Getting an 06 HHR

[kidd94]

My wife and I just saw one of the first HHR's to hit the Akron Oh. area and it is a great looking vehicle. There are not too many in the area and the majority are all high end price wise because of all the options.

But we went and extensively looked at one and we are very impressed. Very versitle. Great styling. Practical. Decent gas mileage. Everything that we want in a crossover.

So if anyone has bought one yet. Driven one yet. Let me know.

Also, we need the HHR specific forum started up...

[Tomsriv]

This car is so close to cool its killing me. If they had made it rear wheel drive I would want one. I wouldn't trust a car that big with FWD to have a decent transmission. I bet it wears out after 100k miles.

[kidd94]

Originally Posted by kidd94

My wife and I just saw one of the first HHR's to hit the Akron Oh. area and it is a great looking vehicle. There are not too many in the area and the majority are all high end price wise because of all the options.

But we went and extensively looked at one and we are very impressed. Very versitle. Great styling. Practical. Decent gas mileage. Everything that we want in a crossover.

So if anyone has bought one yet. Driven one yet. Let me know.

Also, we need the HHR specific forum started up...

It's not that big actually. It's slightly longer than the PT Cruiser and a inch taller. It's not as big as a Equinox either...

[BLU CIVIC]

Originally Posted by kidd94

It's not that big actually. It's slightly longer than the PT Cruiser and a inch taller. It's not as big as a Equinox either...

yes but the PT is still has more room and has more power...ugly as sin IMO but to each his own...i'll post a Wards review of it

[BLU CIVIC]

http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_chevy_hhr_close/index.htm

’06 Chevy HHR Too Close to PT for Comfort
By Brian Corbett

WardsAuto.com, Aug 15 2005

SAN FRANCISO – The ’06 Chevrolet HHR’s biggest challenge, predicted by most of the all-new cross/utility vehicle’s critics, surfaces during the first stop of a daylong media test-drive along the northern California coast.

As the cars pull up at Stinson Beach, about 20 miles (32 km) north of the city by the bay, a beach straggler inquires, “Is that the new PT Cruiser?”

Ouch! Chevrolet had just spent hours making its case during a marketing presentation here that the HHR is no Chrysler PT Cruiser clone, but rather a combination of the Chevrolet SSR pickup and a ’49 Suburban carry-all.

The beach goer’s reaction echoed that of the media during the HHR’s unveiling last year at the Los Angeles auto show, prompting one of Bob Lutz’s entertaining outbursts.

Read my lips, the HHR marketed through Chevrolet dealerships and the price we’re going to sell it at will be sensationally successful,” GM’s product development chief said at the time. (See related story: Lutz Guarantees HHR’s Success)

Well, now it’s time to read this: The HHR far exceeds the initial reaction of cynics. But it fails to better the PT Cruiser, the segment creator and leader, in many metrics. It’s fine to be late to a segment. But the goal should be to outshine the existing star, not merely match it.

Chevrolet also considers the Honda Element, Scion xB, Ford Escape and Jeep Liberty to be HHR competitors. But the Escape and Liberty, with their 4-wheel-drive capabilities, probably won’t fight for customers with the HHR. And the PT Cruiser easily is the sales leader over the Element and xB.

Every significant vehicle specification for the HHR – headroom, legroom and vehicle width– is nearly identical to the PT Cruiser.

One exception is vehicle length: The HHR is 7.3 ins. (18.5 cm) longer at 176.2 ins. (447 cm). Yet, it does not capitalize on the size advantage by offering more cargo space or rear-seat room.

With the rear seats removed, the HHR’s 63.1 cu.-ft. (1.8 cu.-m) of cargo capacity bests the PT Cruiser by less than 0.5 cu.-ft. (0.01 cu.-m). And PT has more leg and shoulder room than HHR for rear-seat passengers.

PT Cruiser offers a lower starting price – $13,995 – and a wider price range, topping out at $23,620 for the GT model. That does not include the convertible model. HHR pricing begins at $15,990 (including destination charges) for the base LS model and $16,990 for the optional LT.

The PT Cruiser also holds the upper hand in horsepower, offering 150 hp with the base engine and 180 hp with the turbocharged GT. The HHR is equipped with a standard 2.2L 4-cyl. engine putting out 143 hp – pretty feeble these days. The HHR’s optional 2.4L 4-cyl. mill supplies 172 hp.

Word is that plans for a turbocharged HHR were dropped during the very early stages of the CUV’s development. That’s a shame, because the HHR needs a kick in the pants.

A peppier engine is the only ingredient missing from what otherwise is a wonderful driving experience through California’s Marin and Sonoma counties.

The HHR is fun to drive, especially with the standard 5-speed transmission. A 4-speed automatic transmission is available.

The Chevy Cobalt small car’s sound ride and handling characteristics translate to the HHR. Even though the HHR’s ground clearance is raised 1-in. (2.5 cm) to 6.3 ins. (16 cm), and it is 8.1 ins. (20.6 cm) taller than the Cobalt, body roll is not an issue.

But like the Cobalt, the HHR’s interior could be better.

That said, stereo and climate controls are chunky and not overly rubbery. The circular door handles are easy to operate, the tachometer gauge is pleasingly offset over a portion of the speedometer, and the vents have an interesting honeycomb design under the black-plastic flaps.

But the gaps are too large around the power window controls, which are in a PT Cruiser-like location between the front seats. The hard plastic on the doors is tacky.

There is no ring around the door locks, which emerge from the doors through a shoddily drilled hole. And good luck finding the rear windshield wiper button – it is on the center stack below the climate controls and next to the power outlet.

The HHR’s exterior styling was slammed at its debut for being a plump version of the PT Cruiser. Yet, on the road, the HHR looks considerably slimmer, and it is infinitely more attractive than the hideous xB and the plastic-intensive Element. (See related story: Retro Schmetro)

The HHR’s rear end sits low, with the C-pillar drawing inward toward the roofline, while the fender bump-outs provide some attitude. The front-end grille resembles four highly polished military sabers laid side by side.

Ten-hut! The HHR now is standing at attention in Chevrolet dealerships. Naysayers not withstanding, expect sales of about 60,000 units annually in the U.S.

[MagicRat]

I read a similar review elsewhere.
Although I like the HHR and I think its a big improvement on the Scion and the Honda Element, it is so similar to the PT Cruiser, that it is rediculous for GM to claim it is not heavily influenced by the PT. It is also 7 years too late into that market segment.

Still, its really cool and practical, which is a tough combination to achieve.

[Jaguar D-Type]

The same guy who styled the PT Cruiser also styled the new HHR, but the HHR has a much better chassis than the PT Cruiser (new Cobalt vs decade-old Neon).