Richard Meaden reviews this very "angry" 1244 BHP supercar. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ens-ymqLKDA&feature=em-uploademail]Hennessey Venom GT review - evo Magazine - YouTube[/ame]
I still can't (or won't) get past the documented stories of Hennessey ripping off customers and stealing from customers from about 10 years ago. The Taig Stewart story was well documented. AutoWeek story from 2002: Viper specialist John Hennessey is up to his cylinder heads in problems - Autoweek Here's a thread on another forum where the Stewart story is mentioned, and John Hennessey himself joined and started a lot of crap: Efool Gets Punked On His Own Board - Chrysler 300C Forum: 300C & SRT8 Forums IMHO, Hennessey is a sleazy crook.
Initially I would have agreed that stretching the car was the wrong thing to do, but the Exige is too short and this car looks perfect to me now. This car is a recipe for success that lacks one ingredient: a realistic price.
I'm glad to see they're doing well, but I have always wondered about this too. Maybe just the growing pains of a small business struggling to expand and juggle all the balls at once?
I really want to hate the Venom, but I just can't. It's just a shame that John wants as much as he does for one...and that John has the history that he does.
Holy cow! Read some of his posts from 300c Forum. I know it was over 6 years ago but jeez....... Jimmy
it's not like he's been through puberty in that period though! I wouldn't ever consider a Venom GT and I think lots of others feel the same.
car is awesome but company rep leaves much to be desired. evo gave it huge respect as a refined drivers car which i did not expect at all. still dont understand how it has any traction with that kind of power how about one of these with a n/a engine with about 500 hp? sell it for under $200k. that would be interesting to say the least.
Reviews of the Venom have expressed shock at how well the car handles, evo going so far as to claim that it's up there with some of the best hypercars made in Europe. While JH deserves credit for bringing this product to market, a lot of the shocking stuff is attributable to the UK's Delta Motorsport. They're responsible the carbon fiber panels, suspension, and the CCBs, which have about the same level of feel and performance as Porsche's renowned units (I'm not 100% clear on who's responsible for the well received electric assist steering. I assume it's Lotus.) The smooth manual transmission is right out of the Ford GT, as is the rear end. The transmission is by Ricardo and is said to be good for up to 2000hp out of the box. So JH is responsible for the engine and assembly in Texas, everything else coming from top notch manufacturers. Slow and steady . . . hopefully we'll end up with a top notch super-/hyper-car maker on this side of the pond after all.
The pricepoint is high, he is the only one coordinating the parts altogether, and can demand whatever price he wants. If anybody wants to pay it, that is up to them ;-) I don't love it or hate it; but I won't call it a unique make/model. I, for one, am glad he's been able to sell a few.
Just over 4 1/2 years ago, Hennessey Performance gained a partner and a new management team that took on the day to day operations with John managing the R&D and Marketing sides of the business. The restructuring has allowed the company to grow and mature with a very good reputation. The team at Hennessey Performance is top notch and has worked hard to overcome the past. The Venom GT is an incredible car that will continue to impress anyone that drives it. I have driven the cars and there is no comparison to the incredible acceleration the car has.
this is what having him remain as the "face' of the company as mystery, as a new partner, i'd have done everything to seperate him from the companies image, and even announce the new restructuring so public know its under new management, but then if he still has half or majority holdings, wouldnt be in their control
If you have a minute, DG599, could you share your observations on factors like handling, feel, build quality? I understand that the Venom is near the top in terms of handling and feel, a lot of that stemming from the fact that it has an expert analog setup.
Hennesy could have false advertising claims as well. He offered one of his supercharged packages in a 2008 Viper. Come to find out after a VIN search, the car is a 2006. Why, because 2008 Vipers entail you buying new heads, pistons, camshafts, engine managment, and much more. Obviously with money you could rebuild a Viper motor into that but otherwise, your stuck with the 06's and older.
Fiat didn't distance itself from Enzo (who wasn't everyone's pal) when they bought the company. Guessing the folks who teamed up w/John may've seen equity in the track-record of his cars in the various performance shoot-outs and the resulting press he was able to achieve throughout the years - and wondered how cool it might be if given room to focus almost entirely on that aspect of the bidness - Venom GT being a result of that. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJiHnwJObJE[/ame]
