Dead batteries are such a PITA to deal with, when its a surprise. I usually let them go five or six years, then replace it before it can surprise me.

 

Replaced mine with the same ac delco because it lasted 6 years.

 

I've had my '06 since the tail-end of 2008. Bought it used, and the battery lasted up until a few weeks ago.

 

Mine still has the original one and it is still strong.

 

'08 LS 90,000, original battery doesn't seem as enthusiastic. Of course, it doesn't take many Amps to crank the little motor, but winter's coming...

 

'08 LT 140,000 still going but not as strongly :)

 

My Walmart replacement battery lasted 1 year, the replacement for it is now dead after sitting a month, one year later.

 

Just replaced my OEM battery in my '08 HHR SS(36,800 miles). Started every time with the remote all day. Until about 8:30pm. Remote started it and the engine died. That was it, almost dead, called Onstar for some assistance(Tow), but they babbled too long for info and the Onstar died too. Called a taxi from a corner store and went home. Then when I got home, I called a flat bed tow truck and they loaded it on the back and delivered it to my dealer down the road. The installed a new battery the next day. Over 7 and half years of life and happy it didn't happen in a blizzard.
There was not 1 symptom at all that the battery was in trouble. It just went silent.

 

From what you described, I doubt it was the battery...probably cleaning the terminals and putting a charger on overnight would have fixed your problem for quite some time. It sounds more like a dirty/poor connection than anything else.

 

Same here, I buy HHR used but I am quite certian that its the original battery in the car.