Hennessey Camaro HPE650 vs SpeedFactory Challenger SRT8 vs Shelby GT500 Super Snake

[JeffInDFW]

Clearly, a lot of people here don't bother taking time to actually READ the articles posted. The article gives the prices of all 3. The article gives the warranty information for all 3. The article explains why the Dodge was not the mega horsepower car that was promised, and it has NOTHING to do with any engine failures.

I have no dealings with John Hennessey one way or the other, but it sure seems like he has a lot of problems with a LOT of people. Before anyone takes their car to Hennessey, I would strongly urge you to google "Hennessey Viper Fraud". This is not one or two disgruntled customers. I'm a Viper owner, and have read a lot of exciting exchanges, but this one is my all time fav:
http://forums.viperclub.org/performa...-arrested.html

One last thing.....You can buy a GT500, and order the exact same Whipple supercharger Shelby uses directly from Whipple. It comes complete with EVERYTHING, including the ECM tuning and twin throttle bodies, and costs $6,000. Shelby just bolts it on, and screws you for the other $30,000.

[D C]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

I have no dealings with John Hennessey one way or the other, but it sure seems like he has a lot of problems with a LOT of people. Before anyone takes their car to Hennessey, I would strongly urge you to google "Hennessey Viper Fraud". This is not one or two disgruntled customers. I'm a Viper owner, and have read a lot of exciting exchanges, but this one is my all time fav:
http://forums.viperclub.org/performa...-arrested.html

likewise, I have no dealings with him, but it never ceases to amaze me that the auto rags still give Hennessey free press considering all of the questionable practices and lawsuits in his past

[Danko]

So you are saying slow fat people have pleasant farts? They STILL stink like the unAmerican Chal does. It is not made here and the hemi is not either and it is fat and slow. Right on, GM!!!!!

[samy1691]

I wish GM would shed some pounds from the Camaro.....it's too thick( hood to skirt...trunk to skirt) than it should be. It also would make the looks a little more aerodynamic!!!!!! Camaros and Vettes rule!!!!

[OutBurst]

I know I am going to be flamed for this but here I go:

The Mustang would have won the comparison if it had a good set of tires on it. There, I said it on a GM Forum. It had more horsepower and was chirping the tires in second gear on the quarter and 0-60 runs. The Camaro was great but I think the Mustang would have edged it out. Yes, I know the Camaro had more torque but the Mustang is lighter and grip makes all the difference on the track.

[91fairladyZ]

Originally Posted by OutBurst

I know I am going to be flamed for this but here I go:

The Mustang would have won the comparison if it had a good set of tires on it. There, I said it on a GM Forum. It had more horsepower and was chirping the tires in second gear on the quarter and 0-60 runs. The Camaro was great but I think the Mustang would have edged it out. Yes, I know the Camaro had more torque but the Mustang is lighter and grip makes all the difference on the track.

It definitely would have been a lot closer. It would have made a huge difference on the track test. The 'stang had no traction.

[ledfoot73]

I say thank God for GM, Ford, and Chrysler producing cars like these with the underlying capabilities to rip the retinas right off your eyeballs. It sure beats the heck out of discussing the merits of 4 and 6 cylinder fwd cars that are now being thrust on us under the guise of near performance and "premium" automobiles, Yawn. I have been a GM guy most of the driving aspect of my 47 years, now tell me that any of you would deny the desire to own any one of these. I am just so glad the Camaro wasn't a hopped up 4 cylinder based on the cruise.

[prototype66]

just the notes coming off those cars on the Dyno made me feel all funny down there!

[brnwrng]

I wonder what the challenger would have finished with a competitive HO engine...maybe they would have the same problems as the super snake. nicely done on the camaro though!

[MN12Fan]

Originally Posted by Danko

So you are saying slow fat people have pleasant farts? They STILL stink like the unAmerican Chal does. It is not made here and the hemi is not either and it is fat and slow. Right on, GM!!!!!

Well, the Challenger is built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada so it's true that it's not a US national. Also, the Hemi is built in Mexico.

The Camaro's platform is derived from the same design the Australian Holden Commodore uses. The Camaro is built in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada and its LS3 V8 is built in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. How is it any more American than the Challenger? In fact, Brampton is only about 50 miles away from Oshawa!

The only car among the three here that can truly wrap itself in the Stars and Stripes is the Mustang. The Mustang's built in Dearborn, Michigan, the 5.4L V8's built in Romeo, Michigan, and other Shelby upgrades are done in Las Vegas, Nevada.

