Newbie about to try out 4X4… maybe

[mrs mighty]

In another thread, a woman in Chama, NM said that SPORT mode felt better in the snow than SLIPPERY mode. Conventional wisdom would be not to use SPORT mode in slippery conditions, but it comes down to what feels best to each individual. With that in mind, if possible, you might find a snow-covered deserted road and try the different modes.

None of the GOAT modes are intended to be used on dry pavement. SAND mode actually says not to use it on paved roads covered with snow or ice.

You might want to review the "GOAT mode control" section of the manual.

Hi,
I’ve played with the SPORT mode on dry highways. And that Badlands took off, and nearly gave me whip lash. It was fast! I couldn’t imagine driving in that mode on the snow, but that’s just me. I used the SLIPPERY mode on the lightly snowy patched road, and I could feel the way it hugged the road. I really didn’t need it, but it was fun ? Thanks for your insight.

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[mrs mighty]

Re: GOAT modes and what to use

my wife and I were talking about that this morning as the roads all around us are covered. She’s been driving our Expedition primarily and in that truck you must select something if you want 4x4. You can go to slippery mode or just press the 4A or 4H button.

The Bronco Sport is better
(Badlands in particular) has all these modes and buttons. She struggles to select something appropriate when on and off dry pavement. I said when in doubt, in this vehicle, you can leave it in NORMAL the 4x4 is always active. She’s like, huh? The intelligent all-wheel-drive is active all-the-time. I realized some folks may NOT know this.

i just drove uphill on a snowy, icy dirt road with some ruts in normal mode. No problem.

Yup, I can see how complex these cars are. It’s great to have this forum to help us who are in doubt become informed. I think i’ll be adventurous like you and others with different modes just see what this beast is all about. Thanks for your wisdom.

 

[sajohnson]

Hi,
I’ve played with the SPORT mode on dry highways. And that Badlands took off, and nearly gave me whip lash. It was fast! I couldn’t imagine driving in that mode on the snow, but that’s just me. I used the SLIPPERY mode on the lightly snowy patched road, and I could feel the way it hugged the road. I really didn’t need it, but it was fun ? Thanks for your insight.

"My other car" is a modified WRX, and the Badlands is every bit as fast as the WRX was when stock. The BS BL actually has more hp and torque than the WRX did from the factory. Even modified to Cobb stage 2, it's just barely more powerful than the BS BL.

If you haven't done so already, put the Badlands in manual mode and shift to (say) 3rd gear -- then floor it when rolling about 30 mph -- keep an eye on the tack, the red line comes up quick.

I will say there is quite a bit of front end lift when accelerating hard, and it is not as 'planted' as the WRX, but that really isn't a fair comparison. Kinda like pointing out that the BS BL is better off-road.

 

[sajohnson]

The ULTIMATE Badlands snow traction test!:

OK, maybe not ultimate but interesting.

Since no snow was predicted we got some last night. About 4" of powder. It's been well below freezing so it's nothing tricky -- the kind of snow that provides fairly good traction.

Our road had been cleared so I used our snow-covered lane to test the various GOAT modes. The portion of our lane that I used has about a 15%-20% slope (just an estimate, I need to measure it). The BS BL has the stock tires with maybe 5,000 miles on them.

Executive summary -- all modes including NORMAL were about the same in these conditions!

I checked all of them except ECO. To be honest, it actually seemed to spin easier with the "four-wheel drive" (center) and rear diff locked. The rear diff lock made the rear end less stable, which stands to reason -- with the diff open, one tire will typically not spin, and provide lateral stability. With it locked they both spin and walk back and forth.

In all cases I was intentionally trying to get the tires to spin -- not flooring it but giving it enough gas that they broke loose. If anything NORMAL and SLIPPERY worked with the least drama. With the center and rear locked I got quite a bit of spin and quickly let up on the accelerator because it was working its way sideways, and our lane is lined with trees and boulders.

Bottom line -- more testing is in order, but my inclination (when not off-roading) would be to leave it in NORMAL, or SLIPPERY mode if the roads are 100% snow & ice covered.

