The drive-mode button is a huge design fail.

shooters1380 said:

Yeah that’s a good point to. Why can’t you put in in sport mode and leave it there. I’m certain there’s a safety reason for it but it would be nice to have more control over that function

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Thank the EPA. It's for mileage.

GordoJay said:

Thank the EPA. It's for mileage.

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Same reason they don't let you turn off ASS and leave it off. I hate that "feature".

The truck won't shift modes if the operating conditions are not met. Simply poking the button to select a mode sets it up to check parameters. If you select 4L on the highway and wait for it to act, it will tell you it can't go there. The rear diff won't lock in unless you're below ~20 mph, etc. There are several "stupid" interlocks for "people". Although there remains many situations with limits where stupid doesn't have any(limits).

I do think the button could be better labeled and "drive mode" or similar would be a big improvement. I was stumped on this button at first as well. I wouldn't call it a huge design fail but they clearly could have labeled it better given its placement.

The drive mode thing isn’t my problem. My problem is increasing my cruise control speed when I’m trying to turn up the radio , vice versa!

shooters1380 said:

The OP is spot on here. When I test drove the truck, with the salesman, not even he could tell me how to get the truck into “sport mode” and he kept telling me “it’s on the shifter it’s on the shifter.” I said there is no button other than the shift up and down buttons on this shifter. We had to go back to the dealer and he had to run inside and ask someone.

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LOL...salesman know nothing...ever

While many people think that the designers are at fault, they aren't, at least with most annoying things. The cost to Ford is the #1 driver. That same switch module is used on practically every Ford steering wheel in production, along with that same switch that has "mode" on it. The Raptor has MANY specific items utilized that cost Ford more money to build them. Even the existing parts used in most cases are the "best" or at the top of the cost charts. You would think it only costs a few bucks or less to make Raptor specific buttons, switches, etc. That may be true for the first run, but those unique parts must be purchased for every vehicle, PLUS spares for at least 10 years, PLUS every document supporting the Raptor must have the correct photos/drawings. So, when you figure in ALL the logistics impacts, they just can't justify it to their financial department.

I'm not making excuses for Ford either. ALL OEMs operate this way.

The cost factor always has and will continue to drive every production decision made for regular production line vehicles. Even the Ford GT Supercar cut a few corners in the "features" department to help with the cost. It is the cheapest retail cost Supercar you can buy. Well, some people can buy. I suppose I could buy one too if they were available to the common man and I sold off all my other fun toys... Anyway, back to the Raptor.

There are many books outlining the full history of some iconic vehicles (racing and street) from and idea through the end of production that spell out the effort required by the design(mechanical, electrical, and human factors) engineers to get something into actual production. I have quite a collection for my favorites (mostly Ford cars and Ducati motorcycles) over my 6+ decades...

goblues38 said:

LOL...salesman know nothing...ever

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So true. I've only met ONE salesman who actually knew the vehicles in great detail. He was an enthusiast in college working a side job to pay for his car habit!

Sonicsunspot said:

I am probably more annoyed that it doesn't stay in the "last mode" I left it in after shutting down the truck.

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me too...but mostly annoyed that it won’t remain in 4A when I go from normal to sport....yet if I had it in normal mode w/ 4A engaged, shut the truck off & get back in the next day, it’ll stay in 4A while defaulting to “normal” drive mode

however if I shut it off when in sport mode w/ 4A selected, the 4A remains engaged but it still defaults back to normal....makes no F’n sense!?!? Why does it retain the 4A function but not the drive mode!?!

and I’ve also accidentally put in 4H when I meant to put it in 4A b/c when I do experience the scenario above (which is common) I have the habit of immediately tapping the mode button down 2x to go into sport mode & then grabbing 4x4 dial & giving it a twist to go right back to 4A....but I’m so accustomed to doing it a couple times I’ve reacted quicker than the truck & that single turn on the knob hits 4H before the truck defaulted back to 2H after tapping it into sport mode

I’m in agreement here too. I’ve disliked the drive mode ‘control’ over the transfer case since day 1. It would be great if they were divorced for normal / sport modes so you could at least go from one to the other without altering the transfer case.

But then there’s when you’re offroad. While the old schoolers jump in, turn the key and go, you’re jumping in, hitting start button, waiting for the electronic menu to load, then advancing the drive mode me^^^ HEY WAIT UP ! Oh, there’s M&S, else you’re in normal mode when you fire the truck up again.

This is a definite development opportunity for Ford, one that I’m pretty sure they missed this time around.