I don't own an HHR but have been lusting after one for quite awhile now. I have learned much from this forum but now I have a question. Recently I rented an 09 2.2 HHR automatic. I really liked it and found the power to be adequate. If I buy new this is probably what I will go with. There are many used HHRs with the 2.2 (08 & earlier) and I could save some money buying used. The 09 is 155hp so it is only 6hp more than previous versions. Does the VVT make a big difference in acceleration, butt dyno etc. I am wondering if any of the many 2.2 owners out there have driven an 09 and noticed an appreciable difference. I know I could go test drive some used ones but with all the experience on this forum I am looking for some opinions. I am probably going to purchase in the first quarter of 09. I understand that GM usually has promotions then. Do you think they still will with the present state of the auto industry?

 

If you're buying used, why not try to find one with the 2.4? :)

 

When I bought my 2008 2.2 I also tried the 2.4 which has 20 plus more hp. I really could not tell that much of a difference between the two. I doubt if you would notice the 6hp difference between the 09 and 08 based on what I saw.

 

i'm on the other side i test drove the 2.2 and the 2.4 when i was buying mine and there was a pretty obvious difference between the 2 of them to them

 

I wounder if it is because I tried 5 speeds. I wonder if Auto tranny's would be different.

 

Before I purchased my 06 HHR...I test drove a 2.4 Automatic and a 2.2 5 speed. Personally I was much more impressed with the 2.2L 5 speed, as was my boyfriend who was riding in the back seat when I drove the automatic and front seat on the 5 speed. He thought the manual felt like it had more get up and go...but we're kinda partial to manual transmissions over automatics...but that's just a personal preference. I like being able to control my shifting and insisted on a manual transmission

 

I haven't looked at the MPG ratings, but I might guess the 2009 has better economy as well?

 

My rental history has let me try both 2.2 and the 2.4 in all the years from 2006 to the 2009. There is a difference between the 2.2 to the 2.4 but I have not been able to tell any difference between the years. In the rental fleet they have the LS, 1LT and the 2LT. Now all of these have been automatics so the Manual vs the Auto evaluation I cannot comment on.