Plan on keeping mine for years to come. I love this car and wouldn't want to drive anything else. And to think, I wanted a Cruiser.

 

 

People that "impulse" car buy, usually dont keep them long. I researched for a while before I bought. I choose it for the style and size. As long as it treats me good, it will be around a while.

 

Love my HHR and so does my better half. Looking at getting another for her real soon.

 

Not necessarily true. I get tired of vehicles after driving them for a couple years and like to get rid of them before there are any major repairs or costs involved. So I usually dump them sometime just after the warranty expires. Then someone else can inherit the problems that come from a high mileage vehicle as I drive off in a nice new car. That's also why I only by new cars. I know the history of the vehicle being the first owner and if there are any repairs or problem it is covered under warranty and not out of pocket. I do have to admit to my HHR being a semi impulse buy though. I thought the HHR would be large enough for my me, my wife, and our three kids. It was fine at first with a rear facing car seat and a forward facing car seat but now that it's a booster seat and a forward facing seat things are a bit cramped. I guess I'm better suited to leasing vehicles but I actually got a way better deal buying the HHR than I would have got by leasing it.

 

Couple of years is not a year or less.

You always load a car they way you will need to use it before you buy. I would never try and put 3 kids in carseats or booster in the HHR.

BTW, first you disagree then you state you did....

Leasing is a way to always have a new car. But it is also the way to never have anything once you pay for it for 3 years. For the consumer, leasing is rarely a cost effective option. But dealers love to get you in one. They know you will be back.

You buy what you need to buy and what you can afford. Trading in cars every year or so can end up putting you at a negative. The first few years is when a car looses the most $$$. Especially the first year. Shortest time I have ever owned a car was 2 years, longest was 13 years. I usually have them around 5 years.

 

I said semi. I did a bunch of research on the HHR before the purchase but I did really weigh the other options because I was so drawn to the HHR. It wasn't like I just rushed into the dealership and said, "I have to have one here's my money" without researching the vehicle first. As far as loading it up first that was impossible. My second daughter wasn't even born so we didn't have a seat for her yet (we gave away the one from our first daughter) and I didn't have a booster seat at the time because my older daughter was still in a normal car seat. Also it's only two kids in car seats because my step daughter is long past the car seat stage.

Yup. I had to tack on about $2000 to my HHRs deal because my Mustang left me in the negative. Oh well. I really don't mind car payments seeing as how I have been paying them since I was 18 so it has became just another monthly expense to me. I think I'm going to try leasing the next time I change vehicles seeing as how I'm on my fourth car in twelve years. Like I said it seems like I change every three years. I just don't know how it would work going to a least from my current loan. I'm sure a car dealer can tell.....I mean screw me.

 

Great minds think alike! I can give you some inside info about the Nitro if your interested. IMHO, unless you go SS, the Nitro is a better pick, especially coming from an HHR.

THe HHR just didn't cut it for my new lifestyle and I too was in a bit of pickle when I bought it (needed a more reliable whip). I had been waiting for GM to produce a vehicle for "me" and the HHR was perfect. I thought it was great and I still do, but the timing just wasn't right.

I never saw myself trading my HHR so quickly though, but life comes at you fast. THe timing for the trade was pretty good (difference between what I owed and what I'd get), so I went for it. I'm actually surprised to see others jumping ship along with me.