I can't stand front wheel drive. If I have one major complaint about the HHR that is it. Rear wheel is much better in my opinion. RWD :one:

RWD would have been nicer, definitely. However, it would have made the car heavier, and drastically reduced the mileage IMO. FWD designs are more compact and efficient, transmitting power to the road without much loss. I think our 32MPG would probably drop to 22-24 if the HHR were RWD.

Currently I am looking for some "vintage" style custom wheels (think Boyd's abillet aluminum, razor cut), and it's difficult to find any in FWD offsets. I might be contacting some manufacturers to have them custom made.

Good point,
-Mike

But you give up traction and handling. It would help with weight distribution. I wouldn't have minded paying a little more for gas for a nicer ride. I just cant get used to the front of my vehicle digging in. :(

RWD Would not be good for me when it snows

RWD Would not be good for me when it snows

I'm upstate and have to deal with lake effect snow being right on top of Lake Ontario and right next to Canada. I find it alot easier to drive RWD in the snow. Especially with a couple of sand tubes in the back.

RWD would totally kick ass.

you could always throw an ls1 w/ a 6-speed in a rear wheel drive, my old ss would get 36mpg on the hwy

you could always throw an ls1 w/ a 6-speed in a rear wheel drive, my old ss would get 36mpg on the hwy

Now that's what I talking about! :thumb: :beer:

Kappa.For those who dont know what kappa is think:(Pontiac Solstice)

Yeah, like the Solstice! Well...woulda, coulda, shoulda - it's much too late now. My best bet is to wait for the Panel to be released, then buy one, drop in a big block, cage it & tub it out, then go draggin'. :thumb:

Yeah, like the Solstice! Well...woulda, coulda, shoulda - it's much too late now. My best bet is to wait for the Panel to be released, then buy one, drop in a big block, cage it & tub it out, then go draggin'. :thumb:

Do you think a big block would fit without stretching the front? A HHR with 454 with RWD would be the s**t. Of course then I would defeat my purpose of buying a family vehicle. :roll: MY wife always asks me why I cant leave a vehicle alone. LOL

Well...I was getting a little overzealous with the BB - but I know a supercharged small block will fit:

http://www.hhrclub.org/galleries/hhr-custom-by-unique-performance/resized_hhr-custom-by-unique-performance_23.jpg

That's an all-aluminum 6.0L Gen IV LS2 V8 with a polished Magna Super Charger...and that'll get some groceries!

BTW - that car is a RWD conversion.

-Mike

:bow: :bow: :bow: Talk about shoehorned in! It looks pretty set back also. I wonder what the weight distribution is like? :one: :beer:

I can't wait till someone does that.

"Talk about shoehorned in! It looks pretty set back also. I wonder what the weight distribution is like?"

I dunno, but if you look under your HHR's hood, you'll see the firewall is right there. I'm betting in Unique's car the firewall is long gone! (*Can you say aluminum fab?)

Still...it's nice to dream big!
-Mike

I dunno, but if you look under your HHR's hood, you'll see the firewall is right there. I'm betting in Unique's car the firewall is long gone! (*Can you say aluminum fab?)


But then you give up your quiet steel. LOL! :D

Right. But once I light up that 503CI aluminum big block (with roller cam and 3500rpm stall converter - tube chassis (with parachute), 4-speed ratchet automatic, injected tunnel ram w/nitrous through a GMC 6-71 blower...and running jet fuel), I think road noise from the firewall will be the least of my concerns!

Still dreaming big,
-Mike

OMG you guys...can you say "Sit-N-Spin"? Did you plan on going only in a straight line? You'd never be able to turn with a big block in this little thing with the engine where it sits and the height of the vehicle. You could make impressive burnouts, but a stock 2.4L would beat your butt on a road course 'cause you would have to slow way, way down on the corners! I always got a kick out of the Mustang GT owners who would come out of the mid Ohio course all mad as hell because their lap times were slower than the EVOs and the Neons. Since I see the roads of real life more like a road course than a drag strip, some serious suspension, frame, and weight modification would have to be done before you go slappin in stupid engine sizes.

Front wheel drive is the drivetrain of choice for those of us in the snow for a reason. One of those reasons is because I dont really want to haul around sand tubes. Call me crazy. Making the trunk unusable for four months out of the year tells me something just isnt right about the vehicle's design. My wife and I considered the mercury marauder as well as the HHR, but settled because she drives Crown Vic's all day in the snow and knows how unpredictable they can be without snow tires and weight in the trunk. The fact is, RWD vehicles are always being pushed forward. The rear wheels rely on traction in the front to steer. If the front has no traction, it pushes the car like a sled. FWD vehicles effectively pull the vehicle the direction the wheels are turning. If they have no traction, you just dont move.

If I'm going to dream I dream big! :thumb: Also yes I am only interested in going in a straight line. I have never been on a road course but there are a few drag strips sort of close to me. Most of the time if I race someone (which I have not in my HHR yet) its on the street or highway. I don't like front wheel in the snow because your a** end likes to slide out on you. I like RWD and a set of snow tires when it snows. I guess it just a personal preference. I have owned both and live in a snowy area, I find RWD safer and easier for my style of driving.

Captain Howdy don't let Rooster know you race on the street, his wife will be looking for you!!!!

Captain Howdy don't let Rooster know you race on the street, his wife will be looking for you!!!!

I don't think she would catch me with an engine like that! :D :beer: There is no replacement for displacement! :thumb: