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I love Sport mode for around-town driving. Turns my 3.31-geared 5.0 into a 3.73-geared 5.0. However, I'd never use it to go over say 55-60 mph, or to cruise along on even a secondary highway. In those driving conditions I want to be in normal mode and in 6th gear where I'm getting crazy good mpgs (for a 5,000 lb vehicle with all the aerodynamics of a cinder block). For stop-and-go in-town driving with lots of lights, heavier traffic, and while climbing hills it certainly has its purpose...
I love Sport mode for around-town driving. Turns my 3.31-geared 5.0 into a 3.73-geared 5.0. However, I'd never use it to go over say 55-60 mph, or to cruise along on even a secondary highway. In those driving conditions I want to be in normal mode and in 6th gear where I'm getting crazy good mpgs (for a 5,000 lb vehicle with all the aerodynamics of a cinder block). For stop-and-go in-town driving with lots of lights, heavier traffic, and while climbing hills it certainly has its purpose...
Well said. My sentiments exactly. And it seems to be much more effective on the taller/higher geared trucks than those with 3.55's or, probably, 3.73's. The 3.31 gears on the loaner I had this week responded better to Sport than mine with 3.55's.
Has anyone done any extensive comparison of Tow Mode versus Sport Mode, and exactly how they differ? I've been using Tow Mode for going up the mountain (which I do almost daily), and it makes an immense difference in drive-ability; especially going through a steep, slow corner.
But I don't completely grock the technical differences between the two modes.
One more thing... I find the positioning and function of the transmission mode switch extremely awkward. What I thought would work better was
(1) changing it from a push button switch to a rocker switch (tow - normal - sport)
(2) putting it in a recess on the right side of the shift ****
The first change would mean you wouldn't have to cycle through the three modes to get to the one you wanted. You could go more or less directly to what you want.
The second change would make it far easier to reach. With my long arms, I really have to contort to reach/operate the switch in its current position.
I like the rocker or rotary switch idea. Then it would stay in that mode until you change it. We are going on a 2200 mile jaunt with many stops, but will have the trailer attached at all times. However, I'll have to remember to put the tranny in Tow/Haul each time!
I like the rocker or rotary switch idea. Then it would stay in that mode until you change it. We are going on a 2200 mile jaunt with many stops, but will have the trailer attached at all times. However, I'll have to remember to put the tranny in Tow/Haul each time!
Agreed. And if you had the 2.7 you'd have to disable the auto start/stop as well (if you chose to do so). Vehicles can remember multiple seat settings, why not transmission and engine settings?
I use it once a week or so, typically during my commute. One thing I think Ford has always struggled with is throttle feel. Personally, I think it's too "disconnected" and I have to give it too much throttle for the proportionate level of acceleration. I think part of this is the way I drive. I'm typically light on the throttle, so the learned behavior is I don't want to go fast. But I've driven other OEMs and they "wake up" much sooner. Sport mode puts all that crap on the shelf.
I have a 3.55 rear and it's awesome. It works great, even on the freeway. Yes, it holds gears longer...but that's the point. I can walk out of work after a very bad day and Sport mode clears that up every time.
We did errands today, you know, costco, target, and sprouts.
I used sport mode. The wife was like what did you do??
Did you buy a tuner or something?? I just laughed. I showed her the button.
Even she said it felt totally different. When the wife notices downshifts? That's a pretty cool option in the truck.
Oh yeah. I tried sport mode coming up the mountain this morning. Now I understand. Bumps the gear down (generally) one more than tow mode. In normal mode the RPMs were always around 1100. Going to tow mode, the RPM goes up to ~~ 1500. Then doing sport mode. the RPM goes up to ~~ 2000.
So the way I read the different transmission modes is normal=fast, tow=faster, sport=fastest. Completely different truck coming up in sport mode.
To be clear, Sport does a lot more than just bump things down a gear. The shift mapping is changed, the shift firmness is increased, and the throttle mapping is significant less granny-esque.
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