NO NO NO. I'm not harping the ecotec. its just its essentially an opel/isuzu/GM joint.

ecotecs quite regularly get put into isuzus. and quite regularly get built by isuzu.

and the ONLY 2 cars i wasnt dissapointed with in my searches were the HHR and Xb (though only the NEW xb. the first one was way to skiddish for me!)

its more that i hate seeing people hate on a good car, that doesnt match their taste.
then say something unrealistic about it.

most unbiased people would agree that of the 2.4 Xb and 2.4 HHR. the Xb is faster...

but there is no SS option for the Xb, so surely you can get a HHR thats faster than it...

thing is.

i USED to be a dodge truck/jeep/chrysler in general guy... so When I went looking for a new company i was unbiased... I quickly learned of toyotas quality, and enjoyed the Xb quite a bit... but while looking I found out about NUMMI and all the co-operation GM and toyota had going on. and that isuzu,toyota and GM all had a hand in the creation of the cobalt/HHR platform...

so i gave the HHR a try too. and was pleasantly shocked at how differant this was than the 96 grand am i despised all those years ago...

this car was put together FANTASTIC! the engineering on the body was so well thought out...

then i drove it... and, well let me sum up my test drives as quick as i can.

2007 subaru impreza: smooth ride, plenty of power but handles heavy and feels akward to sit in... also overpriced.

2005 Xb:economical but as comfortable as a lawn chair

ford focus wagon: eeeeew, its hideous and handles like it was built in the 80's also, rough shifts and lack of power

200? nissan cube: loved interior setup, looks, fun in town but hell on the freeway.

2008 honda fit: no balls, looked like tiny mini van, grossly overpriced

2008 scion XB: perfect car for me. excluding blind spots.

2007 Chevy HHR LT: a BLAST on the freeway. 2.4 is nearly as responsive and smooth as the Xb, and i think it might even shift smoother. great looks, interior feels good, but i cant rest my arm on the window. standard AUX port makes ipod hookups a breeze. even the Xb's jack isnt as easy as this. and the price used? FANTASTIC.

so. if i had 20,000 dollars I would buy the Xb. if i had 40,000 I'd buy both.

but since I'd like to stay around ten, I'll get the best value for my dollar

I'll get the HHR

... i know thats a long post, but hopefully i clarified myself!

 

Agree! I thought I was the only one that noticed that.

 

Here is the reason internet conversations are never taken serious! A fine attitude that is. You're entitled to your opinion on any car but who are you to say what has personality. Take a look at any National auto publication and see which car, the HHR or the Xb, has personality, as perceived by the majority of auto enthusiasts. The only reason we are even comparing the 2 is because the Scion was so popular, by being different, thus creating a buzz the media and aftermarket parts manufacturers picked up on. To most, the HHR is a PT wanna be, many not even knowing there IS a difference.

Now the ONLY reason I bought an HHR is no windows! When I first saw pics of the panel I knew I had to have one, had Ford or Chrsyler built it, I'd have still bought one! In this car I have no illusions of grandeur, it's a Cobalt, Cavalier, Chevette, Monza, Vega........entry level cheap transportation, with a body style I thought had personality, nothing more!! When it goes to crap at 70,xxx miles, I'll keep the body and put it on a full frame.

 

So the only reason you bought it is because of no windows, BUT you still continue to modify it, why cant you jus admit that you actually like and enjoy the car. There is no fine attitude just a friendly debate.

 

Ummmmm, the Nissan looks like a Scion wannabe, and the Soul reminds me of a mixed breed puppy that has a little bit of everything in its DNA. Not for me. I'll keep HHRvey!

 

regardless of our motivations...

the HHR has style. and unlike the PT cruiser, its not massively compromized for the purpose of widening the cost/profit gap.

even new at sticker. you get plenty for your money.

yes I have some concerns as this will be my first chevy... and the corvair,corsica, 2 grand am's, silverado and a grandprix that has passed through my family have all been piles of ****. (though oddly enough we couldnt kill the S-10!)

but I'm hoping that was a differant GM... I'm hoping that this HHR lives up to my needs...

and I'm hoping to get my jeep sold by this week. and be driving my HHR by next monday!

 

I fail to see the connection, ...I cannot modify it? Ask my wife, I have "modified" every car I've ever owned. (Something she'll never understand). And yes, I never would have bought an HHR if they hadn't made the panel, I never even payed any attention to them. My Grandpa drove a '56 Ford panel when I was a boy and the lines of this one reminded me of it, that is STILL the ONLY reason I bought it. I love this car, never said I didn't, had I not, I'd be driving a GT-R, another car I love.

 

My daughter loves the hamster commercial. She laughs everytime.

 

I saw the KIA yesterday and it wasn't too bad. I would consider getting one if I needed that type of car. I think it looks better than all in that class except the new xB.

 

Kia's Come along way and now that Hyundai is involved they have gotten better. Out those three it would be XB then Kia. The Nissan is just ugly.

To whom over wrote about the Toyota's in the early 90's. Yes they were ugly and a POS. We had a 95' had about 145k on it when we sold it. We put about 1k into over owning it for 4yr's. It was a pile alright.