Saw an HHR

[JasonA]

One of the vendors here had rented one. It's nice overall. Interior is comfortable enough, but a bit cramped. I wasn't impressed with the dashboard at all. The windshield is way too short.

On the recent topic of the GM logo on all new cars...there was a small GM square logo on the bottom front of the front doors. It was subdued and classy...no more than 3/4" on a side. It was just straight chrome, no blue like the traditional GM logo. I liked it. Whether it helps with name recognition, I don't know.

[Poobah]

I hate to sound clueless, but what is an HHR?

[Cupillac]

Bad GM vehicle IMO.

http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo....d/q/06s-hhr.jpg

[scottshoe]

It's GM's version of the Neon... I mean PT Cruiser! Only 10 years or more too late!

They should have built the Nomad concept car that they showed a couple of years ago that is on the Kappa series platform (Pontiac Solstice), that car would have sold well, I think.

[67coupedeville]

Oh my, are they actually making these things...they really need to stop shooting themselves in the foot, bottom line, whatever. As I recall these are based on the Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe platform, why not just make a sporty looking economy car instead of that bohemith, another Aztec in the making. Didn't anyone tell GM that the retro look went out with the T-Bird and PT Cruiser, do you hear anyone making noise about a new T-Bird, at least around here I don't. I want GM to make a nice car that appeals to me, not a grocery getter with big fenders.

I've driven a Toyota Matrix in the past, entry level one automatic and I really liked it. I would buy one. But I would never buy something with goddy looking fenders and goofy looking headlamps like that. I could just grab someone at Chevy and shake them .

I do like the GM plates that they are doing, its due time.

[RDWRIOR]

As I recall these are based on the Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe platform. . .

Just for the record, I should point out that the HHR is not remotely based on the Matrix/Vibe vehicle. The Matrix/Vibe is a Toyota-developed vehicle, using a Toyota engine. The HHR was developed entirely by GM, with no input from Toyota, and is based on the "Delta" platform that is also used for the Saturn ION and the Chevrolet Cobalt; it uses a family of GM L4 engines also used in the above-mentioned vehicles, amongst many others.

When I first encountered the HHR at work about one year ago, I was not particularly thrilled by it. However, that vehicle was a very rough early prototype, with virtually no options. Back in May of this year, I worked on a production HHR (fully loaded), and I was much more impressed. I still expected to be disappointed by its on-road performance (as compared to my usual experience in my STS), but again, I was favorably impressed -- the acceleration was reasonable, as was the handling, and the engine was not noisy. Although I am definitely not in the market demographic for this type of vehicle (or any other "entry-level" vehicles -- I own two Cadillacs and a Corvette, for heaven's sake! ), I would certainly recommend the HHR to buyers considering this type of vehicle. It definitely would not be fair to consider it an "also ran" versus the PT Cruiser. Interestingly, the current issue of Motor Trend contained a comparison of the two models, and the HHR came out ahead, which I found to be a pleasant surprise!

[JasonA]

the acceleration was reasonable, as was the handling, and the engine was not noisy.

I really like GM's recent Ecotec engines. I rented a Grand Am with one. I really like how they included a timing CHAIN on those engines, vs. a cheap belt like the Japanese.

[SGT.ROCK]

I just wish that GM would put some engines in their cars that had some real horsepower. Why put a 5 cylinder in the Colorado/Canyon/H3 when theres a perfectly good 6 cylinder available(Trailblazer/Envoy/Rainier/. Hopefuly there will be a supercharged Eco engine available for the HHR. I applaud GM for the ION REDLINE and the COBALT SS although I wish that CAR and DRIVER felt the same way. THey also need to go the way of Chryler and ditch FWD and go RWD with AWD optional. But whatever happens I will still support/defend GM, whatever they build

[scottshoe]

I drove a Saturn Vue Redline that I considered for my wife, it was a little plastic-y for my taste, but I absolutely loved that Honda V6 in it! Quiet, good torque, good HP... it really runs nice. One will end up in my garage in a year or so when I ditch the Rondezvous we got instead. Then when up step up to a CTS-V from my STS, I might be happy for a few months!

[JasonA]

Why put a 5 cylinder in the Colorado/Canyon/H3 when theres a perfectly good 6 cylinder available(Trailblazer/Envoy/Rainier/.

I always wondered myself, why design the engine bay around a 5-cylinder engine when the Vortec 4200 6-cylinder is sitting on the shelf, and proving itself every day in the SUVs. We have 3 Chevy Colorado trucks at work, all with the Vortec 3500. The engine is okay...good torque. Car & Driver I think described the sound as an "angry cow", and I can't disagree with that. It's unlike anything I've ever heard, and not all that pleasant. But to their defense, I've never heard 5-cylinders that I really liked. I've heard a few V-10 Ford Super Duty trucks with aftermarket exhaust and it just sounds terrible.