wait...didn't Will Smith make a movie about this or something?

Ford just needs to perfect it thats all.

 

Wow! I'm amazed to this thread back from the grave! Thanks for resurecting it guys.

 

Anytime.......

 

Someone made the comment about not many 05 owners posting...

I'm an 05 owner and the throttle by wire in my truck blows... Every dealer refuses to fix it because the truck doesn't display a trouble/fault code.

The technology works... Ford hasn't quite got it rright, but there is nothing wrong with the technology.

Someone mentioned the Chevy Vette. I've rented one in Vegas and it worked flawlessly. You wouldn't know there was anything different unless someone told you.

I've driven Mercedes that had the throttle/brake by wire. I say this... I think MB would be VERY upset if they knew they were being compared to FORD. MB's are simply the very best cars money can buy. As soon as I can afford one, that's the ONLY car I will own. The throttle/brake by wire are undectable in the MB. There would be a better chance of you being stung to death by bee's than having a MB fail on you.

As for the guys that say they are afraid of/won't use this technology, I wouldn't ever fly again if I were you. If the plane you ride in was made after the early 90's, chances are it has an "AUTOLAND" system installed which allows it to land when the weather is so bad the pilots can't see the runway at 100 AGL. At that point, 100 AGL (above ground level) if the runway is not in sight they must initiate a missed approach and go around. With AUTOLAND (Both Boeing & Airbus use it) you can let the plane land itself. The USAF removed this system from the KC-10 (circa 1970 technology) because it didn't trust it. We have to go around at 200 AGL if the runway is not in site. It's on my wife's (flight attendant) aircraft and the weather around Philadelphia sucks *** in the winter so they use it quite often.

Stuff like this will be the way of the future, like it or not...

KC-10 FE out...

 

Drive by wire? What? I thought mine had a cable hooked up to it

Just kidding, of course

Scott

 

This technology is new for Ford, the '04 F150 is the first mass production vehicle they've used it on. I believe even the Ford GT has a cable throttle. I find the lag was only a problem if you goose the pedal to pass or otherwise try to move quickly (I say was because a reflash cured the problem). If you drive smoothly then it isn't so noticeable, at least in my case.

 

Let me give a little background on myself before I post. I work for Penn State University as a research engineer and I hold a bachelor's degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology from Penn State. I am involved in cutting-edge defense-related research involving laser defense and high temperature semiconductors (among other things). Obviously I appreciate technology and the engineering that goes into making something better, and I am a supporter of using electronics to help improve functionality, simplicity and reliability. But here is my gripe: when it comes right down to it, I drove (in the same day) an 05 f150 5.4 FX4 Scab (drive by wire) and an 02 F150 5.4 Scab (cable throttle), and let me tell you that comparing apples to apples (basically the same truck but the 05 is rated at 40 hp more) the 02 f150 FELT much more powerful, gave more satisfying throttle response and acceleration, better driver feedback, and generally was more of a pleasure to drive.

So here's my point: when it comes right down to it, besides all of the side benefits, don't we buy new trucks because of the pleasure that we get from driving them? In my experience, the drive by wire reduces the pleasure and satifaction in driving, and therefore is a setback in Ford's goal of producing an always improving product. Therefore, either Ford should take a serious look at the design and calibration of the system, or they should abandon it and go back to a cable. Especially when the new trucks are such an advancement over the old style (not a rag on the older trucks cause I love em, but a huge plug for the new ones), imagine how much better these trucks would be if the driver feedback and feel was improved!! Just my two cents.

 

Wonder where we would be if good ol' Ben Franklin thought like Fatherford.

 

For you fold who hate anything by wire, you better hang on to the dinasaurs you drive now, because eventually everything will be drive-by-wire in all manners, i.e. stearing, throttle, braking, stability, and anything else than can be computer controlled.

Chevy already used drive-by-wire for the TrailBlazer and other truck models. No rack and pinion and no throttle cables .

 

Since a good bit of the lag can be fixed with a CAN flasher I do think that Ford could fix it. However, I am sure most truck manufacturers have to appeal to the masses or these aftermarket companies wouldn't be in business. They are even offering perfromance upgrades for the Ford GT. (how fast do you really want to go?)

I do think that Ford should offer performance options for these trucks. Since a lot of it (not all) is in the CAN on the 04/05 150's why couldn't they have a performance option that warns about firmer shifts etc... It would take all of 5 minutes to flash it during dealer setup.

 

Ford didn't build these trucks to be dragsters. They built them to tow and haul, that's what trucks are for. When was the last time you saw a Lightning or SRT10 towing a trailer? Those were built for performance, and up until last year for Ford, if you wanted performance in a truck then a Lightning is what you bought.

I think Ford did an exellent job of creating a vehicle to suit just about any purpose. If you want to go for a Sunday cruise with the family, no problem. Daily commute to work and back or to get groceries is comfortable and enjoyable, for me anyway. The '04 and up F150's are good workhorse vehicles (judging by the number of delivery companies and contractors I see driving them everyday).

Every one of us bought this truck for a particular reason. There are trucks that offer better performance, but yet this is the one we bought.