Hey I can tell you that after dropping better than $25K cash on getting ours, we're looking at having to pony up another $700 for running boards installed. Before I do that, I'm looking at getting a set done on the CNC and chromed. So they are most definitely NOT FREE here in Saskatchewan Canada.

As far as the paint goes, its a basic design flaw. Had they tested the HHR on actual streets, I can't see this not showing up for them. So we have to assume they at some point saw this as a problem but had too much coin committed and pushed it out the door as is. In court they'd not have a leg to stand on.

 

I also have to add, that although the RB are standard for '07 in Canada, they are definitely not free (cheaper, maybe; a good idea, definitely). The list price between '06 & '07 has gone up $200 and the remote start is now a $220 option.

Yves

 

The remote start on my 06 LT was a $255 option.

 

I paid $730 for mine (taxes in) and installed them myself.

Had I waited and let the HHR get damaged more (only the pads are rough right now) I might have gotten a good deal from the dealership with the TSB but it's hard to say. The dealership I deal with has been very successful with warranty claims in the past, but in the end I dropped the money and bought them myself. We wanted running boards originally, but the deal we got on the 06 was worth giving them up. In the end we got what we wanted anyway.

Don't count on that. They've been successful in dodging legal bullets with the infamous piston slap and lower intake manifold gasket leak problems. If motors tearing themselves apart doesn't fly in legal circles, paint issues don't have a chance.

 

That seems pretty reasonable to me too. But if they did that I think they would probably drop the one time repaint.

 

Take 'em to court on that. They'll flood you with every single document written during the course of the extreme conditions testing the HHR was put through and you'll never get through all of them. Not only are the cars driven on normal roads, they're also driven on roads that few people ever drive on.

The stone guards are there because they saw the problem and did something about it for people who are choosing not to purchase running boards.

1. The damage is limited to the plastic stone guards.
2. The rest of the fender, door, and rocker is well protected from rust and structural damage because of those guards.
3. Running boards are an option available on every single HHR at point of sale.
4. GM has offered goodwill paintwork one time on vehicles that have chipped stone guards.

The alternative is going back to non-body-colored argent stone guards that'll look ugly as hell. I'll take a couple of stone guards that look cloudy on the corner.

 

Rose-

How difficult was it to install your boards by yourself? Pretty straight forward but just time consuming? At any time during the install was there an "Oh Chit" moment where you could have damaged your car? I know there is a thread somwehere on this but wannted to hear from recent experience...

There is a Silverstone HHR with leather and Fogs that fits my budget but no boards.....dealer told me it would be well over 1000 to have boards painted and installed ....I'd rather see if I can get them somwhere else and attempt to install myself. I know it is getting harder and harder to find painted boards though. I like the idea of having the gravel guards and the boards to boot.


Goose

 

You're right on that one Captain Howdy, we "should have" done our homework instead of just looking at how cute the HHR looks, and the amount of space it would provide. Clearly the fact that GM doesn't care what their sales people are telling the public, just goes to show that the bottom line is they are just out to make a buck, and they don't care about the product they are selling to the public. It's too bad, and if that's the case, we're really having buyers remorse over buying a Chevy..........no matter how cute we thought it was.

Our mistake then would be in thinking that the salesmen, having been hired to sell a Chevy product, are supposed to know about the product they are selling, so they can inform the public about any question they might have before that person forks over their hard earned bucks for that product. It's like the day we saw an ad for a new HHR from a dealer here in town and we drove right over to see it, the sales men at that dealer all acted like they didn't have a clue about such a car, and asked us if we had the ad with us. I find that very amusing because they only deal in vehicles, I can go to Michael's, JoAnn's, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, and oodles of other stores which carry a big variety of merchandise and ask for a product I saw in an ad, and the funny thing is, they usually know exactly what I am talking about and can tell me just where to go find it, and they can give me information on a product they are selling.

 

Have to remember that part of the homework includes looking into dealerships also!

The salespeople are hired by the dealership itself not Chevy. When people apply for the sales position, they could care less about the actual product that they're their to sell.

 

Purely an uninformed comment !!! But, you are entitled to an opinion.

It has not be recognized as a design flaw.....poorly designed, yes....but not a flaw (also, I doubt if you would get a responsible GM person to acknowledge, "a design flaw").

HHR's were tested on public streets and private test tracks that duplicate, EXACTLY, certain streets deemed appropriate for the test requirements (gravel, train tracks, pot holes, freeways, rural roads, etc.).

As for, "pushing it out the door". I doubt that was the issue...because it just does not make sense. IF THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM IN TESTING, prior to introduction, they could have just added the assist steps as standard and "upped" the price to accomodate.

In court, you wouldn't have a leg to stand on. The damage done to the vehicle is an appearance item based on the consumers driving style, habits and terrain. Courts, here in the US, have already ruled on issues such as these....in favor of the manufacturers (ala....Corvette, Mustang and several others). But, if you think you have a case....go for it.

While I believe the paint "sandblasting" really sucks, I believe GM, during tests, missed the severity of it. They probably assumed, "yeah, lots of paint abrasions and probably from the gravel road testing. But gravel roads will do that". And just let it go. Wrong decision...you bet. And it will cost GM in the long run (customer satisfaction, customer loyality, etc.).

I do believe GM should address this issue, in entirety, to the customers satisfaction. But at this point, I doubt if it will happen. I would think (maybe wishful), however, that assist steps would be standard on the 2008's (maybe the 2007 Canadian HHR's were the test mules).

Anyway, I do wish you luck with your pursuit.

Oh, and you need to check with someone on the Canadian issued TSB's. I thought someone said ALL Canadian HHR's that experience the sandblasting , would get repainted and assist steps, FREE.