Just took delivery of an '08 HHR LS 5-Speed
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Senior Member
Joined: 08-13-2010
Posts: 138
From: Memphis, TN
Thanks everybody! I plan on enjoying it.
It's really a great story. We've been looking for a 5-speed for about a month, while we waited for some money to arrive. We missed a couple of chances from CarMax, and then we almost went with a new 2010, but it was white (not our favorite) and we just couldn't justify the expense of new.
But then we found this one in Paducah, KY - about 2:30 hours away from us. Great sales guy answered all of my questions on the phone, described all of the minor imperfections, and pulled it off the lot so it wouldn't sell while we drove up on Saturday.
Imagine our disappointment when we drove it and it had a rumbling noise above 40MPH and the brakes shook the wheel on any stop above 45?
The front tires were worn on the outside edges. Needed rotation/balance/alignment/proper inflation. The rotors needed to be ground and turned. The sales guy confirmed and apologized that it should have been checked out before we made the trip. Since it was Saturday, there was no way to get it sorted that day. We really didn't want to make the trip again the following weekend (and there was the possibility that they would sell it during the week - but it had been there for a while and no one wants a 5-speed). He wanted us to put down a deposit with the promise that everything would be fixed when we came back. We said we'd risk it and just come back on Friday. While we looked over some other cars, he talked to the owner.
The new plan - we agree on a price with everything fixed. They fix everything on Monday. They haul the car the 2:30 hours to us on a flatbed. We test drive again to our satisfaction. Only then do we give them a check. We liked the idea. Agreed on a fair price (halfway between Blue Book Private Party and Retail with no doc fees) and wrote up the paperwork. Yesterday morning at 10AM they showed up. It drives like a dream. We gave them a check.
Now that is service! I could imagine a deal like that for a high dollar car/SUV, but for basicallly a Cobalt wagon? Impressive.
Anyone in the market for a used car in Paducah, KY, I can wholeheartedly (at this time at least) recommend Chip Wynn Motors. And I'll let you know if anything goes sour!
OH, and the one quirk we have noticed that didn't seem to be in our rentals (09's and 10's I imagine) - there's a pinhole light in the ceiling right next to a round plastic disc. I have no idea what this is or what it is for. Didn't see anything about it in the manual. Searches have suggested it is to light up the window switches or the shift knob, but it's kind of weird, eh?
Later,
-Joe
It's really a great story. We've been looking for a 5-speed for about a month, while we waited for some money to arrive. We missed a couple of chances from CarMax, and then we almost went with a new 2010, but it was white (not our favorite) and we just couldn't justify the expense of new.
But then we found this one in Paducah, KY - about 2:30 hours away from us. Great sales guy answered all of my questions on the phone, described all of the minor imperfections, and pulled it off the lot so it wouldn't sell while we drove up on Saturday.
Imagine our disappointment when we drove it and it had a rumbling noise above 40MPH and the brakes shook the wheel on any stop above 45?
The front tires were worn on the outside edges. Needed rotation/balance/alignment/proper inflation. The rotors needed to be ground and turned. The sales guy confirmed and apologized that it should have been checked out before we made the trip. Since it was Saturday, there was no way to get it sorted that day. We really didn't want to make the trip again the following weekend (and there was the possibility that they would sell it during the week - but it had been there for a while and no one wants a 5-speed). He wanted us to put down a deposit with the promise that everything would be fixed when we came back. We said we'd risk it and just come back on Friday. While we looked over some other cars, he talked to the owner.
The new plan - we agree on a price with everything fixed. They fix everything on Monday. They haul the car the 2:30 hours to us on a flatbed. We test drive again to our satisfaction. Only then do we give them a check. We liked the idea. Agreed on a fair price (halfway between Blue Book Private Party and Retail with no doc fees) and wrote up the paperwork. Yesterday morning at 10AM they showed up. It drives like a dream. We gave them a check.
Now that is service! I could imagine a deal like that for a high dollar car/SUV, but for basicallly a Cobalt wagon? Impressive.
Anyone in the market for a used car in Paducah, KY, I can wholeheartedly (at this time at least) recommend Chip Wynn Motors. And I'll let you know if anything goes sour!
OH, and the one quirk we have noticed that didn't seem to be in our rentals (09's and 10's I imagine) - there's a pinhole light in the ceiling right next to a round plastic disc. I have no idea what this is or what it is for. Didn't see anything about it in the manual. Searches have suggested it is to light up the window switches or the shift knob, but it's kind of weird, eh?
Later,
-Joe
Senior Member
Joined: 03-06-2010
Posts: 6,869
From: Ohio
I bought my used '07 back in March from a local "used car lot" as opposed to a GM dealer.... I believe the small guys try harder and the Dealers have given up trying at all. Of course my story isn't as cool as yours...... 
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Joe-
"OH, and the one quirk we have noticed that didn't seem to be in our rentals (09's and 10's I imagine) - there's a pinhole light in the ceiling right next to a round plastic disc. I have no idea what this is or what it is for. Didn't see anything about it in the manual. Searches have suggested it is to light up the window switches or the shift knob, but it's kind of weird, eh?"
That is an LED & it is for lighting the window switches. & the round plastic little disc is for OnStar speaker.
"OH, and the one quirk we have noticed that didn't seem to be in our rentals (09's and 10's I imagine) - there's a pinhole light in the ceiling right next to a round plastic disc. I have no idea what this is or what it is for. Didn't see anything about it in the manual. Searches have suggested it is to light up the window switches or the shift knob, but it's kind of weird, eh?"
That is an LED & it is for lighting the window switches. & the round plastic little disc is for OnStar speaker.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-13-2010
Posts: 138
From: Memphis, TN
Thanks Sleeper! I guess I just always figured the OnStar speaker was in the mirror.
Well, I found a problem, and it's all on me. I didn't notice it until I was folding the seats down last night to take the dog for a ride - no rear headrests. I should have noticed that my vision hadn't been horribly obstructed during the test drives, but I was more concerned with the mechanicals.
It's not a huge deal. We rarely have people in the back seat. But if anyone has any spare ebony rear headrests, let me know how much you want for them. :)
Well, I found a problem, and it's all on me. I didn't notice it until I was folding the seats down last night to take the dog for a ride - no rear headrests. I should have noticed that my vision hadn't been horribly obstructed during the test drives, but I was more concerned with the mechanicals.
It's not a huge deal. We rarely have people in the back seat. But if anyone has any spare ebony rear headrests, let me know how much you want for them. :)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-13-2010
Posts: 138
From: Memphis, TN
UPDATE: I notified the salesman about the headrests. He checked to make sure they weren't somewhere on the lot, and when he couldn't find them, he found a pair somewhere and ordered them. I should have them in a couple of weeks.
So, yeah, anyone in the market for a used car, check out Matt Colburn at Chip Wynn Motors in Paducah, KY.
So, yeah, anyone in the market for a used car, check out Matt Colburn at Chip Wynn Motors in Paducah, KY.
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