Thank you all for your replies. We are new to the Viper world and do not know the history. Feel free to send me private messages with more informaton.
Best wishes to all for the Holidays.
Vincy --
As someone who purchased a Viper after many of the incidents involving Hennessey Performance, I will try to give you my outsider's understanding of the issues from reading posts on this site as well as reading accounts in magazines such as Car and Driver.
Beginning a few years ago, Hennessey received complaints from more than one Viper owner regarding work delays and failures to perform agreed upon modifications. Long story short, this led to actual litigation in at least one instance, perhaps more. (I don't have the details.)
The bottom line is that Hennessey's reputation suffered, including on this site. For example, until just a short while ago, if you actually typed in the name "Hennessey" in a post, the word would be partially or completely blanked out except for the "H".
Now the counterpoint: As far as I can tell, Hennessey has partcipated in several magazine "shootouts" involing aftermarket tuner cars. For example, he regularly partcipates in shootouts conducted by Motor Trend and Car and Driver. More often than not, his cars win these comparisons and hold up well mechanically. SOme posters on this board and others chalk this up to aggressive marketing and self-promotion but the reality is that Mr. Hennessey appears capable of building products that perform.
It also appears from some of these magazine articles that Mr. Hennessey appears to have emerged from his legal troubles, at least in part, a little contrite and wiser with regard to customer relations.
If it were me (and I know this will send red flags up for many on this board) I would not categorically avoid Hennesey Performance but given his past issues you would need to do some fairly intensive due diligence, including (1) speaking with John Hennessey directly about these concerns (2) finding recent customers and getting their perspectives on his work and timeliness and (3) contacting the Texas Better Business Bureau regaridng any recent complaints.
Just my two cents; good luck.
/Rich