I may need clarification.

The '08 I looked at had 19# at idle and dropped significantly at acceleration and full throttle.

I have zero turbo experience, but I thought the boost goes up under acceleration .

Please clarify what I should be looking at when increasing from idle to higher revs.

Thanks.

 

That gauge you're looking at is a boost/vacuum gauge. There's no boost at idle, but there's vacuum. That must've been vacuum that you were seeing. There's a zero point on the gauge. Anything below it is vacuum, anything above it is boost. I think the boost should go to somewhere between 15-20lb on full throttle acceleration.

I just bought a Red 2008 SS manual, last month, with 104k on it for $7200. Mine is totally stock and looks like new inside and out. It came with a clean Carfax, only showing oil changes and yearly registrations.

Mine had an annoying front suspension rattle which turned out to be the front sway bar end links. This seems to be a very common HHR problem, but there are higher quality aftermarket replacements and they are cheap and easy to replace.

Hope this helps!

 

I picked up my silver SS in January. 09 with 54k on it for $13k out the door. I drove to Tampa to get it.

 

I went to Auction Direct in Western New York to see what I could get on a trade for my spotless '08 Dark Metallic Blue with a 5 speed and 54K. They offered me $8101 and generally thought that was a good and reasonable offer. Kelly Blue book says 10-11K I politely thanked them and walked out the door. If they'd have said 10-11, I might have considered it but no thanks. Ideally I'd like to sell both the Jeep and HHr and buy a JK 4 door Wrangler. Doesn't make sense to have two cars with a 2 mile commute to work. The dealer said they'd have listed it for 10.5K

 

Paid $13.5k for mine, 2009, silver, 47k, one owner, w/gm tune, 5 speed, all options, clean Carfax with window sticker
.