Hi everyone. I can already tell this is a terrific forum. I'm not an HHR owner yet. I currently drive a 2004 MINI Cooper S. But I'm looking for a better long distance cruiser. The MINI is fun for around town, but I find myself having to travel 300-500 miles a couple of times a month and I'm getting old enough that after about 3-4 hours in a MINI I've had enough fun! Logically, I should be looking for a small sedan, but I'd like something with good highway gas mileage that isn't your generic econobox. The HHR seems to have some real character, as well as having more room for all my stuff when traveling. Any comments about the HHR as a travel machine would be welcome.

Anyway, thanks very much for letting me explore and learn on your great site.

 

to the forum 2ndHalfCor!

HHR's make excellent long distance cruisers, I have a back which was broken in 2006 and the seats in an HHR are the only thing I can stand for trips longer than an hour.

With 236,135 miles spread over the three HHR's we have, I can tell you they make excellent travel vehicles with very nice highway mileage averaging 35mpg.

Plus I've racked up over 100,000 miles on rental HHR's from Enterprise over the years, and as long as they remain in their fleet, that's all I'll rent.

 

I've made plenty of 4-5 hr trips in the HHR, it's great for highway use. Plenty of storage for long weekends. If we are planning a week or so, it's not quite big enough for 3 of us with luggage and stuff.

 

I love mine and it has two SS's. You wont miss your mini's performance if you go SS. Big fun to drive, and you feel like your sitting in a kitchen chair, very easy to get in and out of.

 

I've made those length trips in mine. Plenty fine. Thought, if you have a MINI s I would recommend finding an HHR SS.. Plenty of scoot, and all the same fuel economy with more fun. ;-)

 

Hmm. That's the second suggestion for an SS. I haven't seen any for sale in my area. I'm going to have to look for one. Thanks.

 

There is not going to be much comfort difference in long drives with the HHR compared to your Mini. You might actually be taking a step backwards.

Also, you might feel more pull from the HHR SS, than with your Mini but you are not going to be happy with your handling loss.

I don't know how many people on here have actually driven a Cooper S, but I think they would be shocked at how much of a car it actually is.

With the HHR, I think the ONLY thing you will like better is the storage and maybe the looks

 

We used to have a 2002 Mini S w/6 speed. Wife's car that she put 90k miles on before it was rear ended and totaled. Now we have a 2010 HHR SS w/ 5 speed. The SS has a lot more get up and go. The Mini S was 172hp. The SS is 260hp stock.
Comfort. Wife says the Mini was more comfortable to her. The SS also has a harsher overall ride than the Mini did.
Took a few trips in the Mini(her driving). Done a few trips in the SS(me driving). I would give the better ride to the Mini S, but for storage, the SS wins hands down.

 

My 06 is a daily driver in which I have driven from Florida to Maine. The car is comfortable as an easy cruiser, running 65-70 and getting 30+ mpg. I've made many 10-12 hour drives with no issues.

 

Check out wwwdotcarsdotcom for one.