My dealer (www.thoroughbredchevrolet.com) had one in stock, and I bought it New Year's day :)

See photo in signature:

 

Nice!

 

I went to a dealer to purchase my 2LT with the standard rear quarter panel and ended up driving home this beauty instead. It just spoke to me so much more.

 

I took a little tour around the dealership as they were fixing the recall on My HHR. These models looked nice. I could see where if you are going to do some detailing This would make it alot better, Plus I hardly ever look out the back windows on mine anyway. This would give you a little more privacy back there as well as far as hauling stuff. I will consider this model when I get another HHR in a couple of years. Got to wear the one I have out first.

 

That's pretty cool & I'm kinda wishing I knew about it before I bought mine; still, I like my Panel.

I'm sympathising with everyone who's concerned about the blind spot - it's HUGE!

I just completed my first "customization" on my Panel - I went to one of those car audio dealers & had them install a "back-up camera".

The tiny little camera is mounted under the silver piece that hides the rear door latch on the passenger side of the license plate. I turned it a bit toward the passenger side so it's showing me what I'm not seeing thru that solid rear quarter.

The monitor is on the inside rear wall right behind the passenger side rear door. In effect, when I shift to reverse the power for the camera and monitor come on. I turn to look over my right shoulder just like I always have. I can see straight behind thru the back window and straight to the right thru the pasenger side window (& the fish eye mirror I added) and the space in between is revealed by the monitor positioned where a rear/side window would have been.

Total cost: $270

My bichy, cry-baby complaints about this system are as follows:

First, it's a cheap***** camera - the picture is heavily tinted greenish no matter how I adjust the monitor's picture. When the morning sun is shining DIRECTLY on it there's virtually no picture at all. All in all, the picture is best at night, when I really need it the most anyway.

Second, the mount bracket for the monitor was useless - all hinges & pivots and adjustable. The first time I hit a bump the monitor flopped downward and had to be lifted up before I could use it again. I cut out a piece of aluminum sheet & made a much better bracket for it.

Third, the monitor requires me to hit a "Power" button before it comes on. The whole thing is wired in to have it's power supply switched on by the reverse light but I still have to push the power button before the monitor actually "picture's up." Certainly, I don't want it on all the time, but would prefer to not have to punch the button every time. The good news is that it has a remote so I don't have to actually reach the monitor.

Just the same, I haven't backed over any small children, tricycles or baby strollers yet, so it's better than nothing. I guess you could say it paid for itself the first time I powered up the monitor and saw an old woman waddling thru the parking lot's traffic lane in my blind spot.

Do overs: I would go ahead and pay 3 or 4 times as much for a more sophisticated system with a better camera and a monitor that comes on instantly, but what I have is not bad enough to toss out.

Randy
Houston

 

I just bought my AA5 on Sunday 05/04/08 It is Victory Red and it is a beauty. Love I had been contemplating and HHR for quite sometime. I wanted to be different and since there are not many of these at the dealers I am different. I was also worried about the blind spots if any but the side mirrors are big enough that that missing back windo is no problem. Love it Love it Love it.

Kris

 

Kirs... we're twins I do believe... but you're on the other side of the country so I think we're okay.

 

yes we are except I have already changed out my grill if you go to the regional page for my area I think South Pacific and the the Uma Found a friend you will see pics I haven't upgraded to premium yet so my friend put some pics on. Check it out

Kris

 

Not being an HHR owner yet, I plan on having an '09 SS built to my specifications , with the solid rear quarter panel. It would be nice if they could install the back-up camera at the factory though .

 

I got my HHR in June in Newmarket, Ontario, and I was unaware of the solid rear quarter panel option. The salesman, who was also ignorant of this creature, just ordered me an HHR and this is what I got. He had no idea this was available. I was happy, especially considering I am using it for business and will be putting graphics on it.

The funny thing is I have not seen another one like it. I have seen over a hundred HHRs up here, and not a single one is an AA5. I get looks from other drivers who have never seen one either.



for some reason my photo is not showing up, so here is the link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7594708@N03/2732504287/