I've found a White 2009 HHR Panel with only 69,000 miles on it in Iowa...price isn't to bad and I'm thinking I might go take a look, but was wondering where the normal spots are that start rusting out first. Nine years in the salt can cause a lot of trouble if the car wasn't cared for so if I head down there I'd like to know where to look especially close.
I was lucky with my Victory Red Panel, only three years up here and I don't think it was on the salt much, if at all. Hoping to get a few years out of what ever I buy next before rust rears it's ugly head...

 

Fuel lines, bottom of doors.

 

must be the harsh winters here in canada, but I had my door bottoms re-painted because of the rust, and the paint is rubbing off 3 years later after being redone. No rust yet, but just rubbing down. Seems as if the rubber seal at the bottom of the door frame is the culprit along with the road grime/salt from winter

 

The rear hatch at the bottom seam is prone to rust.
Seems they didn't seal the seams with a good quality seam sealer!
I've noticed rust on the front of the hood and the top of the windshield on some HHRs I've looked at

 

Door bottoms... Many were badly sealed from the factory. IF they were sealed at all.

 

There is even a TSB about fixing the door bottom problem.

 

Gregg is a Florida born and raised HHR, and has not one bit of rust except on the brake drums and rotors XD.

 

2008 HHR SS near Toronto and "no" rust.

 

if you decide to sell, i may be interested lol.