This Manual RTR Mustang Makes More Power Than the GTD at Half the Price

Larry Chen Meets the Rowdiest Mustang Yet

Larry Chen doesn’t mince words in his latest upload. This is not just another tuned S650. According to Chen, it is the rowdiest manual Mustang he has ever driven, and that includes a career behind the wheel of everything from front-wheel-drive hot hatches to V12 exotics. What defines the experience is not outright speed, but traction. Or rather, the lack of it.

The RTR Mustang Spec 5 represents the apex of owner, Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s Mustang program for the S650 generation. Power comes from a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V8 producing over 870 horsepower, routed exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission. The package includes a Borla exhaust system, upgraded cooling, and chassis tuning engineered to handle sustained track abuse while retaining street drivability.

What Makes the RTR Spec 5 So Extreme

Chen describes the car as living permanently at the limit of grip. In first through third gear, and sometimes even fourth, the 870-plus-horsepower output overwhelms the rear tires at will. He likens acceleration to braking at the threshold of ABS intervention. You are constantly balancing on the edge.

That analog, rear-wheel-drive, six-speed manual configuration forces total driver engagement. Even after piloting hypercars like the Czinger 21C and high-traction monsters like the Gunther Werks Turbo, Chen argues the RTR feels more dramatic, more alive, and arguably more fun precisely because it demands respect.

Visually and mechanically, the Spec 5 is far more than a cosmetic kit. It features aggressive widebody styling, bespoke aero components, RTR-specific suspension calibration, 20-inch wheels, massive Brembo brakes, and 305-section Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rear tires.

The price sits around $165,000 as tested, positioning it against serious performance machinery. It is also notable that it is more powerful than the $300,000 Mustang GTD at half the price. Yet it retains a warranty and OEM-level integration, separating it from typical aftermarket builds. It is not meant to compete directly with Shelby products, but to offer a different philosophy. Less clinical, more chaotic.

Drama, Volume, and Old-School Joy

Chen emphasizes that despite nearly 900 horsepower, the Spec 5 remains surprisingly livable. It can cruise calmly through Los Angeles traffic, but the moment you lean into the throttle, it transforms. The Borla system deletes any quiet mode, resulting in what he calls an earthshattering cold start. Add in the supercharger’s intake howl, and the car becomes an auditory event every time you drive it.

Perhaps the most telling insight is his praise for the manual gearbox. He disables auto rev-matching immediately, preferring the satisfaction of nailing heel-and-toe downshifts himself. For Chen, that interaction defines the experience. The Spec 5 is not about chasing lap records alone. It is about emotion. In an era dominated by dual-clutch precision and all-wheel-drive traction, the RTR Spec 5 doubles down on rear-drive excess and driver accountability. That is exactly why it feels special.