I don't get the Dark Horse vs GT

[Zig]

The more important question to ask is

Do we LET him?

A game of keep away.

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[smurfslayer]

A game of keep away.

Before I bought my Dark Horse, someone on FRF posted up a link to a Rap they were looking at and I quipped back ‘hurry up because if you don’t buy it, I will’. At first I was just being me ...

But then I thought to myself... “Self, how would having 2 Raptors be a bad plan?” Of course, that’s a trick question because it’s NEVER. Then I posted again, warning that I wasn’t being facetious, and I’d buy it.

Short story long they got it and I kinda felt bad for not swiping that truck out from under him. I kept passively looking until my wife dragged me to what was supposed to be a post wedding celebration, but in reality was a full on ceremony, vows and all.

THIS violated our long standing marriage amendment, the terms of which are ... or were: I don’t have to go to any more weddings again. Ever. because she browbeat me into going to a wedding where I knew nobody, so I made the offer and she accepted.

So, once I passed it by our mutual friends, it was unanimous. Wife broke the agreement.
I just happened to have set my eyes on the Dark Horse about a week or so after.

I’m sure she wouldn’t have given me any static about it, she’s approved of all my vehicle choices, and has even told me to get a new bike. Although it’s been a while. It’s still an awesome story. The woman whose “post wedding wedding” we went to is on number 4. I keep reminding her that I’ve had my eyes on a Factory Five Cobra replica and she’s my best chance of getting a green light on the purchase.

 

[Oldfart]

Ok, now it makes more sense. Welcome to 7G. Are you thinking about getting a Mustang?

The more important question to ask is

Do we LET him?

I'm looking hard at a DH. Reading through all the good info in here. Smurfslayer can tell you what a classy and sophisticated individual I am!

 

[roadpilot]

I'm looking hard a t a DH. Reading through all the good info in here. Smurfslayer can tell you what a classy and sophisticated individual I am!

With a username like yours, how could we possibly think any different?

 

[smurfslayer]

With a username like yours, how could we possibly think any different?

Oh man... The FRF Oldfart greatest hits are ... legendary.

 

[ChitownStang]

FYI- just found out my Dark Horse has much lighter 2-piece Rotors than the GT PP.
Just a + in the why buy a DH category.

 

[d4rkg04t]

I have a 2024 GT with PP, Auto, NP, active exhaust. MSRP $52,575 but I got Plan X price plus a $1250 discount so total $48,838 and that was last December. My car looks and drives fantastic and I get a lot of compliments and people often ask if it's a dark horse. I don't know if I could have got a DH last year which I doubt and if I did it probably would have been $30K more. I have 486 HP vs 500 and the tuning you get with the PP. So that's why I don't get the DH, enlighten me.

I know I'm late to the party but I'll take the bait anyway.

It's basically a heavily modified GT, giving you a humongous starting point advantage for track day/HPDE.

Stand-out differences are:

1. More aggressive chassis tuning and suspension profiles. (it will edge out a GT in handling w/ MagnaRide if both drivers equal, or obliterate a non-MangaRide GT)

2. Better cams. (according to Ford, though I've never physically compared them IRL)

3. Forged rods and uniquely balanced crank. (more boost/juice safely or just live forever NA)

4. Better manual transmission. (tougher, close set gear ratios for road racing but hurts drag racing times)

5. More aero downforce. (irrelevant to drag racing)

6. More starting horsepower. (more potential, though marginal)

7. Faster in a straight line, around corners, and when braking. (when stock vs stock, irrelevant to drag racing) Also, don't believe the mainstream review websites claiming 4.x second 0-60 manual numbers. I put 3.73 down bone stock with a 3500 rpm launch on the street. Most of them don't know how to drive and I'll die on that hill.

8. Differential cooling system. (again for tracked cars it's important)

9. Unique interior/exterior styling (weak point to make but heeeeey)

10. Was the basis for the GTD (it's basically a heavily modified Dark Horse not GT according to FPP reps)

If you take a GT and want to do a new bottom-end, cams, new transmission, upgraded to a semi-pro road race suspension setup, installed a diff cooler, and then a functional splitter/spoiler, it would rival the upgrade costs (high-end suspension kits can get expensive) from going GT to Dark Horse provided you weren't shopping for Amazon/eBay specials.

