Red "Track Key" Useless for Now

mike_b_svt

Top down and cruisin'
Established Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
748
Location
Hillsboro, OR
It's a solenoid that prevents shifting into those gears.

Ok, so Skip Shift is "bad", in that it *cough* "pussifies" *coughcough* your "manual" transmission then. Cuz that sure as he11 sounds like it is dictating how I should be shifting MY car.

So when the Red Key disables skip shift, then that is good, in the sense that you can shift it any way you want, right?

Just out of curiousity, can skip shift be disabled on the GT's in some way?

BTW - thanks for the info!
 

F8L SN8K

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
1,863
Location
Indiana
^^ iit is my understanding that the trackey does not increase peak power. It adjust cam timing at idle, skip shift, decelerating, throttle response, adjustable 2step and bumps up the rev limiter.
 

stock 351

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
15
Location
Southern California
Does it cost money to get the red key calibration done? Wouldn't it be better to just have a tuner do all of this for you?

*I may be way off, I am just trying to understand the concept of this key.
 

LTHL VNM

Don't call it a comeback
Established Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2003
Messages
11,998
Location
DFW, TX.
sooo when you owners start modding them and they require retunes, how are you going to tackle that? i don't assume tuners have the ability to reprogram the keys so you'll be back to a handheld, correct?
 

5 DOT 0

Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
739
Location
NorCal
Just out of curiosity, do all the specs in the magazines, of 444hp etc. are they based of the standard mode, or the track mode?
No TracKey. Also TracKey does NOT raise the rev limiter. The TracKey tune is not in the key itself, the key has a different code that unlocks the TracKey tune once it's installed on the car. Tuners should be able to modify either tune but we won't know for sure until TracKey is ready.
 

barstoolman

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
369
Location
Los Angeles
Does it cost money to get the red key calibration done? Wouldn't it be better to just have a tuner do all of this for you?

*I may be way off, I am just trying to understand the concept of this key.

$302...........for a full list of specs that the TracKey unlocks, just google 2012 Boss 302 and there will be ample information about all the upgrades to the car and how the TracKey mode utilizes them
 

LTHL VNM

Don't call it a comeback
Established Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2003
Messages
11,998
Location
DFW, TX.
$302...........for a full list of specs that the TracKey unlocks, just google 2012 Boss 302 and there will be ample information about all the upgrades to the car and how the TracKey mode utilizes them

I find it hilarious that the price is $302, that's gotta be marketing driven but it's dumb
 

bret a ewing

Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
251
Location
Eastern PA
IMHO the TK is worthwhile just to eliminate the PITA skip-shift. For those who have driven a car with the sk-sh feature you end up with a first to third routine while non-spirited (read:normal) driving.
 

cloud9

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
256
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
just a gt with upgrades? its like you think the car is all engine. as is the case with any road course car much of the special value of the car is the handling package. right?
You hit the nail on the head. That's the first thing I noticed on the track with the Boss. This is a Mustang that turns. It's amazing how well they engineered the suspension for a factory car. It honestly feels like there's not a big frickin engine up front, but the acceleration reminds you it's there. Sure I'm looking forward to more low end torque with TracKey.....on the track....but realistically I doubt I'll use it much on the street. Oh and I do have a street driven daily driver with 640 at the tire, so I "get" having a fun street car. I just think that while people will occasionally use TracKey on the street, I am not sure you'll want it most of the time. The stock tune still has a pretty aggressive torque curve and I am guessing much better drivability. Not that we care all that much about fuel economy, but at $4 a gallon, TracKey running all the time will be expensive. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30% drop in fuel economy, but that is to be seen.

One of the big features of TracKey, as I understand it, is engine braking. Well on the street, how's that going to add to the fun factor? Elminating skip shift is nice, but if you're driving aggressively on the street, you'll never engage skip shift anyway. There's no increase in peak hp and you actually drop 10 ft lbs of PEAK torque. So if you're looking for something to go faster from stop light to stop light, I'm not sure TracKey will make that big of a difference.
 
Last edited:

98slowbra

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2005
Messages
1,855
Location
Colorado
Exactly.

If I had the Boss, I may "accidentally lose" the standard key...

On a side note, my neighbor took delivery of theirs (Laguna Seca) a few days ago.

Went for a ride and hit a 120 mph limiter? Can anyone confirm this? He was pretty embarassed.

I read it was limited at 155mph, if they limit this car at 120mph people are going to be really upset.
 

Summerwolf

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
70
Location
Vegas
Ok, so how does it "make" you go into 4th? When you are moving the shifter, can you not put it into the 2 slot? Or do you put it into 2nd, but it is really in 4th?

Sorry, i'm not up to speed on the new manual automatics. Sounds like a bunch of crap to me though, and makes me wonder about relinquishing my hold on an actual REAL manual transmission car :-/

BTW - I like the black LS. The red / orange accents get your attention.

Manual automatic? WTF are you talking about it has a stick shift six speed.

The skip shift thing basically drops a gate via a solenoid into the 2nd/3rd gears unless you meet a certain RPM requirement in 1st. It makes you shift in to 4th (manually, just like any other stick shift) to promote gas savings.

Now...this is easy to disable, and anyone that has ever driven a T56 equipped car like its supposed to be driven has probably disabled it.

If the only way to do it on the Boss is with the TracKey....it'd be reason enough to only drive the car using that key to me, lol.

Black/red is fine....except the front grille and the wheels, lol. Red car with black looks much better!!
 

Summerwolf

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
70
Location
Vegas
Ok, so Skip Shift is "bad", in that it *cough* "pussifies" *coughcough* your "manual" transmission then. Cuz that sure as he11 sounds like it is dictating how I should be shifting MY car.

So when the Red Key disables skip shift, then that is good, in the sense that you can shift it any way you want, right?

Just out of curiousity, can skip shift be disabled on the GT's in some way?

BTW - thanks for the info!

It doesn't pussify it.... it just either makes you get in the habit of driving more conservative or you rev your motor higher in 1st to not deal with skip shift. Its really not a big deal, lol. When you need to go its still a normal manual transmission.
 

mike_b_svt

Top down and cruisin'
Established Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
748
Location
Hillsboro, OR
... or you rev your motor higher in 1st to not deal with skip shift.

How high are we talking? I usually shift between 2~3k, but I consider that "normal" driving.

Besides, it's not like you buy a V8 because of the gas mileage it gets. Want better gas mileage? Then learn how to manually perform skip-shift! LOL!
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top