Hey guys, just joined the boards.

Today I found out my friend has owned an HHR SS for 3 weeks now, so needless to say I stopped by afterwork... Upon pulling in the drive way and getting out of my truck I was tossed the keys right away

I fell in LOVE with the way this car drives! I just had a 2004 Cavailer LS Sport, which I enjoyed for my daily driver. (in my sig you can see I basically have zero cars to drive this winter in Ohio)

Needless to say, I'm plotting on how to get one of these. My friend searched for his car within a 300 mile radius, the 2008's are basically gone....so looks like a 2009 for me.

I get GMS, but so does everybody for the time being.

So here are my questions before I fall too hard in love
1) What should I expect to pay? I have some pull with a dealership owner, but that doesn't mean the salesman will try and make a buck. What price would be a steal for a 2009 HHRSS, 5spd, basic options?

2) How do these cars perform in the snow? I was told "bad" by someone who owns a plain jane HHR. And after seeing the nice Chrome wheels, are you guys buying spare rims and snow tires?

3) The car I drove had a plug in performance upgrade from a company (started with H). He basically paid $1000 for it, and now his car runs up to about 24-25psi. I MUST have something similar...but HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE WARRANTY?

I can get HP Tuners, but I was told GM now has a way that whether I switch in the factory tune with HP Tuners, or this "plug and play" unit, they can still tell.....truth??



Basically since this is a DD, I want the extra performance without loosing my warranty. I doubt the warranty will cover the first clutch that gets worn out either


Sorry for all of the questions but I'd like some straight answers before I hit the dealership lot.

Any and all advice is welcomed!

 

fellow Ohioan! I like your choice of music & cars! I have a "regular" HHR, so I can't answer any of your SS questions, but there are plenty here that can! Good luck with your purchase.

 

I think I can sum up what you want to know, and other members can correct or adjust where i get off base. First, I have owned a 5-speed SS since March 31st. It's the best vehicle for the money in my opinion.

All tunes have been discused and the "TRUTH" is that you will have no warranty if things get to that level of detail in a dispute with a dealer or GM. They know. They know. They are probably reading everything here. So the question is if you have a problem and they figure out that you have been tuned (they can regadless of what you do to "hide"), can you PROVE that th tune did not cause the problem at hand. You probably don't have the money to fight this battle (or you'd be on a ferrari forum) nor the time. The have unlimited of both.

So don't blow up your SS, or be prepared to fight....or pay..or both.

No one I have seen has mentioned a problem yet, however I doubt that any SS has more than 50,000 miles , let alone 100,000. I have just under 10,000 and I have not had a single notable issue. I plan to get a tune and all the goodies (big ic, exhaust-downpipe, cai, swaybar, bov) and I plan to drive in a fashion where i don' t punish my car. I don't care about the warranty once I get a tune. I take responsibility for my actions. Sure i'l try to fight them, but in the end it's a choice. They didn't "warrant" 300hp, so don't expect them to.

I managed to survive 8 winters with a s10 4cyl, shortbed that weighs less than a panel-base-hhr, no weight in the back and the zq8 16X8 rims and tire/suspension package. Nothing is worse in the winter. I did okay, I highly doubt the hhr or SS will be worse. You can easily keep out of the boost with a careful foot, and with a manual (highly reccomended) just getter goin in 2nd. So unless you don't try, you get along fine....I grew up in the area of ohio that ALWAYS get the most snow...sometimes 90-120 inches a year. Anyone who has driven in the snow chime in please.

Don't pay more than sticker...that is pure madness....most get gms pricing (i did because my father is a retiree and I used to work for them too :) )...if not I think I paid 25125 with all options, then gms so 23165, then an additional $1000 because they were offering it on all regular cars (not specialty vehicles like the SS)..so $22,165??? Let me no if prices on 09 have changed that much those who have them on order.


I think everyone here will say you be happy regardless :)

 

Hi - and welcome to another Ohioan!

We got our first HHR (2LT) in Feb, and had it during the Nor'easter that hit towards the end of Winter, and it did just fine on whatever tires it came with.
I did insist on ABS though - just because of the snow.

Tomorrow we are hoping to pick up an SS to complement it - I did a dealer search on Wednesday and found a VR SS 5spd in Youngstown that my dealer is retrieving.
We had given up on getting an '08 and had an '09 on order - this '08 is $22,600 and the '09 is $24,300. The '09 would have had LSD - the '08 does not - but I was willing to give it up for $1700 in savings.

These are GMS prices since my Dad just retired after 51 years at the Parma plant...


As of Wednesday, the search did turn up a couple additional SS's - so there are some left in Ohio. I was lucky to find the color I wanted - VR - to match the 2LT we already have.

Good luck on your search!

Jim

 

Thanks guys, glad to hear the info.

Jim - Can you PM me some of the VR SS's that you found? I want to get the LSD option to take advantage of the power.


I know the dealership only has the right to not warranty work if its related to the tune. But my concern is the drivetrain once it gets bumped to 24psi. I can cover a clutch, but if the trans or axles snap, I don't want to run into a warranty arguement. :/

 

In st louis mo Don Brown Chev has a blk one brand new ask for Craig

good price on it too

 

free shipping?

 

Fly in and drive it home. It will be a fun trip back :)

 

I got my SS from Ohio. I found it as a dealer car. It belonged to a GM exec and then was driven by the owner of the dealership before I got it. The trip back was definitely a good time. :)

 

Welcome To The Site & Good Luck In Your Search For An Ss !!