2008 HHR - VERY impressed

[Neanderthal]

Originally Posted by autofan

I love the packaging of the HHR, the fuel economy and even the interior styling, but just can't hack the overly retro exterior. I so wish GM would offer this package in a more contemporary wrapper!

How's a panel truck for contemporary? Eh??

[throwback]

I have an HHR SS 5 speed. The car is a blast to drive, versitle and gets good mpg. I avg 28 in a split of 60/40 highway city traffic. I can get better mileage if I stay out of the boost which is hard to do. My only dislikes are the interior materials. I realize GM put the money where it counts, engine, trans and suspension. But the hard plastic dash looks and feels cheap. The steering wheel rim is beautifully wrapped in leather, but move your hand in towards the hub and you touch hard cheap plastic. The car is very well built, but the material quality is low. My plan is to re-trim the interior in leather and upgrade the front seats to the Recaros that where in the Cobalt SS supercharged. Overall I love the car, I like the space and the look. I am a big Hot Rod fan and I love the chopped and channeled look the SS has.

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Buick61

It's a nice little car, but Hencho en Mexico means no sale to me.

But - Chevrolet says , "It's An American Revolution!".

That is the main reason I didn't buy one too.

[kodos78]

This is how I look at it: The more jobs we have south of the border, the fewer jam our emergency rooms. Prosperity for our neighbors to the South will improve all of our living conditions. And hopefully enable them to look beyond the menial jobs that they currently take. Maybe some of them will become entrepreneurs and make their own way in the world and hire even more of their Mexican brethren.

So for me, buying a Mexican built car like the HHR or Fusion is no big deal.

Originally Posted by 1999 White C5 Coupe

But - Chevrolet says , "It's An American Revolution!".

That is the main reason I didn't buy one too.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by kodos78

This is how I look at it: The more jobs we have south of the border, the fewer jam our emergency rooms. Prosperity for our neighbors to the South will improve all of our living conditions. And hopefully enable them to look beyond the menial jobs that they currently take. Maybe some of them will become entrepreneurs and make their own way in the world and hire even more of their Mexican brethren.

So for me, buying a Mexican built car like the HHR or Fusion is no big deal.

Yes, and to further your point....I'd like to use one of the import -haters' favorite comments, "but where do the profits go?".

[Buick61]

I'm not going to buy a car built in a country that's been all but hostile to us over trade, immigration, border security, drug enforcement, and environmental concerns. I'm not going to buy a car built in a third-world country just so GM can pay people thousands and thousands of dollars less than an American or Canadian worker to build a car. I'm not going to buy a car built in an environmental disaster zone where government corruption, wide-spread poverty, and massively violent and far-reaching gang activity can all be over looked just for the sake of building cheap cars cheaply.

[kodos78]

Man, the only way anyone can fix that is by giving these people some real honest jobs.

How the hell do you solve "wide-spread poverty" without giving people some work? Geesh.

And I consider the UAW the real problem with the American worker. They make an obscene amount in both benefits and salary for what they do.

I'm sorry, but your choices in the future are either going to be a Mexican built car, an American built Toyota, or a Chinese made one. And it's all the UAW and GM's fault for giving away the store to them.

Originally Posted by Buick61

I'm not going to buy a car built in a country that's been all but hostile to us over trade, immigration, border security, drug enforcement, and environmental concerns. I'm not going to buy a car built in a third-world country just so GM can pay people thousands and thousands of dollars less than an American or Canadian worker to build a car. I'm not going to buy a car built in an environmental disaster zone where government corruption, wide-spread poverty, and massively violent and far-reaching gang activity can all be over looked just for the sake of building cheap cars cheaply.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by kodos78

Man, the only way anyone can fix that is by giving these people some real honest jobs.

How the hell do you solve "wide-spread poverty" without giving people some work? Geesh.

And I consider the UAW the real problem with the American worker. They make an obscene amount in both benefits and salary for what they do.

I'm sorry, but your choices in the future are either going to be a Mexican built car, an American built Toyota, or a Chinese made one. And it's all the UAW and GM's fault for giving away the store to them.

Poverty isn't going to be solved with a few car plants wherein people make 5 dollars a day.

And it's not the Big 3's job to employ Mexicans. The Mexican government needs to do more.

[kodos78]

It's the job of the government to stay out of the way of business. And in that regard, I agree with you -- the Mexican government needs to keep its grubby and corrupt hands out of the pockets of businesses and private individuals.

And I'm having a hard time getting any pay information for Mexican workers, but this article sure paints a rosy picture. But these are more like technician level workers for Honeywell. Ford and GM seem to be investing in educational opportunities for their workers South of the border as well. So, here it is FWIW:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...n9414129/pg_10

My point is that I have no qualms against a Mexican built vehicle. At least the plants are in North America and there is greater good to be had in North America (US, Canada and Mexico) than a vehicle coming from Germany, Japan or China.

And yes, the profits come back home to be reinvested in more good GM vehicles. But I can understand wanting a vehicle made here. At least, my guess is that the HHR is engineered in NA, of course the Ecotec is a joint effort of GM around the globe (mostly GM Europe however?)

Originally Posted by Buick61

Poverty isn't going to be solved with a few car plants wherein people make 5 dollars a day.

And it's not the Big 3's job to employ Mexicans. The Mexican government needs to do more.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Poverty isn't going to be solved with a few car plants wherein people make 5 dollars a day.

And it's not the Big 3's job to employ Mexicans. The Mexican government needs to do more.

They did, they not only allowed GM to build there, but also Dodge, and VW! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.

[DuallyMan]

My HHR is 7 months old now. It has been a blast to drive and own. My only comment is the fit. This sucker starts to rattle. The rattling is coming from the plastic under the steering wheel and the small storage area. Piss me off.

[red_rider]

I'm torn. I really like the HHR, but also I don't understand why it has to have a truck-like seating height, or maybe its a higher ride height, compared to a Cobalt or something equivalent. Seems like it would help driving dynamics or even mpg if it sat lower or had a lower c.g.

No doubt, I'd like to drive one to correct any misconceptions I may have . I do like the style and cargo capacity. I am only speaking from seeing the vehicle from the outside.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Poverty isn't going to be solved with a few car plants wherein people make 5 dollars a day.

And it's not the Big 3's job to employ Mexicans. The Mexican government needs to do more.

Buick do not turn this into a political thread.

I have a HHR and love it. 2006, 33,000 somewhat miles on it. 2.4 LT.. I can give camrys a run for their yens.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

Buick do not turn this into a political thread.

I have a HHR and love it. 2006, 33,000 somewhat miles on it. 2.4 LT.. I can give camrys a run for their yens.

No offense, but I have read this thread of yours. And I've got to say, you've had as many problems with your 2 year old HHR than I've had with my 15 year old Camry, in the 6 years I've owned it.

I agree this shouldn't turn into a political thread though.

[paul8488]

GM should take advantage of the fact that the HHR is still quite popular (didn't fizzle after the first year) and get a 2-door and / or convertible model out. Might be cost prohibitive, but it's always a good idea when you can expand on the success of a vehicle, like they're doing with the CTS and have failed to do with the Kappa roadsters. I could see a whole fleet of HHR vehicles... the 5-door, the panel version they already have out, a 3-door, a convertible, even a little pick-up.

Actually, now that I think about it, it would be cool if GM DID build the Groove... basically the HHR's baby brother! GM should do their best to position the next HHR (I'm hoping they keep it going another generation) against the Mini, and introduce a more affordable, less polarising vehicle (like that Tacuma under testing) as the value Chevrolet choice.