Hunting the Dark Horse (used)...how can I tell if the car has the handling package?

[Osage]

Are there any visible identifiers? Seems very hard to tell if the used models are equipped with it? Maybe I should just order a new one? Seems like great finance deals available at the moment with 0%?

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[Billycar11]

front fender lips

gurney flap on real spoiler

bigger front splitter

315 rear 305 front tires

thats all the visual stuff i can think of

 

[Osage]

Cool. What does the "gurney flap" actually look like? Really trying to be able to tell because a lot of the dealers have no clue what they even have. And the front lips/splitter look slightly different from non-Handling?

 

[Billycar11]

Cool. What does the "gurney flap" actually look like? Really trying to be able to tell because a lot of the dealers have no clue what they even have. And the front lips/splitter look slightly different from non-Handling?

best way to visualize it is with the builder on fords site click the handling pack on and off to see the differences
https://www.ford.com/build-price/mu...mp=nfbcChooseModel-cta-color-mustang#packages

my car has the handling pack you can see some of the photos here: https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/th...stang-s650-thread.157064/page-15#post-3423422

 

[sultan~]

front fender lips

gurney flap on real spoiler

bigger front splitter

315 rear 305 front tires

thats all the visual stuff i can think of

+++++

HP Wheels

HP little bit lowered

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Cool. What does the "gurney flap" actually look like? Really trying to be able to tell because a lot of the dealers have no clue what they even have. And the front lips/splitter look slightly different from non-Handling?

The gurney flap may not be installed. It comes in the trunk, and Ford says to take it off when not on the track, even though most of us leave it on.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

https://www.ford.com/product/mustan...6vrFotEw2Y5SmgqNX2VvzTexq6qsMP4JBKBKKd4LV_PbI

 

[Junkyard Dog]

All kinds of video and photos of the handling package version here. Look at the front splitter. Gurney flap. Wheels and tires. Front fender extension lip. Just go through them all.

https://motorweek.org/road-tests/track-tests/2024-ford-mustang-dark-horse/


The video appears to be on Roebling Road in Bloomingdale, Georgia, where they managed to hit 147 mph.

 

[3Rivers]

Are there any visible identifiers? Seems very hard to tell if the used models are equipped with it?

Don't buy a used car without carefully reviewing the original sticker.

 

[Skye]

Don't buy a used car without carefully reviewing the original sticker.

This.

The original window sticker should be the primary means in determining if the car was built with the HP option.

A secondary method or additional confidence booster is look at the door jamb placard, for the tire size. The tires listed should match an HP car.

A third way, in the 6G cars and I believe carried through for the 7Gs, is look at the camber plates under the hood. On HP cars, there should be a dowel pin, a guide pin, poking up by itself.

The wheels and aero pieces are good things to check. But people remove, change or break things, which brings up a sub-topic: I want all the original pieces, even if not used.

Using wheels as an example, If the car has aftermarket wheels and the originals are unavailable, I'd discount the price a bit. Long-term, those parts will be harder to find. I'd now need to buy a set.

Attached is a simple drawing involving a gurney flap. It's a strip of plastic, held on by screws. There are long screws and short screws. Long screws hold the flap. For those that remove the flap, short screws fill the holes. Continuing to use the long screws without the flap, you risk overdriving the hole and cracking the wing.

If a private sale, the seller should be direct and straight-forward. You should be comfortable with their responses. They should be quick and detailed in providing information and history.

If a public sale through a dealer, caution. Depending on the dealer, they will not know or understand these cars more than any other. They'll tell you anything to make the sale.

By coincidence, I began scrutineering a 6G Mach 1 last week. This is a 7G site, so I don't expect people to be aware of the 6G cars and the HP/non-HP differences. But this example details the topic. And what to look out for.

First, the link to the ad:

https://www.emmonsmotorcompany.com/used/Ford/2022-Ford-Mustang-66bc53d9ac182edcb3e07e9652430ae3.htm

For those interested, study the ad and make note of any concerns. Then, open the attached spoilers.

 

[DHGOOD]

The rear spoiler is specific to the handling package car. The lug nuts on the front wheels are recessed in due to the offset vs the rears that are more near the surface. Tires are 30 series.

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