[JSH]

Originally Posted by Getnlwr

no one who has done any research would ever touch that place.

I did the research. They have new management and did 550 cars last year. I've never seen a facility that can match theirs or pump out 10 cars a week. More importantly, they did a very nice job with my car.

[soceur77]

That might be all fine and well JSH, but it still doesnt explain why they charge 20-30k more for the same horsepower numbers other reputible shops make everyday as well.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by soceur77

That might be all fine and well JSH, but it still doesnt explain why they charge 20-30k more for the same horsepower numbers other reputible shops make everyday as well.

Then you obviously will not use them. They should charge as much as the market will bear.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by JSH

Then you obviously will not use them. They should charge as much as the market will bear.

But when others state another, equally reputable shop can do the same work for less than this 20k or more upcharge. I don't see where this "market" is.

It's the same with buying a vehicle. Why would I go to dealership A and pay 20k over MSRP for a vehicle when I could go to dealership B and get the same vehicle for MSRP.

There are better places to do business everywhere for anything without having to over pay.

[JSH]

Then you should go to dealership B if you can get a build package with warranty that's better in every way. Can you post the link to that pkg so we can see the shop you're talking about? By way of example, Lingenfelter's pkg is for less hp but basically the same money. National shops won't be too far from HPE and Lingenfelter scope/cost.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by JSH

Then you should go to dealership B if you can get a build package with warranty that's better in every way. Can you post the link to that pkg so we can see the shop you're talking about? By way of example, Lingenfelter's pkg is for less hp but basically the same money. National shops won't be too far from HPE and Lingenfelter scope/cost.

Guess you can't read this thread? Id like to see how this new and improved Hennessy holds up to their "warranty".

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

Hennessy holds up to their "warranty".

I've already had one warranty issue. The car was short shifting on the 1/2 and 2/3 in Auto/Sport. I asked them about it thinking we could resolve it thru HPTuners logs and a reflash if necessary. Instead, they sent a hauler, picked up the car and took it to their shop, concluded it was spinning the tires then hitting rev limiter and shipped it back at no charge.

[Bangkok_ZL1]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

But when others state another, equally reputable shop can do the same work for less than this 20k or more upcharge. I don't see where this "market" is.

It's the same with buying a vehicle. Why would I go to dealership A and pay 20k over MSRP for a vehicle when I could go to dealership B and get the same vehicle for MSRP.

There are better places to do business everywhere for anything without having to over pay.

Vigilante, you're not making a legit comparison. A dealership has done zero custom workmanship on a car (I worked at 2 dealerships in my younger days). Contrast that with a car modification shop, where custom workmanship is done to a vehicle.... Many times it's a 1 of 1 job. So your comparison is not square.

Next, is business. I'm now a businessman (for the last 25 years). I just sold a custom shop (gifts) I owned for the last 20 years. There are many things that determine price in a custom shop. #1) Namebrand (prestige, exclusivity, experience, etc.) #2) Workmanship, especially quality and attention to detail, #3) Overhead (to include Rent, Equipment and labor, R&D Testing, especially of new cutting edge products, etc), #4) the Market, I read over 500 people a year are in his shop..... I would discern that if over 500 people annually are in his shop, paying his price, then he is proving that he is right.

Lastly, I'm sure people at Porsche would say that the 911 turbo S with 650hp is worth more than a 650hp ZL1 1LE. And obviously many people feel that way because people are dishing out the cash to buy that Porsche. I've never drove either car yet (2 more weeks!!), but why do you think that is? But since you want to use a car dealership as an example, let's use this example that's much more equal (new car to new car). If you answer this question, (why people buy a Turbo S instead of a much less expensive ZL1 that both have the same power), this will help you answer why Hennessey, or Lingenfelter for that matter, charges what they charge over other shops doing what you perceive as the same job.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by Bangkok_ZL1

Vigilante, you're not making a legit comparison. A dealership has done zero custom workmanship on a car (I worked at 2 dealerships in my younger days). Contrast that with a car modification shop, where custom workmanship is done to a vehicle.... Many times it's a 1 of 1 job. So your comparison is not square.

Next, is business. I'm now a businessman (for the last 25 years). I just sold a custom shop (gifts) I owned for the last 20 years. There are many things that determine price in a custom shop. #1) Namebrand (prestige, exclusivity, experience, etc.) #2) Workmanship, especially quality and attention to detail, #3) Overhead (to include Rent, Equipment and labor, R&D Testing, especially of new cutting edge products, etc), #4) the Market, I read over 500 people a year are in his shop..... I would discern that if over 500 people annually are in his shop, paying his price, then he is proving that he is right.