If all you want to do is drive normally to enjoy the car, do a highway pull with other street racers, fool around at redlights, or are serious about modding for drag racing, then it makes zero sense to spend the extra money on a Dark Horse unless you just have to have one and you have the money to blow on it.

For transparency, I had an FBO '20 GT and it's an unfathomable night-and-day difference in performance and predictability around corners but only when you push the cars near their limits. With the HP, it can take a corner damn near like Pac-Man once you get brave enough to risk it all. The average street/armchair racer will never be able to tell the difference otherwise.

Besides, you can absolutely compete with the Dark Horse on road courses if you drop $$$ on a GT with similar aftermarket upgrades, so it's not like you can't approach or surpass a stock Dark Horse's ability to carve up corners at a later date when you're financially comfortable to. Just depends on your budget.

 

[25Raptor]

I know I'm late to the party but I'll take the bait anyway.

It's basically a heavily modified GT, giving you a humongous starting point advantage for track day/HPDE.

Stand-out differences are:

1. More aggressive chassis tuning and suspension profiles. (it will edge out a GT in handling w/ MagnaRide if both drivers equal, or obliterate a non-MangaRide GT)

2. Better cams. (according to Ford, though I've never physically compared them IRL)

3. Forged rods and uniquely balanced crank. (more boost/juice safely or just live forever NA)

4. Better manual transmission. (tougher, close set gear ratios for road racing but hurts drag racing times)

5. More aero downforce. (irrelevant to drag racing)

6. More starting horsepower. (more potential, though marginal)

7. Faster in a straight line, around corners, and when braking. (when stock vs stock, irrelevant to drag racing) Also, don't believe the mainstream review websites claiming 4.x second 0-60 manual numbers. I put 3.73 down bone stock with a 3500 rpm launch on the street. Most of them don't know how to drive and I'll die on that hill.

8. Differential cooling system. (again for tracked cars it's important)

9. Unique interior/exterior styling (weak point to make but heeeeey)

10. Was the basis for the GTD (it's basically a heavily modified Dark Horse not GT according to FPP reps)

If you take a GT and want to do a new bottom-end, cams, new transmission, upgraded to a semi-pro road race suspension setup, installed a diff cooler, and then a functional splitter/spoiler, it would rival the upgrade costs (high-end suspension kits can get expensive) from going GT to Dark Horse provided you weren't shopping for Amazon/eBay specials.

If all you want to do is drive normally to enjoy the car, do a highway pull with other street racers, fool around at redlights, or are serious about modding for drag racing, then it makes zero sense to spend the extra money on a Dark Horse unless you just have to have one and you have the money to blow on it.

For transparency, I had an FBO '20 GT and it's an unfathomable night-and-day difference in performance and predictability around corners but only when you push the cars near their limits. With the HP, it can take a corner damn near like Pac-Man once you get brave enough to risk it all. The average street/armchair racer will never be able to tell the difference otherwise.

Besides, you can absolutely compete with the Dark Horse on road courses if you drop $$$ on a GT with similar aftermarket upgrades, so it's not like you can't approach or surpass a stock Dark Horse's ability to carve up corners at a later date when you're financially comfortable to. Just depends on your budget.

What he said - plus it's numbered and yours isn't, and it's worth more on resale. GT dime a dozen like the C8 corvette every poor boys car - DH special build car, allocated, numbered, etc, etc...

 

[Paul's stable]

I have a 2024 GT with PP, Auto, NP, active exhaust. MSRP $52,575 but I got Plan X price plus a $1250 discount so total $48,838 and that was last December. My car looks and drives fantastic and I get a lot of compliments and people often ask if it's a dark horse. I don't know if I could have got a DH last year which I doubt and if I did it probably would have been $30K more. I have 486 HP vs 500 and the tuning you get with the PP. So that's why I don't get the DH, enlighten me.

Little more than just 14 horse power.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I know I'm late to the party but I'll take the bait anyway.

It's basically a heavily modified GT, giving you a humongous starting point advantage for track day/HPDE.

