oldhhrguy

I owned an 08 HHR in the past and was happy with it. I only got rid of it because my son needed a good daily driver. I liked it and it was trouble free at 60k miles. All the recalls were done without any issues.

Now I'm looking for another one and I've found a well kept 2011 with 2.2 Ecotec engine with 165k miles on it. The engine is surprisingly quiet on start up. None of the famous timing chain slap or clatter. Runs smooth and shifts well.

I don't have any way of knowing how well it's been maintained, but no excess wear in the interior and it's a NC car, so there's no rust.

What's practical lifespan for the 2.2L Ecotec, and just wondering if I should just do it. Asking price is pretty much standard retail, but we all know we can negotiate, which I can easily do.

edit to add: I know there are other threads about this engine, but they're older and see no need to resurrect them. This one may be relevant now to seek info from long term owners with high mileage to gauge the effects of higher mileage.

Oldblue

I put many miles on Oldblue and the BlackSwan the engines are fine if you listen to them , oil and filter regularly. I suggest you buy it, don’t let it be the one that got away.

oldhhrguy

Agree. I always listen to my cars on cold start and when driving. I was looking for the cold start timing chain chatter, and there was none.

That's why I came back to this forum to see how they've aged after I no longer had my 08.

PulpFriction

Not advising you, but I'm always looking and if I found what you describe, in particular, rust free, at an attractive price, I would buy it. Cuz iI'm in Ohio and everything with that many miles is rusty or soon to be.

mongo

I have an 07 and 08 panel. The 08 has 157000 miles on the original drivetrain, and no issues. The 07 has had the engine replaced, reportedly has 40,000 miles on the engine but no way to know for sure. The car itself has 263000 miles.

Condition is more important than mileage. Well maintained HHRs have topped 300,000 miles.

oldhhrguy

I did some digging on vehicle history. It was a Maryland car for 11 years, with fleet service history. MD is not as bad as more northern rust belt states, but I'll have to get under it and take a look.

Almost all the cars that I got rid of in PA rusted out before the mechanicals died. I put more than 100k on every one of them.

sleeper