SPORT MODE SUCKS

[Velocity Raptor]

Someone may have already said this but I find when Sport Mode is just a bit much an Normal finds me going 45 in 10th gear, I press the Tow/Haul button. I find the shifts a bit more comfortable yet held for a bit longer. It does not skip gears and it downshifts a bit better. Works for me.

 

[mezger]

Normal mode = castration mode. 'Sport mode' should be called 'track mode'. There should be something else in between which has the better shift points & throttle response of 'sport mode' but which quickly stands down upon removing near WOT inputs instead of hanging around for 30 seconds at >4kRPM.

A friend of mine got his '17 reprogrammed at my advice and is now raving about sport mode. He used to drive 100% in normal mode. He said he had to have a couple things reprogrammed (I will check what they were later), and the second iteration was night and day for his truck.

I don't think it's 100% hardware related, but the 8 speed ZFs I've driven somehow manage to shift firm without feeling like something is going to be broken and/or are at least consistent in their shift harshness. I'm ok with hard shifts, but the fact that this transmission's harshness appears to be gear dependent (shifting to 5th?), temperature dependent, and otherwise somewhat randomized is annoying.

I'm going to try out what he did at some point in the next couple months and will report back with the results.

FWIW, I drive in sport mode ~24x7 when on the street, but I usually use manual mode because I don't like it hanging at very high RPM long after I'm done pointing and shooting. However, as stated before, the lag between command and actual shift is also very annoying. Except for some rock crawling scenarios, as with most vehicles, I'd really like to see a DCT in this truck.

 

[pbtjrlmrt]

Each mode is perfect for it's intended purpose. I enjoy sport mode on road when being aggressive when no traffic is around...or for the random GMC or Chevy that wants to try me at a stop light...LOL I have the truck tuned but tend to use the stock tune on normal mode for daily driving...going to the sand dunes or other off road area is a different story. You'll love sport mode if used as intended.

 

[FordPerf Addict]

Sport mode does exactly what it’s supposed to, harder shifts and holding higher rpm, also stiffer shocks


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[sixshooter_45]

I usually drive in normal mode which usually shifts smoothly in Auto but in manual mode it hard shifts from 4th to 5th depending on the rpm range which isn't really high during the shift it's just at certain rpms that it shifts harder than any other gear shift.

I use sport mode when traffic is light and I want to get on it and have some fun.

If I really want smoother shifting I'll use wet/slippery mode although I usually only use this when it's wet.

 

[Booth9999]

I think the truck does much better after it get used to your habits. Just stick with it for a while. Also maybe try manual mode and shift it your self, I have been having fun with it.

 

[MikeJones603]

Normal mode = castration mode. 'Sport mode' should be called 'track mode'. There should be something else in between which has the better shift points & throttle response of 'sport mode' but which quickly stands down upon removing near WOT inputs instead of hanging around for 30 seconds at >4kRPM.

A friend of mine got his '17 reprogrammed at my advice and is now raving about sport mode. He used to drive 100% in normal mode. He said he had to have a couple things reprogrammed (I will check what they were later), and the second iteration was night and day for his truck.

I don't think it's 100% hardware related, but the 8 speed ZFs I've driven somehow manage to shift firm without feeling like something is going to be broken and/or are at least consistent in their shift harshness. I'm ok with hard shifts, but the fact that this transmission's harshness appears to be gear dependent (shifting to 5th?), temperature dependent, and otherwise somewhat randomized is annoying.

I'm going to try out what he did at some point in the next couple months and will report back with the results.

FWIW, I drive in sport mode ~24x7 when on the street, but I usually use manual mode because I don't like it hanging at very high RPM long after I'm done pointing and shooting. However, as stated before, the lag between command and actual shift is also very annoying. Except for some rock crawling scenarios, as with most vehicles, I'd really like to see a DCT in this truck.

Thanks for this information. Looking forward to hearing more about the reprogram.

 

[Raptor911]

You have to ask yourself how much Ford spent on developing the 10-speed trans. I know they split the cost with GM but it seems a few manufacturers are using the 8 speed ZF. Hell BMW is dropping their DCT and using it on their cars.

I imagine the Raptor with the 8 speed ZF would be a beast.

Normal mode = castration mode. 'Sport mode' should be called 'track mode'. There should be something else in between which has the better shift points & throttle response of 'sport mode' but which quickly stands down upon removing near WOT inputs instead of hanging around for 30 seconds at >4kRPM.

A friend of mine got his '17 reprogrammed at my advice and is now raving about sport mode. He used to drive 100% in normal mode. He said he had to have a couple things reprogrammed (I will check what they were later), and the second iteration was night and day for his truck.

I don't think it's 100% hardware related, but the 8 speed ZFs I've driven somehow manage to shift firm without feeling like something is going to be broken and/or are at least consistent in their shift harshness. I'm ok with hard shifts, but the fact that this transmission's harshness appears to be gear dependent (shifting to 5th?), temperature dependent, and otherwise somewhat randomized is annoying.

I'm going to try out what he did at some point in the next couple months and will report back with the results.

FWIW, I drive in sport mode ~24x7 when on the street, but I usually use manual mode because I don't like it hanging at very high RPM long after I'm done pointing and shooting. However, as stated before, the lag between command and actual shift is also very annoying. Except for some rock crawling scenarios, as with most vehicles, I'd really like to see a DCT in this truck.

 

[Foraye]

After reading through some of this...I recommend that everyone that can, go to Raptor Assault in Utah, where you'll get to experience each mode in the right environment with instructors...

On dirt, there's no beating Baja Mode and on the street I love Sport Mode. I grew up driving a 5 speed 5.0 foxbody and power-shifting from light to light...this truck doesn't do that. I have yet to have it shift and the back chirps and steps out. If anything it doesn't shift hard enough in Sport Mode.

Its not "bad", just different!

 

[goblues38]

You have to ask yourself how much Ford spent on developing the 10-speed trans. I know they split the cost with GM but it seems a few manufacturers are using the 8 speed ZF. Hell BMW is dropping their DTC and using it on their cars.

I imagine the Raptor with the 8 speed ZF would be a beast.

My Audi SQ5 had the ZF 8 speed. It was nice. decent spacing between gears, and a nice final OD. Manual shifts with padels were as close to manual as one could expect.