HHR SS vs Caliber srt4
 

Lately ive been in the market for a new car and well are car that will move pritty quick. I was really set on the new Caliber srt4. Until i drove the new HHR SS but since them im almost deadlocked. Correct me if im wrong but the csrt4 seems to be faster and has a little better shape but by far the HHR SS won me over on the interior and lets face it, its a chevy. Now with the mix of the new Cobalt SS I cant choose. I really need need more so how would you guys compare the HHR SS to the Csrt4?

:laughabov :rof: :rof: :rof: :laughabov

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.

Csrt4 seems faster becuase it has more HP, but it doesnt seem to handle it as nicely as the HHR SS. I wanted to drive the SRT4 but never found one and i really love the RED SS i bought. good luck

idk it just looks cooler i guess lol. i drove both and the HHR does handle better just not sure if its faster than it, althought a GM is so much easier to mod they usually offer more for it. Have any of u guys ran it in the 1/4 mile by the way because it seems like the HHR has almost no turbo lag, although i did drive the auto.

STAY AWAY FROM THE AUTO HHR if you want preformace. it is detuned to 235hp in 1st and 2nd and 3rd gets you up to 250hp. the 5spd just limits boost in 1st to under 10psi to keep the tires pulling on the pavement.

Hello fellow Canton resident. I was also looking at the SRT4 and the Mazdaspeed 3. I just bought a silver HHR SS last week and I am very happy so far. I never drove the SRT, but I did drive the Mazda and the torque steer was a little much. The SRT is supposed to be MUCH worse so I did not bother. Not to mention the HHR gets better MPG. I am surprised by the lack of torque steer in the HHR, it is the most powerful front driver I have driven without it. As for the Cobalt I decided I wanted better utility, and I like the looks of the HHR much better. Happy hunting.
Tyler

yeah thanks a lot. thats really wierd maybe ill see u around i have a car club here so idk maybe we will have to talk one day.

so do u guys think u could take out a mazda speed 3 or an srt4?

it all depends on the conditions. if the drivers of the MS3 or the SRT4 spin through a few gears and the HHR doesnt you may have them for a few. but in a all hp senario then probley not.

Personally I think that Caliber is an ugly lump, looks like all the other ugly lump crossovers. I drove one, wasn't really impressed but it does have good power.

When you compare ALL the performance criteria, the HHR SS comes out on top.......but then I'm rather biased, having owned three HHRs so far.

Winding Road, an automotive e-zine will do a side by side comparison of the HHR SS and the Caliber SRT4 in its next issue. You can sign up for free at http://www.windingroad.com . Great magazine by the way - should be out in about 2 weeks.

i would buy the csrt if just for the fact that is already has aftermarket vendors doing a lot of research and development on a bunch of stuff... and has many upgrades out already for it...

hhrss is still waiting
ms3 has some out but still limited vendors

the csrt got several of the big vendors who switched right over from the nsrt when they were discontinued...


handling and power can be tuned to how you want it... it's all a matter of who has the best platform and the most backup...

If speed is your main criteria the Mazda is the best choice. It was definitely faster. I choose the HHR because of the better ride, no torque steer,and after the GM discount and rebates it cost over 3 grand less than the mazda, better MPG as a bonus. The dealership in Saline has a navy blue 5sp with the gray interior with your name on it!!

geez dont get me started cuz im considering either blue or black and im starting to lean to the HHR SS just still not too turned on by the looks but the platform seems to be far better than dodges and i will never buy foreign so the ms3 is out of the question.

dude its a world economy. That ms3 maybe more american then the mexican build hhr.

it all depends on what YOU like...
The HHR has a cool retro look to it, the Caliber, to me anyway, gets lost in the sea of other crossovers like it. Functionally they are so similar.

You'll be driving it, you'll be paying for it, you'll be the one who looks at it every day. So you have to make the choice. besides, we're biased toward Chevies on here so if you want better opinions on the Caliber, go over to one of their boards...

The Caliber is one UGLY station wagon. Can't believe anyone would buy that cluster****.

Caliber = More Dodge problems...... just google issues with them.

Performance numbers between the HHR SS and the MS3 are only about a .01 seconds apart (MS3 faster), so that equasion is a drivers game (non auto SS).

''Mexican Assembled'' powertrain and 95% of the parts are from U.S./Canada

I came close to buying a CSRT4 until I found out that the HHR SS was coming halfway through the 2008 model year.

I have read about half a dozen reviews of the CSRT4 where the reviewers say it's fast, but they hated the overall feel of the vehicle.

Many hated the boy racer looks.
The heavy clutch is supposed to be a bear for daily city driving.
More turbo lag than the HHR.
Low RPM torque is much lower than HHR, making normal city driving less efficient.
I don't think you can fully disable the stability control like you can with the HHR. Probably they won't let you disable it because of the insane torque steer.
A lot complained about how cornering feels with the electronic brake-lock differential. No mechanical LSD is available like on the HHR.

I have read a lot of great reviews of the MS3. The reasons I didn't go with one are...
3 mpg lower mileage than the HHR SS.
Only 4.8” of ground clearance (not good for rough roads around here)
Very little trunk space with rear seats up (I've got child seats in mine so it's a hassle to remove them to fold down the rear seats to get extra cargo space.) HHR SS has a much larger rear cargo area than MS3 or CSRT4.
Acceleration is very slightly faster. Cornering is better due to lower ground clearance and shorter body. But basically less utility.

I know the numbers are similar between the HHR and the Mazda. But go and test drive one and you will feel the difference. Besides if we are comparing magazine times I have seen the speed 3 run mid 5 second sixties.

I checked out an Caliber SRT4 when I was shopping around. I felt like I was in a tight can of a car. Way to small for me and what I need, did have some cool features though.

One thing I really like about the Caliber is the chill zone up front. But it's still way to small.

Drove a Mazdaspeed 3. Too small. Nice little car, but overall the HHR can do a lot more, also better fuel mileage. Didn't even consider a Dodge product. Chrysler doesn't make anything I would consider buying.

One thought about transmissions, if you choose the stick, you can IF you choose to drive prudently, get 22-23 mpg in all city driving, as we have. I know the autos can't match that, plus you get the extra HP with the stick, a hard to beat combo in this day of $4.00 gas. My wide has commandeered my HHRSS and stuck me with her 13mpg TBSS. Oh well, guys gotta sacrifice sometimes. :D

I sure hope you leased the TBSS.

If your try harder, you can get 27 in the city or more. I do. I have a 5 speed btw.

:laughabov :roflol: :laughabov :rof:

I was all set to buy a Vibe (:red: ) but my wife didn't like the test drive too much. So... a little more research and an evil HHR add popping up on my Yahoo! page and now I drive an SS. :one:

You won't be dissapointed.