I'll make my first intro post a question... I know you are all biased towards the SS, but it's nice to hear opinions from the drivers.

I'm considering a New/Used HHR SS. I currently drive an 05' MINI cooper S and absolutely love driving that car. I don't like to keep cars past warranty, so typically, I'll buy cars that have historically good resale and sell after 3-4 years when the warranty is up. I've been shopping around for about 6 months now as my MINI's warranty is up at the end of May. But that's not the biggest reason for needing a new car, the biggest reason is that I've got another kiddo on the way in June and I need seats for 5.

I want a corner carver, I like gads of power, but I really get my thrills on back woods twisty roads. I used to AutoX in my earlier years (Civic Si, WRX Wagon and Toyota MR2 Spyder were my weapons of choice at the time).

Things I'll miss about my MINI:
-MINI Rallys, I went to at least 3 a year and they were phenomenal. So many good times, friends and roads.
-Great handling
-Sweet sounding engine that pulled all the way through the RPM range.
-Head turning looks

My requirements:
-Wagon
-Manual Trans
-Excellent Handling
-Decent Gas mileage (better than my wifes Van - 24mpg)
-Enough power to pull you out of a turn and get you to highway speed on short on-ramps
-Local dealers (tired of taking vacations days to go to the nearest MINI dealer for major repairs)

Cars I'm considering:
-Subaru WRX Wagon
-2010 Mazdaspeed3
-Dodge Caliber SRT4
-HHR SS

Bear in mind, I have a Minivan and a Jeep wrangler, so I don't really need the AWD of the Subaru, it's just nice when you hit a patch of gravel mid turn in the middle of nowhere. I also don't need the added room of the HHR because I have the Van for big road trips. This vehicle will be the car I drive to commute or when the weather is nice and I want to take the back way to visit family.

I recently added the HHR to my list when I got a chance to test drive a Cobalt SS and suddenly realized they made the HHR SS. I then went to a dealership who is willing to place a new on on order for me, long story short, MSRP $27780, My price $24100. But he has one exactly as I want it used on the lot, 7800 miles, GM exec car, he's offering it to me for $21,100, on top of that for either one he's offering me about $2500 more than anyone else for my trade, so you can take $2500 off of those prices. What do you think of the deals, should I go for the used one? Order a new one and risk that they halt building them (plant shutdown rumors) just as I place my order?

 

7800 miles. is barely used. I would go for it...as far as Mini-meets. You will like HHr people too! Good luck, Todd (Uma)

 

The best advice i could give you is to ask your dealer to let you test drive the SS. Then you'll have a good idea of the vehicle.

The SS is powerful, and handles very well. It's a unique lil truck IMHO. As for the deal, I dunno. I'm in Canada and the prices are not the same as the prices in the U.S.

I bought a brand new 2008 HHR SS in march 2009, and got it at $7500.00 below sticker price.

 

i recommend the subaru, then the mazda for someone who is a speed snob...

the SS seems nice to me, and its actually faster than i want (just test drove one, i had no intention of buying it) and would be my choice in the category.

but it doesnt handle like a bullet train, the subaru does, and the mazdaspeed 3 is a lil monster in the right hands!

 

my opinion on the list of vehicles (yeah, it will seem biased, but i'm being honest).
-WRX - great cars, i personally love them, thought about buying one, but a bit too pricey for me, and i liked the uniqueness of the HHR. not a bad choice though, will out-launch the rest thanks to AWD.

-Mazda - ungodly torquesteer (new one has identical drivetrain as outgoing model). if you can control it, they can be darn quick. i personally can't stand this new grinning toddler front end Mazda is throwing on all their cars.

-SRT4 - not much of a looker, but has very nice seats, and a 6-spd, as opposed to the 5-spd in the WRX and HHR. torque steer is also pretty bad in these, though nothing like the Mazda. interior just looks like crap, VERY plain (except the seats) and horrid materials. interior looks like it was made for a young child by Little Tykes. i also understand they aren't the best at handling out of this pack.

-HHR SS - very nice blend of smooth power delivery and handling and various amenities. OnStar is a nice feature, very peppy, and you always have the option of the Stage 1 kit to pick up an extra 30hp and still keep the warranty. seats aren't as good as the Caliber's, but the rest of the interior is miles ahead of it, though i'd venture to say the Mazda has the nicest interior IMO.

 

If your into power, handling and want space you can't beat the WRX. We have an 06 STi and it has 40,000 miles on it with nothing but oil changes. Never seen the dealer.

I have Mazdas too and would never own a Mazda 3 for the reasons already listed.

I'd never own a SRT4 as I think it's the ugliest thing Dodge has ever built, JMHO.

As for the HHR, I don't own a SS version but I don't see it as a handling vehicle and I'm really not a fan of ther FWD in a high HP car. Again JMHO.

 

what about a GTI ?

 

I think thats too much money, I got my 08 w/2k miles for 16.5k , you need to work him down a couple more grand imoo

 

check the history to make sure it is not lemonade...i am not a " chevy person " , i did some shopping before i got the hhr..i found nothing to compare , as with power, mpg , cargo space , and most of all styling..but i have heard that subaru is fast but it don't have the cargo space , and i'll say again , definately not the styling......i'd give $21,000 for a ss , if i was sure that it had all the options i wanted...and of coarse had that much to spend...2 dealers would not bend 1 penny when i talked to them , i offered cash , so i got lucky to get a decent deal from a private owner.

 

Comments to your comments,
I've test driven them all dozens of times. I probably like the HHR the least on the exterior, but the interior is better than the Dodge. But I just cant get over how nice it handles and how great that engine is.