What do you hate about your HHR SS the most?
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Actually, GM said that the six speed that they testing in the concept was slower than the 5 speed, which is why they kept it out.
Not that many cars have 19 inch wheels. It is an uncommon size from the factory which inflates the tire prices for that size wheel. The Pontiac G8 had 19's stock and my buddy found that out when he did some research and spoke to a few tire dealers. I think the 18s are a good size, the HHR just sits a bit high. I've seen pics of it with a full petter's suspension on it and running lower and it looks really mean.
Not that many cars have 19 inch wheels. It is an uncommon size from the factory which inflates the tire prices for that size wheel. The Pontiac G8 had 19's stock and my buddy found that out when he did some research and spoke to a few tire dealers. I think the 18s are a good size, the HHR just sits a bit high. I've seen pics of it with a full petter's suspension on it and running lower and it looks really mean.
The truth is the 6 speed work really well but GM had little money to really do it right. The six speed in the HHR would not fit and to make it fit would mean they would have had to redo the body and pan. This would have cost a ton of money as DOT would have made them recrash test the car since the structure was redone. This would have cost a lot of money GM just did not have in 06-08.
The Solstice a six speed was not used due to the fact they were using a lot of off the shelf parts including the transmission and rear axle. They were doing all they could to keep cost down. Note the fog light turn signals in the front are Grand Prix units and the rear reflectors and back up lights are GMC Envoy.
The 2.0 Turbo post Chapter 11 in the Regal and all future cars will carry a 6 speed or better.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-06-2010
Posts: 3,777
From: Pottstown, PA
What Chome? Only the tail pipe is polished stainless and the wheels are polished Aluminum. What Chrome am I not thinking of?
The paint issues are because of the Eviromentalist and the EPA. GM uses what they are allowed to use with the new rules. All new cars today have a water based enamel paint that is hard and likes to chip.
It also does not help with the shape and styling of the nose on the HHR. A lot of exposed frontal paint.
The paint issues are because of the Eviromentalist and the EPA. GM uses what they are allowed to use with the new rules. All new cars today have a water based enamel paint that is hard and likes to chip.
It also does not help with the shape and styling of the nose on the HHR. A lot of exposed frontal paint.
The tip and rim are chrome plated from what the dealership told me. The tip is not polished stainless if you scrub it hard enough theme coating will come off. It's what happened to mine when the dealership tried to clean mine.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
As for the exhaust tip, mine is stainless and I just clean it with fine steel wool. It never rust and I just mostly use the steel wool on the black crap on the inside.
Chome tips on tail pipes seldom last long and since the entire system is stainless there is little chance they would put a cheap chrome tip on a stainless system.
I think the dealership was not being honest with you here. I think they must have screwed up some way and just told you it was chrome.
A dishonest dealer. I am shocked.....Not!
Senior Member
Joined: 02-22-2011
Posts: 119
From: dunnville ont canada
i hate the fact that i dont have one. 2008 hhr LS. i recently took a friends vw jetta with 1.8l turbo(190 hp?) for a drive. its pretty cool when u put your foot into it, then the turbo spools up. suprise. he said its dangerous for the pocket book and the licence to drive like that. im sure hhr ss is even more awesome to drive(more ponys)
Senior Member
Joined: 11-15-2008
Posts: 1,599
From: Newburgh, NY
When I saw the HHR "Rubbermaid" interior, I figured, this is for us! Hard surfaces; Easy to wash; just wipes off; Bottom line, to each their own.
But oddly enough, Americans seem to be predujice against products that keep America in business. For instance, gotta wonder why Americans praise the Honda Element interior for what it is (hard plastic for utility purposes), but hate the HHR interior because it's "hard plastic" (because it's not a Mercedes), meanwhile, both serve the same purpose.
