Overhaulin' - What is a "drive-by-wire" throttle system doing in my new car?

What is a "drive-by-wire" throttle system doing in my new car?

okay, i lied (i didn't get a new car....just yet). i got a chance to drive some relative's 2004 Honda Pilot and the initial response of the throttle is very "touchy." from a standing "dead" stop, when you accelerate the Odyssey-derived 3.5-Liter V6 (a true "boxer" engine), the SUV lurches forward with a LOT of torque. the "jerk" forward can create enough force to break out a few necks. so yeah i guess you can say the Odyssey is "punchy" for a minivan. then i got to TEST drive one of the new 2009 Pilot models at a Honda dealer with the more powerful engine (obviously more horsepower and torque than past models). however, when i tried driving this one, the accelerator pedal didn't seem all that touchy as it was in the older 2004 model. once you start gaining speed, the newer engine certainly feels quicker but the initial pedal response from zero mph feels "sluggish." i have to really depress the pedal (put some effort) into the floor like its underpowered when i could do it effortlessly.

Public Comments

Almost every modern vehicle on the road today is 'drive by wire', meaning when you depress the go-pedal you are simply pushing a rheostat that sends signals to the fuel/intake system. FYI: a 'boxer' engine is a horizontally opposed, 'flat' engine such as Subaru's, old VW's and Porsches. Hondas are equipped with traditional V6 or in line 4 cylinder engines.