Car Video Reviews / Ford Mustang Dark Horse (S650)
Ford Mustang Dark Horse Manual Review: Worth It Over a GT?
By Stuart Ellis · 5 November 2025 · 9 min video
The only new V8, manual, rear-wheel-drive car you can buy in Australia right now is the S650 Mustang. I've owned four sixth-gen Mustangs, so is the Dark Horse worth the premium over a GT?
The verdict
It's not the fastest or best-handling car at the money, but it's special and it makes you feel special. The Tremec six-speed is the highlight and chalk and cheese next to the GT's MT82. That gearbox alone is the reason to pay the premium. Choose the manual for engagement, or the 10-speed auto if you're chasing numbers.
Key facts
- Engine
- 5.0-litre Coyote V8, 7,400rpm
- Power / torque
- 349kW / 548Nm
- Gearbox
- Tremec 6-speed manual with rev matching
- Brakes
- 390mm six-piston front, 355mm four-piston rear
- Weight
- Over 1,800kg
- Price new
- From A$99,102 plus on-roads (manual)
What I liked
- Tremec manual transforms the car
- Coyote V8 is a masterpiece: linear all the way to redline
- Factory exhaust is perfect
- Normal suspension mode is the sweet spot on the street
What I didn't
- Steering is light and a bit numb
- No front parking sensors or camera
- Long doors in tight car parks
- Thirsty
FAQ
Dark Horse vs Mustang GT: what's the difference?
The Dark Horse adds GT500-spec conrods and extra cooling, uniquely tuned MagneRide, wider wheels, a Torsen diff and the Tremec manual instead of the GT's MT82.
Is the Dark Horse manual worth it?
Yes, if you want engagement. The Tremec gearbox is the main reason to choose it.
What do used Dark Horses cost?
From around A$105,000 plus on-roads for high-kilometre cars, up to about A$133,000 for well-optioned examples.
A new performance car review roughly once a month. Get each one in your inbox the day it goes live.