GT350 vs Mach 1 vs Dark Horse (Same Price Now?) – Real Drive Comparison

[wingnutt]

The Mach 1 is the car if you’re worried about voodoo reliability.
I loved how the Dark Horse drove, but I hate the digital dash. It’s de-evolution.
The gt350r is special and I love dancing with the devil each time I drive it. I wouldn’t trade my gt350r base for any Mustang at any price. The analog and purity of purpose will never be seen again.

this times eleventy…I honestly don’t understand the hooplah, you wanna dance then bring it. If you have never bought a track ready, high strung car then welcome to the party, quit your whining and send it

all the pearl clutching about extended warranty, when you can buy an amazing short block for less than 10k gives me headaches. Pull your motor, pickle it and rock on 🫠

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[Kachow]

this times eleventy…I honestly don’t understand the hooplah, you wanna dance then bring it. If you have never bought a track ready, high strung car then welcome to the party, quit your whining and send it

all the pearl clutching about extended warranty, when you can buy an amazing short block for less than 10k gives me headaches. Pull your motor, pickle it and rock on 🫠

Does this retain the voodoo sound?

 

[DCShelby]

Nope. Cross plane crank

 

[mustang88_cars]

Nope. Cross plane crank

They have a short block for the FPC as well.

 

[wingnutt]

My bad, clicked the wrong one…

 

[DCShelby]

I see they label it as a Gen3 motor. I wonder how it’s different than a Gen2. I don’t think a Gen3 was put into a production line GT350. Very interesting

 

[svttim]

If I want a street only car, I would do the Mach 1. If I want to street and track, my 350R is just special. Nothing about the S650 says Mustang. Fords move to remove the Mustang heritage from the latest car shows in its sale figures.

 

[TonyNJ]

After driving a new low miles DH, which was a nice experience, I was worried about jumping into my 2016 350R and it feeling "less than" because of the age , unrefined (non existent base R) tech, and mileage.

It felt like the better car as soon as I pressed the start button. Seriously, it's just so much different and much more exciting.

It's 10 yrs old now with 35k on the original motor. Not a lot of mileage, but it's definitely been around the block a few times. The "reliability" narrative is getting old. GT350 is my choice.

 

[DCShelby]

On all of these reviews, you can tell by how they smile and body language when they drive the 350 versus the DH. Soon as they get in the 350 then put it in gear and give it some throttle they grin. On the DH they talk about all the new and great specs but don’t seem very excited, to actually drive the DH. That’s not just on this video but others like it.

 

[allfivefifty]

Subscribed. Bought my M1 HP for the track and 5.0 reliability. I saw your video on the DH front tire wear at the Roebling Road Raceway Track. I decided the S650 gains in weight and tech detracts from the refinement value and reliability. The money saved i can put towards aftermarket lighter brakes and sticky tires (honestly that's where the 650 DH main gain comes from those Pirellis).

 

[Mikepol2]

The thread title and video are a bit misleading because they did not drive a Mach 1. Should have just left it at 350 versus DH. The one thing they did get right IMO is that the Mach is a middle ground of the two… it’s like a 350 with a Coyote, or a DH without the screens and polarizing styling.

After reading probably hundreds of comments like these over the years, I think 350 love boils down to 2 things that can’t be argued against other Mustangs: Are you the type of driver that prefers driving in high RPM ranges? Does the Shelby name mean something to you? If you check yes to both of those it’s hard to imagine you would find any other Mustang to appeal to you more than the 350.

 

[skinnyb]

The thread title and video are a bit misleading because they did not drive a Mach 1. Should have just left it at 350 versus DH. The one thing they did get right IMO is that the Mach is a middle ground of the two… it’s like a 350 with a Coyote, or a DH without the screens and polarizing styling.

