I personally would never want a Kia or a Hyundai, but to each their own. I think the new Sportage is extremely ugly, and I think Kia's and Hyundai's are rapidly getting even uglier as time goes on.

 

Was pretty peppy when I drove it.......lots of torque. But again.....I am not looking for performance anymore......The SS is fast and I love that but I am looking for more comfort and AWD is a huge plus here in the Northeast. I have drove nothing but GM cars for the last 26 years......but after having many with issues (most not with issues), I feel its time for a change. What I need right now is a heavily optioned ,AWD car that I commute with and throw my amp and guitars in on the weekend for shows......The Juke is priced right for what I want. The SS....at a much,much higher price just does not offer the options the Juke does. Again, love GM products and am not knocking the SS by any means.

 

I will warn you that Hyundai and Kia have their issues.

A buddy work in a large Hyundai dealership. The stories he has told me about the cars. They are cheaper for a reason.

Let put it this way even with the company discount he bought a HHR.

Rust issues in sub frames fixed with a hammer and spray wax. Sway bars breaking off new Sonnata's, Failed door handels, Brake calipers in the northern states that freeze up at 15,000 miles and more.

Hyundai has come a long way from where they were and should continue to improve along with Kia. But they are still behind most other MFG and have a large warranty to cover thier butts.

I have kinda of pulled for them as they are a great threat to Honda and Toyotas mediocrity and high prices.

I know GM has thier own isused buy in many way they have much better engines, transmissions and now the rest is being addressed with the post Chapter 11 cars.

I also have many co workers who bought Hyundai's due to the low montly payment. They say for what they spent they can't complain but most have offed their cars by 65,000 miles due to repairs that were $$$$ and not covered by the warranty. Many have gone back to GM or Ford.

As for the Juke It may be a good car mechanically but the Stevie Wonder Styling will kill this car. I have seen on many web sites termed even worse in styling to the Aztek.
If anyone wants to buy one wait and let the prices come down. They should have some good discounts on these by spring. Just don't expect much in resale like the Aztek.

I am not sure what you want to spend but I would look at a Equinox, Terrain or Edge.

For just over $20K the base Nox is very well equiped and the 2.4 powers it very well. I spent a week in one that was stickered at 23K and never felt I was in a base model car. It was quiet and solid. GM has had very little issue with them since the very first ones had a heater control issue.

I know you can load up a Nox fast but check out what all you get in the base model and it is far from stripped.

 

Since you want a different car, that's ok, but I don't really get the problems with buying another SS.

Heck I bought my 2008 SS slightly used a year ago, low miles, out the door, including taxes for 18k even.

Yea I've had my issues with the turbo upgrade, but overall I can't find anything short of $30,000 that comes close.

In fact my wife has a Infiniti FX and a Trailblazer SS and she's drives the HRR SS every chance she gets . . . and she's 6ft tall and doesn't have a problem seeing out.

I'm not pushing Chevy, actually I kind of think Chevy has missed it with not offering an newer version of the HHR SS, but when you look around, especially at used, the difference between $18,000 and $27,000 is a lot.

 

If mileage isn't too much an issue (59,000) my Ex-SS in my signature is for sale for 14,000 at the dealer.

A car that is interesting is the new Nissan Juke. It's little bit smaller than the HHR and less Hp (170 something) than the SS. But it seems like they used the HHR SS as a design roadmap and it even has AWD. The looks are very questionable but I wouldn't mind just a test drive

 

I drove one.......check my post above. Car drives awesome. Fit and finish was great.Metallic paint is really,really nice on the ones I saw. Its not SS fast obviously and it is not a performance car......but it is MUCH,MUCH more/better optioned than an SS and can have AWD.......for less money.
Just think about the awful plain plastic ugly interior GM gave us. I mean the SS is fast and looks cool....but lets face it, you dont get a lot of creature comforts and options with an SS. Fun factor is 10....But as far as options....4-5......the SS is really overpriced for what you get.We have a 2010 Crystal red metallic one still sitting on our new car lot for the last 4 months for $29,132!!! That is INSANE! The Juke is a bit odd looking,yes, but a lot of people say the HHR'S are wierd looking too.

 

I am glad you like the Juke and that is all that matters. But I do not kid that you are the first I have seen of many that had a kind word for the styling.

I really so expect it to see discounting due to the styling so if you can hang on till late winter or spring you may get a good discount.

With the HHR people either loved it or hated it. So far on non GM web sites I have yet to see a positive comment on the styling. A couple did like the engine and how it drove.

 

It's obvious that whoever appreciates the style of an HHR looks at the automotive world in a unique light. We'd rather be different than blend in. Some like to blend in with the automotive landscape and some do not. It's all about who you are, but neither is good or bad, just personal preference.

 

Exactly why I liked my HHR's styling. Not too many people loved the styling but I have a tendency to like things others dont. Theres a million civics and accords on the road but not many HHR/SS. I LOVE it when some young kid rolls up on me on a parkway with a civic si trying to figure out what I am driving and then I show him what 22+ lbs of boost looks like......
Not hating on the SS, just need more for my money and thats the bottom line.

 

I wouldn't say your getting "more", your just getting the "money applied for build" placed in a different area. To build the HHR SS, forged internals were used, suspension, rims and tires for performance, etc....to reliably produced the "go" factor with a warranty. I would need to read up on the engines in the vehicles your looking at, but the fact they are half the HP/TQ to move a heavy vehicle, tells me they used normal materials and put the money in gadgets and comfort. They are not "squeezing" power out of an engine for you in those vehicles mentioned.

Please remember the below after purchase and enjoy your comfort: