Coming up on a year of ownership, so far no sunroof problems

I drive back and forth from Chicago-Ohio a lot since I go to school in Ohio. Typically I'm travelling around 80 mph for a good chunk of the trip since about 90% of it is open highway. When using cruise control, or when my foot's out of the gas (harder than it sounds), my instant economy hovers around 30-32 mpg easily. Typically at the end of those trips, my DIC is showing 26-27 average mpg, without really trying. I'm sure I could get better if I had any self control hah.

Plus, when traffic's slow and I feel the need for a little visit to the left lane, I can downshift to third and the thing is just a rocket ship.

Never driven a non-LNF HHR in comparison, but to the OP, get the SS (with the stick!!!) if you can!

P.S. get the stick

 

There is a SS panel for sale in Sylvania, OH as of today for 14,700 with 68k at Dave White Chevrolet but it's an auto of course, hate autos. You can always just buy the panel kit for 600 or so and pick up one of the many SS's available.

Some SS's I've seen have low miles(30-50k) but all that are in good/very good to mint condition seem to be priced on average at about 15-16k and sometimes over 20k with an average of 50k for miles. Way too much IMO. When I was first looking for a SS I only found a few manuals but they were all 500+ miles away from my region. I found a few SS's for 12-13k with 50-60k on them but they were beaten as most used SS's are. I shopped for an SS for a good year and just couldn't find one for the right price or condition I wanted, I settled for a 06 2LT manual with 80k highway miles for 7k. I'm now in the process of adding aftermarket suspension, power upgrades ect. and am excited about it. The SS is 260 HP stock I believe so if you don't have the time or patience to actually work on a auto then the SS is a good choice being it's power ready out of the box.
As for cons that's all opinion. Price I guess. Gas mileage on all models are basically the same, from the 2.2 to the turbo-charged 2.0 it's 20 town/30 highway with 1 or 2 MPG plus or minus. It's all in the way one drives. I've done 87, 91, 93 and 100 octane in my LT and not much if any difference in mileage there either, better performance with 93 and 100 but no real MPG gains by using higher octane.

The only real con I have with what you plan on doing is financing. Other then when I was 23 and financed a Mits 3000 VR4 TT I have never done that again, I always buy cash now. Financing can be a nightmare but mostly it's just a personal thing for me, if I can't afford to buy it straight up I don't buy it(with the exception of a home or emergency medical situation). I suppose if you can get 7k or more for your 08 and only need another 7 that's not so bad. I guess not owning your auto outright is all opinion to.

If someone could of put a 08 or newer manual SS in front of me 8 months ago for 12,5 I would of bought, but I was seeing 2011 LTs with 15k on them going for 11,9 so I stepped back and rethought everything and grabbed the one I have now. But now after reading threads on this forum and speaking to people like American & Proud and HHRfreek I'm going to end up sticking 5-6k into mine anyway so go figure.
If you do get an SS grab the basic turbo power upgrade, from what I've read it's a cheap and worthy power upgrade.

Please post pics of your new ride wen you get it.

 

I have an '08 SS with 39K on the clock. I have the bottom of the doors rust issue even though it hasn't seen a winter. Other than that, tires. The Michelins are garbage, I replaced them when they were worn out last year @30K with Goodyear GT's. Awesome and awesomely expensive tire. ($900+)
My TPMS sensors suck, and I run winter tires now on a 16 inch rim. Sadly can't enjoy the fun factor on the car with them on.

I average 25 mpg. Fine for me considering I can toast most 90's era mustangs and camaros with my kids in their car seats in the back waving bye-bye. If I go easy and on the hwy, I can get close to 30.

Fun, fun car to drive that is mostly practical. My only mod is the TTR sway bar. Worth every penny and a cinch to install.
Jim

 

One thing to consider that no one has mentioned. Insurance.

You may want to check the cost on insurance before you commit to the "I gotta have an SS'.

 

haha that shouldnt be an issue for you guys in the states

 

My SS (manual) had 32,500 miles on it and it was a certified used. They had a price of $17,900 on it originally but I got it for $15,300 since it had sat on their lot for 2 months.
Just negotiate with the dealer via email or phone and, if you need financing, get it taken care of BEFORE you go to the dealer. I would NEVER use dealer financing. If you agree on a price AND get financed before you ever step foot on the dealer's lot then you have ALL the power.

 

@lgn6969, if you’re still in the market for a HHR SS please, let me know if you would like me to do a nationwide search for you.

Happy Holidays,
Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service

 

My 08 SS is almost 5 years old and has over 80K miles, and never had issues with the sunroof. Today the temps got up near 60 degrees so I opened up the sunroof....in December.....in NJ. I try to get sunroofs in all my vehicles because I enjoy them.

Using premium gas, I can get really good gas mileage in the SS, especially on the road. In combined driving I usually don't get less than 25/26 MPG.

I got an automatic because of all the travel I do for work, and my wife can't (won't) drive a stick.

 

Both my suroofs are working fine.

 

Raise the Suroof .....