Detroit Free Press: HHR car of the year
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Joined: 08-21-2005
Posts: 1,207
From: NE OH
Detroit Free Press: HHR car of the year
<img src="https://www.chevyhhr.net/news/hhr9.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="5">The Detroit Free Press is out with their car and truck of the year, and with one word to explicate exactly how they came to their decision: Value. Yes, bang for the buck is how they decided this years best of the best, with the Chevy HHR coming in at $15,425 and the Ford Explorer coming in at $26,530.
But whereas the Chevy HHR, the "Heritage High Roof" is ground breaking in its "arresting looks"(i.e. like a PT Cruiser), the Explorer played it safe with some pretty standard looks...but with some significantly better numbers in fuel economy and power. Ford made the right move in concentrating on fixing the problems of earlier model years, and it shows.
source: http://raywert.blogspot.com/2005/12/...roit-free.html
But whereas the Chevy HHR, the "Heritage High Roof" is ground breaking in its "arresting looks"(i.e. like a PT Cruiser), the Explorer played it safe with some pretty standard looks...but with some significantly better numbers in fuel economy and power. Ford made the right move in concentrating on fixing the problems of earlier model years, and it shows.
source: http://raywert.blogspot.com/2005/12/...roit-free.html
Senior Member
Joined: 09-23-2005
Posts: 4,466
From: Staten Island, NY
The Ford Explorer needs more gas, has less MPG, the look of the expolorer has not changed much over the years. Expect for different headlights, taillights, and a front and rear bumper. The hhr is a retro look and smaller. Plus less the price. GO HHR.
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Joined: 10-14-2005
Posts: 9,121
From: Rochester,N.Y.
Originally Posted by SIHHR
The Ford Explorer needs more gas, has less MPG, the look of the expolorer has not changed much over the years. Expect for different headlights, taillights, and a front and rear bumper. The hhr is a retro look and smaller. Plus less the price. GO HHR.
Explorer won truck of the year and the HHR got car of the year. 
Which is weird in its own right because my HHR is registered and insured as a light truck!
Senior Member
Joined: 10-26-2005
Posts: 630
From: Michigan
Mike Phelan isn't my favorite writer here in Detroit, but I give him credit, he admitted he was wrong when he blasted the HHR at the NAAS last year! Nice to see that we owners make are own decisions and don't believe everything you read in the papers! Slow day at work so I am headed to the dealer to snap some shots of that SBOMII 2LT with the flames! Yesterday was nutz!
Fenris.
Fenris.
Senior Member
Joined: 09-23-2005
Posts: 4,466
From: Staten Island, NY
Originally Posted by captain howdy
They are not comparing the two. Explorer won truck of the year and the HHR got car of the year. Which is weird in its own right because my HHR is registered and insured as a light truck!
Explorer won truck of the year and the HHR got car of the year. Which is weird in its own right because my HHR is registered and insured as a light truck! 
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2006
Posts: 1,059
From: Tucson, AZ
Light Truck?
For some reason my HHR in Tucson, AZ is reg'd and insured as a Van! And the local hand car wash here charges me a dollar more for having a SUV. But my parent's have a '05 Nissan Qwest and don't get charged! Whats the deal? Do people not know what to call these things? 
Jason
Jason
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Joined: 10-02-2005
Posts: 1,245
From: VA
Not having my HHR yet (2 weeks overdue... another story!), I find the question from many not familiar with the HHR of what it is hard to answer. Typically I'll answer that it's a small wagon or SUV or mini-mini van, with retro styling kinda like the PT.
Unfortunately, since vehicles today are so diverse it's hard to define.
The best classification I've seen is "compact crossover", which seems the most accurate. But tell that to the average friend and they'll ask "What's that?".
Unfortunately, since vehicles today are so diverse it's hard to define.
The best classification I've seen is "compact crossover", which seems the most accurate. But tell that to the average friend and they'll ask "What's that?".