Thanks for the welcome! I never thought of having them switch them out. The dealer I'm going through did a search within a certain radius and these two came up. I don't know if they are from the same place. I'll have to find out. With the color being a little less common, I bet that the two cars most likely won't be from the same place. If they aren't, is it possible to switch them out still?

 

I found this at GM parts cheap

Part Number Search Results : OEM Catalog
Item Number MSRP Core Price Price
17800497 $525.00 $0.00 $393.75

STEP

this part # 17800497 is your color amethyst

 

Unless they are at the dealer you are at, I doubt he can get a switch.

If it was me, I'd get the 2.4 now and watch ebay this spring and summer for the boards and start saving for them.

 

Or, should I just go with the 2.2 L engine? I mean, this is my first car that I'm paying for, so I'm not sure about the engines. The 2.2 has the running boards. Is it a whole lot worse to get the 2.2 than the 2.4? I just don't want to get the 2.2 and have it putter out on me. My thinking behind getting the 2.4 is that I live in PA, a place with a lot of hills, and I have to make the occasional trip, which means I'll need to transport stuff. Should I just avoid the 2.2 and get the 2.4 without the running boards if they can't switch the two engines out?

Thanks in advance

 

I myself have the 2.2 and find it adequate for my driving. People will argue both sides. Drive both and see which you prefer!

 

I have the 2.2L it works just fine. Like hillsdale said some will say 2.4L is the only one, Drive them both to see for yourself.

 

lol. Thanks for answering. I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm so mad, because I just saw on ebay that someone was selling amethyst boards from GM for a decent price, but they were sold on April 10th.
I did call GM customer service and put in a suggestion about having the boards as a standard for their cars. If when I get my HHR and begin driving it, and I notice that it's getting sandblasted, I'm going to keep calling GM to see what I can do about it. It really isn't fair. Like someone said, we shouldn't have to pay for an overlook in the design of the car. That aside, I really am excited about getting it. I love it already and I don't even have it yet

 

Get the 2.4 without the boards.

The 400-500 bucks can get you a set of boards. That little won't get you the 2.4 later.

 

That's good to know. Thanks for the advice. My worry about this situation is that I am an actor, and so I never know where my next job will take me (and for how long.) I live in PA, but as an example, this summer, I leave for Maine, (around a 14 hour drive,) because I have a job out there until September. After that, I may be in Ohio. After that? Who knows? With all of the dragging of my life's possessions around, I was thinking that the 2.4 would be better. I wasn't sure, so that's why I asked you guys.

 

100% agreed. Once again, thanks for the help. I'll let you all know how it all turns out