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

[Mach 307]

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!

Thank you man. Honestly I know it sounds a little backwards, but what led me to the Mach 1 was chasing financial stability on the fun car part of life. Was either continue modding my GT and maybe be happy with it, and have no warranty. Or get something I was happy with out of the box with no surprises.

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[luc]

I got bored watching it after a few minutes…trying too hard to look/ sound
Like Randy Pobst in their review of the car
They lost me when they complimented the Dh braking ( after all they put Baer rotors on it) and it’s superiority……. when going 50 mph …seriously?
What a grueling test !!!!!
btw, this guy Chris mentioned that he used to “race” his Gt350 with Hawk dtc.60 front brake pads that cost $150
Anyone that believes that Dtc.60 are real track/race pads , must be equating racing with autocross
Anyone that is serious about racing/tracking will use pads like the Cobalt Xr1 that cost at least 3 times more

 

[5.2 liters of democracy]

My bad, clicked the wrong one…

5-6 week lead time lol

They've had my motor since Sept 2024 and won't return emails. I had to go to a different builder for a new motor because I want to move on with my life.

 

[Mjc1241]

I got bored watching it after a few minutes…trying too hard to look/ sound
Like Randy Pobst in their review of the car
They lost me when they complimented the Dh braking ( after all they put Baer rotors on it) and it’s superiority……. when going 50 mph …seriously?
What a grueling test !!!!!

Chris provides an explanation on the braking system differences between the stock DH and his previously owned GT350. See about 6:50 to 7:20 of the video. Out of the box the stock brakes on the DH handling package are actually exceptional, which Jason Camisa commented on in his Hagerty video comparison between the M4 and DH. Car and Driver's Carlos Lago had a similar comment n their 2023 0-150-0 Speed Test video. Unfortunately the DH brakes do not directly interchange with the 2015-2020 GT350 without modifications. The calibrations are also different.

 

[luc]

Chris has stock DH handling package brakes on his car which are Brembos. Dario initially referred to them as Baer brakes, but Chris stated they were stock. Chris provides an explanation on the braking system differences between the stock DH brakes with upgraded pads and his previously owned GT350 brakes with upgraded pads. See about 6:50 to 7:20 of the video. Out of the box the stock brakes on the DH handling package are actually exceptional which Jason Camisa commented on his Hagerty video. Car and Driver's Carlos Lago had a similar comment in a test they did in their 2023 0-150-0 Speed Test video. Unfortunately the DH brakes do not directly interchange with the 2015-2020 GT350 without modifications. The calibrations are also different.

Brembo manufactures the brake system for the 2024+ Ford Mustang Dark Horse, including the upgraded brakes found on models with the Handling Package. These are high-performance, 6-piston front calipers that come standard with large cast iron discs (390mm/15.4-inch) designed for intense track use and shorter stopping distances.

Thank you for the education, only been racing and tracking for the past 33 years, including the last 7 with my track only 17 pp1
So I’m pretty familiar with braking system and Brembo
You don’t judge a braking system by braking a couple of times from 50 mph on the street
High speed, repeated braking, like for T2 at Laguna Seca, is where you put a braking system to a test and can really judge it
And, btw, nothing make as big a difference than pads…. Race pads in this case

 

[Mach 307]

Thank you for the education, only been racing and tracking for the past 33 years, including the last 7 with my track only 17 pp1
So I’m pretty familiar with braking system and Brembo
You don’t judge a braking system by braking a couple of times from 50 mph on the street
High speed, repeated braking, like for T2 at Laguna Seca, is where you put a braking system to a test and can really judge it
And, btw, nothing make as big a difference than pads…. Race pads in this case

You’re gonna need more experience than that, and more knowledge about braking systems, especially Brembos, when I race you in my daddy’s Bugatti at the track bro

 

[Mjc1241]

Thank you for the education, only been racing and tracking for the past 33 years, including the last 7 with my track only 17 pp1
So I’m pretty familiar with braking system and Brembo
You don’t judge a braking system by braking a couple of times from 50 mph on the street
High speed, repeated braking, like for T2 at Laguna Seca, is where you put a braking system to a test and can really judge it
And, btw, nothing make as big a difference than pads…. Race pads in this case

I actually edited my post after rewatching the video. Chris does have Baer rotors on his car with the stock DH calipers. You were correct sir and I was wrong. My apologies.

