My Editorial: Our HHR SS...Keeping Up In Today's World
Senior Member
Joined: 01-28-2008
Posts: 357
From: INDIANA
These cars really should come tuned better from the factory. My automatic was such a turd to drive in stock form. With the HP tune now, I feel like I'm driving an entirely different car... Like where the eff did this 23psi come from and when will it stop pulling. Coming from the V8 RWD LS world it's hard to get used to. And I won't ever prefer fwd > rwd but, this car definitely has my respect and I'm glad to have found one.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-01-2013
Posts: 354
From: Poway So Cali
I think I agree with almost everything said... Still... I love my HHR SS. I can't think of anything I would rather have. Great power, MPG, and can get all my stuff where I need it. Even my 6 foot five inch son fits, with our snowboards and equipment on the inside. Did I say I love my HHR SS?
Senior Member
Joined: 11-21-2010
Posts: 890
From: Canada
It's my 5th car I've had the pleasure of owning, and my favorite. I'm stock also and am happy with what it puts out. For me, it's not a drag car just a rare sleeper. Small engine which is already working hard with it's turbo.
New Member
Joined: 02-09-2014
Posts: 15
From: Alaska
This is not a flame against our beloved HHR SS, just an observation and statement of reality. I did not pre write this. It's kinda just going to come out.
We chase the dream of having a faster car. We want to feel that thrill. Hear the sounds that things like turbos make. I chased my HHR SS from 2008 until December 2012 when I finally got my hands on it. I battled through years driving my over sized, underpowered 3800 Series II Grand Prix GT that even after decent modding only reached maybe 230-240HP, my snappy but retiree looking Saturn Aura XR and my well intended but dead-beat performance HHR 1LT.
So, I finally get my hands on an HHR SS only to realize I needed a tune to REALLY break it out. So, I get the GMTU. Now, yeah! that's what I'm talking about. I know it's still got more left with a Trifecta and other mods that are available depending on budget, but alas, I'm still under extended warranty.
That being said, I've made an observation that applies to all of us no matter what our level of mods....
EVERYONE including GM is slapping a turbo on a 2.0L and dropping it in every car they can. Now we have 270HP Malibu's(non-SS) coming out of the factory and the new SS branded cars are all V8 RWD. It seems I've once again fallen into a situation where I think I've reached a happy medium where my car is a true sleeper, only to realize I'm driving next to a bunch of other run-o-the-mill cars that tout comparable power numbers. It's not about pretending we ever had a supercar, just something that couldn't be touched by your average sedan.
I know it's not all about the power. This thing does turn heads(like wtf is that?). I can't help but feel that at the pace at which technology allows auto makers to pump power up in every car option out there, the more I'm going to have to try to win the powerball so I can go buy a brand new Corvette Z06 to get something that's really going to last as a standout, comfortable, daily driving street machine. The other option is to do a secret V8 RWD conversion which as we all follow that AMAZING progress in the "General" category of this forum, I realize again, I will need to win the Powerball before I call Chip Foose and drive a newly acquired General Lee while my HHR gets converted.
So, I could be blowing off steam, I could be commenting on the state of our aging HHR SS's that have been frozen in the timespan of a brief few years to be treasured for the unique performance wagon they are. Whichever the case, I get the feeling that this story has been written over and over again by everyone that has owned anything from a Model T, Roadrunner, Mustang, or GTO. Think about it. Many of those big, heavy V8 "Muscle Cars" we drool over can't compare in their stock form to our cars or other turbo'd or supercharged 4cyl or V6 cars. It's a never ending battle to stay ahead and be "special". Even if I mod more, at some point I guess I'll let the technology and horsepower pass me by without a care, put down the windows, slide back the moon roof and smile as I hit the gas and watch that friendly little needle jump to 23-25psi going down A1A.
We chase the dream of having a faster car. We want to feel that thrill. Hear the sounds that things like turbos make. I chased my HHR SS from 2008 until December 2012 when I finally got my hands on it. I battled through years driving my over sized, underpowered 3800 Series II Grand Prix GT that even after decent modding only reached maybe 230-240HP, my snappy but retiree looking Saturn Aura XR and my well intended but dead-beat performance HHR 1LT.
So, I finally get my hands on an HHR SS only to realize I needed a tune to REALLY break it out. So, I get the GMTU. Now, yeah! that's what I'm talking about. I know it's still got more left with a Trifecta and other mods that are available depending on budget, but alas, I'm still under extended warranty.
That being said, I've made an observation that applies to all of us no matter what our level of mods....
EVERYONE including GM is slapping a turbo on a 2.0L and dropping it in every car they can. Now we have 270HP Malibu's(non-SS) coming out of the factory and the new SS branded cars are all V8 RWD. It seems I've once again fallen into a situation where I think I've reached a happy medium where my car is a true sleeper, only to realize I'm driving next to a bunch of other run-o-the-mill cars that tout comparable power numbers. It's not about pretending we ever had a supercar, just something that couldn't be touched by your average sedan.
I know it's not all about the power. This thing does turn heads(like wtf is that?). I can't help but feel that at the pace at which technology allows auto makers to pump power up in every car option out there, the more I'm going to have to try to win the powerball so I can go buy a brand new Corvette Z06 to get something that's really going to last as a standout, comfortable, daily driving street machine. The other option is to do a secret V8 RWD conversion which as we all follow that AMAZING progress in the "General" category of this forum, I realize again, I will need to win the Powerball before I call Chip Foose and drive a newly acquired General Lee while my HHR gets converted.
