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So wait, is ANYONE who worked there in 2007 still there or have any influence over it? Ive cut people off FOR LIFE for way less than that stuff, with way less at stake.
That stuff stinks of PERMABAN to me, and if they wanted to get away from it, they should have dropped the whole name, and started over. Tough E36 M3 on their part for being facked up.
"a one-day track training program to teach what we imagine to be a course in not ending your life in a flaming ball of fury"
I'd roll one of their cars. Seems like they have their act together now and that's great. The guy knows how to make a FAST car.
As I don't have the money to blow on a Hennessey car, and likely never will, I'm not really concerned with this directly, unevolved, but in my personal experience in getting screwed by smaller operations doing the same thing, it will never end better. These things usually start small (and as a sign of a failing business), build to the point illustrated in the quote above (and I know it was from 3-4 years ago), and end in a bankruptcy. The name is the same on the building, it seems to me, and a corrupt philosophy is a corrupt philosophy, starts at the top and goes down an organization and a lot of the root cause of the problems in our economy now. Did Hennessey make good to the customers' satisfaction every bad deal he did? Or did he just throw all those away that didn't sue and start new, this time striving to not rip people off of 6 figure amounts?
I certainly don't care if you want to be the new cheering section for all things Hennessey. I just personally don't do business with organizations like that.
wow. I can think of lots of cheaper ways to commit suicide, but not many cooler ones. Hookers and blow come to mind.
There is nothing on Hennessy's website that remotely acknowleges past failures or even a re-organization to address previous problems.
If I ran a company with Hennessy's reputation, it would be obvious there was a "come-to-Jesus" moment, make every effort the "new" version was nothing like the old, and fire anyone who violated the trust of a customer.
Time will tell, but there is precious little evidence that any kind of rehabilitation has occurred. They like to play-up the celebrity customer-base, but who knows how they still treat the "average" guys?
What bugs the hell out of me is how the Car Mags (present company excepted) pretty well give Hennesy knob jobs. Someone that disreputable should be greeted with a grain or two of scepticism, but he helps sell magazines, so along they go.....
kreb wrote:What bugs the hell out of me is how the Car Mags (present company excepted) pretty well give Hennesy knob jobs. Someone that disreputable should be greeted with a grain or two of scepticism, but he helps sell magazines, so along they go.....
I disagree. Most of the stories that I have read involve Hennessy dropping off a car and saying "do whatever you want". He is not afraid to put his product out there and allow it to be tested without strings attached or caveats. I have not seen his cars break down, overheat, or underperform like many other tuners. That seems like a good way to rebuild a reputation.
He has addressed his past issues several times, even in print with the magazines. At some point, you have to put it behind you and move on. People have a right to write him off forever and I respect that. I would certainly want to "get it in writing" if I ever dealt with him. Which I never will unless he launches a line of affordable Kia parts.
oldsaw wrote:Time will tell, but there is precious little evidence that any kind of rehabilitation has occurred. They like to play-up the celebrity customer-base, but who knows how they still treat the "average" guys?
I feel like a large part of it is the discrepancy of income between those that complain about Hennessey's reputation, and those that pay them to build them a car. In other words, they don't deal with the "average" guys. Everything there makes at least 600hp, and that's beyond the grasp of us normal folks.
The cheapest car I saw in their shop was a Chrysler 300C SRT-8 that was getting two GT35Rs tucked away behind the wheel wells in a "stealth" configuration.
unevolved wrote:oldsaw wrote:Time will tell, but there is precious little evidence that any kind of rehabilitation has occurred. They like to play-up the celebrity customer-base, but who knows how they still treat the "average" guys?
I feel like a large part of it is the discrepancy of income between those that complain about Hennessey's reputation, and those that pay them to build them a car. In other words, they don't deal with the "average" guys. Everything there makes at least 600hp, and that's beyond the grasp of us normal folks.
The cheapest car I saw in their shop was a Chrysler 300C SRT-8 that was getting two GT35Rs tucked away behind the wheel wells in a "stealth" configuration.
Precisely why quotes were used around the word "average". Obviously, Hennessy's clientele is above the norm for most companies' customer-base.
