Thanks for everyones input, I sincerely appreciate it! So I stopped by my local Chevy dealership yesterday and talked to the financing department regarding the GM extended warranty. They wanted $2000 for an additional 4 years and a $100 deductible per visit. Yikes. That's not gonna happen. So here's what I'm doing: I'm going to chance it and keep my the HHR for another year, no extended warranty. The lease deal on the Cruze wasn't for me anyway, as it was for the base LS with manual. Another $1000 for the automatic, plus taxes, tags, fees, and the lease is just a few bucks less per month than getting a loan for it. Plus I'll save money when my tags are due in January. I'll need new tires soon however. In a years time, my HHR should be worth more than my loan (just another $7000 to go for 2 more years) so I'll trade her in for a new Cruze then and use the equity for a nice down payment :) Thanks again and wish me luck! Hopefully my HHR will be good to me for a little bit longer! Here she is BTW, taken this past summer...

 

2 grand pays for a lot of parts.

I would hang with it. I noted you are upside down on what you own. I would keep it as the Cruze would only make it worse.

My buddy got so messed up trading that he ended up with an old Cavalier for 2 years till he payed down on what he owned.

Besides in the next 4 years there are new exciting cars coming. I drove the Cruze and was impressed but I have seen some of what is coming and he Cruze is only the warm up for GM.