I'm new, and wondering...
11-07-2015, 05:04 PM
#11
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-06-2015
Location: Montreal, Qc
Posts: 19
So I've gone to try the HHR. The model was a 2009 LT, with 186000km (115575 miles) on it and going for 5495$ (at a dealer, so plus taxes). The family and I went for a good 20 minute ride with it, and we liked it. We felt it took a few seconds to pick up speed from a red light, but once it went, it sure went (good acceleration). What I also appreciated was that it didn't feel like it was going to choke or stall while on idle. Only thing though is that we smelled something weird inside the cabin. We felt it might have been some burnt oil smell, but it wasn't gasoline. Or it might have been a bit of mold (this car had a sun roof so it might have suffered from the rain-coming-in problem). I felt the suspension was very decent too, so all in all, we quite liked it. I did witness that some parts seemed a bit flimsy (like when I lifted the hood which was so light compared to most other vehicles, and the door handles), but nothing so bad, especially that I wouldn't use the car in the winter. As the dealer explained to me, he said that I should be weary of older models as they had a few problems that were eventually taken care of with the 2009 model, rust around the wheel wings for instance. So I'll pass on this one as I don't want to pay taxes on it, and I'll probably go for an LS model. I don't want the sun roof or the power seats. I'm one to believe that the least electronic stuff is in a car, the less the potential problems and/or repair costs. So there you go folks, thanks again for all of your advice. I'll keep you posted if I find one and I'll be sure to share photos. Cheers !
11-11-2015, 04:32 PM
#13
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-06-2015
Location: Montreal, Qc
Posts: 19
Hi again. How's everybody? Just a little note to mention that I'm now seeing a 2006 HHR Ls (2.2l). It's got 161265 km (100205 miles) and it's selling for 2850$ (Canadian). It's about an hour away from where I live and it's sold by some small dealer, so before I do the treck to try it out, any opinions? I know some of the 2006 issues have been resolved in the later models, but in your opinion, is it worth going to try it out? I feel it's a pretty good price considering. I'll obviously check out all the points mentioned by 843de. I read as much as possible about that year's model in this forum, but I just wonder if the 2006s are usually to be avoided.Once again, thanks again everyone.
11-12-2015, 02:25 AM
#17
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
Well my '06 LS has 401,343 miles on it with only the usual repairs and maintenance necessary.
It's gone through two sets of struts and shocks, three front hubs, one full set of brakes in the rear thanks to a leaking wheel cylinder soaking the shoes, two sets of pads and rotors up front, four sets of tires, one right front fender(Michelle clipped the rump of a Ford Expedition equipped with a trailer hitch), sway bar end links, sway bar bushings, and two sets of headlight bulbs. Plus binning the OEM exhaust for a Magnaflow cat-back system, buzzy thing that it is.
But don't let that list dissuade you RockinD, those repairs have been spread out over 645,899 Km if my math is right.
Due to the nature of my commute into Charlotte, NC. My gas mileage averages right around 24-27 mpg overall, I-85 & I-485 resemble parkng lots a good deal of the time. So the ability of an HHR to get 35+ mpg on the highway is negated by those mornings where forward progress is measured in "car lengths per hour".
It's gone through two sets of struts and shocks, three front hubs, one full set of brakes in the rear thanks to a leaking wheel cylinder soaking the shoes, two sets of pads and rotors up front, four sets of tires, one right front fender(Michelle clipped the rump of a Ford Expedition equipped with a trailer hitch), sway bar end links, sway bar bushings, and two sets of headlight bulbs. Plus binning the OEM exhaust for a Magnaflow cat-back system, buzzy thing that it is.
But don't let that list dissuade you RockinD, those repairs have been spread out over 645,899 Km if my math is right.
Due to the nature of my commute into Charlotte, NC. My gas mileage averages right around 24-27 mpg overall, I-85 & I-485 resemble parkng lots a good deal of the time. So the ability of an HHR to get 35+ mpg on the highway is negated by those mornings where forward progress is measured in "car lengths per hour".
11-12-2015, 04:24 PM
#18
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-06-2015
Location: Montreal, Qc
Posts: 19
Oh, my, god !! I can't believe that mileage 843de ! It's just plain incredible ! Sad thing is that the time I spent thinking about it, boom !! that sweet deal is gone. The car was sold. Man, I keep on gettin' jipped out of these deals, and new HHR deals don't pop up often in the ads, so it also tells me that they're very sought after. Thnx for your infos 843de. I'll keep on looking. Cheers.
