On a performance vehicle like the HHR SS, would you lose value if you purchased a manual transmission? It will allow you to get the full horsepower out of the engine. It also will save $1,000 off the sticker price. You'll have to order it anyway so why not save the money and get the maximum performance?

What do you guys think?

I hate automatics, myself, so I can't give an unbiased answer ;-)

Since 90% of new car sales are automatics, I think it's safe to say that the automatics are going to be an easier sell down the line...

well since the manual is cheaper to begin with, how could you lose any value? You can't lose what you don't spend in the first place. :confused:

Having said that, like misterjensen said, it might be easier to resell with an automatic a few years down the road. Then again, it is an SS, and the market for these vehicles might tend to want a manual, so who really knows?

It's a preformance vehicle. The auto will hurt sales down the road IMO. I know I would not pay more to get less HP. If you want a performance vehicle, drive a performance vehicle.

Even if the auto is free, what would I pay the same price to get less.

My SHO was a performance vehicle and it sold terribly until they created an automatic for it. Then it sold in larger numbers but was always a sleeper, a cult car so eventually Ford pulled the plug.
Mine was a manual and it seemed folks of the era ( '90's ) did not want manual sedans. That may have changed.:confused:


On our HHR SS, I'd guess the resale would be more for enthusiasts so the manual is likely to be a SELLING point rather than a detriment. Heck, these days I WANT to drive automatics, but the crippling of the HP in the HHR SS auto makes me reconsider a manual once again.

At least with the SHO Ford created an automatic that did not stifle the engine output much or at all ( trying to remember ) . They worked on it for years rather than rushing one out, so the first batch of SHOs were manual only.
I think Chevy has given the HHR SS all the R&D it is likely to get in the automatic dept. Too bad for us.

I hate automatics too... go with the manual, get all you can outta the SS... :cool:


Tina aka Prpltz

Though I agree with the preference to the manual... you're not going to find an Impalla SS or a Monte SS with a manual trans...

Get what you want... in 2 years the resale price of the car will be based more on the condition and the miles than if it has an a manual transmission or not. All I'm saying is that depending on the appearance, your price could swing +/- $3000, depending on transmission it might go +/- $1000 tops.

Get the transmission you want and don't eat icecream or spill your coffee and you'll be further ahead :)

So what if it doesn't have as high of a resale value. Who are you buying it for? You or the next guy? Get what YOU want.

If you go with the manaul trans ,then when you sell it people will think you beat on the car all the time. That just the way people think. Automatic would be the way to go. Are you planning on doing 150 miles an hour ? If not go with the auto. Even with the auto ,I'll bet it goes 140.

The reason I ask is I ordered an '82 Firebird with a manual transmission and the 2.5L engine to get better gas mileage but still have a stylish car. I later found out no dealer would take it in trade. That engine had major problems with vibration in the Firebird and the manual transmission made it almost unsellable.

Sometimes you order a car thinking you'll keep it forever. But, when problems arise, you may want to dump it without losing your shirt. I bought my first HHR off the lot. I want the SS to be my dream car!

If you go with the manaul trans ,then when you sell it people will think you beat on the car all the time. That just the way people think. Automatic would be the way to go. Are you planning on doing 150 miles an hour ? If not go with the auto. Even with the auto ,I'll bet it goes 140.

That is not necessarily true. Some people may be concerned about that but not everyone. Anyone who will buy this car as a used vehicle will more than likely want a manual shift. If they are buying used from a dealer rather than as a private sale, they will have a lot more confidence in the condition since most used car dealers offer some sort of warranty, inspection report, return policy and the like.

But the bottom line for you SandyBeach, is to buy the transmission that YOU want. Not everything is about resale value.

If you go with the manaul trans ,then when you sell it people will think you beat on the car all the time. That just the way people think. Automatic would be the way to go. Are you planning on doing 150 miles an hour ? If not go with the auto. Even with the auto ,I'll bet it goes 140.

Way off base. More auto's get abused that manuals. Plus with a manual you can get an idea if it's starting to need a clutch. With an auto, you can't. They could even do a fuild change to hide color/odor. Top speed has nothing to do with it. It's the burried gas pedal on take off that does the most damage. Not what you wind it up to in high gear (as long as you don't wreck).

