Hey, who you callin' a geezer? Oh right, that would be me.

Looks like there will be at least 2 Victory Red SS autos at Blackhawk tomorrow. See ya then!

 

I personally put the shifter in "I" generally when I'm in Competitive Mode. I like how the exhaust burbles and pops on decel. The only thing I "kind of" dislike is how long it'll take to shift out of 1st if I'm under 45 mph; I'm always afraid that I'll break something if it doesn't shift lol. Aside from that, acceleration is definitely fun!

 

The A/T is my second biggest gripe about the HHR. The first being the damn low windshield, and general bad visibility. Four gears are NOT enough. Wonderful engine, but there's so many times it's in 4th, and to get any forward acceleration, you need a klunky downshift. I really love my SS, but you can tell why GM is in so much trouble. Totally OT, but I read a recent article in Car and Driver about how the VW 2.0T is the best 4 cyl engine ever. Those German car lovers have never experienced a Stg.1 HHR, then, because it's smooth, very powerful, and still economical. If it came with a good 6 spd. A/T, the driving experience would be so much enhanced.

 

For the most this tranny is set to shift with the computer and reads the conditions. It will hold the gear if you are in it till the engine torque starts to fall.

Many think they can out shift it and some may but most are fooling themselves. Todays trannys don't just shift based on hydrolic pressure anymore.

I will use I in the mountains or long grades to help not get the brakes too hot coasting down hill. The engine braking helps some.

I have a paddel shift in two other cars on a 4 speed and one a 6 speed and for the most they are cool for 25 miles.

Once you have driven this car for a little the computer reads how you drive and the tranny will adjust a little to your driving style. You will get to the point you know where and when the kick down will happen and can often shift the gears with the gas pedal.

The new 6 speed is sweet but just will not fit the HHR without a lot of changed to the body structure and a new battery of expensive crash test for a car that will die soon.

The Cobalt and HHR will be the last of the 4 speeds and are just very old models going out. It really is not why GM got into trouble but a side effect of them being in trouble since they were late going to the 6 speed since they had no money to make it.

Today GM has some of the best trannys out. That is why other have come to them to buy or partner with them in new transmissions.

For all the auto trannys GM builds few fail unless they are subjected to highly modified engines.

 

Anyone ever heard of torque management? Or calibration for fuel economy? Like stated earlier, shifting is not determined by transmission line pressure alone. Shift points are determined by a number of factors, TPS, MAP, ambient temp, intake temp, speed, torque, trans temp, etc. Wish it were like the old days. Much simpler, but then the MPG would really suck. Six speed tranny would be nice, but the HHR will never see it.