Biggest frustration… track mode!

[jml]

Hi,

I have a Mustang GT 24+, EU spec (performance + premium pack) with magnaride suspension.

I was deciding btw a Mustang and a BMW 440i, and definitely don’t regret my choice, the Mustang is a GREAT car!

I do have one major frustration. Where I live the highways are rather curvy, so suspension is key. In my experience, the track mode handles this beautifully: the car is glued to the road, amazing and not any worse than the BMW.
However! I track mode traction control seems to be OFF, and the ESC in “mild” mode. This puts me in the situation of choosing between having a nice handling car and a potentially less safe one. In public roads this is not a trade off I’m willing to make so I end up driving it in sport mode, frustrated because I know the car can do much better.
2 questions:
- Why does Ford puts us in this situation to have to choose between driving pleasure and security features? Doesn’t seem a trade off a car company should want its clients to do (the Mustang already has enough wild stories polluting its image);
- Has anyone found a solution for this that does not involve significant suspension upgrades?

Thanks and here is a pic of my car

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[NegativeMultiplier]

Did a little research on this to answer the question.

According to the owner's manual, when in track mode TC and ESC are reduced. So they're still active, but are less likely to intervene unless the car gets really bent out of shape.

The BMWs do the exact same thing, though to my understanding you have more freedom of choice in whether TC and ESC are actually enabled or not in track mode.

Where the Mustang is concerned, the throttle mapping is actually less aggressive in track mode than it is in sport, so even with TC off you'd need a pretty heavy foot or hit an unusually slick patch of road to break traction.

Personally, I think as long as you don't do something stupid (like using too much throttle on corner exit or slamming the brakes when the rear gets loose, or driving in track mode when it's wet outside), you'll be fine. Even the Dark Horse with the handling pack drives surprisingly well in torrential rain as long as you respect it and use the correct settings.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Yes, the throttle mapping in track mode is linier so you have consistent and predictable acceleration coming in and out of corners.

The TC is reduced on purpose so you can push the car harder in the turns without the nannies taking over and slowing you down.

 

[keithwalton]

Set a custom drive mode, it's exactly what they exist for customising the settings to how you want. You pick a base mode then tweak steering / traction etc.

Track mode throttle feels sluggish compared to other modes, i was expecting more engine braking and a snappier feel but instead you get 'wet and slippery' mode for the track

 

[NegativeMultiplier]

Set a custom drive mode, it's exactly what they exist for customising the settings to how you want. You pick a base mode then tweak steering / traction etc.

Track mode throttle feels sluggish compared to other modes, i was expecting more engine braking and a snappier feel but instead you get 'wet and slippery' mode for the track

Last I remember, you cannot enable traction control when you set the base mode to track. I could be wrong though, as it's been a long time since I last tried it.

The throttle in track mode feels sluggish because it's more linear, as mentioned earlier, than sport mode. Think of it as a straight 1:1 graph where what you input is what happens, whereas in sport mode it's more of a "half-umbrella" shape, with a more aggressive curve at the beginning that eventually levels off the closer you get to full power.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

Set a custom drive mode, it's exactly what they exist for customising the settings to how you want. You pick a base mode then tweak steering / traction etc.

Track mode throttle feels sluggish compared to other modes, i was expecting more engine braking and a snappier feel but instead you get 'wet and slippery' mode for the track

Costum drive mode doesnt give you the option to make a real costum drive mode.
There are some limitations depending on which drive mode you choose.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Set a custom drive mode, it's exactly what they exist for customising the settings to how you want. You pick a base mode then tweak steering / traction etc.

Track mode throttle feels sluggish compared to other modes, i was expecting more engine braking and a snappier feel but instead you get 'wet and slippery' mode for the track

Many people conflate track mode with snappier feel. That's not what you want in the twisties or on actual track. You don't want unpredictable trottle input going in or out of a turn.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

The throttle in track mode feels sluggish because it's more linear, as mentioned earlier, than sport mode. Think of it as a straight 1:1 graph where what you input is what happens, whereas in sport mode it's more of a "half-umbrella" shape, with a more aggressive curve at the beginning that eventually levels off the closer you get to full power.

Very well explained.

 

[jml]

Hi,
As some explained, the stiffer / better handling suspension setting is only available in track mode.
Ie, If you want this stiffer suspension setting you HAVE TO select track mode (or a custom mode based on the track mode).
However, once you do that, both in track or in a custom mode based on track, you get “stuck” with the constraints of Track mode: limited security support and a linear throttle.
I just can’t understand why Ford puts these limitations: why not allow, eg, the stiffer suspension settings of the track mode also be used in other modes? What if some of us get into an accident because we are using Track mode in the highway? And we’re not supposed to use track mode in public roads? As if a stiffer suspension would only be necessary in the track?

Ford did the most difficult thing which is to create a great car with a great range of suspension settings. Why not allow us to use all of them? And make the car more attractive to potential buyers who may be looking to BMWs (that are still selling like hot cakes…).
I’m struggling to find the sense in this, but maybe I’m missing something.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Hi,
As some explained, the stiffer / better handling suspension setting is only available in track mode.
Ie, If you want this stiffer suspension setting you HAVE TO select track mode (or a custom mode based on the track mode).
However, once you do that, both in track or in a custom mode based on track, you get “stuck” with the constraints of Track mode: limited security support and a linear throttle.
I just can’t understand why Ford puts these limitations: why not allow, eg, the stiffer suspension settings of the track mode also be used in other modes? What if some of us get into an accident because we are using Track mode in the highway? And we’re not supposed to use track mode in public roads? As if a stiffer suspension would only be necessary in the track?

Ford did the most difficult thing which is to create a great car with a great range of suspension settings. Why not allow us to use all of them? And make the car more attractive to potential buyers who may be looking to BMWs (that are still selling like hot cakes…).
I’m struggling to find the sense in this, but maybe I’m missing something.

This has been a much lamented topic in the 6G forums as well. The only Mustang (to my knowledge) to have magnaride suspension settings independent of the drive mode was the GT350 (not sure about the GT500). Even the Mach 1 and DH cars don't have this. I guess Ford wants to keep that exclusively only to the Shelbys. Having come from a M1, this was one of the reasons I didn't feel the need to get Magride again.

 

[LouG]

FWIW. I turn off the nannies in dry conditions, I prefer the feel of the car like that.
Once upon a time, traction control, stability control and ABS were all operator features and you could move them from car to car.

 

[young at heart]

FWIW. I turn off the nannies in dry conditions, I prefer the feel of the car like that.
Once upon a time, traction control, stability control and ABS were all operator features and you could move them from car to car.

Me too, but mine only get out in dry conditions anyway so there’s that.

I’m admittedly old school but with the exception of air bags I cannot abide nannies, especially those passively imposed. I just can’t see owning a car that I’d be concerned about driving full tilt without artificial intervention. I guess it’s just how us older guys grew up but I’m not sure how else you learn the car.

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