What's your mode?

2637 Views 50 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Billiam, 6 d ago

ST Jim

Discussion Starter · 1 mo ago

Since I got my 8.5 in early March, I've driven mostly in Sport mode. I'm kinda lazy, and it meant only 4 button presses on start up (Start, Sport, yes I'm OK with the seat belt sitch, but also I'd like auto start/stop BACK ON please, to offset at least some of my guilt about it all).

I'd almost got to 600 miles, which I think is sensible "running in" territory, and then I tried "Race", and I find it addictive. Why wouldn't I want 10/10ths, and all the noise, all the time? And the "Knight Rider" light show across the top of the digital dash? I've only seen a minor drop in mpg. I know it turns off all the ESC stuff, but I bought a hot hatch. I didn't hire a nanny.

So what mode do you drive in, mostly? Genuinely interested to know, and it seems I can do a poll. So let's see.

My thinking on the drive modes so far is:
Eco - Why is that even there? I didn't buy a lawnmower.
Normal - No. That just won't do either.
Sport - There's a button for it. I was pressing it.
Race - Pop, pop, bang!

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21 - 40 of 51 Posts

RS1750T

· #21 · 1 mo ago

Mk8 here so no eco mode, start in normal mode but with a Milltek exhaust even that's loud until cold start mode has finished so I can at least sneek out of the road at 6.30am without all the neighbours moaning. Then it's mostly in sport as I have a B Road drive to work and why have a Milltek if you can't listen to it pop and crackle once in a while? Well more than once as I'm using the Mountune Asmo map at the moment 😁

KenL

· #22 · 1 mo ago

I hit eco by mistake, I meant normal.
Use sport now and again bit avoid using it in towns.

Cropduster

· #23 · 1 mo ago

I'm in Sport pretty much all of the time. The noise it makes is addictive, as has been said before, it's a sports car and I want it to sound like one. Must add, I've yet to take it away on a trip, it's only done 503km so I'll try the other modes out when I get the chance. From Canterbury NZ

Reactions: 1

fa13sta

· #24 · 1 mo ago

KenL said:
avoid using it in towns

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" 😆

Reactions: 3

Dragunov

· #25 · 1 mo ago

Yes!

Reactions: 1

Billiam

· #26 · 1 mo ago

Normal for driving to work. Sport mode for country side drives.

Eco for when it's a fine balance of keeping fuel until pay day 😂

Reactions: 1

ST Jim

Discussion Starter · #27 · 1 mo ago

A resounding win for "Sport" then. Maybe they should put that on a button?

Oh yeah...

Tsotsi8787

· #28 · 1 mo ago

I have never found it difficult to push the mode button twice, its easier than 1,2,3....looks cool though I guess!

fa13sta

· #29 · 1 mo ago

Tsotsi8787 said:
I have never found it difficult to push the mode button twice, its easier than 1,2,3....looks cool though I guess!

Would have been nice to be able to set a default start-up mode though.. oh well, maybe on the Mk9! 🤣

Reactions: 2

ydnA

· #30 · 1 mo ago

fa13sta said:
Would have been nice to be able to set a default start-up mode though.. oh well, maybe on the Mk9! 🤣

Or maybe in 20 years when they revive the Fiesta name as some ugly EV of some sort, probably be the size of a house by that time. 😆

Reactions: 1

fa13sta

· #31 · 1 mo ago

ydnA said:
Or maybe in 20 years when they revive the Fiesta name as some ugly EV of some sort, probably be the size of a house by that time. 😆

That'll probably come with 20+ modes - shopping, shopping plus, battery saver, etc.. 😆

Reactions: 2

Gallego1968

· #32 · 1 mo ago

The wife drives iy normal mode and i always drive it in sport or track mode

Edisrag

· #33 · 1 mo ago

Just over 900 miles now in mine and I tend to drive in normal mode most of the time when on my commute and going shopping etc...

If I'm in slow moving or stop-start traffic then I'll drop it into eco mode. I do have a few 20mph roads near by, and there's quite a lot of speed cameras/average speed, so I've been using the eco mode and speed limiter a lot.

I prefer a nice calm journey to work so rarely use sport mode on my commute - plus it's only 7 miles to work including a bit of motorway so by the time the car is properly warmed up, I'm at work anyway. I've mainly been saving sport mode for drives out rather than using all the time - makes them drives out extra special and I love how the car comes alive.

Not really bothered with Race mode. When I have been out for a good drive it's been in sport mode. Will probably play around with Race mode once I know the limits of the car - but suspect it will mainly be sports mode rather than race.

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Jules59

· #34 · 29 d ago

Haven't needed to commute for 5 years.
Stop/start is pointless for me 99% of the time as now a traffic jam is having 2 cars in front at a junction

So its SPORT for me all the time - I like the firmer steering and quicker throttle response. Its what I bought it for - having fun on the way to the shops in the next village.

Jules59

· #35 · 29 d ago

Jules59 said:
Haven't needed to commute for 5 years.
Stop/start is pointless for me 99% of the time as now a traffic jam is having 2 cars in front at a junction
So its SPORT for me all the time - I like the firmer steering and quicker throttle response. Its what I bought it for - having fun on the way to the shops in the next village.
Wife drives it in normal mode all the time.

BTW what does ECO mode do - Ive never used it.

Reactions: 2

Edisrag

· #36 · 29 d ago

Eco mode slows down the throttle response - so the opposite of Standard > Sport. Don't think it does anything else different to normal mode.

I wouldn't recommend it for regular driving otherwise you might as well have bought a standard Fiesta - but for me it has it's place.

As for start-stop, I don't mind it at all. Each to their own of course but I don't understand why people hate it so much - I mean it's not slowing you down - I happily use it when stationary at traffic lights regardless of what mode I am in. Of course if you're at a moving junction then it's pointless using it, but if stationary for a few minutes then why not?

Reactions: 1

Wetherfell

· #37 · 28 d ago

SJTG1993 said:
Hitting sport while cruising in eco mode immediately changes the throttle response. As in, your foot would be on the accelerator pedal, not moving, and hitting sport would cause you to accelerate without applying any more pressure to the pedal.

Tried that the other day as an experiment (probably the only time I'll use Eco😃) and the effect was quite marked as you say. Noticed the same thing (but to a lesser degree) when hitting the Sport button while in Normal.

At least it shows the modes actually do something, unlike some I've had where I'm sure the effect was more psychological than real!

It's a pity there isn't a bit more configurability, IMO. In the Hyundai N-cars, for example, you can have engine in Sport without the noisy exhaust, heavier steering etc and store your favourite combo using the N-button for one touch access. VW Group cars also let you "mix and match" a bit more.

I'd quite like an option to lighten the steering for, eg, town use as I do find it gets a bit heavy after a lot of tight corners, parking manoeuvres, etc. That may be just me though - I have an old arm injury that plays up after a long spell of driving!😃

Anyway, back to the point of the thread. So far I'm finding Normal fine for, well, normal use, swapping to Sport when things are nicely warmed up and there's a chance of a reasonably "Sporty" drive.

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Reactions: 2

Jules59

· #38 · 25 d ago

I dont think mine has ECO mode - or at least I cant find a button with ECO on. 19 plate ST3

ydnA

· #39 · 25 d ago

Jules59 said:
I dont think mine has ECO mode - or at least I cant find a button with ECO on. 19 plate ST3

I believe Eco mode is 8.5 onwards

Reactions: 1

Fast Eddie

· #40 · 25 d ago

OMG, If your driving an ST in eco mode, sorry but you have bought the wrong car !!

Reactions: 3

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