving in Track Mode all the time just purely because of this.

Which map is the default map on the Base is an interesting question I wasn't able to find answer to. I would think it would be Track (would suck if it wasn't) but really don't know. On WOT they're all the same btw, I once did autocross course in Normal mode and all Stability / TC on because I forgot to flip the switch (I had a slight feeling that rev limiter was lower rpm in Normal though - can't verify it as I've done it only once and haven't exactly had time to look at the tach)

 

[GTP]

Originally Posted by jasonstang
Just keep steering mode in normal and put the gear selector in sport and turn down the traction control.
The modes are like shortcuts.
But why are you using sport or track when you have steering in comfort?

Because I like the throttle response in Sport/Track mode at all times but prefer comfort steering for around town.

It sounds like you have an AT, maybe it works differently for those?

I can understand why Ford makes you select Sport and Track driving modes at startup but I just wish you could set the steering mode and it would stay until you changed it again.

I just happened to see in the owner's manual that if you put the gear lever (AT) in Sport, then throttle map is Sport, and so is steering map. So it seems as though you can't easily (or initially) start out in Sport for the engine/traction, and Comfort for the steering. You'd still have to cycle through the steering modes with the toggle switch to get back to Comfort.

 

[fionic]

throttle response (most likely throttle mapping, not an Ecu retune) is definitely different between settings

.

 

[jasonstang]

I just happened to see in the owner's manual that if you put the gear lever (AT) in Sport, then throttle map is Sport, and so is steering map. So it seems as though you can't easily (or initially) start out in Sport for the engine/traction, and Comfort for the steering. You'd still have to cycle through the steering modes with the toggle switch to get back to Comfort.

This is what it says in the manual:

Sport – Engages when you shift your
automatic transmission into sport (S).
Sport mode increases throttle
response and helps your vehicle
accelerate faster, but does not change
the feel of the steering or stability
system.

Sport+ – Provides a sportier steering
feel and throttle response. Sport+
mode is ideal for use during more
spirited driving.

 

[GTP]

Right, I think I remembered it wrong. In Sport (gear lever), the throttle response changes, but not the steering, so it would remain in Normal. When the toggle is changed to Sport+, THEN the steering changes to Sport.

But to change steering to Comfort, one would have to use the toggle. Every time.

Is this correct now?

 

[jasonstang]

Right, I think I remembered it wrong. In Sport (gear lever), the throttle response changes, but not the steering, so it would remain in Normal. When the toggle is changed to Sport+, THEN the steering changes to Sport.

But to change steering to Comfort, one would have to use the toggle. Every time.

Is this correct now?

I don't think so. Unless you unplug battery it should stay in whatever you set it to last time.

 

[GTP]

I don't think so. Unless you unplug battery it should stay in whatever you set it to last time.

WeinerDog in post #43 claims that the steering always starts out in Normal, and so he has to toggle it to Comfort.

 

[ManBearPig]

Is it just me, or is the whole "drive mode" thing kind of dumb? Just give me a throttle cable connected directly to the throttle body....I'll control "throttle response" with my foot.


I realize those days are gone but things seemed simpler only a few years ago...

 

[PhillMcKraken]

WeinerDog in post #43 claims that the steering always starts out in Normal, and so he has to toggle it to Comfort.

Mine remembers steering mode. It's the other toggle that resets to normal every time.

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