The point was to illustrate that the company does nothing to suggest that they provide quality service to anyone who is not a celebrity, or a VERY big spender. Maybe the company has no interest in restoring its' reputation and is only focused on customers with a "certain" status and account balance.
I agree. I guess they don't view repairing their "reputation" as worth their time when money's still coming through the door. Can't say I blame them.
Osterkraut wrote:The body work makes my pants tight...
However, I'd rather have mine with a stratospheric revving N/A LS-derived engine. Aluminum, I don't know what capacity combo would be the highest revving. 5.3? 5.7? The LS7 can easily spin to 8,000, I bet if you snuck the LS3 variable valve timing on there you could build a screamer that sounded so good Jesus Christ himself would descend from the heavens to co-drive. Because at those useless power levels it's about looking and sounding good.
I believe the correct Grassroots Formula for a 8,000 RPM GM LS-based V8 is: 1 6.0L block in LS2 or LQ9 form + 1 GM 4.8L Crank, 1 Set of 5.7 Rods and Pistons, 1 Set of CTS-VR lifters and related valvetrain parts.
And yes Hennessey has a craptacular reputation. Hence why I said you could just buy an LS9 and a Elise/Exige and misc. parts and build something yourself, this is GRMs forum correct?
I don't have anything to constructive to add. I just wanted to make sure this didn't get missed:
....you could build a screamer that sounded so good Jesus Christ himself would descend from the heavens to co-drive. Because at those useless power levels it's about looking and sounding good.
If I knew that this would rub everyone the wrong way soo bad, I wouldn't have posted it. I figured you guys would love an overpowered, under weight car for a hugely outrageous price tag. I guess I'll keep finding CL deals instead, with LSx swap potential.
Andrew
What? I, for one, love a good automotive debate. My friends get irritated with me when I try to discuss the finer points of EFI tuning.
Some of us need this because we don't get any at home.
digdug18 wrote: I figured you guys would love an overpowered, under weight car for a **hugely outrageous price tag**.
Thats the problem with it.
I would kill myself in that car very quickly...
600,000 Ya ok There is an idiot born every day
Cool? maybe. Fun absolutely!!!
But There are several other cars on my short list that I would get before that thing.
I think it's cool and am glad he posted it. Regardless of what's on my shortlist, my automotive tastes are broad and I like seeing it all.....well you can keep you beige hondas, but otherwise bring it on.
This thread actually prompted me to hit ebay and type in Hennesey to see what came up. Several VERY cool cars including a supercharged viper putting down 710 HP to the wheels. I remember when I thought 150HP was a lot, so maybe on down the road 700 won't seem so crazy. We'll see.
dean1484 wrote:600,000 Ya ok There is an idiot born every day
Cool? maybe. Fun absolutely!!!
But There are several other cars on my short list that I would get before that thing.
Meh. "Idiot" might be a little strong. Not every car enthusiast is a builder. Personally, I'd never spend that much money on anything that didn't have a private lake, 30 acres, and the mother berkeleying garagemahal, but that's me. I can see the 'collector' types snatching these up. While I can't relate to that lifestyle, I find that most of those folks are fun to talk to, down to earth, and really have an admiration for those of us who get our hands dirty building something just as fast (or faster) for a fraction of a fraction of the cost...and I've never met one I'd consider an idiot. 
poopshovel wrote:dean1484 wrote:600,000 Ya ok There is an idiot born every day
Cool? maybe. Fun absolutely!!!
But There are several other cars on my short list that I would get before that thing.
Meh. "Idiot" might be a little strong. Not every car enthusiast is a builder. Personally, I'd never spend that much money on anything that didn't have a private lake, 30 acres, and the mother berkeleying garagemahal, but that's me. I can see the 'collector' types snatching these up. While I can't relate to that lifestyle, I find that most of those folks are fun to talk to, down to earth, and really have an admiration for those of us who get our hands dirty building something just as fast (or faster) for a fraction of a fraction of the cost...and I've never met one I'd consider an idiot.
Agreed. Continuing on this some.....I've met several of Collectors who have a million plus collection and still have something like an old beat up Chevy truck out back, get their hands dirty, and appreciate the cheaper stuff too. It's not always either or.
