tell that to these guys...
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...Trucks&id=1501

 

Funny thing, no where in the GM Powertrain guide does it mention anything about 235 hp, only 250hp, (and thats what both hp and torque curves are based on), and I also can't find anything about 1st and 2nd gear power being different from 3rd and 4th. Where is that written?
Everywhere in the dealer specs, early press intro, and the present dealer ordering guide, it DOES mention 235 hp for the auto. So is this something they did after the Powertrain info was released, dial the power back?
Oh, there is one place that the GM Powertrain guide does mention 221 lb-ft torque: the max engine torque rating of the 4T45 transaxle used in the HHR SS.
So I believe the magazine road testers (every article I've read mentions it) report that there is a very noticable performance difference between the stick and auto. Thats their words, not mine.

Automobile Magazine:
To get the full corral of ponies, you need to get the manual transmission; the engine in the automatic-equipped car is detuned to 235 horsepower, in deference to the four-speed automatic's fragility. As a further enticement to shift for yourself, Chevrolet has shortened the manual's shift throws and moved the shifter both forward and up, so it's not such a far reach. Unfortunately, the shift action is pretty notchy.

Chevrolet quotes 0-to-60-mph times of 6.3 seconds for the manual and 7.5 for the automatic, but the gulf between them feels greater. Whereas the 235-hp car feels responsive - nothing more - the stick-shift SS is fast; the car doesn't shoot out of the hole, but its acceleration swells as if on a wave. Stay with it, and it will carry you all the way to 150 mph.