What can I do to make my 2.2L LS more fun to drive?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 09-10-2010
Posts: 904
From: Cleveland, Ohio
What can I do to make my 2.2L LS more fun to drive?
Here goes.
When I traded in my problematic Cobalt SS/SC, I was super excited to be getting a BRAND NEW car. All I could think about was how much utility I could get out of it, how comfortable of a ride it would be, and how it was absolutely NEW and how I would take the very best care of it I could having been there from the start.
You never really know how someone treated your used vehicle that you purchase. You never know if they abused it, took care of it, modded it in the past, or had a lot of issues.
I felt like my SS had a rough go. She was absolutely a Friday afternoon built vehicle and was plagued with numerous small issues and one major one that I felt should have been fixed over the 20+ times I took it in to prove it to the service department. I had 5000 miles to go on my B2B warranty when I started bringing it to them with this issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2flCjPN3Y
Many said it was the chain tensioner, however, it wasn't. I had the luxury of observing a 2.0L LSJ with an ACTUAL chain tensioner issue. This was on the total opposite side of the engine and sounded deeper inside-if that makes sense. My only guesses were that the lifter was stuck or the waterpump could be scraping. I managed to get it to do the noise when I took a Service Manager out on a ride along.
They took it in and replaced the cam sensor and housing. A week or so later, it did it again-I was past my warranty. I couldn't take off of work anymore so I dealt with it. A funny thing was, the sales guys tried to get me into another car when I went to pick it up since I was having such a time with mine. I considered but turned it down.
Well I changed my oil about 3000 miles outside of my warranty and found metal flakes in the pleats of the oil filter. Traded the car in and used a quite hefty Customer Loyalty Certificate received from the good folks at GM Customer Service for my troubles as well as a rebate that was in effect for HHRs at the time. I only had to roll over about a grand in negative equity for a new car.
I since have been enjoying my HHR, however, I don't get any thrill out of it. I need that. It's just so boring to drive-I enjoyed the performance of the SS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. Now, since hindsight is 20/20, I should have asked for an SS/TC...
What can I do to make it more fun? Radio sucks, guess I'll need a better one. I would like more sporty suspension traits as well as a nice exhaust note. I would like to lower it too. What do you all recommend? I know there are probably many threads about this sort of thing, but this one is mine.
Anyone have ANY ideas and examples of what someone like me could do with a 2.2L NA to enjoy the ride a bit more? Maybe some less orthodox ideas could be put into place. Thanks!
When I traded in my problematic Cobalt SS/SC, I was super excited to be getting a BRAND NEW car. All I could think about was how much utility I could get out of it, how comfortable of a ride it would be, and how it was absolutely NEW and how I would take the very best care of it I could having been there from the start.
You never really know how someone treated your used vehicle that you purchase. You never know if they abused it, took care of it, modded it in the past, or had a lot of issues.
I felt like my SS had a rough go. She was absolutely a Friday afternoon built vehicle and was plagued with numerous small issues and one major one that I felt should have been fixed over the 20+ times I took it in to prove it to the service department. I had 5000 miles to go on my B2B warranty when I started bringing it to them with this issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC2flCjPN3Y
Many said it was the chain tensioner, however, it wasn't. I had the luxury of observing a 2.0L LSJ with an ACTUAL chain tensioner issue. This was on the total opposite side of the engine and sounded deeper inside-if that makes sense. My only guesses were that the lifter was stuck or the waterpump could be scraping. I managed to get it to do the noise when I took a Service Manager out on a ride along.
They took it in and replaced the cam sensor and housing. A week or so later, it did it again-I was past my warranty. I couldn't take off of work anymore so I dealt with it. A funny thing was, the sales guys tried to get me into another car when I went to pick it up since I was having such a time with mine. I considered but turned it down.
Well I changed my oil about 3000 miles outside of my warranty and found metal flakes in the pleats of the oil filter. Traded the car in and used a quite hefty Customer Loyalty Certificate received from the good folks at GM Customer Service for my troubles as well as a rebate that was in effect for HHRs at the time. I only had to roll over about a grand in negative equity for a new car.
I since have been enjoying my HHR, however, I don't get any thrill out of it. I need that. It's just so boring to drive-I enjoyed the performance of the SS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. Now, since hindsight is 20/20, I should have asked for an SS/TC...
What can I do to make it more fun? Radio sucks, guess I'll need a better one. I would like more sporty suspension traits as well as a nice exhaust note. I would like to lower it too. What do you all recommend? I know there are probably many threads about this sort of thing, but this one is mine.
Anyone have ANY ideas and examples of what someone like me could do with a 2.2L NA to enjoy the ride a bit more? Maybe some less orthodox ideas could be put into place. Thanks!
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Well lets see says the guy with a pair of 2.2's.
1. A good quality cold air intake setup, I use the GMPP unit but there are others.
2. A good quality performance exhaust, I have the GMPP setup on the '07 and a Magnaflow setup on the '06. No complaints about either, just like the sound of the GMPP setup better than the Magnaflow.
3. The proverbial Trifecta tune is a good way to "wake up" the performance potential that lives in the 2.2. Although the 2.4 folks will argue otherwise(hey I have a 2.4 too), the 2.2 is one sweet engine with lots of growth potential.
4. Tires, tires, and tires! Lose the factory Affinitys and get yourself some decent rubber, either performance tires or touring tires, the difference in handling and ride will amaze you.
5. Lower it if that's the look you want, use good quality springs and you won't sacrifice ride in favor of handling.
6. Go your own way, its your HHR and not the next guy's so don't follow all the trends, just because everybody is using the blacked out Depo lights...you don't have to.
Just a few things from off the top of my mind, I'm sure you'll get lots of input on this.
1. A good quality cold air intake setup, I use the GMPP unit but there are others.
2. A good quality performance exhaust, I have the GMPP setup on the '07 and a Magnaflow setup on the '06. No complaints about either, just like the sound of the GMPP setup better than the Magnaflow.
3. The proverbial Trifecta tune is a good way to "wake up" the performance potential that lives in the 2.2. Although the 2.4 folks will argue otherwise(hey I have a 2.4 too), the 2.2 is one sweet engine with lots of growth potential.
4. Tires, tires, and tires! Lose the factory Affinitys and get yourself some decent rubber, either performance tires or touring tires, the difference in handling and ride will amaze you.
5. Lower it if that's the look you want, use good quality springs and you won't sacrifice ride in favor of handling.
6. Go your own way, its your HHR and not the next guy's so don't follow all the trends, just because everybody is using the blacked out Depo lights...you don't have to.
Just a few things from off the top of my mind, I'm sure you'll get lots of input on this.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RBodeman
Problems/Service/Repairs
11
Nov 16, 2012 07:09 PM