2008 HHR - VERY impressed

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

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.

Whats your point? Ever since our Accord passed the 50k mile mark it's been eating through out money. The Master Cylinder crapping out, and the rear calipers freezing up on us pushed us to the $5k mark. The amount of money spent fixing or repairing things, only with 93k miles. Well maintained also.

I don't excuse GM for putting crappy brakes on the HHR, but from reading that thread it seems to be one of the only issues he is having. It's not like he had mechanical failures. I agree with the other posters though, ride the warranty to the end. If the issues pop up again go aftermarket.

Question, does the HHR SS have break issues? Or is it only the lower models?

[Neanderthal]

^^ Whoa! I've been told by numerous Honda saleshomies that Hondas never have trouble.
Well, you DO have to change the oil.

FWIW, I had my 2003 Accord LX in the shop 3 or 4 times for the rear drums. Drum brakes suck, suck, suck. You are not saving one red cent when you use them.

The PT Cruiser is similarly trouble-free. One of the best cars ChryCo has built regarding reliability. So I guess it makes sense to dump it.

My wife likes the slightly elevated driving position. Her 99 Sebring was definitely a little too low, unless you're 21 and like that in-the-ground feeling.

Sorry I didn't test drive an HHR. Meanwhile, life goes on.

Enjoy!

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

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.

Do you want me to start my corolla thread and list all the problems? Engine work at 72K miles?
Also, what problems? Work on the Rotors? under warranty? and a new radio? Everything else is cosmetic interior pieces, like a cover for the seat bolt and a replacement rubber bushing and a safety headliner recall...
Toyota, My door panels, I needed to beg them to replace the pealing ones.
Do not get me started on holy Toyota.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

^^ Whoa! I've been told by numerous Honda saleshomies that Hondas never have trouble.
Well, you DO have to change the oil.

FWIW, I had my 2003 Accord LX in the shop 3 or 4 times for the rear drums. Drum brakes suck, suck, suck. You are not saving one red cent when you use them.

The PT Cruiser is similarly trouble-free. One of the best cars ChryCo has built regarding reliability. So I guess it makes sense to dump it.

My wife likes the slightly elevated driving position. Her 99 Sebring was definitely a little too low, unless you're 21 and like that in-the-ground feeling.

Sorry I didn't test drive an HHR. Meanwhile, life goes on.

Enjoy!

I wish I just had brake problems, that would of saved us much money. Oh yea we are also having a loud rattle in the front end, had it fixed once but now in another week have to take it in again to get fixed. According the mechanic it might be the catalytic converter.

[Ttple]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

About the only annoyance is lack of visabitly when you are the first one at a stoplight--you need to scrouch down in order to see the light.

That's one of the many pet peeves that I have with new cars. It seems the aerodynamics makes you stare at the sun visor while driving. Auto makers have put form before function.

[Ttple]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

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.

I'd put my Intrigue up against your Camry any day. I have a 2000 Intrigue with 199,000 miles on it and all I've replaced was the air pump. Everything else is stock except the tires and brakes.

[Neanderthal]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

I wish I just had brake problems, that would of saved us much money. Oh yea we are also having a loud rattle in the front end, had it fixed once but now in another week have to take it in again to get fixed. According the mechanic it might be the catalytic converter.

Are you getting it fixed at Honda? Under warranty?
If not, I'd seek some second opinions.
Honda dealers only know how to do oil changes and tire rotations, according to the saleshomies who told me Hondas never have mechanical issues.

What year is your Accord?

Sounds like it's time to get a trade-in quote for a Sonata. Or an Optima, but next year's looks nicer.

OR an HHR, of course!!

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

Are you getting it fixed at Honda? Under warranty? If not, I'd seek some second opinions.
Honda dealers only know how to do oil changes and tire rotations, according to the saleshomies who told me Hondas never have mechanical issues.

Sounds like it's time to get a trade-in quote for a Sonata. Or an Optima, but next year's looks nicer.

OR an HHR, of course!!

Hell no, the last time we took our Accord to the dealer was 1997. That was back when they were charging $100 an hour to **** around under the hood. We take it to a regular mechanic, the guy really knows his stuff. I don't plan on trading it in anytime soon, I am helping my parents buy a Malibu or Fusion next year to replace it and I will take the Accord as a commuter vehicle.

I want to buy a "fun car" soon, so to save money I will be keeping it another few years. Maybe 5 years from now I will dump it, I will only dump the Accord before then if something else major goes. After that amount of time GM and Ford will have their premium small cars out so I will be able to find a proper replacement. From the spy shots I have much to look forward to. I also like the HHR SS.

[eurohazard]

lol, my point wasn't to show Toyota as flawless.....I know my Camry has not been "flawless". It's 15 years old.

The POINT of my post was in regards to mbukukanyau basically bragging about the durability of his HHR, when it has been anything but. If I happened to drive a 1993 Grand Am, I doubt I would be getting the responses I did. And no where did I claim Toyota superiority.

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

lol, my point wasn't to show Toyota as flawless.....I know my Camry has not been "flawless". It's 15 years old.

The POINT of my post was in regards to mbukukanyau basically bragging about the durability of his HHR, when it has been anything but. If I happened to drive a 1993 Grand Am, I doubt I would be getting the responses I did. And no where did I claim Toyota superiority.

Nope, it would be worse. I daresay folks here are far more critical of what GM builds than what the Japanese build.

[eurohazard]

^ lol point taken! I have noticed that too, and once said the same thing.

[paul8488]

Oh no way... there are examples of Honda's with problems, there are examples of Toyota's with problems, and there are examples of GM's with problems. Wow, just incredible!

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Oh no way... there are examples of GM's with problems. Wow, just incredible!

Fixed that for you.

There are NO issues with Japanese cars, sorry.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

lol, my point wasn't to show Toyota as flawless.....I know my Camry has not been "flawless". It's 15 years old.

The POINT of my post was in regards to mbukukanyau basically bragging about the durability of his HHR, when it has been anything but. If I happened to drive a 1993 Grand Am, I doubt I would be getting the responses I did. And no where did I claim Toyota superiority.

Compared to my Corolla, my HHR is flawless.

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

FWIW, I had my 2003 Accord LX in the shop 3 or 4 times for the rear drums. Drum brakes suck, suck, suck. You are not saving one red cent when you use them.

You prolly don't want to know how much it cost to replace just the rear pads/rotors on my Mark VII (discs all around) then