Well I have been driving my new to me, mint 95 Impala SS with only 60k miles for the past month and have some conclusions to draw. The Impala is a smooth ride with lots of torque and some boat like handling. You also need to know ahead of time for braking. The HHR SS that my wife is now driving is much more spirited around corners, but lethargic to get up to speed unless you rev it up. Amazing how much suspension work has been done on the HHR, it truly handles like a sports car. If only they could cram a 350 into it and get rid of the crampy interior and ****ty high riding driving position, it would be great. Combined they are my Z06, the nimbleness and braking of the HHR and the pure torque and V8 power of the Impala, plus a few extra ponies to spare. I will say, day to day I prefer the everyday drive of the Impala to the HHR, but I am nearly 6'3" and 240lbs.

 

Scrivs, Google "Year One 350 HHR".. It has been done.

I have a Shadow Edition HHR, and I am 6'2" and 260lbs..

 

I was days away from ordering one, In 95 , But We found out my wife was expecting , Our second daughter. Never got to take a test drive. Dam.

 

My Grandpa had a '95 Caprice. Sure not as nice as an Impala, but dang that was a nice car! It was almost given to me as my first car, but then I never would have got my truck.

 

I still have a 96 Impala SS, but now son-in-law is driving it, and will probably end up with it. Bought the Impala new in 96. Modded the Impala, suspension, wheels, engine out to 383 C.I. ect. ect., and was a real hoot to drive and drew a lot of attention, and still does.
Fast forward, and now driving a HHR-SS, modded, and it's tons more fun to drive, handles a lot better, and I'm sure would give a run for it's money.
I miss the room of the Impala, and especially the sound of the big v8, but the HHR-SS is in a class of it's own. Whats not to love about a 4 banger putting out just over 300H.P., and corners like a slot car, and can spank a lot of V8's in the process. Two different cars....two different grins. "Moon"