His explanation of the differences between the two are interesting, along with adding in the Mach 1 brake comparison with a pad upgrade.

 

[luc]

I actually edited my post after rewatching the video. Chris does have Baer rotors on his car with the stock DH calipers. You were correct sir and I was wrong. My apologies.

His explanation of the differences between the two are interesting, along with adding in the Mach 1 brake comparison with a pad upgrade.

You’re a gentleman…

 

[luc]

You’re gonna need more experience than that, and more knowledge about braking systems, especially Brembos, when I race you in my daddy’s Bugatti at the track bro

Darn… a Bugatti ?
Maybe i need to up my game a bit..
That should suffice ?

 

[Mach 307]

Darn… a Bugatti ?
Maybe i need to up my game a bit..
That should suffice ?

That should more than do the trick

 

[Crew4991]

Great post OP! This is such a weird quirk in the market right now, but honestly it’s kind of cool that buyers can pick exactly the flavor of Mustang they want for that $50k–$65k window.
I’d have to go with the GT350 since that voodoo hoodoo sound is just way too intoxicating to pass up. Can’t go wrong with the Mach 1 or the Dark Horse but they’re both awesome for different reasons. I don't care about reliability.

 

[Motokan]

Over the last couple months I’ve been watching the market pretty closely… and something kind of wild is happening.

Used GT350s, Mach 1s (especially Handling Pack), and even some Dark Horses are all starting to overlap in that ~$50K–$65K range.

That creates a pretty interesting problem: You’re spending the same money… but getting completely different cars.

So, I met up with Dario Girnus, and we swapped cars back-to-back:

He drove my Dark Horse (Handling Pack)
I jumped back into a GT350 (after owning one previously)
And we broke down where the Mach 1 fits in based on real seat time (street + track)

Big takeaways:

Dark Horse (S650) – By far the most refined. Brakes, MagneRide, and overall confidence at the limit are on another level. Easiest to drive fast.
GT350 – Still the most special experience. Raw, analog, high-revving… but the engine/reliability question is real and should factor into your decision.
Mach 1 – Honestly the sweet spot for a lot of people. Feels closer to Dark Horse than GT350 in capability, but keeps more of the S550 character.

If you’re in that price range right now, this might be one of the hardest Mustang decisions in years.

Let me know your thoughts!

Full video here:

That GT350 engine: revs high so what? If it has issues(well known), it's not a wise choice choosing a problem child.

 

[wingnutt]

 

[MAGS1]

The 350R is one of the more exhilarating cars I’ve ever driven, the motor doesn’t scare me at all. I’ve gone back and forth on getting one for a few years now. One of these days I’ll actually do it and won’t think twice about the motor.

Just because some had issues doesn’t mean that all or most will.

 

[MachNroll]

The 350R is one of the more exhilarating cars I’ve ever driven, the motor doesn’t scare me at all. I’ve gone back and forth on getting one for a few years now. One of these days I’ll actually do it and won’t think twice about the motor.

Just because some had issues doesn’t mean that all or most will.

Well, I'll say this; the times that I'm pumping gas beside a busy road and off in the distance I hear an approaching GT350 (yes, hear), I start to get all geeked out as it drives past because that car just does it for me! That said; if I was in the market for a GT350 today without concern for age of the car or engine, no warranty etc. I would be very selective and try to set myself up for success by eliminating obvious potential problem cars. I'd try and find a private party sale, original owner, oasis report, full maintenance history and documents, independent mechanic inspection, the works. Then set money aside for maintenance/repairs etc.

If I am being totally honest, the GT350 is probably an itch that I should have scratched years ago when I could have bought one new from a dealership. Problem is back then I did not realize that it would later become an itch that will most likely never get scratched. But, the Mach 1 HP that I have now is pretty good at helping me deal with that itch!

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