Neutered by stability control (Ecoboost only?)

[Will2]

I've "thoroughly driven" 4 different 2024 Mustang Ecoboosts (without High Performance Package) and found them very hamstrung by stability control. I've tried every permutation of drive modes with/without holding down the ESC button until it shows AdvanceTrac off (Track mode allows more slip angle, but still barely any). I've tried the old S550 trick of disconnecting the connector on the driver's side of the engine bay which supposedly "fully disables" ESC/ABS for track/dyno purposes (made no difference).

I know Ford wants to avoid lawsuits, but I'm disappointed at how neutered these cars feel. They're clearly holding back throttle when it detects any significant amount of steering/slip angle. I feel it most when pulling out of turns on a twisty mountain road, or even when turning 90° at a regular intersection. It's even more apparent if you try to do actual donuts. The car doesn't allow you to use its full power and capability. What's the point of even having an LSD if the car never lets you engage it?

Is this just an Ecoboost thing? Just a non-Performance Pack thing?

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[Sf22giants]

I don't know if the Ecoboosts have the option for drifting like the DH and optioned GTs do. If the Ecoboosts do have the drift option, once you enable drift mode via the Sync 4 menu, you can slide around as much as you want; no traction control to help. Ford Performance Racing School taught me how to use the drift brake and what is required to "enable" it from the menu.

Otherwise yes, Ford has implemented torque modulation in the 2024s that you cannot completely disable, regardless of driving mode.

Until the 2024s are tunable, the advanced trac is something we just have to deal with.

 

[24BlueStang]

I honestly never had that problem with my base model EB. Don’t matter if in regular sport mode with TC on or in drag mode with everything off, I can turn hard corner and be sideways very quickly. Done that by accident one day in the middle of the city turning out across a 4 lane with a turn lane in the middle. Got tired of waiting on traffic to clear enough to pull out slowly and I gunned it and took a hard turn at the same time and bam completely sideways in the center turn lane. That was in sport mode with everything on. So I’m not sure what problem you’re having

 

[Radiant]

I don't know if the Ecoboosts have the option for drifting like the DH and optioned GTs do.

Yes, but only with the Performance Package. The 2025+ Ecoboosts don't have the option from Ford, as all future performance EBs will be from RTR.

I suspect S650 rental-spec EBs can't go into full "TC off" drift mode because the computer won't allow it unless it's been equipped with the Brembo torque vectoring modules.

 

[erocker]

Seems like there's an issue with the car to me. I've driven several ecoboosts and didn't have this issue.

 

[UniqueDoug]

I've driven my base ecoboost pretty aggressively from the get go, including some good mountain twisties, and haven't noticed any annoying interventions. Maybe I'm not wild enough.

 

[AdrenalDestruction]

Same but different…
GT base with Whipple-
It sometimes feels a though there is no boost or timing is being pulled (excessively). No apparent/appreciable clutch or wheel slip noted, temperatures within reasonable limits, and presents with or without TC enabled. I have not tried with VSC fully disabled and also deal with an extreme heat climate but would describe my intermittent experience as similar to yours.

Haven’t had much time to drive this thing, so maybe with time we’ll better acquaint and this will prove to be entirely user error but..TBD. My $0.02.

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