Sport Mode, the normal mode of the old days

[TacoJon]

Just got a new F-150 5.0 I dig it but man, the normal mode of the trans sucks. Constantly lugging, numb throttle (until you stab it) and harsh shifting when you drop a gear and RPM's raise. Sport mode seems to address all of those issues. Even if you want to drive conservatively sport mode is way better. I drive an old Ram as my work truck and the default mode (the only mode) is much more in line with the sport mode on the F-150.

It seems around town my MPG is roughly the same as normal mode anyway. On the freeway I am happy stay in normal mode to keep it in the tallest gear possible.

I get it, emissions, fuel economy, yada-yada. Ford is probably pressured to do that. I think sport mode is a way for Ford engineers to still give you that old school driving experience but the caveat is that you have to select the mode every time you get in your truck.

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[Scoobtay]

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[2Lazy2P]

An aggravating aspect of selecting a driving Mode (other than Normal) is it reverting to Normal when starting the truck. I wish Ford would change this with an OTA.

 

[TacoJon]

An aggravating aspect of selecting a driving Mode (other than Normal) is it reverting to Normal when starting the truck. I wish Ford would change this with an OTA.

I'd be willing to bet in some agreement with the EPA the EPA mandates all alternative driving modes that affect emissions (no cylinder deactivation or stop/start in sport mode for example) cannot be set as default.

I am used to turning off auto stop/start each time I start to drive, so no I immediately put it in sport mode routinely. That turns of cylinder deactivation and stop/start. When I hit the open freeway I just go back to normal mode to cruise and lower RPMS.

 

[Dakar09]

And it puts you in 4A (or 4H) automatically because it's for "spirited off-road driving".

I agree above that I wish it would remember the last mode selected when you turn it back on (for me it's Sport in 2H).

I didn't buy the 5.0L for better MPG. I want to have a fun, spirited driver most of the time. None of that gas mileage hoo-ha matters to me. Or I wouldn't have bought a full-sized pickup.

I have heard that a Banks Pedal Monster does wonders for driving dynamics on the 5.0.


And don't get me started on that Auto Sop/Start nonsense....

 

[2Lazy2P]

I'd be willing to bet in some agreement with the EPA the EPA mandates all alternative driving modes that affect emissions (no cylinder deactivation or stop/start in sport mode for example) cannot be set as default.

I am used to turning off auto stop/start each time I start to drive, so no I immediately put it in sport mode routinely. That turns of cylinder deactivation and stop/start. When I hit the open freeway I just go back to normal mode to cruise and lower RPMS.

I do the same when highway driving (which represents @ 10% of total mileage). Fortunately, the only forced delete on my '22 was the Auto Stop/Start. Happy days.

 

[ks54703]

What gearing in your 5.0. 3.31 gearing will not respond as nicely as 3.73.

 

[WVParamurse]

My 24 when I turn it on asks if I want to go back to the previous drive mode.
Also, if you think normal mode is bad, try out ECO mode. ??

 

[jhelrey]

When I first purchased my truck, I had this issue. Once it got used to me, the throttle has gotten much better.

 

[CND Supercrew]

Typically I will chose D normal and lock out till 6th gear for city driving

 

[Old Hat]

Sport feels weird when you are just driving normal. Like "Why isn't it shifting yet, it should be!" The truck keeps up just fine in normal mode.

Also, I believe that other than having to drop down from a slightly higher gear when you floor it in normal vs. sport, the truck responds with the same full throttle horsepower and rpm shift points. That's how it feels to me and it doesn't make sense that it wouldn't be designed this way. Maybe someone has actual documentation that could verify if this is or isn't the case.

EDIT: Oops, I now see this is in regards to specifically the 5.0. Likely that's the issue. The Eco's are never "Constantly lugging with a numb throttle". Sorry.

 

[Rinn69]

The only down side to Sport mode is how long it holds the high revs, but fine other than that.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

Just got a new F-150 5.0 I dig it but man, the normal mode of the trans sucks. Constantly lugging, numb throttle (until you stab it) and harsh shifting when you drop a gear and RPM's raise. Sport mode seems to address all of those issues. Even if you want to drive conservatively sport mode is way better. I drive an old Ram as my work truck and the default mode (the only mode) is much more in line with the sport mode on the F-150.

It seems around town my MPG is roughly the same as normal mode anyway. On the freeway I am happy stay in normal mode to keep it in the tallest gear possible.

I get it, emissions, fuel economy, yada-yada. Ford is probably pressured to do that. I think sport mode is a way for Ford engineers to still give you that old school driving experience but the caveat is that you have to select the mode every time you get in your truck.

no offense, but if you had the 3.5 eco-boost sport mode would not suck! It’s absolutely Dynamite on the twin turbo engine. Downside is awful fuel economy if you use its potential.

 

[Superstock 3740]

Most of the time I select Sport, re position the rear gear to 2WD, the lock out 8-10 on my Platinum 5.0/3.73. There is one irritation spot on my daily drive. After stopping at a streetlight, I make a left turn and start up a nice sized hill. The truck will immediately shift to 3rd gear as I make my turn and head up the hill. If I even touch that throttle the trans will downshift into 2nd gear. This flairs' the hell out of the engine and I must baby everything to get an upshift back into 3rd. And all the engine lugging on downhill grades on cold engine is also an irritation. 3500 RPM coming down grades is nuts and not needed. Sue always looks over at me and ask "what's all the Ricky racer stuff this morning" I try to explain the "truck" is doing it, but she don't believe me.

 

[SeanV313]

I love sport mode in my truck. Besides Eco and Slippery, that is my 3rd most used drive mode.

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