Do we NEED goat modes?

[Raptor911]

Funny, in all these ride along videos, the feedback from the pro drivers and passengers alike is that the goat modes are not a gimmick.

Also, just because one does not use them does not mean they are a gimmick. I rarely use my parking brake BUT it is there should I ever need it. Would we consider the parking brake a gimmick?

I’ve never been one to use drive modes but in more modern cars they can make a significant impact on handling and throttle response. The Bronco has lockers at it’s disposal so they threw everything in to the mixer. What came out the other side was a tool that’s both useful AND a gimmick.

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[VelocityBrew]

Of course not. They are a gimmick. I hate traction and stability control and couldn't care less what the goat modes are doing. I don't even care about abs. Let me turn all the nannies off myself, and everything else such as throttle response and shift points could be taken care of with a Sport button.

There is always one ...

 

[Panaran]

This was in a recent post; you can get most of the features out of a couple of the modes.

This is the first time I'm seeing the open and closed option for the Exhaust. What does that mean? Is there a valve or something that opens up the exhaust a bit in those modes?

 

[Raptor911]

As mentioned before the table is NOT official. I believe it was made by a forum member?

The Bronco does not have a valved exhaust. Can you imagine if it did? All the old school guys (you know ... the ones that want the white top) would call it a GIMMICK.

This is the first time I'm seeing the open and closed option for the Exhaust. What does that mean? Is there a valve or something that opens up the exhaust a bit in those modes?

 

[Bituman]

From Silver-bolt:
“You will not like that on the street. Baja and Sport are not the same. My Raptor has both Baja and Sport. Assuming that the Bronco's modes are similarly programmed the two modes are quite different.”

From Cheshire:
“Baja is essentially Sport mode for Badlands & First Edition. If you want a sporty drive on the road, put into Baja and select 2H. Obviously, you do NOT want 4H on the highway.”

These two posts seem to say the opposite of each other. I guess there are two questions. 1. Will the “GOAT programming” allow Baja and 2H to be selected simultaneously? 2. If the answer to #1 is yes, then will things like throttle response, shift points, steering, etc. when in Baja/2H be identical to Sport mode?

For now, I have ordered Wildtrak because it has Sport mode while Badlands does not. If I can gain Sport mode as described by Cheshire, I may consider changing to Badlands over Wildtrak. By the way, I do very clearly understand he mechanics of why 4H is not proper when on pavement so that’s not part of what I am asking. To me this is not a mechanical issue but more of a programming issue. I’m fairly proficient at the mechanical part, but not so much the programming part, which I why I’m bringing this up.

Can someone definitively answer/explain this?

Bob

 

[Raptor911]

I agree with #Silver-Bolt. I too have a Raptor and Baja and Sport are not the same.

But to answer your question .. no one can give you an answer except Ford engineers.

BTW .. this is purely a guess:

From Cheshire:
“Baja is essentially Sport mode for Badlands & First Edition. If you want a sporty drive on the road, put into Baja and select 2H. Obviously, you do NOT want 4H on the highway.”

He is not accounting for ECU calibrations to the engine and trans.

From Silver-bolt:
“You will not like that on the street. Baja and Sport are not the same. My Raptor has both Baja and Sport. Assuming that the Bronco's modes are similarly programmed the two modes are quite different.”

From Cheshire:
“Baja is essentially Sport mode for Badlands & First Edition. If you want a sporty drive on the road, put into Baja and select 2H. Obviously, you do NOT want 4H on the highway.”

These two posts seem to say the opposite of each other. I guess there are two questions. 1. Will the “GOAT programming” allow Baja and 2H to be selected simultaneously? 2. If the answer to #1 is yes, then will things like throttle response, shift points, steering, etc. when in Baja/2H be identical to Sport mode?

For now, I have ordered Wildtrak because it has Sport mode while Badlands does not. If I can gain Sport mode as described by Cheshire, I may consider changing to Badlands over Wildtrak. By the way, I do very clearly understand he mechanics of why 4H is not proper when on pavement so that’s not part of what I am asking. To me this is not a mechanical issue but more of a programming issue. I’m fairly proficient at the mechanical part, but not so much the programming part, which I why I’m bringing this up.

Can someone definitively answer/explain this?

