Hey everyone I just joined the site since ive been checking out the HHR.

My company is offering the HHR LT as one of our company vehicles as well as the Saturn Aura XE or Chevy Impala LS (pretty much scraped the Impala from my mental list). I haven't driven either one of them but the Aura's 224HP V6 is nice that plus it says it gets 30mpg highway which i think is the same as the HHR...right now till i test drive them the HHR is winning but only because I think the HHR is bad ass hot...love the retro wagon look something a japanese car manufacture could never pull off! who wants to see a retro corolla wagon hahaha! although a retro datsun 510 sedan might be fun if done right.

So im pretty convinced on the HHR based on looks, but why does it seem that every review i read makes it sound like crap....i drive pretty aggressive and according to the reviews im guessing i won't be able to take off ramps at 50mph without modifying the suspension. Would you say it drives like a SUV more than a car? It seems the Aura can handle much better than the HHR can plus its very quiet on the inside from what i read, while the reviews make the HHR seem very noisy?

If the HHR didn't look cool (say it looked like an accord) would you still put up with its quirks or would you get something else?

Thanks!
Hope i end up a HHR driver.
Chad

 

Looks are what drew me to the HHR, and the price kept me there. As far as economy went, anything was better than my 87 Cherokee.

I suppose if it wasn't for the looks I'd be driving a Mazda right now.

 

I was drawn to its looks. And that it drove much better than the cars I'd been driving..... 1970 VW bus..... 68 VW Baja.....

 

Heehee...Well, Lets see....I have always been a fan of small automobiles..(Driving one, now RACE CARS is another thing, If I owned a RACE CAR, I would get the IMPALA SS..I gotta be loyal to CHEVY!)..but as for driving, I always drove compact cars..1st was a 1985 Honda Prelude, then came my 1991 Honda CRX, my dad picked that car out for me and I didn't like it, It wasn't me, so I gave it to my little brother, and my Dad got me a 1992 Toyota Corolla, That car, I liked, and drove it for about 9 years...

my NEXT car had to be one that I pick out ON MY OWN....All the cars that I liked in the past were now discontinued in 2005, (Toyota Telcel, Isuzu Rodeo and others) I was looking at the Mitsubishi Outlanderand was moving toward that vehicle when I opened up a MOTOR TREND magazine and saw a photo of the Chevrolet HHR in an auto show. there was only a front view of it and i was like.....THAT'S MY NEW CAR!!!!! ..I fell in love with the front look, the car had my personality, Small, happy looking, and tough at the same time. I took a closer look and looked at all sides of the car and I was like, WHERE DO I SIGN??? ..it took about 6 months after I saw the car to actually buy it..and on June 1st 2006, Wheelie Pablo HHR Chevrolet Velasquez came to live with me.

 

My reason was for the gas mileage...
I replaced my 12MPG GMC Yukon with it.

 

I was first attracted to the economy and space. Then the looks. Once I drove it, the decision was very simple-BUY IT!

 

We have wanted a GM/Chevy stationwagon for quite some time and refused to go the mini van route. The Saturn L series wagon did not appeal to us and I didn't want a Daewoo with a bowtie.

We were leaning towards an Equinox, but having been burned twice with GMs smaller V6s (piston slap & lower intake manifold gasket failiures), we were not comfortable with the Made in China 3.4L V6 or the mileage.

When the HHR first came out, I showed a picture of the HHR to my wife. She said "That looks cool. That's our next car" and sure enough, it ended up being our next car

 

I can tell you why I'm going to choose an HHR this fall:

1. It's a compact car that has the same (or even MORE) space than a full size car (not to mention the HUGE hauling capacity with the seats down)

2. Good fuel economy

3. You can get it loaded up without leather seats (I know many people think this is stupid, but I hate leather seats... they are too warm in the summer and don't wear well due to stretching / cracking / etc.)

4. It's easy to get in and out of. You don't have to climb or crouch in and out of it.

5. You sit a little higher than an average car, and therefore can see a little better.

6. This fall, there will be an available high performance SS model (this is what I'm currently waiting for)

7. Good pricing

8. Unique styling (other than the PT Cruiser)

9. Drives like a car, but has many benfits similar to an SUV (without the poor fuel consumption)

10. Very customizable; there are A LOT of aftermarket accessories out there

 

What reviews are you talking about that makes the HHR sound like crap? I've read almost all positive reviews. http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/hhr...merreview.html You really can't listen to people who are paid to write reviews on cars as they think everything should be a sports car which the HHR is not but it handles reasonably well for a wagon and I don't even have the sport suspention. As far as the HHR being noisy I wouldn't say that is accurate at all. I'm sure most people bought their HHR because of looks but it turns out that they are also very good little cars. Good mileage great utility (so much room for hauling stuff) and very quiet. My HHR has no wind noise and the only time you really hear the engine is a little bit on acceleration or passing. I always get over 30 mpg on the hwy. Its also been super reliable over the last 13,000 miles. Not one trip to the dealer. I think you should take a drive. I think you will be pleasantly suprised.

 

I want something different in looks and style, good on gas and room for Abby my dog