Same thing happened last month at a car show I was at. Funny thing was, he had his hood open but you couldnt see anything with all the plastic air cleaner and stuff over the engine. The window was open and it was nice to smell a new car, but that was all that impressed me. Plus the size-they are huge.

 

Those fake fender vents are not for me but they were popular back in the day. I can see where if you are going for the retro or certain look you might like them.
The HHR is a retro styled car after all and that is what I originally liked about it.

 

Yeah, I really think they look appropriate on the car. I only wish they could be made functional. But like I said, most of the factory ones are only for looks also. By the way, many of the factory hood scoops are phony, also. Some, like the Trans Am, could be made real. My favorite was when Chevy put a hood scoop decal on their Camaros, I think back in the late 70's or early 80's. As I said before, generally I only spend big money on things that are functional. I always felt compelled to promote the products that I use on the rear quater window and I do like the way that looks, but those decals are always free. I do not like to advertise stereo equipment, because that is just an invitation to steal it. With this car, I broke all of my rules and went for the hood vents (cheap) and the vinyl flames (a few hundred dollars, but way less than retail since a good friend did it). Everything else I have done is for a purpose (outside of painting things like the calipers and the inside vents).