Mach 1 vs Dark Horse.

[First Stang]

Insights from someone who has both. That boot up delay before starting was new to me.

Sponsored

 

[BossPapa]

Great review and thanks for posting. My take, they are both strong performing cars so it comes down to which one you like the looks of, or in my case which one I bought first and will definitely be keeping!

 

[murick]

I was surprised by the dash comparison. When I was shopping for Mustang/Mach 1 I was a bit reluctant about the then new digital dash and whether it would not be too much cluttered or hard to read.

After few years with it, I cannot really complain. It shows just enough info and in a practical manner too - like the top RPM bar which is definitely useful when driving hard.
I would not imagine that someone at Ford would consider the "infotainment" dash in DH to be an improvement

 

[2021 Mach 1]

I have a Mach 1, but I think that the Dark Horse looks great and the interior is brilliant.

 

[Johnny maverick]

I don't think you'll get very many to stir that pot.

 

[Nickel]

Mach 1 HP vs Dark Horse HP on the same tire will simply come down to driver vs driver. I completely disappeared from one in my 22 M1HP on the tail of the dragon in April, but I'm a better driver and know the road way better. The DH driver acknowledged this too. On the track, my friend in his 16GTPP was lapping a couple seconds faster than one at AMP and the car is pretty much all stock except for tires and brakes.

With that being said. The DH is heavier so the 500hp doesn't mean much which is why 0-60 time is the same. The interior is hideous and the body isn't that great either. The looks part is just opinion based though, but numbers don't lie. That extra weight hurts performance on tight roads and S650 sales are terrible. The Mach 1 is currently the most sought after Mustang.

 

[RobZ71LM7]

If I bought new today I'd be buying a dark horse. The only reason to choose a Mach 1 over one is the significant cost savings due to inflation. The dark horse does have superior brakes which the Mach 1 should've had versus PP1 hand me downs. Vorshlag's numbers with the dark horse are impressive. It also sounds like HP Tuners has finally cracked the S650.

 

[geep81]

They missed the real comparison between the two - the factory stickers.

Which has more / better stickers? Which had the better graphic designer? This is the true test between these two IMO.

 

[Mikepol2]

They missed the real comparison between the two - the factory stickers.

Which has more / better stickers? Which had the better graphic designer? This is the true test between these two IMO.

Love my Mach stickers but if I bought a DH those hood decals couldn't come off fast enough.

 

[Schwerin]

Mach 1 HP vs Dark Horse HP on the same tire will simply come down to driver vs driver. I completely disappeared from one in my 22 M1HP on the tail of the dragon in April, but I'm a better driver and know the road way better. The DH driver acknowledged this too. On the track, my friend in his 16GTPP was lapping a couple seconds faster than one at AMP and the car is pretty much all stock except for tires and brakes.

With that being said. The DH is heavier so the 500hp doesn't mean much which is why 0-60 time is the same. The interior is hideous and the body isn't that great either. The looks part is just opinion based though, but numbers don't lie. That extra weight hurts performance on tight roads and S650 sales are terrible. The Mach 1 is currently the most sought after Mustang.

Maybe if you don't count the GT350. If not including Shelby's I agree. An Eruption Mach1 is one of the few cars I'd trade for.

 

[Nickel]

Maybe if you don't count the GT350. If not including Shelby's I agree. An Eruption Mach1 is one of the few cars I'd trade for.

Eruption Green is so awesome on the Mach's.

And I love the GT350's/R's but I'm seeing a lot of people choose the Mach 1 over it due to the reliability of the coyote over the voodoo. There's even a few threads of some dudes trading out of their 350's for a M1HP. R's are holding their value quite well and even gone back past the MSRP, but the 350's overall are lower than Mach 1 prices.

 

[Mach1Racer]

If I bought new today I'd be buying a dark horse. The only reason to choose a Mach 1 over one is the significant cost savings due to inflation. The dark horse does have superior brakes which the Mach 1 should've had versus PP1 hand me downs. Vorshlag's numbers with the dark horse are impressive. It also sounds like HP Tuners has finally cracked the S650.

Where did you hear that?

 

[NovaSayan]

Insights from someone who has both. That boot up delay before starting was new to me.

Wish we could see a Dyno shootout between a US spec Dark Horse VS. Mach 1, but it's neat seeing the UK Specs against one another. Good review! Both amazing cars

 

[klink]

In my humble opinion, the best thing Ford could do would be to kill the hideous dark horse and bring back the Mach one. From an outsider perspective, I believe the Mach one is the most desirable Mustang and it’s not even close.

 

[Doc Dee]

If I bought new today I'd be buying a dark horse. The only reason to choose a Mach 1 over one is the significant cost savings due to inflation. The dark horse does have superior brakes which the Mach 1 should've had versus PP1 hand me downs. Vorshlag's numbers with the dark horse are impressive. It also sounds like HP Tuners has finally cracked the S650.

I hear the tuners have broken open programming on the dark horse… I’ve got to take exception to the brake comment because I’ve got six piston Brembo’s on my 23 Mach1.

Sponsored