Bob

 

[ZackDanger]

Here you go, here's some actual GOAT information from Ford. (Not the early speculation one).

 

[HBTFD]

For now nothing, but you can assume at some point the bronco will get "active" exhaust like the mustang and new raptor.

Meaning you will have "quiet" mode, and then some combo of other modes making the exhaust louder. It's just a diverter flap in the muffler.

If I wanted 2.3 liters of unmuffled exhaust I’d join the nopi forum.

 

[AcesandEights]

I’m very excited for the goat modes on the bronco. As we know not every bronco has the same amount of goat modes. My question is that even if a bronco doesn’t have “mud ruts” can a few buttons (like 4h, crawler gear etc.) be pressed and it’s basically the same thing? (I hope I explained this right hopefully y’all get it)

The title of the thread is different than the question in the original post.

To answer the thread title question; no, the GOAT modes are mostly a gimmick. The GOAT modes are a marketing tool, the same as they are in the competitor's vehicles.

To answer the question in the original post; yes, you can fiddle with buttons, modulate the brakes and accelerator, and accomplish the same thing.

You will make it through the "muck" based on driving skill, not GOAT modes. If you're a crappy off road driver, GOAT modes will be a crutch, but they won't teach you to walk, let alone run.

 

[RiverRat001]

Funny, in all these ride along videos, the feedback from the pro drivers and passengers alike is that the goat modes are not a gimmick.

Also, just because one does not use them does not mean they are a gimmick. I rarely use my parking brake BUT it is there should I ever need it. Would we consider the parking brake a gimmick?

I wasn’t saying it’s a gimmick because I wouldn’t use them. I said I don’t use drive modes in my current vehicles because putting a 2014 Fusion in sport mode doesn’t do a whole lot, or a minivan in eco mode lol. I was actually saying the opposite, that because of the significant differences these goat modes make in handling and throttle response make them a genuine tool.

To me, the gimmick comes in with the lockers. I guess I’m a control freak and want to complete control over when I’m in 4L and when the lockers are on and off. They may help a novice have an appropriate setup for going into some mud or sand. But what happens when they drive off the beach onto the road with both diffs locked because they forgot to take it out of Sand mode?

Knowing when to turn them on forces me to be conscious of when I need to turn them off.

 

[vrtical]

I wasn’t saying it’s a gimmick because I wouldn’t use them. I said I don’t use drive modes in my current vehicles because putting a 2014 Fusion in sport mode doesn’t do a whole lot, or a minivan in eco mode lol. I was actually saying the opposite, that because of the significant differences these goat modes make in handling and throttle response make them a genuine tool.

To me, the gimmick comes in with the lockers. I guess I’m a control freak and want to complete control over when I’m in 4L and when the lockers are on and off. They may help a novice have an appropriate setup for going into some mud or sand. But what happens when they drive off the beach onto the road with both diffs locked because they forgot to take it out of Sand mode?

Knowing when to turn them on forces me to be conscious of when I need to turn them off.

I had part of that conversation when we were out on the trails, to me the modes help not having to worry all the time on what is actually turned off / on. In most of the modes you can turn things on / off, but its nice to have the ability to "reset" the vehicle.

 

[RiverRat001]

I had part of that conversation when we were out on the trails, to me the modes help not having to worry all the time on what is actually turned off / on. In most of the modes you can turn things on / off, but its nice to have the ability to "reset" the vehicle.

True, I hadn’t thought about it like that. Being able to reset back to normal is a great feature. I guess we’ll see how it pans out, hopefully there win’t be headlines of a bunch of broncos broken down just after they leave beaches and trailheads lol

 

[Cheshire]

So for a base, how do you duplicate Mud/Ruts? It says it adjusts the throttle. Just confused.

• For a Base in mud, put into 4H. You need power and all wheels grabbing.
• Probably keep in normal mode for normal throttle. One might argue for Sport mode for more throttle response if you're really bogged down in the mud.
• Lastly, use the front and rear lockers if you Base is Squatched.

Remember, GOAT modes don't really mean sh_t. Available tools that matter are:

• 2H, 4H, 4L
• front & rear lockers
• ground clearance and tires

 

[NotaVegetarian]

I do, full on paws on the ground, this Bronco is supposed to go anywhere. Let’s go everywhere off road

 

[TJconvert2.7]

Do we NEED pants?

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