I have to chime in on the fun factor. I own or have owned (or driven for at least a week), a Ferrari Daytona, Porsche 911, Boxter S, Corvettes (C2, C6), Camaros '68 Z28, '70 LT1 350/350, BMW 325, 330, The HHR SS is definitely IMHO the most fun to drive although the BMW 3 series is close (just not the auto). The old V-8's were fun to powerslide, but today's tires are so good, I don't do much sliding around anymore anyway. I rented a standard HHR, and there is absolutely no comparison to the SS whatsoever, they are as different as night and day. Unless you are a drifter, you will not trade away the fun factor at all! I would hazrd a guess that the HHR SS would be highly competitive against the GTO on a twisty road.

 

so what year is the GTO? have you run a used vehicle sheet for it on Edmunds?

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2006/pon...3/options.html

The dealers may be really lowballing you, pick up an autotrader and check out the goats in ur area, u might get a lot more for it than you think. Like maybe around $20K does that sound better already? Then when you consider you'll be saving money on gas and insurance every month, the trade of vehicles might be doable in the long run. Just a thought.

I have a 98 Z28 M6 that was a great performance car when it was new but the luster has worn off and its time to get something new... something fast but with much better mileage than the 12-15 i get with the LS1. I feel I owe the planet a commitment to drive a more fuel efficent vehicle and if most of us dont adopt that thought, then the ozone layer, global warming and glacier meltdowns will get even worse. jmho.

 

I have tossed the idea of trading my 12-14 mpg Trailblazer SS in for an HHR SS (since the wife doesn't want the HHR SS , says it's too small for the kids, and she hauls them most of the place), and you have a good point about the environment which my selfish self did think of. But, now there are a group of Scientists worried about global cooling as in a new ice age due to a temporary lack of sun activity "predicted" in the next 50-100 years .

 

I dare you post this over at LS2GTO.com You will be branded a heretic and burnt at the stake by those goat-herders.

Mikey, I was thinking about doing the same thing. I have a 2005 GTO IBM M6 that I love, but I also like to ski/ mtnbike /fish etc and the GTO wont fit any of my toys. Thats why I may just breakdown and buy an HHRSS. I like the styling, turbo, cargo, M5w/LSD, gas mileage etc.. I just know that I will be kickin myself someday for selling the GTO. I would sell the GTO privately vs trading at stealership.

Check it:

http://home.comcast.net/~mmmoulden/GTOEVOCELICA.html

 

Well, the FACTS are that the earth has been warming up ever since the ice age, and we didn't have anything to do with that until the last 100 years or so. However, a couple of months ago my in-law made the comment about how wastefull it was to have 2 SUVs in the driveway, and I thought thats right, I only need one to haul and tow, so instead of dumping my wife's TBSS, I sacrificed my 98 supercharged Tahoe for the HHRSS. Now I think thats a great compromise, don't you? :)

 

I do, my wife drives a 4 cylinder Honda Accord that gets about 23 city and 33hwy. She isn't too fond of the tbss since we had an '02 non ss trialbazer that was her car and she rolled it. It was a lease, was fixed up fine, turned it in with no charges 2 months later. Went to a Malibu Max for her after that. She was not hurt at all after the accident, but I think it dislodged her IUD because we now have a 2 1/2 year old boy and a 9 month old girl.. Anyway, I only have the one gas guzzler and an old full sized '91 chevy pickup that gets used for well "pickup truck" stuff, not that nice of a vehicle put about 1000 miles a year on it.

 

You would be surprised how poorly GTO's hold their value. There are dealers around me w/ 05/06 cars w/ under 20k, certified, and priced between $16-19k

 

lol +1

Im keeping mine, even though its been tough since im a new father. but im looking forward to my little girl going for a ride with me.

 

Folks:
I own both(09 HHR SS 5sp and 06 GTO 6sp) and although I like the HHR SS there is no way I would trade the GTO for an HHR SS. However I would buy the HHR SS in addition to the GTO in a heartbeat. The LNF is a nice power plant but the LS2 is a totally different animal.

 

the SS's are very tough little cars...especially the 2.0 under the hood. They are capable of alot. But...I wouldn't trade the GTO for one.

The HHR (SS) are nice....but compared to GTO....they are much cheaper made as well. I sold my HHR SS and bought a new Camaro SS. Glad I did it. I never regret buying the HHR SS though!