Agreed with this 1000%. Mach 1 is a great compromise. 350 (and 500) suspension goodies, coolers, etc and the upgraded 480 HP from the Bullitt. In HP form is a track monster in its own right. But still a S550 with the "better" looks and lack of all the tech that is very polarizing to a lot of the Mustang crowd. I have driven several S650, I am sure if I was forced to drive one every day for a while, the tech would eventually grow on me, but as of now, I like what I like

 

[Clover]

After reading probably hundreds of comments like these over the years, I think 350 love boils down to 2 things that can’t be argued against other Mustangs: Are you the type of driver that prefers driving in high RPM ranges? Does the Shelby name mean something to you? If you check yes to both of those it’s hard to imagine you would find any other Mustang to appeal to you more than the 350.

Well... I'm just about done building a recreation of a 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, the car Shelby's team built themselves and took to Europe to beat Ferrari before Ford paid Shelby to fix the Lola/Ford GT40. I could go on and on about the car and its history, but it is safe to say the Shelby name means something to me. When I started the build, I talked to my friends at Rouch as I was planning the motor and asked specifically about the Voodoo as it was up my ally. What they were able to explain to me about vibrations alone scared me off so I used a Coyote in my build. I later learned about the burning oil and damaged cylinder walls which I don't need to get into.

I was also in the market for a daily driver/fun car and was looking at the GT350, DH, M1, along with a Mazda MX-5 RF Miata and a BRZ prior gen BMW M2 and a 718 Porsche Cayman S. I did watch that video two nights ago, then I voted with my wallet and bought this last night.

I do value a high reving motor and I'll be honest and say I would prefer a GT350 if that risk was not there. No doubt the GT350 is incredible and desirable. However, I'm honest with myself and know I would worry about it and would always be treating it nice. That is just not exactly what I'm looking for in a daily/fun car. On the other hand, I still consider the gen 3 Coyote a relatively high reving motor that is durable and affordable. I view the M1 as pretty similar to a GT350 but with a motor I can treat normally without a second thought.

I did test drive a DH a little while back but decided to pass. It was before they were getting much in the way of discounts and I just could not justify it. I don't like being that guy, but I still like the looks of the S550 better. The direction they moved with the interior is not really my thing either. I didn't really push it on the test drive, so I don't really know how it compares at the limit, but I personally was looking for something more raw like the GT350 than to how the DH is described as more refined. I think the DH is a nice car, ultimately I prefer the M1 and would rather have it, even if cost were equal. I wanted to like the DH more, but I'm not sure they are moving a direction I 100% agree with.

 

[Mach 307]

Just actually watched the video, awesome video for sure. Mach gets my vote, obviously I’m biased. Reliability was a concern for me, I was originally in the market for a 350R before I bought this car. I got crucified for this the other day, but I don’t think it’s just a narrative, hell both the guys in the video are/were on their second Voodoo motor, and did everything right. Couldn’t do it, to each their own. I’ll take my ESP for $4k for 10 years/100k of coverage bumper to bumper, and not lose sleep. Dark Horse is cool, can’t do the name. It’s either 350 or Mach for me. If I was older and had disposable wealth I’d of probably said F it and got the 350R, but I’m 25 and in a period of life I need to focus on investing, not fixing or modding cars. That’s me. Love that we have options.

 

[MachNroll]

Just actually watched the video, awesome video for sure. Mach gets my vote, obviously I’m biased. Reliability was a concern for me, I was originally in the market for a 350R before I bought this car. I got crucified for this the other day, but I don’t think it’s just a narrative, hell both the guys in the video are/were on their second Voodoo motor, and did everything right. Couldn’t do it, to each their own. I’ll take my ESP for $4k for 10 years/100k of coverage bumper to bumper, and not lose sleep. Dark Horse is cool, can’t do the name. It’s either 350 or Mach for me. If I was older and had disposable wealth I’d of probably said F it and got the 350R, but I’m 25 and in a period of life I need to focus on investing, not fixing or modding cars. That’s me. Love that we have options.

Yep yep.. I agree with you. Heck, if you are 25 and own a Mach 1 AND are focusing on investing too I would say you are doing it right!

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