Lybychick i hear ya on the shifter switch. i dealt with it for 2 months and took it ino for a warranty fix finally. there was dispute over coverage.. got stuck in park twice. would not move..

 

I regretted cutting mine once the smoothies arrived but perhaps I accidentally got it right after all. I can manually open my locks and they don't stick into my arms. But I don't find I drive with the windows down much. You get crazy buffeting if you don't have them down a certain way and my kids and wife don't like them down.

My pet peeves after 5 years of owning an SS? No running boards. Early onset rust bubbles inside the the door. Finicky TPMS. Automatic locks (I HATE THESE!!!) Can't back the car up 10 feet without them locking on you. You unlock them and they lock again. Uggh. Visibility not great (Thick A pillers and a rearview that hides cross traffic pretty well even set up all the way.) FAKE roof racks that are more cosmetic than functional.

But overall, I've been very pleased with my car. She still cleans up nicely and I get the grin every time I stomp on the pedal. She's been awesome in the snow this winter (using snow tires on steelies) and my kids are small enough that we still all fit (for now).
Jim

 

I would have preferred the gear selector on the steering column and the emergency brake lever on the floor like the old days. In other words the center console is my biggest peeve. I think it could have been better thought out for such a nice car.

 

I agree about the center console. We traded a 2004 PT Cruise for our 2011 HHR. The console in the PT was much better laid out. Cup holders were better placed and the parking brake lever was better placed. Our PT was the "turbo-lite" and our HHR is the 2.4. I feel the power is close, but the HHR gets better gas mileage.

 

What is funny is from what I hear the same guy designed both cars. Now figure that one out. It is almost like someone put their foot down and said " you can not make the HHR any wider that this.". A few more inched between the seats would have been nice but it works for me as is.

 

There were limits to the old Delta platform and a couple inches would mean a new platform would have been needed and they may have never built the vehicle because of the added cost. One has to remember GM has no money at the time this car was built. In building a new car it really is a game of inches some times.

 

My only peve is no grab handle above the passenger door. Though my wife does wish her's had running boards.

 

*Other*.. my pet peeve is... read my lips... no new HHR's. Just makes me sad.

 

My 2-cents:

I think the nose is oddly long for only having a small 4-cyl.
I think the bumpers could have been a little smaller. ie: they stick out pretty far IMO. I'm sure there is a safety reason, but I think they could have been designed differently.
I'm 6ft 4in, and the low roof is annoying but I know that is the whole point of the car. I picked up a window prism so I can see the street lights, so I'm living with the roof ok.
The window switches down by my ankles is wrong on so many levels. As I just pointed out, i'm tall..
The cup holders, well, I think I'd just be echoing a lot of folks on the problem with their location.
The fabric on the seats could be easier to clean and keep clean. I think I'm just going to replace the fabric with something aftermarket anyway.
The interior lighting could be better. I have a hard time finding anything in the back seats after dark. I'll probably just install some LEDs back there at some point.

All this being said, I still love my HHR, I still love the ability to mod it the way I want and I hope the thing lasts me another 5-10 years because I will drive it until the day it dies. =)

 

where did you get steel rims for winter tires