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by OutBurst

I know I am going to be flamed for this but here I go:

The Mustang would have won the comparison if it had a good set of tires on it. There, I said it on a GM Forum. It had more horsepower and was chirping the tires in second gear on the quarter and 0-60 runs. The Camaro was great but I think the Mustang would have edged it out. Yes, I know the Camaro had more torque but the Mustang is lighter and grip makes all the difference on the track.

Check the weights again: the Mustang weighs virtually the same as the Camaro in Super Snake trim: 3915lbs. It also has ~ 59:41 weight distribution due to the iron block and blower. Pirellis are hardly a low-grip tyre, if they let it achieve 0.96G - same as the Hennesey.

Compared to probably 52:48 for the Camaro allowing for the blower. It had trouble hooking up around corners and in a straight line - weight distribution and rear axle design. That and the peaky nature of the motor. The Hennesey had trouble with neither, relatively. Considering it had lower 3.7 gears and achieved 4.1 0-60 which is as fast as anyone, it seems that's about all it has unless you put it on drag slicks. That's the 'hard limit' of that chassis on treads without significant work.

Considering the Hennesey car appears to have stock SS suspension abd brakes, that's pretty remarkable.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

Clearly, a lot of people here don't bother taking time to actually READ the articles posted. The article gives the prices of all 3. The article gives the warranty information for all 3. The article explains why the Dodge was not the mega horsepower car that was promised, and it has NOTHING to do with any engine failures.

I have no dealings with John Hennessey one way or the other, but it sure seems like he has a lot of problems with a LOT of people. Before anyone takes their car to Hennessey, I would strongly urge you to google "Hennessey Viper Fraud". This is not one or two disgruntled customers. I'm a Viper owner, and have read a lot of exciting exchanges, but this one is my all time fav:
http://forums.viperclub.org/performa...-arrested.html

One last thing.....You can buy a GT500, and order the exact same Whipple supercharger Shelby uses directly from Whipple. It comes complete with EVERYTHING, including the ECM tuning and twin throttle bodies, and costs $6,000. Shelby just bolts it on, and screws you for the other $30,000.

The video said it was engine failures...

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by OutBurst

I know I am going to be flamed for this but here I go:

The Mustang would have won the comparison if it had a good set of tires on it. There, I said it on a GM Forum. It had more horsepower and was chirping the tires in second gear on the quarter and 0-60 runs. The Camaro was great but I think the Mustang would have edged it out. Yes, I know the Camaro had more torque but the Mustang is lighter and grip makes all the difference on the track.

obviously you did not read the article at all.........

[Klay]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Check the weights again: the Mustang weighs virtually the same as the Camaro in Super Snake trim: 3915lbs. It also has ~ 59:41 weight distribution due to the iron block and blower. Pirellis are hardly a low-grip tyre, if they let it achieve 0.96G - same as the Hennesey.

Compared to probably 52:48 for the Camaro allowing for the blower. It had trouble hooking up around corners and in a straight line - weight distribution and rear axle design. That and the peaky nature of the motor. The Hennesey had trouble with neither, relatively. Considering it had lower 3.7 gears and achieved 4.1 0-60 which is as fast as anyone, it seems that's about all it has unless you put it on drag slicks. That's the 'hard limit' of that chassis on treads without significant work.

Considering the Hennesey car appears to have stock SS suspension abd brakes, that's pretty remarkable.

I'm not so sure I agree with your assessment of the supersnake. For one, the standard GT500 managed to get 11.95 as its best time so far stock in the 1/4. Of course, that was at a better track and probably more favorable weather conditions but still, the supersnake should have come with stickier tires or if at possible wider tires when it has that much hp. Really, the supersnake isn't performing all that much better than the stock GT500 so it just isn't as good of a tuner car as the camaro.

[Klay]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

while yes this is true.....

People are more excited because this is showing how much ability is in the Camaro platform and the fact that it wasn't really tuned to be such a track car and more of a cruiser and street bruiser.

The fact that things have turned out the way they have is not because one car is better then the other but simply because they tuned the cars differently.

While I agree with you to an extent, the camaro did have the zr1 engine in it, which is probably not going to be a common modification to this car. Just like the the Ford GT engine doesn't find its way into the GT500 very much if ever.

So I don't know if this test actually proves anything either way. I do believe however, that the camaro is a veryyyy potent setup, even stock. I think the mustang will definately have its hand full at every trim level.