Stand-out differences are:

1. More aggressive chassis tuning and suspension profiles. (it will edge out a GT in handling w/ MagnaRide if both drivers equal, or obliterate a non-MangaRide GT)

2. Better cams. (according to Ford, though I've never physically compared them IRL)

3. Forged rods and uniquely balanced crank. (more boost/juice safely or just live forever NA)

4. Better manual transmission. (tougher, close set gear ratios for road racing but hurts drag racing times)

5. More aero downforce. (irrelevant to drag racing)

6. More starting horsepower. (more potential, though marginal)

7. Faster in a straight line, around corners, and when braking. (when stock vs stock, irrelevant to drag racing) Also, don't believe the mainstream review websites claiming 4.x second 0-60 manual numbers. I put 3.73 down bone stock with a 3500 rpm launch on the street. Most of them don't know how to drive and I'll die on that hill.

8. Differential cooling system. (again for tracked cars it's important)

9. Unique interior/exterior styling (weak point to make but heeeeey)

10. Was the basis for the GTD (it's basically a heavily modified Dark Horse not GT according to FPP reps)

If you take a GT and want to do a new bottom-end, cams, new transmission, upgraded to a semi-pro road race suspension setup, installed a diff cooler, and then a functional splitter/spoiler, it would rival the upgrade costs (high-end suspension kits can get expensive) from going GT to Dark Horse provided you weren't shopping for Amazon/eBay specials.

If all you want to do is drive normally to enjoy the car, do a highway pull with other street racers, fool around at redlights, or are serious about modding for drag racing, then it makes zero sense to spend the extra money on a Dark Horse unless you just have to have one and you have the money to blow on it.

For transparency, I had an FBO '20 GT and it's an unfathomable night-and-day difference in performance and predictability around corners but only when you push the cars near their limits. With the HP, it can take a corner damn near like Pac-Man once you get brave enough to risk it all. The average street/armchair racer will never be able to tell the difference otherwise.

Besides, you can absolutely compete with the Dark Horse on road courses if you drop $$$ on a GT with similar aftermarket upgrades, so it's not like you can't approach or surpass a stock Dark Horse's ability to carve up corners at a later date when you're financially comfortable to. Just depends on your budget.

Excellent list.

Plus an 82 foot 60-0 stopping distance.

 

[d4rkg04t]

Excellent list.

Plus an 82 foot 60-0 stopping distance.

Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. I've tested that a couple times. It's real.

 

[MidwayJ]

GT dime a dozen like the C8 corvette every poor boys car - DH special build car, allocated, numbered, etc, etc...

This is how Ford convinces people to pay Corvette money for a Mustang.

 

[Frogdog1]

I haven't noticed a similar comparison, but I'm attaching some files published when the Mach rebooted; these highlight the main differences.

There are practical considerations, such as drivetrain components. For someone wanting a factory-built, warrantied, integrated system of performance components, the DH might be the best route. For someone tracking more often or building a race-only car, a DH might not make any sense at all. A stripped-down GT could be better, then purpose-built to suit their needs. It depends.

Then there are the subjective reasons, to include the uniqueness. It's why someone buys a Z0# or an 8-series when they'd rarely exceed the capabilities of a more available model. Countless reasons, most often specific to those individuals.

I cannot speak to pricing on the S650. I've never attempted to do a GT-to-DH $ comparison. Thirty large is a huge step up for any person, any make and model.

Probably the most intelligent answer having to do with human buying behavior I've read in a long time. Especially in cars, people buy and pay for what they want and in some cases, what they can afford. Just look around you the next time you're at a stoplight. Some things never cease to amaze me. They probably look at some of my vehicles and think the same thing.

 

[LouG]

Excellent list.

Plus an 82 foot 60-0 stopping distance.

For me, that's the most impressive thing about even the GT. And it's not just the outright power, the feel and modulation is superb.
Those Brembos are magic

 

[Junkyard Dog]

For me, that's the most impressive thing about even the GT. And it's not just the outright power, the feel and modulation is superb.
Those Brembos are magic

The brakes are great on the GT, but the shorter stopping distance on the Dark Horse handling package has mostly to do with the tires, Trofeo RS. They are essentially track tires that give an insanely short stopping distance due to enormous amounts of grip on asphalt.

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