Dark Horse Handling Pack - With or without and why?

[RebelMan]

Why did you decide, or not decide, to go with the handling pack?

I went without. I don't plan to track it (maybe on rare occasions) and suspect it would have better road manners and suppler ride as a daily driver and road tripper.

EDIT: The poll numbers might be a little skewed. I posted this thread in the Dark Horse sub forum, but I did not title this thread that way. Some non-Dark Horse owners may not have caught that which could have inflated the numbers for With. Unless they chime in to clarify, the early poll numbers (before I added Dark Horse to the thread tittle) maybe slightly off.

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[GoldenHand]

I only speak for myself:

I'm 28, shopping for a GT that will be my DD and also act as a track day car (2-3 times a year) without doing much of any additional modifications so I opted for Handling Package. My track day aspirations are now fading. If that's the case and later decide I no longer want to track the car, then I wouldn't buy a DH w/o Handling Package. It's too close to a normal GT to justify the increase in price, and I would rather buy something else with that kind of money at that point. Something with better tech and still fun to drive. I love the Dark Horse w/ Handling Package because it's all the car you'll ever need out the box that has a manual V8.

Ford marketed this as "the most track-capable car ever made by Mustang" and doesn't earn that moniker w/o Handling Package (Mach 1 Handling Package > Dark Horse w/o Handling Package). They should have made the Handling Package standard on the DH and made a PP2 for the GT that can act as a DH w/o HP. I'm sure others will argue about this, as well as Ford's marketing department, but this is my opinion.

 

[DCS]

I'm 77 and this will most likely be my last new car. I decided on the entire "package" less the stripes, fancy paint, and Recaro seats. I figured better to have the performance stuff than not. I will not be dragging or tracking. Just having fun.

 

[Dave2013M3]

I want the PP due to the Torsen out back and the large Brembos. That alone almost pays for it.

 

[RebelMan]

Ford marketed this as "the most track-capable car ever made by Mustang" and doesn't earn that moniker w/o Handling Package (Mach 1 Handling Package > Dark Horse w/o Handling Package). They should have made the Handling Package standard on the DH and made a PP2 for the GT that can act as a DH w/o HP. I'm sure others will argue about this, as well as Ford's marketing department, but this is my opinion.

Your feedback is appreciated.

As for the order of things, Ford dropped the GT PP2 when the MACH1 debuted making it the successor. The Dark Horse w/o HP is equivalent to the MACH1 and the MACH1 is roughly equivalent to what would have been the GT PP2 if it still existed. What you have then is this...

DH w/HP > DH wo/HP ~= MACH1 ~= GT PP2 > GT PP1 > GT

 

[Ryunker]

There is no reason or logic in my mind to do the HP, the DH in general is natively a performance car as built. Tires are already a fortune let alone the HP tires.

 

[BreadBurner]

Your feedback is appreciated.

As for the order of things, Ford dropped the GT PP2 when the MACH1 debuted making it the successor. The Dark Horse w/o HP is equivalent to the MACH1 and the MACH1 is roughly equivalent to what would have been the GT PP2 if it still existed. What you have then is this...

DH w/HP > DH wo/HP = MACH1 ~= GT PP2 > GT PP1 > GT

where would the Mach1 w/HP fall into this equation/ >than DH wo/HP or =to DH wo/HP

 

[RebelMan]

where would the Mach1 w/HP fall into this equation/ >than DH wo/HP or =to DH wo/HP

The MACH1 w/HP is more akin to the DH w/HP. So, what you would have is something like this...

DH w/HP ~= MACH1 w/HP > DH wo/HP ~= MACH1 ~= GT PP2 > GT PP1 > GT

 

[DarthMalice]

I made a similar decision to skip the HP on the Mach 1 as I would hit that lower splitter quite frequently-I also didn't want Cup 2s and when I bought my Mach 1 the PS4s in that size was hard to get at the time. One thing I do wish had been an option on the Mach 1 and Dark Horse would be to get the wider tires with PS4s (or equivalent in the DH) on the non HP. That wider tire in the less sticky tire would have addressed shortfalls on both the HP and non-HP for daily/occasional track users.

 

[MJS54]

There is no reason or logic in my mind to do the HP, the DH in general is natively a performance car as built. Tires are already a fortune let alone the HP tires.

I agree...didn't want to have to replace those expensive and not long-lasting Trofeo RS tires.

 

[Upacurb]

If I were to buy a Dark Horse- it would be with handling pack because well .....

I just did a 1000 mile road trip on Cup 2s though so I might be a bit crazy lol

 

[Cirnek]

Short answer for me, I plan of tracking my Dark Horse. 1st Autocross is on March 2nd. I also plan on a few track days etc but I have yet to schedule those.

 

[Lastoutlaw_21]

If I were to buy a Dark Horse- it would be with handling pack because well .....

I just did a 1000 mile road trip on Cup 2s though so I might be a bit crazy lol

Lol nah I have almost 4k on those tires and still have life left. People act like you can't get different tires for the car.

 

[98jfuentes]

I bought one from a reseller (not much above MSRP) with no handling pack :/. I want that spoiler so bad man

 

[GripTime]

Just wanted it in the most aggressive handling trim possible. I prefer suspension & handling over power. Well, once power get's to a certain point, more doesn't help my driving ability but handling is fun on and off track.

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