Resale value can be a factor, but we all lose if we sell in the short run. My SHo is only NOW starting to rise in value and it is from '89. Sold it long ago. Went for 26K
Paid 16K new , got ten grand off since it had a few thousand miles on it and was a Ford Executive car, loaded:D
Drove it for twelve years sold it for $1,600.00 to a friend who fell asleep while driving it one afternoon. :roll:

Now it is rising in value as a collector car.

So really, what ever we buy just plummets unless it's say a limited production car like the high end Corvette. I thought the recent Thunderbirds were going to be decent investments. Doesn't look like it.


As a buyer though, I know all used cars have been abused. It is really that simple. Nothing was ever babied all of its life. Well, OK, maybe a few, but just look at how all the fools around us drive each day and then pretend you were going to buy their car. See what I Mean?

Automatics are abused as are manuals. Just the way things go.
Now I do see folks revving their engines HIGHER with manual trannies a lot since that can be more easily done with a manual tranny.

Bottom line, I'd expect more trouble with a used manual tranny since folks ride the clutchs and wear the throwout bearing AND shift at inopportune times more often than in an automatic.

Best bet, buy new, take the loss. Get what makes you feel good.

.

Bottom line, I'd expect more trouble with a used manual tranny since folks ride the clutchs and wear the throwout bearing AND shift at inopportune times more often than in an automatic.

.


Very true, but I'd rather spend under $500 for a new clutch, pressure plate, & throwout/release bearing than $2500+ on a new/rebuilt auto.

The last clutch I replaced was at 180K. All original. It's easy to get 100K out of a clutch unless you can't drive a stick. Which is very common these days. Most just don't want the "hassle" of shifting. Which IMO is half the fun of driving.

...Bottom line, I'd expect more trouble with a used manual tranny since folks ride the clutches and wear the throwout bearing AND shift at inopportune times more often than in an automatic...

I would concur... since I drive a 6-speed which had to be replaced at only 41K miles! :cussing: I think it's a lot easier to abuse a manual over the life of a car.

Very true, but I'd rather spend under $500 for a new clutch, pressure plate, & throwout/release bearing than $2500+ on a new/rebuilt auto.

Good point:thumb: I had an automatic give out in my 1975 Buick Park Avenue. It lost gears in consecutive order untill , at lone last all I had was reverse:lol:
I had limped it to the automatic tranny shop and lost gears all along the way. But going uphill in reverse was the last straw. It dies 500 feet from its goal:lol:


Now THAT was a bit rough on the engine..........:roll:
But joe average needs an auto since Joe Average shifts like a fool. I see it all day in the city I work in, oh plus Joe Above average adds a fart can and plays god with his tranny a bit too much too...
I used to always buy used, lately, I think I'll always buy new.

But then we are NOT Joe Average are we:D?

I had limped it to the automatic tranny shop and lost gears all along the way. But going uphill in reverse was the last straw. It dies 500 feet from its goal:lol:



Been there done that, expect mine was the spider gears in the differential (Mustang). They would only engage in reverse. Had to drive home at midnight in reverse the whole way (lucky to be on base and living on base at the time). I went by a base cop getting gas, and he just stared at me. :confused: I was so shocked he didn't come after me.

Worst auto experiance I had was the same Mustang (old C4). Had the tranny rebuilt. Less than a year later I had to move two states over. Then I lost reverse, had to have it rebuilt again. Why? The previous shop left out the catch that engages reverse. It had been hanging up on the housing and engaging. Once the aluminum wore down enough, it slipped right by. No reverse. New tranny for a $3 part. That is the last car I buy with a auto, unless no standard is available, except for my truck.

I can feel you pain on that one. Cool base cop story though:thumb:

As I'm going into my later '40's I should be wanting the simple exercise of a manual tranny:D But am in the frame of mind that automatics are keeping me happy-for now ( Darn 25HP decrease on the auto HHRSS:censored: :censored: )

One quick auto story. Our plymoputh Voyager went through six of them in its lifetime! one had been replace at 30 K, another at 75K, another 10K later, etc....
This is why I did not buy a Chryler for our new minivan. Oh, it used up if I remember four engines as well....
One has to know when to quit. I think I've learned form that one car:eek: Never again:lol:

I drive a stick because it's fun. I get better MPG and I'm board driving an auto trans.

