Well, I have a 2LT, Auto with 3200 miles on it and use 93 octane.
Yesterday I decided to stretch out my HHR out a little and what a shock I got. This is the first four banger I have ever owned.
From a dead stop in Intermediate, I stood on it and "Holy S***". What have they done to the four bangers? This little gem has better acceleration than the V6 engines from the early 90's.

I think the people who write these articles for the car magazines should take some time off once in a while. They say it needs more HP. Everybody wants more HP, but at what price? "Hello" Its a car thats to be driven all the time and not cost a lot of money to do it.

I think I bought a real cool looking car that can be changed to suit your personality, has enough power, very good on gas, and at a great price.

Oh and it has a lot of storage space for what ever you want to use it for.

YOB 1942 and I like my choice.

 

Try it in "L"! It'll shift into 2nd around 50MPH with a big kick!!!!! I tried this last week with the kids (9 & 11) and they were both yelling "SLOW DOWN" Good thing I did. About 1/2 mile later local law enforcement was just waiting for some one to fly by.

 

I feel the same way Ray
i get tired of hearing that these cars are slugs. what they dont realize it is the person driving it

granted it would be nice to feel 400 hp w a light touch but that is not what this HHR is about and those cars get 7 to 9 mpg

pick up on demand is nice and i have not had any problem passing anyone or getting to speed on a freeway ramp

want to be really impressed, start in L and hammer it. when you feel you need to shift to 3rd gear, move it to I or D.

in the mountains, hills or alot of traffic and going slow and want the ability to get around or out,,, leave it in I gear and you are ready for anything.

people that review cars should drive them for a week and put them thru as many situations as possible and really play w the car. most just drive them normally and dont push the limits of the car.

we have a guy here on Fox tv and on Friday he reviews a car a week. He puts cars thru the mill and really goes thru them. He drove the HHR and loved it and said that Chevy had a winner and it would be a car to considerfor several situations in a family and that he could see multiple ownerships in a single family.

i think it is one of the best young family or first time family cars on the markey for what it has to offer in price and fit.

 

Well don't count out us older people either (chronologically older). I traded in a 96 Sebring convertable for my HHR fully expecting to give up handling and performance for the extra room and practicality I needed. I loved my Sebring and drove it hard on these windy hilly roads around eastern TN, but I needed something to haul my dogs and their supplies around in and a sporty convertable just isn't it. So far the only thing I can see that I gave up (besides some illusive electrical problems) is a couple of mph on hard curves. I can only take the 25mph curves at 35mph instead of 40...lol. There is a long steep hill on hwy 27 going north out of Chattanooga that slows nearly all down, some to a crawl and I can zip right up it gaining speed the whole way if I want to burn that much gas...lol. I have been nothing but pleasantly surprised and the handling and performance of the HHR.

 

so you have the sway bar on yours?
If not, that would fix that and you might be surprised as to how fast you can take it.

 

I feel the same way. My wife told me I would never be happy with a four cylinder, but with the price of gas and the distance I drive to work, I had to. Boy was I surprised when I drove it for the first time. To me this car is the total package, great mileage, lots of room for kids and more, and just cool looking. Thank goodness I didn't buy that malibu maxx I was looking at.

 

This is definitely one spunky car and got even better when I added the IMCO T924 and CGS intake. My boyfriend Henry who loves muscle cars and speed and power can't believe what this 4 cylinder HHR can do. When I let him drive it (notice I said when...) he always remarks at what a great job Chevrolet did with the HHR and says if he didn't know better, he would think he was driving a 6 cylinder car.

 

I have use I (intermediate) a few times. It is amazing. I like running up to 6000rpm and it shifting to 3rd gear. This is really a great feeling. I also have a Frontier w/supercharger and 4wheel drive, The HHR is just as fun to drive. Different kind of fun and just as exciting.