View Poll Results: Get running boards
Yes
63
90.00%
No
7
10.00%
Voters: 70. You may not vote on this poll
Running boards
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2006
Posts: 3,000
From: Superior, WI - Over the Hill Warranty Club member
Originally Posted by teech
i was hoping for an update... guess no dice
you all think harrassing gm would get it done?
you all think harrassing gm would get it done?
to them, 
You will get a lot farther than a bad attitude..If they tell you you have to buy the boards, deal with them.
Good Luck
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2006
Posts: 3,000
From: Superior, WI - Over the Hill Warranty Club member
Nope on the other thread it was tried and not successful. There is a lot of debate in that thread.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...=runningboards
About the splash guards
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...=runningboards
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...=runningboards
About the splash guards
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...=runningboards
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2006
Posts: 5,065
From: Arvada CO
Mine didn't come with the running boards and I was already seeing the sandblasting at 1000 miles. I took mine to the dealer and the sold the boards to me at option cost of $445 and charged me $100 to put them on. I did have them do a couple little mods for me since they were charging me the $100 (they installed 3rd brake light graphic and put on some blue vinyl bowties, which I promptly removed...didn't like those ones).
This was done long before the TSB was out and I only had minimal sandblasting on the plastic protector plates. As someone mentioned, the TSB says customer has to pay for the boards, however, I'd try and wheel and deal with them on that and the labor as some have gotten them done for free (mostly Canadians from what I recall). Once I had mine one, I was very pleased with how they looked on my HHR. I was one of those that didn't care at the time of purchase if I had them or not...I just wanted an HHR and the one I wanted didn't have them, so it wasn't a big deal until the sandblasting issued came up. The way I look at it now, is I like the look and had they come on the car to begin with all I would have paid for them in the price of the car. All I feel I'm really out is the $100 I spent on install...and it's not their fault I didn't buy one with running boards...I could have waited for one that had them, but that wasn't an option I was willing to even consider.
It's all a matter of what you want and can afford if you have to pay for the boards. I don't remember if you have your HHR or not already, but if you don't I'd get them added at dealer option price before taking delivery. Use that as a bargaining tool with the saleman...they are certainly more flexible than the service department in my opinion...just make it part of the deal.
If you already have the car, go back and talk to your salesman or even the sales manager and explain what's going on, as they want their customers to be happy and refer more people to them that they can sell a car to.
If you don't happen to like the look of the boards, you can always get the clear bra type material and have that added to the areas where the problems occur, but that's another whole discussion it itself.
As far as the service dept not know what at TSB is...I would not only walk away from them...I would run as fast as my feet could take me and find another dealer who is more knowledgeable. You could also talk to the manager of the service department...or even his boss (I did that when I was dealing on my boards) and you can be sure they will know what a TSB is. The decision on mine went clear up to the regional manager, as they originally wanted $565 for the boards and $150 to install and I raised hell about it, so just to shut me up they did the deal I explained above.
This was done long before the TSB was out and I only had minimal sandblasting on the plastic protector plates. As someone mentioned, the TSB says customer has to pay for the boards, however, I'd try and wheel and deal with them on that and the labor as some have gotten them done for free (mostly Canadians from what I recall). Once I had mine one, I was very pleased with how they looked on my HHR. I was one of those that didn't care at the time of purchase if I had them or not...I just wanted an HHR and the one I wanted didn't have them, so it wasn't a big deal until the sandblasting issued came up. The way I look at it now, is I like the look and had they come on the car to begin with all I would have paid for them in the price of the car. All I feel I'm really out is the $100 I spent on install...and it's not their fault I didn't buy one with running boards...I could have waited for one that had them, but that wasn't an option I was willing to even consider.
It's all a matter of what you want and can afford if you have to pay for the boards. I don't remember if you have your HHR or not already, but if you don't I'd get them added at dealer option price before taking delivery. Use that as a bargaining tool with the saleman...they are certainly more flexible than the service department in my opinion...just make it part of the deal.
If you already have the car, go back and talk to your salesman or even the sales manager and explain what's going on, as they want their customers to be happy and refer more people to them that they can sell a car to.
If you don't happen to like the look of the boards, you can always get the clear bra type material and have that added to the areas where the problems occur, but that's another whole discussion it itself.
As far as the service dept not know what at TSB is...I would not only walk away from them...I would run as fast as my feet could take me and find another dealer who is more knowledgeable. You could also talk to the manager of the service department...or even his boss (I did that when I was dealing on my boards) and you can be sure they will know what a TSB is. The decision on mine went clear up to the regional manager, as they originally wanted $565 for the boards and $150 to install and I raised hell about it, so just to shut me up they did the deal I explained above.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-23-2006
Posts: 2,529
From: Mesa Arizona
I wanted the running boards just because I felt it looked better with them. This was also before any TSB was out.
I also just to change the look added the splash gaurds, but had them color matched. If the splash gaurds add extra protection then good, but I did it for the looks
I also just to change the look added the splash gaurds, but had them color matched. If the splash gaurds add extra protection then good, but I did it for the looks
Senior Member
Joined: 05-23-2006
Posts: 1,082
From: Chandler, AZ
I voted for running boards even though we don't have them. We do have the splash guards and since 95% of our driving is just around town there's no sign of any paint being worn off. No slush and salt on the roads around Phoenix either! Anyway, I don't have any kind of bargaining chip to use at the dealer to get a break on the price, which I think is a bit much to begin with.
Since we've had the HHR since August of '06 I doubt the dealer would much care about it anyway. We're yesterday's news to them now!!
Senior Member
Joined: 05-21-2006
Posts: 117
From: Brockton,ma
i have the sandblast issue put custom made splash guards hang lower has not got any worse and its not to bad put them on at about 11,000 miles gives me a reason to two tone my car pre protection is the best defense and i don't like the running boards and going to the dealer is a small thing been a year since nov 1st and i didn't like the dealership i bought the car from kept jacking up the payment the lounger i waited for for my hhr but to each there own
Senior Member
Joined: 03-17-2006
Posts: 220
From: Ravenswood, West Virginia
TSB=Technical Service Bulletin. Yes there has been much discussion on these items and the problems, so won't go there. When I bought mine, I felt the running boards made the HHR look more expensive then the ones without. The more I see them without the boards the more I am glad I got them. The dealer I bought mine at has about 8-10 07's, without the boards, and they just look cheap to me. But, to each their own. The retro look, most all early vehicles (30's and 40's) had running boards, most were standard equipment.