So, I could be blowing off steam, I could be commenting on the state of our aging HHR SS's that have been frozen in the timespan of a brief few years to be treasured for the unique performance wagon they are. Whichever the case, I get the feeling that this story has been written over and over again by everyone that has owned anything from a Model T, Roadrunner, Mustang, or GTO. Think about it. Many of those big, heavy V8 "Muscle Cars" we drool over can't compare in their stock form to our cars or other turbo'd or supercharged 4cyl or V6 cars. It's a never ending battle to stay ahead and be "special". Even if I mod more, at some point I guess I'll let the technology and horsepower pass me by without a care, put down the windows, slide back the moon roof and smile as I hit the gas and watch that friendly little needle jump to 23-25psi going down A1A.
While you could certainly turn up the wick on the engine with tune and supporting mods, but as with any vehicle, the harder you squeeze it the less tractable it will be.
But where is that limit (tractability) with these?
350 HP?
400 HP?
More?
I'm sure it varies with taste.
I've actually had a few hot rods, my Model A comes to mind, before it was fuel injected (camed up small block Ford, aluminum flywheel, block huggers, etc).
It wasn't "tractable" until you got it warm, if you could get it to start (took some practice, I called that an "anti theft" feature
).That's the amazing thing to me about these, as hot as they are, you walk up expecting them to start on the first twist of the key.
Then there's the fuel economy, these have the best of anything hot I've had with the exception of one full endurance race built "sport compact" yet again it wasn't anything you would want to drive daily, or very far (being 16 I did anyway as it was still technically "street legal"
).These are certainly nicer to drive than the old Chevy Spirit Turbo models, and they aren't the death trap those were (that's standard though, you expect all the newer cars to be more survivable in a crash than older ones).
I guess all I can suggest is the old parable about happiness, it's not getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.
Here's hoping you are happy with what you have for quite a while.
PS as another tactic, you could up the sleeper factor by shaving the Super Sport iconography.
That should get you less "attention" of the sort you don't want.
Member
Joined: 01-28-2010
Posts: 37
From: Canton Ga.
I would have to agree with the first post. I had a 06 HHR 2lt with the 2.4L.
Yes it was not fast but a great grocery getter. Fell in love with it! Bought it in 2005 the first year it was avail. Got a chance to get an SS last Nov.
Found a 2010SS m/t with 24k on it bone stock, no mods. Looking forward to
a trifecta tune . Already did the rear sway bar. With this car all I want is
more H.P. This kind of car brings out the gear head in ya. I guess more might not be enough as he has said, but it sure is fun trying. I have a friend
here at work who has an older EVO. pushing over 600H.P. It's still not enough for him. So there you go. Loving this car for what it is. As long as I'm having fun its all good!
Yes it was not fast but a great grocery getter. Fell in love with it! Bought it in 2005 the first year it was avail. Got a chance to get an SS last Nov.
Found a 2010SS m/t with 24k on it bone stock, no mods. Looking forward to
a trifecta tune . Already did the rear sway bar. With this car all I want is
more H.P. This kind of car brings out the gear head in ya. I guess more might not be enough as he has said, but it sure is fun trying. I have a friend
here at work who has an older EVO. pushing over 600H.P. It's still not enough for him. So there you go. Loving this car for what it is. As long as I'm having fun its all good!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 12-04-2009
Posts: 463
From: Port St Lucie, Florida
I would have to agree with the first post. I had a 06 HHR 2lt with the 2.4L.
Yes it was not fast but a great grocery getter. Fell in love with it! Bought it in 2005 the first year it was avail. Got a chance to get an SS last Nov.
Found a 2010SS m/t with 24k on it bone stock, no mods. Looking forward to
a trifecta tune . Already did the rear sway bar. With this car all I want is
more H.P. This kind of car brings out the gear head in ya. I guess more might not be enough as he has said, but it sure is fun trying. I have a friend
here at work who has an older EVO. pushing over 600H.P. It's still not enough for him. So there you go. Loving this car for what it is. As long as I'm having fun its all good!
Yes it was not fast but a great grocery getter. Fell in love with it! Bought it in 2005 the first year it was avail. Got a chance to get an SS last Nov.
Found a 2010SS m/t with 24k on it bone stock, no mods. Looking forward to
a trifecta tune . Already did the rear sway bar. With this car all I want is
more H.P. This kind of car brings out the gear head in ya. I guess more might not be enough as he has said, but it sure is fun trying. I have a friend
here at work who has an older EVO. pushing over 600H.P. It's still not enough for him. So there you go. Loving this car for what it is. As long as I'm having fun its all good!
Senior Member
Joined: 02-19-2010
Posts: 1,529
From: Buffalo ny
I feel like history is repeating itself...I think a lot of these fast factory cars are going to die down like they did with the smog years cars. My buddies 86 firebird has a stock 305 and it is as slow as a glacier compared to some 5.0 liters today. Gas prices and the government have a lot to do with how much power cars are manufactured with. Although I think turbochargers are here to stay for economy, and the small turbo diesel cars are gonna be the new high effieciency idea...the cruze diesel gets some pretty good mileage, better than some hybrids