Well I guess this is where the NEWBIES start out...I am looking at buying an HHR panel, full or half, for my business. I have noticed some have the 2.2 and 2.4. Was wondering the actual mpg. Found a clean 1 owner half panel with a 2.4 and only 19k miles for 13k. Does this sound a fair price Dallas area and what mpg should I expect? Wanting to go old school with Red vintiques solid dish rims and whitewalls. Tried to buy the used set on the classifieds but already gone. Where will I get the best price on them? Thanks for your help.

 

Welcome to the site.

What year panel are you looking at buying for 13k. The 2.4 engine has a little more power but recommends premium fuel. You don't have to use it though. Get better mileage with premium but with the extra cost its really a wash to using regular. All the HHR's return similar mileage. I average about 27 around town if I drive easy. The 2.4 will get about the same. Remember if you are hauling lots of stuff your mileage will come down.

 

I have an 06 with a 2.4L. My average mileage is a tad over 30 mpg using 87 octane. I tried premium for a 2000 mile experiment and saw no difference in mpg. I only saw a lighter wallet as premium is at least $0.20 more per gallon. Not worth the extra $$. A tad more performance, but I use the HHR as my daily driver and not a street racer. BTW I have over 100,000 miles on it without a hitch.

 

Welcome to the site, panels are always nice.

 

Yes. Welcome.

the HHR is a good vehicle. I just hope you're not counting on towing much. the 06 at least only takes a type 1. For hauling in the vehicle, it's fairly roomy with the back seats down. MPG may vary but my 06 with 2.4l only gets 20 city and ~25 hwy. Less if I put my foot in it.

The 2.4 petrol is pretty powerful if you want to get off the line. Not race worthy, but it'll get out of the way quick, esp when auto is set to 1st gear. I drove a 2.2 hybrid once and it was a dog. Barely able to go uphill at all. Boy was I glad to get back in my own HHR

 

Check out the price guides (Edmunds,KellyBB etc.), but it sounds a little high to me. I was quoted $14995 for a new 2008 half panel in September 2008 before the 2009's came out. The 2.4 is officially rated with slightly better MPG than the 2.2, maybe because of 91 octane rec, don't know about that at all.

 

I'd have to agree, the HHR doesn't really hold it's value well. That said, you can get a really nice used one pretty cheap. As for mileage, I average 24.9 with my TURBO but the more I drive around town, the lower that gets (leadfoot) Typical for me is 21-22 around town, 25-30 hwy. Keep it under 70 and you can get 30. All loaded up to the gills with a roof rack carrier, two little kids and the wife I still get 28 on long trips if I keep it under 70. Get into the 80's you're around 22-24ish.
Knock on wood, I'm trouble free with 36K on a 4 almost 5 year old car. Rust bubbles on the inside lip of the door are about my only complaint.

Jim

 

Sounds good. I am not hauling much I do home inspections on my days off from the firestation so just a few tools and a small foldable ladder. Any ideas on cheapest place for the wheels?

 

Sorry SWERV it is an 09 with 19k miles, one owner. clean carfax.

 

My 2.4 2lt panel only gets 22-25, my tuned 300+hp SS gets 27+. I run premium in both of them.

IMHO, that's a fair price on a low production model, snatch it.