Rental Road Test
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 04-06-2007
Posts: 21
From: Clarence, NY
Rental Road Test
Hi Gang,
I just got back from 4 days in Vegas and scored an HHR LS from Alamo. They were out of econo cars so I got the free upgrade. For the past 85K miles I've been driving a 2002 Buick Rendezvous AWD and a 2005 Vibe. Both are part of the home fleet. Since I'm on the fence over buying an HHR to replace the RDV, this was a nice treat. Way better than a 10 minute test drive.
So how was the HHR?
Engine- Very smooth. Good power, OK torque and free revving. I liked it better than my Vibe's 1.8L.
Auto Tranny- Never noticed it at all. What more can you say?
Ride- Very smooth with a VERY quiet cabin. Very much like my RDV. Way better than the Vibe.
Ergonomics- My only two issues were the console that was constantly bumping into my right leg. I'd get used to it in time. The other was the rear view mirror which is right in the field of view. The RDVs does not block forward view. The mirrors are nice and BIG and when adjusted per the National Safety Council recommendations, the rear view is perfect. Just like my RDV. The window switches were no big deal. Additionally, the front seat is VERY comfortable and the driving position is spot on for my 6'2" frame.
MPG- I got a measured 23 MPG over 180 miles at an average 19 mph. The DIC , which I reset when I got the car indicated 25 MPG. I suspect that the tank was not full and I really got a bit better. My RDV gets 19+ MPG at 30 MPH average and my Vibe gets 28 MPG at the same 30 MPH average. The average miles per hour is indicative of HWY/City mix and has a HUGE effect on MPG. I know this is an obvious statement.
Fun- WOW. Very fun to drive. Better handling than my RDV and similar to the Vibe. The steering could offer a tad more effort overall, but not bad.
Other-
1. My luggage rolled around the back. Gotta have a carpet.
2. The seating configuration is perfect. Same as the Vibe. Just yesterday I picked up a half dozen 8' bare root trees with the Vibe and they fit great. This is a problem with most SUVs and wagons. That fold down front seat is great.
3. The driver door lock knob, post, whatever you call it, is in a spot that makes it painful to park the left arm out the window for open window driving.
4. Fuel fill door is on the wrong side per my preference.
Would I buy one? I need to resolve the roof rack rating issue to see if it will hold my antenna setup as seen at www.buffalo.edu/~msadams .
Overall, this is one really nice car!
Best regards,
Mark
I just got back from 4 days in Vegas and scored an HHR LS from Alamo. They were out of econo cars so I got the free upgrade. For the past 85K miles I've been driving a 2002 Buick Rendezvous AWD and a 2005 Vibe. Both are part of the home fleet. Since I'm on the fence over buying an HHR to replace the RDV, this was a nice treat. Way better than a 10 minute test drive.
So how was the HHR?
Engine- Very smooth. Good power, OK torque and free revving. I liked it better than my Vibe's 1.8L.
Auto Tranny- Never noticed it at all. What more can you say?
Ride- Very smooth with a VERY quiet cabin. Very much like my RDV. Way better than the Vibe.
Ergonomics- My only two issues were the console that was constantly bumping into my right leg. I'd get used to it in time. The other was the rear view mirror which is right in the field of view. The RDVs does not block forward view. The mirrors are nice and BIG and when adjusted per the National Safety Council recommendations, the rear view is perfect. Just like my RDV. The window switches were no big deal. Additionally, the front seat is VERY comfortable and the driving position is spot on for my 6'2" frame.
MPG- I got a measured 23 MPG over 180 miles at an average 19 mph. The DIC , which I reset when I got the car indicated 25 MPG. I suspect that the tank was not full and I really got a bit better. My RDV gets 19+ MPG at 30 MPH average and my Vibe gets 28 MPG at the same 30 MPH average. The average miles per hour is indicative of HWY/City mix and has a HUGE effect on MPG. I know this is an obvious statement.
Fun- WOW. Very fun to drive. Better handling than my RDV and similar to the Vibe. The steering could offer a tad more effort overall, but not bad.
Other-
1. My luggage rolled around the back. Gotta have a carpet.
2. The seating configuration is perfect. Same as the Vibe. Just yesterday I picked up a half dozen 8' bare root trees with the Vibe and they fit great. This is a problem with most SUVs and wagons. That fold down front seat is great.
3. The driver door lock knob, post, whatever you call it, is in a spot that makes it painful to park the left arm out the window for open window driving.
4. Fuel fill door is on the wrong side per my preference.
Would I buy one? I need to resolve the roof rack rating issue to see if it will hold my antenna setup as seen at www.buffalo.edu/~msadams .
Overall, this is one really nice car!
Best regards,
Mark
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Excellent evaluation, k2go.
Regarding your comment about luggage....
the carpet mat in the cargo area does come standard, with optional upgrades. Rental agencies, generally, remove OEM floor mats, cargo area mat and store them in the spare wheel well. They are reinstalled at the time the vehicle is put up for sale....helps on captured value.
Regarding your comment about luggage....
the carpet mat in the cargo area does come standard, with optional upgrades. Rental agencies, generally, remove OEM floor mats, cargo area mat and store them in the spare wheel well. They are reinstalled at the time the vehicle is put up for sale....helps on captured value.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-20-2006
Posts: 1,707
From: Centralia, Missouri
If you didn't try out the "I" gear, you missed out on some of the fun of driving an HHR
The mirror can be adjusted by pushing it up. It will go almost to the headliner, which improves vision quite a bit.
You can replace the stock knobs with stubbys, or cut the rod to lower the factory knobs. Several on here have done that, including myself, and it works great.
Very nice write up on the HHR, hope to see you soon in your own.
The mirror can be adjusted by pushing it up. It will go almost to the headliner, which improves vision quite a bit.
Very nice write up on the HHR, hope to see you soon in your own.
Last edited by mizzouHHR; Apr 30, 2007 at 01:24 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-31-2007
Posts: 2,479
From: New Hampsha
You touched on a lot things I noticed about the HHR. I was out in Vegas last week and I have NEVER seen so many HHRs in my life. Do not go out there if the reason you bought your HHR was to be different and not another Camry or Accord. In fact seeing a Camry was rare but not the HHR..I saw so many of them I thought the were breeding them or something !
We rented at Alamo in the Full size..after having a Volve S40 for a few days we turned it in for an 07 Impala..the Volvo was making some weird noises...the Impala was very comfortable and powerful..avg almost 29 mpg on the highway which is damn good given it's size and 3.5 engine.
Goose
We rented at Alamo in the Full size..after having a Volve S40 for a few days we turned it in for an 07 Impala..the Volvo was making some weird noises...the Impala was very comfortable and powerful..avg almost 29 mpg on the highway which is damn good given it's size and 3.5 engine.
Goose
Senior Member
Joined: 06-02-2006
Posts: 1,533
From: Break Away Republic of SoCal
Hi Gang,
Would I buy one? I need to resolve the roof rack rating issue to see if it will hold my antenna setup as seen at www.buffalo.edu/~msadams .
k
Would I buy one? I need to resolve the roof rack rating issue to see if it will hold my antenna setup as seen at www.buffalo.edu/~msadams .
k
Senior Member
Joined: 01-20-2006
Posts: 1,707
From: Centralia, Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 11-17-2005
Posts: 126
From: Springfield Vermont
Regarding the rear mirror position. This was brought up when the HHR first came out and it was determined that you can adjust the mirror out of the line of vision by moving it UP and then adjusting for view. I tried it and it works.