Joined the HHR family...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 04-29-2008
Posts: 41
From: Champaign, IL
Joined the HHR family...
Today I drove a few hundred miles to pick up my HHR and trade my pickup.
2007 2LT w/ 12,000 miles (just turned over as I got back to Champaign, IL).
It was given to it's first owner on March 2007, but he only had it a few months before having to give it up. It's been in the hands of a relative since then who buys and sells cars (both on the side and for a GM dealership) Clean title and CarFax report- it was his wife's daily driver to work, and I see they religiously changed the oil at the dealership.
The car looked like new when I picked it up - they did a great detailing job. Great condition from what I could see. And I notice lots of things.
Leather seats, gray interior, black exterior - running boards, mud flaps, the premium wheels, sun roof, premium sound package...
The only things I would have wanted were:
6 disc changer, front/side curtain airbags, and stability control.
Random gripes:
My S-10 instructions were on glossy paper. HHR manual is done with newsprint paper. That's too bad.
Oh what I wouldn't give for the ole' multi-function stalk to still be used everywhere!
Radio is very slow responding with MP3 CDs. Just the 'pace' of the interface is frustrating - the delay when showing titles, delay in playing.
Tilt wheel wasn't as good as other GM units I've experienced.
Radio controls on wheel needed 1 or 2 more buttons to ROCK (that I've seen on other GM cars). But... this IS a 'entry level' car.
Questions about 2008 changes:
So I test drove 2008s and I've noticed a couple changes.
1 - DIC was updated and includes 'instant' MPG and not just average.
2 - Sunroof has a wind screen on the 2008. Maybe the 2007 does but it's raining so I haven't seen that - I just don't see it in the manual.
3 - Anything else like that?
General Review Thoughts:
Noise/Vibration: With the 17 inch wheels and sport suspension, I am very impressed by how smooth the car feels. I drove a 2000 S-10 w/ ZQ8 sport suspension for 8 years so this is night and day for smoothness. The same goes for in cabin noise - this is a quiet car compared to many I've been in, and much quieter than my S-10!
Pickup and Power: I noticed the 'hesistation' people talk about with the 2.4, but I was happy that the car was able to handle the demands I gave it. I'll miss the torque of my truck's V6 but this engine has comparable HP (180 vs 175). I felt that the car's powerplant was smooth in the city - 25 MPG easy in my city. On flat IL terrain I got 30 MPG, but in hilly areas, it was 28.
Interior: I expected to be dissapointed with the interior when I first test drove an 08, and I wasn't! I guess we all have different standards. For my taste it's functional and ellegant. The textured plastic was well chosen I think. But the real thing that matters is how well you keep up the interior.
Next Steps:
'Insulation' recall and the lower grille protector / radiator + A/C plastic shield!
Pictures!
Memorial Site for the S-10 Xtreme (not kidding! it's like a death in the family...)
2007 2LT w/ 12,000 miles (just turned over as I got back to Champaign, IL).
It was given to it's first owner on March 2007, but he only had it a few months before having to give it up. It's been in the hands of a relative since then who buys and sells cars (both on the side and for a GM dealership) Clean title and CarFax report- it was his wife's daily driver to work, and I see they religiously changed the oil at the dealership.
The car looked like new when I picked it up - they did a great detailing job. Great condition from what I could see. And I notice lots of things.
Leather seats, gray interior, black exterior - running boards, mud flaps, the premium wheels, sun roof, premium sound package...
The only things I would have wanted were:
6 disc changer, front/side curtain airbags, and stability control.
Random gripes:
My S-10 instructions were on glossy paper. HHR manual is done with newsprint paper. That's too bad.
Oh what I wouldn't give for the ole' multi-function stalk to still be used everywhere!
Radio is very slow responding with MP3 CDs. Just the 'pace' of the interface is frustrating - the delay when showing titles, delay in playing.
Tilt wheel wasn't as good as other GM units I've experienced.
Radio controls on wheel needed 1 or 2 more buttons to ROCK (that I've seen on other GM cars). But... this IS a 'entry level' car.
Questions about 2008 changes:
So I test drove 2008s and I've noticed a couple changes.
1 - DIC was updated and includes 'instant' MPG and not just average.
2 - Sunroof has a wind screen on the 2008. Maybe the 2007 does but it's raining so I haven't seen that - I just don't see it in the manual.
3 - Anything else like that?
General Review Thoughts:
Noise/Vibration: With the 17 inch wheels and sport suspension, I am very impressed by how smooth the car feels. I drove a 2000 S-10 w/ ZQ8 sport suspension for 8 years so this is night and day for smoothness. The same goes for in cabin noise - this is a quiet car compared to many I've been in, and much quieter than my S-10!
Pickup and Power: I noticed the 'hesistation' people talk about with the 2.4, but I was happy that the car was able to handle the demands I gave it. I'll miss the torque of my truck's V6 but this engine has comparable HP (180 vs 175). I felt that the car's powerplant was smooth in the city - 25 MPG easy in my city. On flat IL terrain I got 30 MPG, but in hilly areas, it was 28.
Interior: I expected to be dissapointed with the interior when I first test drove an 08, and I wasn't! I guess we all have different standards. For my taste it's functional and ellegant. The textured plastic was well chosen I think. But the real thing that matters is how well you keep up the interior.
Next Steps:
'Insulation' recall and the lower grille protector / radiator + A/C plastic shield!
Pictures!
Memorial Site for the S-10 Xtreme (not kidding! it's like a death in the family...)
Senior Member
Joined: 04-30-2006
Posts: 9,149
From: Maryland Heights, MO
Welcome!!
Be sure to check out the Mid-Central region and also www.stlhhrs.com, we've always got something going on!
There's also a big HHR show in Branson Mo this summer, 2008 HHRitage Nationals. www.hhritage.com
Be sure to check out the Mid-Central region and also www.stlhhrs.com, we've always got something going on!
There's also a big HHR show in Branson Mo this summer, 2008 HHRitage Nationals. www.hhritage.com
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
All year HHRs w/ sunroof should have the wind screen. As far as the redundant steering wheel buttons, what more would you like? Volume control, Mute, preset jump, station seek,.................
Where's this memorial site going to be? I'm sure my friends X-treme is going to be dead real soon.
Banned
Joined: 10-24-2006
Posts: 1,761
From: The Show-Me State
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
The Colorado just doesn't seem to measure up to the S-10, esp looks.
