I've neen looking for an HHR with a stick shift, and this one keeps coming up
https://123getauto.com/2008-Chevrole...8/Details.aspx

It's an 08 with 73000 miles. I called the dealer, and the salesman says the car has "a bad turbo and intercooler," so they're selling it as is. Theyre asking $4600. I'm not much of a mechanic, so I'd have to hire someone to fix it for me. This could be a good deal on an SS that needs some work, or it could turn into a neverending series of problems.

Any reccomendations on who I should take it to to find out what it needs?

If its the turbo and intercooler, any idea what it would cost to have a shop replace it?

Are there any reccomended upgrades if they're replacing it all anyway?

Am I a fool for even considering this?

Thanks for the advice

 

"bad turbo and intercooler" sounds like somebody doesn't know what they are talking about and is too lazy to look it up.

I would go look at it and laugh at iit and offer "$2000 for the POS". Then go find the leak in the inter cooler piping (just a guess). Take it for a test drive to mechanic or a parts store to get the codes.

Since you asked, here is the labor flat rates and MSRP of parts from a few years ago

R&R intercooler 1.9 hours, $430 PART
R&R Turbo 4.3 hours, $1351 PART.

less than $3,000. I suspect much less, depends on what is really wrong.

See if there is a sticker on the gas filler that says "91 Octane REQUIRED" or "91 octane RECOMMENDED". if it says "required" (GMPP) my bet is it need some wires re soldered and moved around.

 

What donbrew says, make a lowball offer. Misdiagnosis of bad turbo is common. They see a bunch of oil in the charge piping and assume the turbo is bad. Often the oil is from the PCV system.

 

$4600 is ok if everything works correctly but for an "as is with KNOWN issues" it is about twice what it should be.
Like the veterans said, you could lowball the hell out of them AFTER driving it and getting the codes read.
On your test drive, just go to an Autozone or O'Reilly's and get them to hook you up.

I am not sure if it can show "no issues" despite the "bad turbo and IC" thing or not. The more experienced guys might.

 

If you can't do the labor yourself, not sure about taking a gamble on this one. You could be into for several thousand $ before you know it. Then you would be at the cost of a good,running used SS.
I would suggest you pass on it and leave it for someone else.

 

Ad states " Completely inspected and reconditioned, Extended Warranty Available, " - and the salesman says the turbo and intercooler are shot, and are selling it AS IS? sounds like a great place to buy a car.

 

I noticed that too... I'd stay as far away from that place as possible.

 

Stay away from that car. Not worth it. imho.

 

To add to what I stated earlier, IF you don't have a problem with throwing money at it, and you are handy with tools and are mechanically minded/experienced, AND you won't be using it as a daily driver and want a project car - $2500 -$3000 would be OK to throw into a "project car".

cough cough - but they still sound sub-standard of a sales place to me.

 

There is a cherry HHR SS for sale in Houston for 5k in top shape. Why bother with a broken one for the same price?