RETROFITTING BAJA/SPORT MODES??

[Shotsy]

Sport is NOT just a 2WD Baja. We know that the Baja mode specifically alters traction control to allow for more slippage in sand (from an engineer at an event and Levine). We believe that Sport is intended for pavement and traction control is tuned appropriately.

I really wish people would stop pointing to that chart as gospel on GOAT modes. It was a guess made by a forum member, and we know that some of it is not accurate. (For example, it lists Baja as completely disabling traction control.)

As to the OP's question, I'll admit I've been wondering if it will be possible to enable Sport mode on a Badlands via Forscan or some other means. As far as we know, there is no mechanical reason BL shouldn't be able to make use of the Sport mode. Even if there is some software limitation only allowing us to have 7 modes, I'm sure many would gladly trade Eco for Sport.

Thinking about this more, I wonder if they only set up Sport mode for use with 32s or 35s, and that's why it's not available on the BL?

Like you, we are all speculating on this, so it's hard to lock anything down until we have confirmation with an actual Bronco in-hand. We can only go by the information we have and extrapolating on other things.

And I'm sure Levine knows all about this..He hasn't steered us in the wrong direction before....

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[Gamecock]

Sport is NOT just a 2WD Baja. We know that the Baja mode specifically alters traction control to allow for more slippage in sand (from an engineer at an event and Levine). We believe that Sport is intended for pavement and traction control is tuned appropriately.

I really wish people would stop pointing to that chart as gospel on GOAT modes. It was a guess made by a forum member, and we know that some of it is not accurate. (For example, it lists Baja as completely disabling traction control.)

As to the OP's question, I'll admit I've been wondering if it will be possible to enable Sport mode on a Badlands via Forscan or some other means. As far as we know, there is no mechanical reason BL shouldn't be able to make use of the Sport mode. Even if there is some software limitation only allowing us to have 7 modes, I'm sure many would gladly trade Eco for Sport.

Thinking about this more, I wonder if they only set up Sport mode for use with 32s or 35s, and that's why it's not available on the BL?

Some good points there....with the best being that someone made up that chart, with their best guesses. I am hopeful that there is some way to get to sport like performance in the Badlands.

 

[Raptor911]

hacking drive modes and a tune to get better performance via more HP are 2 different things

if you are concerned about modes. The good news is you can hack your car and get whatever insane mode you want

there are guys that have tuned their 2.7L to 500hp

 

[BackcountryBirds]

This is the kind of crap that Ford pulls that I just don't understand. You have seven modes why can't one of the badlands modes be for on pavement fun? I get having different trims, but on the highest end trims when folks are willing to pay for it, why not give them everything?

This is the kind of stuff that I bet gets worked out in a year or two and really makes me fine with waiting for the kinks to be worked out before I drop $60k.

How pissed off are you going to be if in year there are all these kinks fixed such as sport mode, 2.7 manual, squatch/manual, winch that doesn't obscure camera, rock rails that attach to frame not body, top options, roof rack that you can actually add and carry a good amount of weight, , power retractable mirrors, power/cooled Marine grade vinyl, etc.

Ford did a lot right, but some of these misses just seem too easy to fix and come across as overlooked items much more so than well thought out sacrifices, so I bet alot of this little stuff gets cleaned up quickly in a year or two and will provide a more refined product.

 

[Axxlrod]

Ford needs to confirm the details of each GOAT mode soon. Like today.

It completely affects which model people will order.

 

[aplm7]

Are the goat modes really that important? Every other 4x4 gets by fine without them. Maybe it's the Baja crowd that cares most about them and I'm just an outsider

 

[Raptor911]

Drive modes are a big deal for Ford. If you don't care about them they don't use them.

BTW ... The TRX has them now and I wonder why.

Are the goat modes really that important? Every other 4x4 gets by fine without them. Maybe it's the Baja crowd that cares most about them and I'm just an outsider

 

[BackcountryBirds]

Are the goat modes really that important? Every other 4x4 gets by fine without them. Maybe it's the Baja crowd that cares most about them and I'm just an outsider

I agree there is a bit of a gimmick to drive modes, but for $40-60k there better be a few gimmicks, tech upgrades and luxuries in the mix. I would love nothing more than a new bare bones off-roader for 20k but that unicorn doesn't exist. If I'm paying for everything to be teched up with computers, sensors and cameras everywhere then don't limit the small stuff like ford is doing.

 

[Gamecock]

Drive modes are a big deal for Ford. If you don't care about them they don't use them.

BTW ... The TRX has them now and I wonder why.

Don't you have to be in one of the drive modes? I don't know, haven't had a Ford recently, but I thought you had to be in one of the 7. That was my concern...driving on the dry street in a Badlands, there is no way to have the exhaust open? That seems crazy, as it would handicap the truck big time in street performance.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

Don't you have to be in one of the drive modes? I don't know, haven't had a Ford recently, but I thought you had to be in one of the 7. That was my concern...driving on the dry street in a Badlands, there is no way to have the exhaust open? That seems crazy, as it would handicap the truck big time in street performance.

The default mode is "Normal". It is selected everytime the vehicle is started. It will not stay in the last mode selected when it is shut down. Every start up will default to normal.

 

[Gamecock]

The default mode is "Normal". It is selected everytime the vehicle is started. It will not stay in the last mode selected when it is shut down. Every start up will default to normal.

That's what I thought, so it has to be in a mode...Normal, granted according to the made up chart, has the exhaust closed. It would be crazy if you had a vehicle and couldn't run it full out with open exhaust on the street. It doesn't look like there would be any way to do it if you didn't have Sport.

 

[Raptor911]

On the Raptor, normal is the default drive mode. I am sure it is the same on the Bronco.

Don't you have to be in one of the drive modes? I don't know, haven't had a Ford recently, but I thought you had to be in one of the 7. That was my concern...driving on the dry street in a Badlands, there is no way to have the exhaust open? That seems crazy, as it would handicap the truck big time in street performance.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

That's what I thought, so it has to be in a mode...Normal, granted according to the made up chart, has the exhaust closed. It would be crazy if you had a vehicle and couldn't run it full out with open exhaust on the street. It doesn't look like there would be any way to do it if you didn't have Sport.

The Bronco has selectable exhaust? The Raptor does not have that. Typically on vehicles with selectable exhaust they are vacuum operated. Normal mode would leave it closed unless you get on it hard. At that point the vacuum overrides the setting and opens it up. In Sport mode the exhaust is fully open all of the time. That is how it works on our Audi and BMW's.

 

[Akinmx]

Has anyone ever gotten any clarification from Ford on this topic at their recent Q&A's? Why no Sport mode for BL and is there a way to program/tune it? Like others I feel it is a huge mistake on Ford's part to not offer a Sport mode on a $55k vehicle that is perfectly capable of running it and most people would use it daily (if they don't care about mpg). This is a no-brainer Ford!!!

Almost as dumb as not offering a MGV interior on ALL models... since this is a vehicle that has a removable top and people will be driving topless all the time in warm months. I had cloth in my TJ Wrangler and like others have said, it soaked up stains and smells and mold and cloth is not an ideal interior for a topless vehicle.

 

[bluesun68]

The "baja" mode in my Raptor is not that useable in my opinion. It keeps the revs really high, but when you're cruising across the desert you really don't need to be at 4k. With the broncos tiny tank, you really don't need that. Changing the throttle map will really screw up your shifting if you have a manual.

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