S650 Mustang Buyer's Guide (2024+)
The current-generation Mustang (badged S650 internally, on sale in Australia since 2024) brought real changes over the previous generation, along with a few teething issues worth knowing about before you buy, whether new or used.
What changed with the S650 Mustang
The S650 carries over the same basic recipe (rear-wheel drive, EcoBoost four-cylinder or Coyote V8) but with a significantly more tech-focused interior, running Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system in place of the previous generation’s SYNC 3. The V8 was also revised for this generation, gaining dual throttle bodies and a twin air intake setup, with the GT and Dark Horse running different states of tune of the same updated engine.
Common issues to check for
Every new model generation has early teething problems, and the S650 is no exception. Issues reported by owners and covered under recall have included instrument cluster displays not illuminating on startup, and water ingress into the body control module affecting exterior lighting. Both were addressed under official Ford recalls, so it’s worth checking a car’s recall status before buying (Ford Australia has an online recall lookup tool by VIN).
Beyond recalls, early build quality complaints have centred on panel gap and fitment issues, along with occasional infotainment glitches (screen dropouts, CarPlay display issues). None of these are universal, most owners report trouble-free cars, but they’re worth checking for on a test drive and pre-purchase inspection.
On the EcoBoost specifically: the four-cylinder turbo has a long-documented association with head gasket wear, though this risk is concentrated in modified or high-mileage cars rather than stock, well-maintained examples. It’s a good question to ask when buying a used EcoBoost: has it been tuned, and if so, how?
New vs used: what to know
Buying new gets you Ford’s standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and lets you spec the car exactly as you want it, but with current wait times and limited-edition allocations (particularly for Dark Horse), it may not be the fastest path to ownership.
Buying used opens up faster availability and a lower price point, but with any performance car, how the previous owner treated it matters more than the odometer reading. A well-driven, well-maintained example is a better buy than a low-kilometre car that’s sat idle or been modified hard.
Buying a used S650: an Australian buyer's checklist
- Get a PPSR check before handing over any money. This confirms there's no finance owing, and also shows whether the car has ever been recorded as a write-off. Statutory write-offs can never legally be re-registered in Australia, so one showing up here is a hard pass. A repairable write-off isn't automatically a deal-breaker, but it must have passed a formal identity and safety inspection to be legally back on the road, and it's worth asking for that paperwork directly.
- Confirm the VIN and engine number on the paperwork match what's physically stamped on the car.
- Check the car's recall history using Ford Australia's VIN lookup tool, and confirm any outstanding recalls have been actioned.
- Ask about factory warranty transfer, if the car is still within its five-year window, this should transfer to you as the new owner, but confirm this with Ford or the dealer directly.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection, even on a car still under factory warranty. This is standard advice from owners and mechanics alike, and it's the best way to catch anything the seller hasn't disclosed.
- Ask if it's been modified, particularly for EcoBoost models, given the tuning-related risk noted above.
Bottom line
The S650 is a genuinely improved Mustang over its predecessor, but like any new-generation vehicle, it’s worth doing your homework rather than assuming a shiny new interior means a trouble-free car. A proper pre-purchase inspection and a VIN-based recall check take the guesswork out of buying used, and cost very little compared to the price of the car itself.