S650 GT vs. S550 GT Impressions & Comparisons

[MidwayJ]

I’m trying to find a Ford approved garage to get a H pipe fitted so I don’t mess with the warranty! But I’m struggling to find one 🥲

An H pipe generally doesn't impact the warranty except perhaps for parts of the exhaust itself (not the cats though). Obviously, things can be different depending on where you are located.

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[MidwayJ]

I also just came out of a S550 and...have some thoughts. New car (4th Mustang) is a '25 GT 401a, 3.55, convertible 10A, 20", Brembo, non-PP, no active exhaust. Shadow Black.

I had a 2015 GT convertible 6A, with a 3.15 rear and 20" wheels. The 10R80 + 3.55 is a HUGE upgrade over that 6-speed slushbox. Like damn. What a difference in performance. No complaints whatsoever.

Hot-button item AS/S is pretty good, actually. It's pretty unobtrusive and works about as well as my Telluride or Civic. I'm not offended by it's existence. If you turn on Auto-Hold plus the AS/S, it's terrible.

Steering is roughly the same for me in both cars - numb as hell, but comfortable. You're spot-on about the effort comparison. Ford really just screwed the pooch on the steering on this car. My Civic has more precise, communicative steering. Maybe it's the big 20" wheels, who knows. EIther way it blows.

I'm gonna catch heat for this but I much prefer the '15 exhaust to the '25. Reason? volume. I'm not a a loud exhaust guy. I hate it but this is a tradeoff for the rest of the whole Mustang experience. I think the exhaust sounds good, but I'd be happy with a much quieter setup. In hindsight, should have tried to find one with the active exhaust but cest la vie.

I've actually come around on the screens. I think everything works pretty well, everything is laid out perfectly, the retro gauges are awesome. Would have been cool to see if they could do something a little more stylish and maybe tried harder to integrate into a cohesive design but it's fine in general. It's not like they tried hard with the 87-93s but nobody cares about that. I do wish Ford had tried harder to cover up or change the S550 bits inside. The door panels are almost identical. That's kinda ridiculous that they re-used 10-year-old door handles. And a $66k car with seat memory yet also manually-adjustable seat backs is insulting.

Overall it's a significant jump over my '15. SO much quicker and more responsive with the 3.55 and 10R80. Nicer materials inside. comfortable but firm seats. Quieter inside, louder outside. The thing is, I don't generally drive hard, it's just a cruiser for me. The '15 would settle down and chill out more than the '25. It was also a lot less fun to drive...

Exhaust volume is a personal preference thing, and I can understand wanting it quieter for a convertible cruiser. You definitely would have appreciated the active exhaust.

I had the A6 transmission in my '15 V6. At the time I thought it was OK but after getting the A10 in the '19 it seemed quite lazy in comparison. The S650 A10 is even more responsive while also shifting more smoothly.

 

[kurto93]

An H pipe generally doesn't impact the warranty except perhaps for parts of the exhaust itself (not the cats though). Obviously, things can be different depending on where you are located.

I’m based in the UK and just worry if I have any issues with the car they will look at the H pipe and just blame that to get a way round not fixing my car

 

[Arthonon]

I have an '18 S550, and no plans to get an S650, but I still like seeing new Mustang info. I was neutral on the looks of the S650 at first, but it's grown on me and I generally like the new look.

I sat in one at a car show, and had a similar experience with the infotainment and dash screens - not wild about how they look from the outside, but inside, I think I'd be fine with it, although I do prefer my layout of a digital dash in the usual place, and a decently sized screen for the infotainment system, but lower.

I have the Performance Pack with Magneride, as well as the A10, and have been very happy with it since I bought it. I recently got the Ford Racing (formerly Ford Performance) Power Pack put in with the cold air intake, new throttle body, and engine/transmission tune, and it does make a noticeable difference, and I wonder if it makes it more like the S650s, particularly in transmission functionality. Mine was always smooth in Normal mode, but could shift hard in Sport or Track mode, but the new tune seems to have smoothed that out, and it just generally seems to be smarter in gear selection now.

 

[MidwayJ]

I have an '18 S550, and no plans to get an S650, but I still like seeing new Mustang info. I was neutral on the looks of the S650 at first, but it's grown on me and I generally like the new look.

I sat in one at a car show, and had a similar experience with the infotainment and dash screens - not wild about how they look from the outside, but inside, I think I'd be fine with it, although I do prefer my layout of a digital dash in the usual place, and a decently sized screen for the infotainment system, but lower.