However, resale value and only resale value is based on original selling price with all options added in or deducted from value if it's not there.

Go into NADA.com and just run a check on your vehicles value. No auto trans and you deduct value. May be $500-$1000, but it is less.

The other issue is not enough people enjoy a stick like some of us do. Most new sales are auto, because most people don't drive stick.

My other vehicle is a 2005 Colorado with a 5 spd. 4 cyl. 27mpg,fun and I love it. Can't sell it... No auto trans. GM no longer makes it. Not enough sales.

Bottom line though is drive what you want and will like.

So really, what ever we buy just plummets unless it's say a limited production car like the high end Corvette.


Newer model Corvettes plummet too. Been there, and done that. Pretty much the only cars that are valid as true invetments are restored muscle cars of the 70's on back, and then if you want the value to remain you have to treat them as a museum piece. Sit next to it in the garage, drink a beer, show it to friends. Maybe drive it once a month then put it back to bed. Don't forget to properly winterize it for off season storage in the colder states, and don't forget to setup the occasional bikini photo shoot with the local Hooters girls all over it ;)

Back on topic, if the SS has an LSD (Limited Slip Differential) in the automatic transaxle option, I'd not hesitate to opt for the auto.

If the SS has an LSD (Limited Slip Differential) in the automatic transaxle option, I'd not hesitate to opt for the auto.

Or (as I am) use the no LSD in the Auto Trans as an EXCUSE to buy a manual! :smile:

You can get an aftermarket LSD for the 4T45E, though:

http://www.engineered.net/eplsd.htm

235 hp for using the auto may help your decision.

"The HHR SS uses the same 260 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP/Saturn Sky Red Line. The engine is mated to either a Saab-sourced five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, automatic-equipped models have been de-tuned to 235 horsepower -- likely in an attempt help with torque-steer issues and/or reduce stress on the tranny."

BlueStreaker

235 hp for using the auto may help your decision.

"The HHR SS uses the same 260 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP/Saturn Sky Red Line. The engine is mated to either a Saab-sourced five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Interestingly, automatic-equipped models have been de-tuned to 235 horsepower -- likely in an attempt help with torque-steer issues and/or reduce stress on the tranny."

BlueStreakerSince we know a tune can get the engine back to 260hp, I'm assuming that an aftermarket tuner could get the performance back. Of course, if the reason for the de-tune was because the tranny couldn't handle the extra power, that could be asking for trouble.

Personally, I'm torn, because if I get a manual, my wife will never drive it (arguably a good thing :smile:) and I'm sure there will be times where she'll need to. OTOH, I hate leaving 25hp on the table. Decisions, decisions.

I currently have a Silverado SS, and am looking to trade it in for a HHR SS in the spring. 15mpg is killing me :(

You'll love the mileage, even from the SS.

if I get a manual, my wife will never drive it (arguably a good thing :smile:) :(


:eek: don't tell her :lol:

Since we know a tune can get the engine back to 260hp, I'm assuming that an aftermarket tuner could get the performance back. Of course, if the reason for the de-tune was because the tranny couldn't handle the extra power, that could be asking for trouble.

Personally, I'm torn, because if I get a manual, my wife will never drive it (arguably a good thing :smile:) and I'm sure there will be times where she'll need to. OTOH, I hate leaving 25hp on the table. Decisions, decisions.

I currently have a Silverado SS, and am looking to trade it in for a HHR SS in the spring. 15mpg is killing me :(

25HP is such a hit to take just for not wanting to shift any more, as in my case. Unfortuantely if you tune the power back in, there goes the warranty. :cussing: I'm sure the tranny would be the first to go, unless it could be beefed up somehow, I don't know if there are aftermarket automatic trannies even available for this vehicle. So I guess it's going to have to be the 5-spd for me when I hopefully can order one of these SS's within the coming year.

I currently drive an LS1 Z28 and I get around 15mpg too. I gotta get something that gets better mileage with some zip and style too... and the HHR SS fits the bill.