Default Driving Mode

[ThomF]

I'm curious about the normal driving mode used by Mach-e owners. I've frankly always used Whisper. I have tried Unbridled a couple of times and find that the experience is a bit 'wonky.' The braking seems aggressive, acceleration somewhat abnormal, etc. Maybe I just haven't gotten used to the experience.

A couple of follow-up questions.

I'm assuming that Whisper might be slightly more efficient than other modes. True?​

Does Unbridled provide faster acceleration?​

Is there any advantage to using Unbridled, other than the ability to turn on psydo engine noise?​

​

Thanks in advance for any insights.

Tom

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[generaltso]

I'm assuming that Whisper might be slightly more efficient than other modes. True?​

Does Unbridled provide faster acceleration?​

No and no. The drive modes adjust the throttle mapping, steering weight, and lift-off regen. No mode is more efficient or faster. It’s really just personal preference.

 

[JamieGeek]

The different modes change the pedal mapping.

Think of the accelerator reporting 0% to 100% position. Then there is a map inside the car where 0%=0%, 10%=15%, 15%=20%, ... 60%=50%, etc. (If you make an XY graph and the X is the pedal position the Y is what acceleration you get the different modes are just different curves on this graph.) Ultimately 100% pedal = 100% accel.

Thus there really isn't any efficiency differences between the modes--they just "feel" different (Ford has even said as such).

The "Default" mode of the car as delivered is "Engaged" but, since they stick you just leave it in whatever mode you want...

 

[ThomF]

Thanks for the quick responses on this. I'll continue to 'whisper' down the road!

 

[RockwallRick]

We primarily use whisper mode mainly because that’s what my Wife prefers! The car keeps switching back to engage which we notice right away because of the brake coach display. My Wife still loves the car even though she thinks it is possessed!! Lol

 

[jojomontag]

Always unbridled...

 

[SnBGC]

We primarily use whisper mode mainly because that’s what my Wife prefers! The car keeps switching back to engage which we notice right away because of the brake coach display. My Wife still loves the car even though she thinks it is possessed!! Lol

My brother prefers Whisper in his Mach-E. I prefer Engage. Not sure what our brother-in-law likes. Only choice left for him is Unbridled.

 

[Astraea]

Unbridled and one pedal 100%

 

[ThomF]

... engage which we notice right away because of the brake coach display. My Wife still loves the car even though she thinks it is possessed!! Lol

I have been wondering about the brake coach. I have it turned on, but have never seen the display. Is it only functional when driving in the Engage mode? That seems quirky. In any case, I'll try it out later today.

 

[generaltso]

I have been wondering about the brake coach. I have it turned on, but have never seen the display. Is it only functional when driving in the Engage mode? That seems quirky. In any case, I'll try it out later today.

Correct. The Brake Coach only works in Engage mode. Why Ford made that decision is anyone's guess.

 

[heisnuts]

My default is unbridled. That setting has just the right amount of regen for me without having to have the 1P mode engaged. I find that I very rarely have to use the brake pedal and when I do it is usually a slight press and then the car is at the right sped or stop for the given situation. Plus unbridled gives a pretty cool design on the gauge cluster as you accelerate/decelerate.

I also usually have brake hold on so that when stopped at a light the car will hold the brake and I do not have to keep my foot on the pedal. That is a really nice feature to have at long stop lights.

 

[Davedough]

I stay in Engage. I tried Unbridled and I just don't like the way it feels

 

[MillieChliette]

Might be worth noting the GTPE adjusts the suspension based on drive modes.

That said, I prefer 1pd and the throttle mapping in Whisper makes it easier to modulate. That combined with the softest suspension setting means I'm in Whisper 90% of the time or more.

 

[babgvant]

I prefer Unbridled because it gets really close to 1P without having to turn on 1P. At first I didn't like it because the regen is more aggressive, but then after playing around with 1P I figured out what was happening and how to manage the behavior to produce the result I wanted.

It might be a training issue on my part, but I find making small adjustments in the car's placement (i.e. move the car backwards 1-2") very difficult with 1P on. It can be done, but it's just easier for me to make that happen with it off.

 

[babgvant]

Might be worth noting the GTPE adjusts the suspension based on drive modes.

That said, I prefer 1pd and the throttle mapping in Whisper makes it easier to modulate. That combined with the softest suspension setting means I'm in Whisper 90% of the time or more.

I wish that Ford would let us make our own modes. I don't mind the firmness of GTPE's suspension in Unbridled around town, but I would like to be able to make a mode that has its driving characteristics with the softest suspension for long journeys. I could do this with my previous car, so it was disappointing to find out that it wasn't available in the Mach-E.

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