Hennessey Performance
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: San Luis Obispo, CA
2003 CL600
Hennessey Performance
Has anyone seen or experienced a Hennessey Performance CL/SL? It looks like they are tuning MBZ cars but I havent seen anything in this forum about it. I know they do awesome stuff with Vipers, but didnt know they went into other makes and models...
http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...ctionReq=Where
http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...ctionReq=Where
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Seattle
'19 E63S, ‘16 CLS63 RIP, '09 E63 Gone, '06 M5 Gone, '97 Supra TT Gone
I'd like to think that German Engineering is head and shoulders above the Lego/Erector Set craftmanship that goes into Vipers (please don't give me the "DaimlerBenz owns Chrysler/Dodge" bit, they wouldn't touch a Viper with a 10 foot pole). I wouldn't trust Hennessey based on their horrible rep and the fact that they have no business messing with Benzes.
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'14 ML BT
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From: Seattle
'19 E63S, ‘16 CLS63 RIP, '09 E63 Gone, '06 M5 Gone, '97 Supra TT Gone
From what I understand they still work like this: 1. Tell Customer A that his car will be done in a month. 2. Cannibalize Customer A's car to build Customer B's car that you cannibalized to build Customer C's car.
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'14 ML BT
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2018 Mercedes E63 S, Boring SUV, 2015 CLS63 AMR Stage 1 (traded), 2015 Audi S8 w/ APR stage 2 (sold)
I had a 2001 Hennessey Venom 650r and the car was a headache. I purchased the car used last year from a dealer in NC and unfortunately there were many problems with the car and with Hennessey Performance.
I went to Hennessey in Houston,TX to see their operation. I was almost considering sending the car back to them to fix it; it ran like ****. I did some research into Hennessey on the internet and in other ways: I spoke to several owners/service mgrs at Dodge dealers in NY (including Tator's Dodge who specializes in Vipers) and I got a Big Thumbs Down on Hennessey performance and John Hennessey too.
I spoke to John Hennessey several times to try to figure out what was wrong with my car as it only had 11,000 miles. I wanted to avoid bringing my car to TX if possible. I knew that the Venom 650R had a natuarally aspirated 8.4 litre V10 and had 650hp, but I didn't know that each car was built with different options. When I provided him with my car's information including Vin # and Venom# 02-01 (2nd 650R built in 2001), he was worthless. He couldn't tell me anything about my car's options because he said he didn't have the records anymore. This seemed very weird to me, but he said that 2001 was too far back. He just told me to arrange to have the car sent there and they'll figure it out. He kinda seemed like a dick too; not very personable.
I would avoid Hennessey for a Viper, and most definitely a Benz. Just use Renntech or Kleeman. Why bother using a company that doesn't specialize in Mercedes?
I went to Hennessey in Houston,TX to see their operation. I was almost considering sending the car back to them to fix it; it ran like ****. I did some research into Hennessey on the internet and in other ways: I spoke to several owners/service mgrs at Dodge dealers in NY (including Tator's Dodge who specializes in Vipers) and I got a Big Thumbs Down on Hennessey performance and John Hennessey too.
I spoke to John Hennessey several times to try to figure out what was wrong with my car as it only had 11,000 miles. I wanted to avoid bringing my car to TX if possible. I knew that the Venom 650R had a natuarally aspirated 8.4 litre V10 and had 650hp, but I didn't know that each car was built with different options. When I provided him with my car's information including Vin # and Venom# 02-01 (2nd 650R built in 2001), he was worthless. He couldn't tell me anything about my car's options because he said he didn't have the records anymore. This seemed very weird to me, but he said that 2001 was too far back. He just told me to arrange to have the car sent there and they'll figure it out. He kinda seemed like a dick too; not very personable.
I would avoid Hennessey for a Viper, and most definitely a Benz. Just use Renntech or Kleeman. Why bother using a company that doesn't specialize in Mercedes?
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From: Jupiter, Florida
2005 E55, 2004 E55(sold), 2001 Viper GTS, 2006 Viper VOI9, 1994 ZR-1 Corvette 2009 Viper ACR,
I'd like to think that German Engineering is head and shoulders above the Lego/Erector Set craftmanship that goes into Vipers (please don't give me the "DaimlerBenz owns Chrysler/Dodge" bit, they wouldn't touch a Viper with a 10 foot pole). I wouldn't trust Hennessey based on their horrible rep and the fact that they have no business messing with Benzes.
I love the AMG cars.. However, I seem to get bored of every single benz I have ever owned in about 1 year. But the Viper, I dont think I will ever sell.. It is an AWESOME machine.... Everytime I take it out, its like I just bought it.
About Hennessey.... RUN, dont walk!!!!!!! He has screwed soo many people. It blows the mind how that guy is still able to make a living doing this stuff..
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From: San Luis Obispo, CA
2003 CL600
Sounds like an overwhelming concensus about Hennessey Performance. I never knew his products were so disliked. I wasnt really considering their upgrades, just thought it was interesting that they did Benz work.
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From: asdfasdf
One with 4 wheels
I'd like to think that German Engineering is head and shoulders above the Lego/Erector Set craftmanship that goes into Vipers (please don't give me the "DaimlerBenz owns Chrysler/Dodge" bit, they wouldn't touch a Viper with a 10 foot pole). I wouldn't trust Hennessey based on their horrible rep and the fact that they have no business messing with Benzes.
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From: asdfasdf
One with 4 wheels
Has anyone seen or experienced a Hennessey Performance CL/SL? It looks like they are tuning MBZ cars but I havent seen anything in this forum about it. I know they do awesome stuff with Vipers, but didnt know they went into other makes and models...
http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...ctionReq=Where
http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...ctionReq=Where
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 290
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2018 Mercedes E63 S, Boring SUV, 2015 CLS63 AMR Stage 1 (traded), 2015 Audi S8 w/ APR stage 2 (sold)
Taximan,
I love Vipers too. My Venom 650R was a beast (11.1 in 1/4 at 133mph). The only downside to Viper is that you almost definitely need a 2nd car as Viper are not so practical in bad weather or for long trips. I rented a Viper GTS in Vegas and drove to the Grand Canyon; it was about 4 hours and I'll never forget how uncomfortable the car was after about 45 min of driving.
My Venom was a 3rd car, so there were no practicality (spelling) issues. The car was a beast, but I bet my current non AMG MB: CL 600 Renntech with 625hp will keep up with or even beat a stock Viper in 1/4 mile.
I love Vipers too. My Venom 650R was a beast (11.1 in 1/4 at 133mph). The only downside to Viper is that you almost definitely need a 2nd car as Viper are not so practical in bad weather or for long trips. I rented a Viper GTS in Vegas and drove to the Grand Canyon; it was about 4 hours and I'll never forget how uncomfortable the car was after about 45 min of driving.
My Venom was a 3rd car, so there were no practicality (spelling) issues. The car was a beast, but I bet my current non AMG MB: CL 600 Renntech with 625hp will keep up with or even beat a stock Viper in 1/4 mile.
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From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
If you wish to have the Viper character coupled with mind blowing peformance, give Racing Solutions (RSI) a call. If you wish to tune your German rocket, stick with RennTech, Brabus, or Kleemann. EVOSport is pretty solid as well.
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06 E-55-95-F355S- 99 Porsche 911 C2 w mods
Its not that his PRODUCTS are disliked ( he actually has a good product) , its his shady business practices that people don't like. There are numerous threads that talk about this.
