View Poll Results: What is your pet peeve on your HHR?
Door lock knobs hit me in the back of the arm?
146
20.98%
Radio antenna looks like I'm going fishing!
24
3.45%
Drink holder location
199
28.59%
Fuel door latch design
17
2.44%
I should have bought running boards!
48
6.90%
Cloth interior
32
4.60%
Leather interior
1
0.14%
Windshield height (I'm over 6 feet tall)
79
11.35%
No lights in vanity mirrors
41
5.89%
Other
109
15.66%
Voters: 696. You may not vote on this poll
HHR Pet Peeves
New Member
Joined: 03-05-2007
Posts: 29
From: Northern Ontario,Canada
but if your battery is dead, how do you open the hatch to get to the battery???
You crawl-in, and pop it open with the screwdriver. It's a mechanical latch, and you barely need to push on it. I practiced this last weekend, in case i ever have to under less than ideal conditions. It's quite frustrating to find the exact spot to push, but once you know where it is, it's a cinch. I practiced it about a dozen times after I found it, just so it would be easy to do if I ever had to.
As to why no handle from the exterior, i suspect they simply wanted to seal up the hatch, and not allow any openings for dirt and grime (and exhaust fumes) to find their way inside. I've had a Jimmy, ad in the snow belt with the salt and sand on our roads, it doesn't take but a few years for everything there to get all screwed up. There's a lot more road grime getting kicked-up on the rear hatch than any other part of the car.... Kudos on them for not putting any holes in the hatch. On the other hand, shame on 'em for not giving us a lever inside and forcing us to learn where that silly thing we push on is located...
You crawl-in, and pop it open with the screwdriver. It's a mechanical latch, and you barely need to push on it. I practiced this last weekend, in case i ever have to under less than ideal conditions. It's quite frustrating to find the exact spot to push, but once you know where it is, it's a cinch. I practiced it about a dozen times after I found it, just so it would be easy to do if I ever had to.
As to why no handle from the exterior, i suspect they simply wanted to seal up the hatch, and not allow any openings for dirt and grime (and exhaust fumes) to find their way inside. I've had a Jimmy, ad in the snow belt with the salt and sand on our roads, it doesn't take but a few years for everything there to get all screwed up. There's a lot more road grime getting kicked-up on the rear hatch than any other part of the car.... Kudos on them for not putting any holes in the hatch. On the other hand, shame on 'em for not giving us a lever inside and forcing us to learn where that silly thing we push on is located...
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2006
Posts: 9,149
From: Maryland Heights, MO
but if your battery is dead, how do you open the hatch to get to the battery???
You crawl-in, and pop it open with the screwdriver. It's a mechanical latch, and you barely need to push on it. I practiced this last weekend, in case i ever have to under less than ideal conditions. It's quite frustrating to find the exact spot to push, but once you know where it is, it's a cinch. I practiced it about a dozen times after I found it, just so it would be easy to do if I ever had to.
As to why no handle from the exterior, i suspect they simply wanted to seal up the hatch, and not allow any openings for dirt and grime (and exhaust fumes) to find their way inside. I've had a Jimmy, ad in the snow belt with the salt and sand on our roads, it doesn't take but a few years for everything there to get all screwed up. There's a lot more road grime getting kicked-up on the rear hatch than any other part of the car.... Kudos on them for not putting any holes in the hatch. On the other hand, shame on 'em for not giving us a lever inside and forcing us to learn where that silly thing we push on is located...
You crawl-in, and pop it open with the screwdriver. It's a mechanical latch, and you barely need to push on it. I practiced this last weekend, in case i ever have to under less than ideal conditions. It's quite frustrating to find the exact spot to push, but once you know where it is, it's a cinch. I practiced it about a dozen times after I found it, just so it would be easy to do if I ever had to.
As to why no handle from the exterior, i suspect they simply wanted to seal up the hatch, and not allow any openings for dirt and grime (and exhaust fumes) to find their way inside. I've had a Jimmy, ad in the snow belt with the salt and sand on our roads, it doesn't take but a few years for everything there to get all screwed up. There's a lot more road grime getting kicked-up on the rear hatch than any other part of the car.... Kudos on them for not putting any holes in the hatch. On the other hand, shame on 'em for not giving us a lever inside and forcing us to learn where that silly thing we push on is located...
Even then, its no solution for many people who are unable to crawl back there or like I'm guessing 95% of the peopple, don't have a clue it can even be done!
I think a mechancal release, even without a keyed lock, would have been preferred.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
but if your battery is dead, how do you open the hatch to get to the battery???
You crawl-in, and pop it open with the screwdriver. It's a mechanical latch, and you barely need to push on it. I practiced this last weekend, in case i ever have to under less than ideal conditions.
You crawl-in, and pop it open with the screwdriver. It's a mechanical latch, and you barely need to push on it. I practiced this last weekend, in case i ever have to under less than ideal conditions.
New Member
Joined: 03-28-2007
Posts: 8
From: West MI
I've only had my ride for a week, I love this car!! I have NO complaints.
To get a car like this for around 20K, I'm very pleased. Its not a corvette.
As far as the radio antenna, I get more stations.
The windshield give it a chopped look. Way cool.
Cup holder holds my change/garage door opener.
Love my heated leather.
Fuel door? Mine works just fine.
Vanity mirror? Keep you eyes on the road, especially at night!!
As for the window switches, I drive with my left hand/arm and the right arm on armrest like its designed. So, going down the road you don't have to switch arms to push a button on the left armrest. Just move your "not busy" hand foward.
Did I say I love my car?
To get a car like this for around 20K, I'm very pleased. Its not a corvette.
As far as the radio antenna, I get more stations.
The windshield give it a chopped look. Way cool.
Cup holder holds my change/garage door opener.
Love my heated leather.
Fuel door? Mine works just fine.
Vanity mirror? Keep you eyes on the road, especially at night!!
As for the window switches, I drive with my left hand/arm and the right arm on armrest like its designed. So, going down the road you don't have to switch arms to push a button on the left armrest. Just move your "not busy" hand foward.
Did I say I love my car?
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
Senior Member
Joined: 11-26-2006
Posts: 93
From: BRIDGEPORT,PA
The only one that bothers me are the cloth seats. I have the grey cloth and they are impossible to keep clean, or to get clean. For the first time in my life, I wish I had leather seats. Most everything else is fixable with aftermarket parts, such as the stubby antenna and smoothie door locks. I don't drink in my HHR so the cup holders are not a concern, though I do see why they would bother those who drink (soda of course) 
.
.what do you use to clean you seats, because i have the same problem
(i have a 1 year old daughter)
and boy does she make a mess
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