 

[BravoAlpha]

The ULTIMATE Badlands snow traction test!:

OK, maybe not ultimate but interesting.

Since no snow was predicted we got some last night. About 4" of powder. It's been well below freezing so it's nothing tricky -- the kind of snow that provides fairly good traction.

Our road had been cleared so I used our snow-covered lane to test the various GOAT modes. The portion of our lane that I used has about a 15%-20% slope (just an estimate, I need to measure it). The BS BL has the stock tires with maybe 5,000 miles on them.

Executive summary -- all modes including NORMAL were about the same in these conditions!

I checked all of them except ECO. To be honest, it actually seemed to spin easier with the "four-wheel drive" (center) and rear diff locked. The rear diff lock made the rear end less stable, which stands to reason -- with the diff open, one tire will typically not spin, and provide lateral stability. With it locked they both spin and walk back and forth.

In all cases I was intentionally trying to get the tires to spin -- not flooring it but giving it enough gas that they broke loose. If anything NORMAL and SLIPPERY worked with the least drama. With the center and rear locked I got quite a bit of spin and quickly let up on the accelerator because it was working its way sideways, and our lane is lined with trees and boulders.

Bottom line -- more testing is in order, but my inclination (when not off-roading) would be to leave it in NORMAL, or SLIPPERY mode if the roads are 100% snow & ice covered.

Ive found this to be accurate. NORMAL mode works really well 99% of the time. There’s a video out there where a dude gets the vehicle on these articulating ramps and gets a wheel or 2 in there air and goes through different modes. The intelligent AWD is pretty cool. Obviously it’s an artificial, controlled environment he creates to showcase the computer. I‘ll try to find it.

In all kinds of conditions, the system will figure out where to put the power and prevent wheel spin.

 

[BravoAlpha]

Impossible!

You must have been in "snowy, icy dirt road with some ruts" mode.

they were baby ruts ?

 

[sajohnson]

Ive found this to be accurate. NORMAL mode works really well 99% of the time. There’s a video out there where a dude gets the vehicle on these articulating ramps and gets a wheel or 2 in there air and goes through different modes. The intelligent AWD is pretty cool. Obviously it’s an artificial, controlled environment he creates to showcase the computer. I‘ll try to find it.

In all kinds of conditions, the system will figure out where to put the power and prevent wheel spin.

I'd like to see that if you can find it.

One exception I can think of is off-road where the driver can see what is, or will soon be, necessary. There's no sense in waiting for the system to respond when the appropriate mode is obvious. For most of us that probably falls into the 1% though.

 

[RushMan]

I'd like to see that if you can find it.

One exception I can think of is off-road where the driver can see what is, or will soon be, necessary. There's no sense in waiting for the system to respond when the appropriate mode is obvious. For most of us that probably falls into the 1% though.

PMJI, Here's a couple of them from TFL's YouTube channel.

 

[Mwittke5857]

If your looking for a car that doesn't slide on ice, well that doesn't exist, the 4x4 will help prevent getting stuck, I'm not sure if you were present in TX for the 2021 winter storm, (I've lived in dfw for 8 years and was in town at the time) i was driving an awd toyota at the time, but generally 4x4 or awd works wonders for keeping from getting stuck, just drive careful, keep it slow, and don't get overconfident in your vehicles ability, I do not recommend engaging the locker unless you are completely stuck, do not drive with it engaged.

I was in the DFW area in 2010 for that storm, nothing was moving very well

 

[Alfa 2407]

I was in the DFW area in 2010 for that storm, nothing was moving very well

I was not in dfw in 2010 so I know nothing about the events of that year, I moved in 2016

 

[sajohnson]

PMJI, Here's a couple of them from TFL's YouTube channel.

Good videos, thanks!

 

[NMhunter]

I would think ECO mode might be good on slippery roads. I believe it would accelerate more gently than the other modes. If you want to slip and slide, all you have to do in NORMAL or Sport mode is step on it.

 

[mrs mighty]

Good videos, thanks!

Cooooool videos. Thx, so much to learn.

 

[sajohnson]

Cooooool videos. Thx, so much to learn.

There are dozens (hundreds?) more on YouTube if you're interested.

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