You obviously need a more powerful sound system BOOM*BOOM Try Crutchfield, they have great stuff!

 

Got it back from the dealership, and they inserted some foam in the headliner which fixed the noise on the passenger side, but not the driver's side. Also, the dash rattle is part of a TSB and they need to order a new part for the dash storage bin, so I'll be bringing it back for that. The mirror whistle is still there although they added a shim somewhere, but it obviously didn't help. I think I'll just apply some clear silicone to the top edge of the mirror, that seems to be where the noise is coming from.

The tranny/differential clunk and grind sounds more serious, but maybe it's totally normal. I'll have to find another 5-speed HHR SS in town to compare it to - unfortunately, my local dealer has only sold 3 so far this year!

Despite a few noises, I do love driving my SS, and sometimes still laugh out loud when I punch the throttle in second gear and blast through 3rd - it's the little red wagon that could

 

Turn your radio up.

 

I actually prefer listening to the engine, if only the darn rattles wouldn't interfere

 

The car is made of plastic. Thats going to happen. Also, it has a sport suppension, so your going to have rattles with a rougher ride.

 

I've had 5 new cars now, the HHR being the fifth.

Subaru 2.5RS - no rattles, no drivetrain clunks
Subaru WRX - no rattles, no drivetrain clunks
Nissan Sentra SE-R - minor intermittent rattles, no drivetrain clunks
Ford Focus ZX5 - a bunch of frequent rattles, squeaky brakes, and a clunk in the steering that was never tracked down
Chevy HHR SS - a bunch of frequent rattles and tranny clunk

I love driving my HHR, but the build quality does not seem to be as good as the 3 Japanese cars I owned. The Subarus, in particular, were assembled in Japan and were rock-solid. Just because a car has a plastic interior, doesn't mean it has to rattle. Apparently GM agrees because they're fixing all my rattles under warranty.

Still, the HHR SS is my favorite car of the bunch, I love the engine, suspension, styling, and practicality. But for $30,000 (CDN), I want something that doesn't rattle all of the time. I don't mind the odd creak and rattle now and then on rough pavement - but my HHR rattles over every single little ripple in the road, and that shouldn't be acceptable in any new car.

 

I see a pattern developing...........I bet on the 1st three, the doors sounded a lot more solid when you closed them too! You're typical American made "model kit" interior.

 

The HHR actually sounds really solid when you close the doors, the best of all the cars I've had. The Subarus had frameless glass and sounded really hollow when you closed the doors.

There's really not much of a pattern - but it is obviously possible to build an inexpensive car without constant rattles, squeaks, and clunks. It's not that much to ask