S550 vs S650

[LouG]

Sure, the Mustang handling can be improved. Better quality shocks and tying down the rear susp better would help.
But, having had a 300 hp FWD hot hatch, that was a killer on twisty roads, the Ford doesn't give a lot away. I was surprised at the turn in and front grip in the tight stuff, I haven't had the rear break loose yet either. It's just it's size that's a bit of a handicap.

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[Terminus]

I was looking to buy a slightly used S550-only took a short test drive in one-but when I saw that dual throttle body 486 (variable exhaust) HP Coyote under the hood of a stock GT (& still available 6-speed manual) online I didn't hesitate. I understand liking more fixed analog cockpit controls but I'm really liking the new digital layout. Having the climate control digital controls always enabled one-touch-away at the bottom of the screen is just as fast & easy for me! The more I drive it the more I like the new Stang!

 

[00GTXX]

I have a 2017 and a 2025. The 2025 S650 is really growing on me. I feel like driving it more than the S550. Initially I was hesitant due to the touch screens of the S650. There is enough differences between the two along with 6 sp compared to 10 sp Auto trans to warrant owning both. I may consider selling the S550 eventually.

 

[Bullit]

Lol, that's like pong to the S650's super mario...

To be clear... You must lock the car with the fob... locking it with door handle does not arm the alarm...

From the manual...

ARMING THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SYSTEM The alarm is ready to arm when you switch your vehicle off. Lock your vehicle with your remote control to arm the alarm.

Do you know if there problems with the alarm if vehicle has a cover on?

 

[Skye]

Do you know if there problems with the alarm if vehicle has a cover on?

In-general, this should not be an issue.

I and others cover for months at a time throughout Winter. The security system continues to operate as expected. If something moves inside, jostles the car, inclines the vehicle or attempts to open it, the alarm will go off. Covering the external surface with fabric wouldn't deceive or corrupt the system's operation.

 

[Sofa King]

Do you know if there problems with the alarm if vehicle has a cover on?

I would think there would be no issues... I haven't tried it on this car, but have had car covers on other cars with no security system problems.

 

[SpeedLu]

I'll take physical buttons over touchscreens any time. Yes, the touchscreen in the S550 is smaller, but that's because you have physical buttons you can use without looking, or having to go through a bunch of menus and making sure you touch at just the right spot. I also prefer having the digital instrument cluster built into the dash and not a big tablet sticking up.

I always prefer physical buttons, and I'm a younger guy. I can't stand how everything seems to be moving towards big ugly tablet touchscreen dashes. The S550 had the last great Mustang interior.

 

[Aki]

The dash peaked with S550, but after living with the screens for a few days I noticed they didn't annoy me nearly as much as I thought. I set the climate control when I buy the car and rarely touch it afterwards, volume control is still a knob, and the modes are on the steering wheel now, so the only really bothersome change is the hazard switch.
Should really practice hitting it without looking.

Navigation is huge now and wireless android auto is the main convenience upgrade. For the rest, the way the Dark Horse feels vs my old GT PP more than offsets any lingering dismay I feel over the dash design.

Absolutely an upgrade.

 

[Arthonon]

Dash preferences aside, everything I hear about the S650 makes it sound like a higher quality vehicle overall, and very nice to drive. I know that panel gaps were a common issue on the S550, but I don't seem to have heard as much about that with the S650.

When I think about the price of the S650, it seems pretty high, so I did an experiment and did a build-and-price of an S650 with the same options on my S550, with the only difference being that the S650 has features as standard that were optional on the S550, and I didn't get them, so the S650 has a few extras.

I got the price, then took the MSRP on my S550 and ran it through an inflation calculator, and that number was actually two grand higher than the S650 price. So it seems like it's not really any higher than it used to be, relatively speaking.

 

[Mach 307]

Dash preferences aside, everything I hear about the S650 makes it sound like a higher quality vehicle overall, and very nice to drive. I know that panel gaps were a common issue on the S550, but I don't seem to have heard as much about that with the S650.

When I think about the price of the S650, it seems pretty high, so I did an experiment and did a build-and-price of an S650 with the same options on my S550, with the only difference being that the S650 has features as standard that were optional on the S550, and I didn't get them, so the S650 has a few extras.

I got the price, then took the MSRP on my S550 and ran it through an inflation calculator, and that number was actually two grand higher than the S650 price. So it seems like it's not really any higher than it used to be, relatively speaking.

I tried to present this once on the 6G forum, that you must account for inflation and the cars are basically the same exact price. You can imagine how that went.

 

[Mach 307]

The dash peaked with S550, but after living with the screens for a few days I noticed they didn't annoy me nearly as much as I thought. I set the climate control when I buy the car and rarely touch it afterwards, volume control is still a knob, and the modes are on the steering wheel now, so the only really bothersome change is the hazard switch.
Should really practice hitting it without looking.

Navigation is huge now and wireless android auto is the main convenience upgrade. For the rest, the way the Dark Horse feels vs my old GT PP more than offsets any lingering dismay I feel over the dash design.

Absolutely an upgrade.

I love my M1 HP interior with the elite pack. It’s awesome. But, I wouldn’t mind the screens either at the end of the day IMO.

 

[Ninjak]

Having my DH now, and owning both a GT350 and GT500, I will say the DH screen setup has moved to where many import cars have been. The screen gives all the information you need, is easy to read, and the only time you think of it as a tablet is when the vehicle is off.

The AC controls are easy, though, like others, I prefer a physical button. In truth, it is not a big deal, because my AC sits at 75 on auto. In all of my vehicles, I do not fuss with the AC. Love the fact my Apple CP is even bigger than what it is in my BRaptor.

The electronics seem to be more intuitive; I can be at my door to the garage, and the DH starts the light-up and start-up sequence, which is pretty cool.

Driving, well, I will say it reminds me of my GT350, but more refined. The rev matching is great. Rowing the gears is fun, and it was one of the reasons I went with a DH. I wanted to actually shift gears again. As for speed and handling, well, the DH is at the top, but honestly, for handling, it's not really an apples-to-apples deal because of the mods the DH has that the GT350 or GT500 did not have.

In the end, I would expect the S650 platform to be the best one so far. That is the entire purpose of introducing the next gen. To improve upon the one that came before it.

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