Imagine for a minute if it (the HHR), was called the "Chevrolet Classic."

While not the best possible moniker, I'm betting more of the buying public would go for it...

But then, I guess I'd have to be "SoCal Something Else."

 

I thought Chevy was going to do the same thing as Ford and update their entire model line every couple of years with the exception of their top sellers which will get redesigns and updates. It will keep their models fresh and competitive in the modern market. With the constant changes in vehicle technology and so forth they can't depend on names and model recognition anymore like in the old days.

 

THey should, that is what Toyota is doing with the Scion. After a few years, time for something new.

 

I have to say Kuddos to the HHR owners who have used their imagination to come up with some really nice :twothumbs and some low dollar Mods to customize their HHR's... Our supporting vendors like Mike and all the rest have been great in getting some products developed for the HHR. This is how HHR owners can show Chevy they did a good job and we love the HHR.

 

Some of you sound like you are sounding a death knell, the end of an era. I think the HHR has a few years left before it gets dumped, but keep this in mind......1. All manufacturers make changes. They are in business to make money for their shareholders. 2. I have my HHR, do you have yours?

 

Oh, I don't think the HHR is going away for a long time, at least until GM is able to earn back the costs of upgrading the RA plant for Delta. But I do think that there are lessons to be learned from what's happened with marketing the HHR over the last year:

1. There aftermarket support hasn't materialized because the car really isn't that easy to customize. The two most popular upgrades, stereo and performance, are almost impossible to do in this vehicle unless you use a lot of workarounds and throw money at the project. Most of the "upgrades" that are out there for the body and trim look TERRIBLE, especially the woody kits.

2. The name, as I mentioned before, is a disaster, as The Donald would say. It isn't memorable at all and 99% of the people who see the car think it's the redesigned PT Cruiser.

3. Zero marketing, outside of the rental market and the Tonight Show promotion. Dumb. There is NO BUZZ around this vehicle with the general public and the aftermarket vendors aren't going to develop and order parts that won't sell. Hell, I can't even get Yakima or Thule to make roof rack adapters for my car!

 

They use product placement but I don't think that works as well as a full out ad campaign.

 

This is my 5th GM vehicle and is by far the best one I have had.

GM seriously needs to advertise this vehicle better. They need to push it more to recoup their investment.

They did a phenominal job creating this rather unique vehicle, but it seems to be a slow mover (at least around here - dealer I buy from has 8 new ones and 2 used ones).

 

How fast it moves depends, mainly, on location and the dealerships selling them. A good example is the dealership I bought mine from, Paddock in Kenmore: they have trouble keeping HHR's on the lot longer than a week, but it's also because they are featured prominently in their local advertising (the dealership's owner appeared with one on several occasions during the holiday season, and the beauty shots of their stock lot always start with the HHR's), and the sales staff is extremely knowledgeable regarding the car. If you go to the other major Chevy dealer north of Buffalo, Fuccillo, they don't do jack with the HHR in their advertising, and it shows in that they still have 2006 stock. They in fact treat the HHR like a red-headed stepchild in their advertising because the same lot has a Toyota/Scion dealer and they don't want to kill sales of their xB's, which fly off their lot.

As far as modding goes, it helps to have an artistic eye and to think outside of the box if you want to find the good stuff for it. A lot of the toolings are similar to the Cobalt, and I know of at least two vendors who don't bother mentioning the HHR in their catalogs because they assume "I already make it for Cobalt, why should I mention HHR?" This includes hitch manufacturers and header vendors: my wife tells me that all L850 (Ecotec) engines receive identical exhaust manifolds on the line regardless of what assembly plant the engines are going to or what car they're supposed to go into, which means that ANY Ecotec headers should work for us. There's also a multitude of "universal" body mods available that will work for us: I recently spotted a black LT at my bank with a Lund hood scoop, one I know I've seen a lot on the PT Cruiser. It also helps that the car lends itself greatly to custom badging, so sites such as Year One can supply vintage reproduction badging, decal work, etc. to trick out our rides with. (have a project I want to do before July, but I have to wait to order parts from Year One.)

 

I feel if GM had focused on this as a family car considering the safety results, the room and space and not just a "retro" car they would have hit gold. Most families I know don't even know about this vehicle...those that are considering "down-grading" from the expensive and gas using SUV to this car would be most practical. They would sell alot. If they marketed this car for the working family...granted it won't hold 7 people but it will save you money on gas and the initial cost of the vehicle and hold the average American family with their stuff and a roof rack to allow more stuff for the family vacation. GM either markets to the richer folks in fewer numbers or to a large demographic who have less money but would spend their hard-earned money on a reliable car for their family. Marketing just to the "retro" group they limited their scope of people who might buy this car.