The Dark Horse Mustang | A Real World Review
If there’s one thing you can count on with Mustang fans it’s that every new generation will bring with it polarized opinions. The S650 Mustang was no exception. A lot of people really liked it, and some acted as if it was worse than stubbing your toe on the corner of the bed. I fell somewhere in between. I initially had an overall ‘meh’ feeling; that is until I drove one. That’s when things really changed for me. After spending a week with a loaded up Performance Pack Dark Horse, I’m left saying this is a very nice addition to the Mustang family.
Let’s start off strong with what I consider the best attribute of the Dark Horse, its feeling of completeness. This car feels like a total package. Everything blends together and meshes seamlessly into an outstandingly fun to drive Mustang. The healthy dose of power it delivers is complimented by the excellent handling of the suspension package. The insane amount of grip provided by the Pirelli Trofeo RS tires can be harnessed by the enormous Brembo brakes. The retuned steering and premium air conditioned seats ensure the driver is fully connected to the experience provided by all the above. It all adds up to an extremely engaging driving experience.
These meats are the magic. They are truly a stand out feature on the car. If you value performance over tread life you should check them out.
The more time I spent in this interior the more I liked it. After nearly a decade of the S550 interior remaining largely the same, the S650 was a nice change.
In the South Carolina July heat this shifter can leave a 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' style burn on your palm.
Dropping in behind the wheel, everything felt instantly familiar. Much of that can be attributed to the car’s S550 lineage. All the controls fall naturally to hand, as if I were back home. The biggest change to the interior that take a minute to get used to is the large digital dash displays, but they are well integrated and functional. Once I placed it in Fox-Body mode and tweeked a few other settings all was right in the word. The steering wheel also has several material and ergonomic updates. Check out this video for all the details:
Pressing the red engine-start button awakes the familiar rumble of the 5.0L Coyote V8, which now breaths through dual throttle bodies. Like most new Ford vehicles, the factory ECU calibration it rock solid. The electric throttle feels perfect and the engine is highly responsive. The mill cranks out 500HP, which is stout, but if that isn’t enough for you the modification floodgates are about to be blown wide-open. HP Tuners has just cracked the ECU encryption for the S650 Mustang, and many other newer Fords. The aftermarket that has be hamstrung for several years is about to be unleashed. Things are about to get very interesting.
Back out on the road, this Mustang is just about everything I’d want in a new Pony car. It looks, sounds, and feels the part. Performance-wise I consider it about 95% of an S550 GT350. It’s almost there, but not quite. My take away is that the Dark Horse feels like a complete package. It’s fun, confident, and powerful without being impossible to obtain. The stand out feature to me is the Pirelli Trofeo RS tires. These are by-far the best Mustang tires I have ever tested. I would be looking to add these to any S550/650 I own in the future.
Ultimately, the new-found ability to tune the S650 Mustang is what will make or break the Dark Horse. On its own, the car is fantastic but the lack of tuning ability has hampered its adoption in the greater performance Mustang community. Thankfully those days are over, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of one of these that has been massaged by a reputable Ford tuner. Lucky for me, I may not have to wait too long.
Ponies love a little pasture time. The Dark Horse is right at home on the ranch.
I heard the Dark Horse is a monster on the track. Unfortunately, it's not really set up for the closest one to me...
The high-banked red clay of Lake View Motor Speedway contrasts well with the killer wheel and tire package on the Dark Horse.
It's pretty easy to see the F-22 Raptor inspiration in the rear-end from this angle. I think it looks great.
This color pops in the sunlight in ways it's difficult to capture with a camera. The Ford engineers working on the S650 liked to call it 'Oil Slick'.
These headlights are a massive upgrade in style and performance over the S550 ones. Good job there Ford.
Big thanks to Lake View Motor Speedway in Nichols, SC for loaning us their facility for a photoshoot. If you're in the Myrtle Beach area look up their schedule. For about $20 you can catch some of the best racing action you'll find in the South. Be sure to try the chicken bog and mini-donuts, and don't forget to tell them Sid sent you there. You'll love it. Also, don't be afraid to stop by Allread's Corner and get a hotdog on your way out there. It's a delicious old-school treat and you can beat supporting local businesses
-SID297
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