Chevrolet HHR SS
 

I have donned my Flak Jacket, but I do trust the opinions of the members of this Forum 100%, so I hope to get some honest answers.

I am in need of a compact mini wagon to use as a store " go getter".

I am kind of a retro guy and I did look at the PT Cruiser alternative and I did like the Toyota box van but in the end I want to buy domestic and I have more faith in GM than I do Chrysler.

But........... I have been driving Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles since 1993 and have no experience with this particular Chevvie.

The model I am looking at is the Turbo version with 5 speed manual and a fairly high level of specs, ie, sunroof etc. Sticker prices around here seem to be about $24-26K but I have not even started the bargaining process.

Question for the F150 family is, do any of you or your relatives have any experience with this vehicle and can you share those experiences if you have them.

Part of this decision process is probably that I owned several Suburbans over the years and of course the HHR was, and I guess still is, positioned as a "Non Sanforized" Suburban. Probably not a good reason to settle on a choice of a vehicle but then I have purchased a lot of vehicles based on emotion rather than reason.

Hmmm........ Taurus SHO V8, Lightning, Lincoln Blackwood, $10K invested in my late Mom's 1992 Town Car, yep, I buy based on emotion a lot.

Help me if you can, and if you think the vehicle is OK I may buy one and if not I probably will not.

Bill

I had one as a rental and was not impressed. Are you very tall? I am 6' 1" and had to bend down at stoplights to see the signal through the windshield. The windshield is almost vertical and really limits your view. I just do not like the hard plastic interiors that Chevy puts in their vehicles. They feel really cheap to me. I would test drive one before even considering buying it.

i would wait and see what happens with gm first. if they completely close there doors then where will you get the "dealer only" items? just something to think about.

I know two folks that have owned the HRR. The first guy didn't have his but maybe a year and got rid of it. It was a lemon and constantly in the shop. He's driving a Nissan now. The other little lady has hers in a dark blue....that is, when you get to see it. She drives like a person possessed. Hers has seen the shop a couple of times but nothing major. The worst part is the fuel mileage on hers- it sucks bad. But she drives it like she stole it and at the speed of light. Last time I saw her it had about 30,000 miles on it and she was talking about trading it in. Just didn't like it. She has the 2.4 and an auto if that makes a difference. She's getting around 11-12 town but claims it does pretty decent on the road. The 2008 models have a recall on them for air bags FWIW. If you look at the Ford Taurus X, they are having issues with the crank seals lasting more than 75,000 miles and the 6 speed auto is not holding up behind this engine. If you think you can stand something as small as a Focus, they're a hoot to drive and a neat car. I'm getting 44 mpg hiway with my girls Focus when she lets me have it. I get about 31-34 town. They're a little noisy and the ride is not Lincoln quality but they are lasting a long, long time according to current owners. Hers has not been back for anything and she has about 32,000 on it now. She has the 2.0 and an auto in a SEL model.

Look at a flex. It has the room you need.. and has great reviews. I wouldn't touch a chev. Look underneath the back at that high tech solid rear axle. Even the escort had independant rear in 1980. chev did that because it is cheap to manufacture. what else did they skimp on? besides.. they are butt ugly.(fat guys butt that is)

I haven't taken a close look at them, but have given them thought. I'm needing to replace a delivery van{Grand Caravan}, my friends have told me not to even look at them. So I've never gotten around to it. The cargo bay isn't tall enough.
I'm having trouble finding a suitable replacement, and don't want to go fullsize.

When I last checked it had a very high incident of repair...

Ford is making a new car like that called a Transport I believe. They are available now IIRC through fleet sales.

I cannot imagine the HHR replacing a van. It is not much bigger than a PT Cruiser. You pretty much sit shoulder to shoulder with a front passenger. It is a little vehicle.

I got to drive an auto SS HHR this past summer on a road course when I was interning for General Motors. Only drove it for 3 laps but I was impressed with the power it had. We squeeled the tires and locked up the abs brakes through all corners of the track. Didn't get to go much faster, I was afraid the GM people would shut me down.

I do not know how it would be for a dailly driver.

i rode in one over the summer, had leather and everything and boy did the back seat suck. it actually made me car sick. first time i have ever been car sick in my life.

The cruiser I have does for the country hot shot deliveries. But I'm needing something to replace that caravan. We have an Envoy, but it'e not long enough in the cargo area.
I only use the full size for heavy delivery areas. But does anyone know of something comparable to a caraven, it's been a good one, but getting old.

Sorry Bill! I didn't intend to steal your thread.:beers:

I have a co-worker who has owned one for the past couple of years and have ridden in it on numerous occassions. Overall, I like the vehicle, and think they are actually pretty cool looking little rigs!

However, I will say that the 4-banger they put in them is VERY buzzy -- so noticeable that it really detracts from my overall impression of the vehicle. This is a car that begs for a V6 engine, but none is offered by the General. Not sure how the turbo-charged set-up you are looking at would compare.

For what it's worth, this co-worker also owns an '07 FX2, and it was not lost on me that even this past summer when gas was steep he took the F-150 whenever he had to drive any highway distances. Perhaps this is a sign of how comfortable (or uncomfortable?) the vehicle is on a long road trip......???

Thanks, folks for all of your valuable input.

It looks like the Chevvy may not suit my needs after all.

Thanks to Lumadar, I found info on the Ford Transit, which may fit my needs much better. It seems to not be in the US yet, but I will check with my Ford dealer across the street this morning to get the scoop. Even if it does not arrive until Spring, I am not in a hurry.

Bill

http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitc...d|fordvehicles

No problem bill.

Check out the X-press concept...pretty sweet, and possibly with a turbo! It would make one heck of a mobile detailing rig... :drool: