Question re: drive modes on automatic

[Arthonon]

From 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 vehicle dynamics or stability system.

• Sport + – Best suited for spirited driving. This mode increases throttle response, and if your vehicle is equipped with active exhaust, it takes on a more powerful tone. If your vehicle is equipped with adaptive dampers, the suspension becomes stiffer. This mode has less body motion and more precise steering. Selectable steering defaults to Sport but can be changed using the steering button.

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[Remander]

Normal, Track, and Snow/Wet modes seem fairly self-explanatory... my question is:

What's the difference between just putting the shifter on "S" (i.e., regular Sport mode), switching the toggle to Sport+ with the shifter on "D," and switching the toggle to Sport+ with the shifter on "S"?

I honestly can't tell the difference between any of them, and I've played with each extensively. They all seem to have much more aggressive throttle response than D/Normal mode, and they rev/engine brake a ton in city driving... but they feel exactly the same to me.

Any help would be appreciated! I did search the forums but couldn't find an exact answer.

Shifting to S just puts the transmission into Sport. The Sport+ toggle will do that plus change the steering to Sport, as well as the suspension on Magneride-equipped Mustangs and the exhaust on those with active exhaust.

Shifting into S is really for when you're in Normal mode and want better throttle response. For instance, I have MyMode set up for long highway trips. It's set to Normal mode with Sport Steering and exhaust, and I drive it in S. That basically gives me the Sport+ settings with the Normal ride.

If you don't have Magneride or active exhaust, the only difference between driving in S and Sport+ mode is the steering. Paddle shifters can be activated in any mode.

 

[Remander]

So, I was just out driving. One addition to my prior post. If you activate the paddle shifters in D, regardless of drive mode, they will deactivate a short period after the last input, so if you use them in D, you'll have to keep using them to prevent unintended upshifts. If you activate them in S, they will be locked in until you shift into D. So, if you really want to control the gears, drive in S, no matter which mode you're in.

 

[Remander]

From the A10 upshift thread. Didn't know this myself. Can revert to auto while using paddles in S, if you hold a paddle for a second or so. Helps to read the manual, I guess!

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