I see posts like this all the time and not just on HHR's. Sorry but I am old school and if you want more power, drop a big block in a car that can handle the power and torque. Leave the small cars alone. What good is 400 HP on a car that is the size of a mini or small size body/frame?? Increasing HP means updating transmission, rear end, brakes, steering, suspension... Sounds like it would be easier to buy a car/truck designed for what you want instead of messing up a nice smaller car.

The cost of adding a turbo or a larger C.I. motor is always 5x more than you would ever get out of it, and rarely are they done correctly (well sometimes they do it right) Then what?? you can't drive it down to the store, or afford the gas it would take. Some you can't even drive down the road withut burning a set of tires. I'd rather have a vehicle I can drive and enjoy instead of drive for an hour, work on it for 2 days. Had my share of those.
Sorry just venting.

 

Well, I think ur absolutely correct that adding a turbo to an n/a car ain't worth it. There may be exceptions, but in the case of HHR, the 2.2 won't take it without a bottom-up build, and it would be much cheaper to just buy an HHR SS, with betters results. Same is true of swapping in a Turbo motor.

Don't you beleive the car can't handle the power though. You need to drive an SS. Watta blast! And the fuel economy is just as good (when drive. the same way.)

 

Well if I feel the need to go fast, I drive the wife's Trailblazer, or my Land Rover and just drive over everything. Something about using a car for it's designed purpose I guess. I have seen many cars with modified motors, or whatever that became undrivable or too expensive to drive if something breaks. If I own it, it is gonna get driven. otherwise, just take a picture.