Lastly, I'm sure people at Porsche would say that the 911 turbo S with 650hp is worth more than a 650hp ZL1 1LE. And obviously many people feel that way because people are dishing out the cash to buy that Porsche. I've never drove either car yet (2 more weeks!!), but why do you think that is? But since you want to use a car dealership as an example, let's use this example that's much more equal (new car to new car). If you answer this question, (why people buy a Turbo S instead of a much less expensive ZL1 that both have the same power), this will help you answer why Hennessey, or Lingenfelter for that matter, charges what they charge over other shops doing what you perceive as the same job.

I didn't say anything about a dealership doing the same work as a performance shop. I made a comparison on people over paying for something in a different business aspect, which is an apples to apples comparison. It wasn't a comparison between a TRX Ram and a ZL1.

Only comparison you can make between a 911 Turbo S and a ZL1 1LE is performance wise. The reason why (which mostly everyone knows) is the price comes from it being a Porsche and it does have a way better build quality that the ZL1. But that's why the Camaro and Corvette are much more cheaper than the Exotic's. But at least our cars don't randomly catch fire.....

[ST1LE]

Originally Posted by JSH

I did the research. They have new management and did 550 cars last year. I've never seen a facility that can match theirs or pump out 10 cars a week. More importantly, they did a very nice job with my car.

Glad you did your research, I wasn't aware that management has changed and that is great too!!

Previous horror stories from them were so heartbreaking. People on this forum, part of this community basically having their money stolen by a crooked business man, even when not your money it hurts to see that.

I am happy to see your experience is so different, and glad to see how they have made you a happy customer even through some warranty work.

It's your money and you can spend it as you like, just glad you are happy and this isn't another depressing story of someone being taken advantage of.

Congrats!!

[Buckwheat]

Hennessy is leaps and bounds ahead of any shop.
They have access to multiple Tracks.
They are more Yes. So is a Rolex.
I have no dog in the hunt.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Buckwheat

Hennessy is leaps and bounds ahead of any shop.
They have access to multiple Tracks.
They are more Yes. So is a Rolex.
I have no dog in the hunt.

No dog in this fight either and thus the only evidence of wrongdoing I have are the numerous complaints, Hennessey's own posts and accounts of ex-employees.

The real question raised here is of integrity, not capability. Do you want to enable, encourage and even reward this sort of business ethic? Say, you get lucky and blend into the crowd that gets decent service from a dishonest shop, what about next time when said shop screws you over? Or your friend?

The Rolex point I can agree with, anyone can ask any price they want for their services, if they can find people willing to pay for the privilege, more power to them—within the bounds of decency and integrity.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

numerous complaints

Texas law applies to Hennessey too. If they did not substantially perform according to the terms of their agreement with a customer, the place to resolve a claim of substantial size was in the court having jurisdiction. I have no reason to believe that any such law suits occurred. I have been in court twice over the past 30 years with shady Denver builders.

[Bangkok_ZL1]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

I didn't say anything about a dealership doing the same work as a performance shop. I made a comparison on people over paying for something in a different business aspect, which is an apples to apples comparison. It wasn't a comparison between a TRX Ram and a ZL1.

Only comparison you can make between a 911 Turbo S and a ZL1 1LE is performance wise. The reason why (which mostly everyone knows) is the price comes from it being a Porsche and it does have a way better build quality that the ZL1. But that's why the Camaro and Corvette are much more cheaper than the Exotic's. But at least our cars don't randomly catch fire.....

Sorry your incorrect, and further, you're misconstruing my reply. You said why would you go to a dealership and over pay for a new car (over another dealership), and MSRP implies new car..... Therefore, you're examining two items that are exactly the same in every way from another dealership. When a CUSTOM shop mods a car, it's NOT THE SAME as every other mod shop. SOMETHING will be different, no matter how minuscule. That difference may lead to a reason to pay more, or less. So your comparison between overpaying for the exact same vehicle and what you feel is overpaying for a custom job is NOT even close to square. For example, maybe Hennessey's mechs all wear gloves, maybe mod shop B doesn't. THAT is a difference. Maybe it's not a difference to you. But I'm sure other's would say it is. Attention to detail has a large scope. I owned a mod shop, albeit not in autos. We did it differently then my competitors while manufacturing the same thing many times, and it did make a difference. And I can go on about that, but I won't. So you might not like his garage. And maybe you're correct about his valuation. But you cannot say Hennessey's mods are exactly the same as other CUSTOM shop's mods. "Generally the same" is not "exactly the same". And that sliver of difference can be called "menial" in your opinion, or enough in over 500 customer's opinion that visit his shop every year. That tiny difference is usually the difference in winning in Top Fuel.