I have the Performance Pack with Magneride, as well as the A10, and have been very happy with it since I bought it. I recently got the Ford Racing (formerly Ford Performance) Power Pack put in with the cold air intake, new throttle body, and engine/transmission tune, and it does make a noticeable difference, and I wonder if it makes it more like the S650s, particularly in transmission functionality. Mine was always smooth in Normal mode, but could shift hard in Sport or Track mode, but the new tune seems to have smoothed that out, and it just generally seems to be smarter in gear selection now.

I've encountered many people with S550 performance pack cars, but I'm struggling to recall if any of the owners ever mentioned having magneride. It doesn't seem to be very common. I have Mach 1 owner friends who obviously have it and they speak highly of it.

Interesting about the Ford Racing tune smoothing out the transmission shifts.

 

[MustangMitch69]

I also just came out of a S550 and...have some thoughts. New car (4th Mustang) is a '25 GT 401a, 3.55, convertible 10A, 20", Brembo, non-PP, no active exhaust. Shadow Black.

I had a 2015 GT convertible 6A, with a 3.15 rear and 20" wheels. The 10R80 + 3.55 is a HUGE upgrade over that 6-speed slushbox. Like damn. What a difference in performance. No complaints whatsoever.

Hot-button item AS/S is pretty good, actually. It's pretty unobtrusive and works about as well as my Telluride or Civic. I'm not offended by it's existence. If you turn on Auto-Hold plus the AS/S, it's terrible.

Steering is roughly the same for me in both cars - numb as hell, but comfortable. You're spot-on about the effort comparison. Ford really just screwed the pooch on the steering on this car. My Civic has more precise, communicative steering. Maybe it's the big 20" wheels, who knows. EIther way it blows.

I'm gonna catch heat for this but I much prefer the '15 exhaust to the '25. Reason? volume. I'm not a a loud exhaust guy. I hate it but this is a tradeoff for the rest of the whole Mustang experience. I think the exhaust sounds good, but I'd be happy with a much quieter setup. In hindsight, should have tried to find one with the active exhaust but cest la vie.

I've actually come around on the screens. I think everything works pretty well, everything is laid out perfectly, the retro gauges are awesome. Would have been cool to see if they could do something a little more stylish and maybe tried harder to integrate into a cohesive design but it's fine in general. It's not like they tried hard with the 87-93s but nobody cares about that. I do wish Ford had tried harder to cover up or change the S550 bits inside. The door panels are almost identical. That's kinda ridiculous that they re-used 10-year-old door handles. And a $66k car with seat memory yet also manually-adjustable seat backs is insulting.

Overall it's a significant jump over my '15. SO much quicker and more responsive with the 3.55 and 10R80. Nicer materials inside. comfortable but firm seats. Quieter inside, louder outside. The thing is, I don't generally drive hard, it's just a cruiser for me. The '15 would settle down and chill out more than the '25. It was also a lot less fun to drive...

It's not your rims causing the numb steering. Mine has 19's and has the same issue. I added a bunch of chassis upgrades like vertical links, IRS support system, K-Brace, and jacking rails and it definitely makes the front and rear feel more unified and like it "sways" less while turning, but I can still turn the steering wheel about 4 inches or so in either direction and the wheels don't move much if at all.

I don't mind the screens either but I do mind how easily they get dirty, especially during the Spring during "pollen season" where I live. Saleen makes a dash cover type of thing that supposedly helps with that and makes it look more retro, but it's not inexpensive!

 

[LouG]

I’m based in the UK and just worry if I have any issues with the car they will look at the H pipe and just blame that to get a way round not fixing my car

As a general rule, they have to prove the mods caused the problem.

 

[bbowes9]

I kind of went the same route as you did. went from a 2013 V6 to a 2018 GT Premium and now a 2024 GT Premium. I can agree with literally every single point you brought up except magneride ONLY because I don't have it and never have. solid write-up! I also went from 3.15s to 3.55s so the gas mileage thing is something I relate with lol, I one time got 32mpg on a 6 hour drive with my 2018(even tuned) and would never get anywhere close on this one. just an fyi you'll get used to the screen too! I had that issue for a few months.

 

[MidwayJ]

I kind of went the same route as you did. went from a 2013 V6 to a 2018 GT Premium and now a 2024 GT Premium. I can agree with literally every single point you brought up except magneride ONLY because I don't have it and never have. solid write-up! I also went from 3.15s to 3.55s so the gas mileage thing is something I relate with lol, I one time got 32mpg on a 6 hour drive with my 2018(even tuned) and would never get anywhere close on this one. just an fyi you'll get used to the screen too! I had that issue for a few months.

Yes, a very similar path! You've had some good looking Mustangs!

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