Anyone regrats their DH purchase?

[Junkyard Dog]

I recently traded my DH HP for a 2021 GT500. I was at the point of adding boost to the DH (aka $$$), as the car is just lazy in stock form. Adding up all the money needed to add boost and supporting mods, it put me over the cost of a GT500.

So, off the dealership I went, thinking for sure I would get hosed on trade for the DH--which would then solidify my decision to throw a Whipple on the DH. To my surprise, the trade in offer at the dealer (after a lot of back and forth) was really good.

If anyone is looking for a DH HP, blue ember premium, manual with standard seats (and yes, the seat coolers work great in the s650, on the s550 they don't do a whole lot), this would be a good one to pick up. The car was well taken care of and has PPF on the bumper, front fenders, hood, a pillars and impact area in front of the rear wheels. The car is also ceramic coated. https://www.jimtidwellford.com/inve...ark-horse-rwd-2-door-coupe-1fa6p8r09r5507640/

As an FYI, their listing price is more than I paid for the car brand new, but not by much.

All that said, the DH was a great car, but it definitely needed aftermarket help to make it exciting. The GT500 is a complete blast stock form. Without a doubt, the DH HP had noticeably more grip (likely largely due to the trofeo RSs), but the GT500 is no slouch. Everything else goes to the GT500.

Before the manual vs auto comes up: you really need to experience the DCT in the GT500, it is absolutely brilliant. I went on a spirited drive through the mountains over the weekend, and there was not a single instance where I missed the manual transmission.

All this is not to knock the DH--it's a great car and feels extremely planted which inspires a lot of confidence to toss it into corners. Part of me will always wonder if I just should have thrown boost at the DH--especially since I waited for tuning to open up.

I don't think anybody is going to fault you for buying a GT500.

I am curious how a Dark Horse with a Whipple would perform against that Dark Horse, though (in every way, not just acceleration)

Sponsored

 

[08mojo]

I don't think anybody is going to fault you for buying a GT500.

I am curious how a Dark Horse with a Whipple would perform against that Dark Horse, though (in every way, not just acceleration)

From a handling perspective:

The suspension between the DH and the S550 Shelby cars are very, very similar. The S550 Shelby car's have a slightly wider front stance, which is the only reason you cannot swap wheels between GT500/GT350R and the DH. I'm sure the spring rates and sway bars are slightly different, but the physical components are virtually identical. Just take a look at aftermarket suspension parts and many can cross between the DH and Shelby's.

That said, the GT500 will weigh slightly more (+100ish pounds) than a DH with a Whipple (or any other power adder), so if everything else were equal, the DH would have an advantage. However, that advantage may be equalized by the DCT.

From a power perspective:

Strictly speaking bolt-ons, the GT500 will have an advantage due to slightly higher displacement and a more boost friendly compression ratio. The power that can be made by the voodoo, predator or coyote is more than the chassis can handle, which is what makes these cars fun!

 

[Junkyard Dog]

From a handling perspective:

The suspension between the DH and the S550 Shelby cars are very, very similar. The S550 Shelby car's have a slightly wider front stance, which is the only reason you cannot swap wheels between GT500/GT350R and the DH. I'm sure the spring rates and sway bars are slightly different, but the physical components are virtually identical. Just take a look at aftermarket suspension parts and many can cross between the DH and Shelby's.

That said, the GT500 will weigh slightly more (+100ish pounds) than a DH with a Whipple (or any other power adder), so if everything else were equal, the DH would have an advantage. However, that advantage may be equalized by the DCT.

From a power perspective:

Strictly speaking bolt-ons, the GT500 will have an advantage due to slightly higher displacement and a more boost friendly compression ratio. The power that can be made by the voodoo, predator or coyote is more than the chassis can handle, which is what makes these cars fun!

Ok, it is only 760 hp, though, at the flywheel, right?

I mean, that is an outrageously crazy amount of horsepower from the factory, especially back in 2019, when it first came out.


BUT - a stage 2 Whipple ought to put out 875 hp. And less weight. 4225 pounds is a lot.

DCT may cut some lap times - I have never driven one, just read about it and watched Youtube videos and dreamed . . .

I honestly do not know which car has better handling and brakes, but I would think a handling package Dark Horse would either win out in those two categories or at least match.

And with the Trofeo RS tires, the Dark Horse does do a good job of eating up the track.

 

[hoodscoops]

lol. Again, not really sure what youre trying to get at but ok

 

[hoodscoops]

lol. Again, not really sure what youre trying to get at but ok

 

[Frogdog1]

This thread just reinforces why I didn't want a Darkhorse. For me, it was a great decision. There was a brand new Darkhorse sitting on my dealer's floor they were anxious to get rid of when I ordered my GT.....

 

[Junkyard Dog]

lol. Again, not really sure what youre trying to get at but ok

lol. Again, not really sure what youre trying to get at but ok

Time to drop it. Read the room.

 

[Zig]

Time to drop it. Read the room.

Done

 

[hoodscoops]

Time to drop it. Read the room.

drop what? All i mentioned was my regrats on getting the DH. For that price, an M2 is a better option. People have vivid conclusions here. With one clown insisting that im an economist.

 

[dmwphoto]

What’s a regrat?

 

[08mojo]

Ok, it is only 760 hp, though, at the flywheel, right?

I mean, that is an outrageously crazy amount of horsepower from the factory, especially back in 2019, when it first came out.


BUT - a stage 2 Whipple ought to put out 875 hp. And less weight. 4225 pounds is a lot.

DCT may cut some lap times - I have never driven one, just read about it and watched Youtube videos and dreamed . . .

I honestly do not know which car has better handling and brakes, but I would think a handling package Dark Horse would either win out in those two categories or at least match.

And with the Trofeo RS tires, the Dark Horse does do a good job of eating up the track.

Having driven both, I'm pretty confident a DH HP is capable of carrying more corner speed than a GT500. Less weight for one, and the Trofeo RS tires provide way more grip than a pilot 4s. That said, I'm comparing my base GT500, the CFTP GT500 would be a better comparison to the DH HP. I'm not so sure the DH HP would much, if any, advantage over a CFTP.


I'd also compare a Stage 1 Whipple to a stock GT500. The GT500 is a few, very simple bolt-ons from putting 800+ down at the tires.

At the end of the day, a DH with boost is a very capable, badass ride!

 

[Ewags81]

What’s a regrat?

fun fact. internet search defines a regrat to be a slovenian dandelion

 

[Frogdog1]

A "regrat", I speculate, is a miss-spelling for "regret". But who knows, some people have great imaginations....

For some people, an M2 is a better option than a Darkhorse, for other's, not so much the case. Some people with a Darkhorse they "regrat" having, they won't get rid of it and go get an M2. Why? Damned if anyone cares or knows why..... All I know about BMW's is, I've owned them and thank goodness, got rid of them before they exploded after the warranty was over which is about the time they need new bottom end bearings. They can be good while they last but for looks.......nah, not at all. They aren't long term cars and not really a good buy considering one is paying for tariffs and monetary values, sometimes. Depends on the value of the dollar and Germany's money. If Germany has any money left......

Very entertaining thread!!l

 

[flyinlow007]

The M2 is a great car, but it doesn't have a V8, which is what I want. Don't care if the M2 is a better car for the same money, I want V8 power with a track oriented chassis, the Dark Horse fits the bill.

 

[dmwphoto]

I’m still giggling at the Slovenian dandelion lol

Sponsored