I'm getting an 08/09 HHR SS and have some questions.
I had been interested in the Cobalt SS (no auto tranny option) until I took a better look at the 08 HHR SS AT they have in stock.
When he crunched the numbers and they compared at within $200 The HHR is way more attractive.

I almost made the deal before I did more research and found it was detuned because it uses an off-the-shelf generic 4-speed tranny (no offense intended).
I want to get a stage 1 for starters but am hesitant to beef a motor running through a weaker tranny.
WTF anyway?!? Why use a weaker tranny and detune when they could have used a better tranny?
I digress, I've noticed in reading here that some auto tranny drivers have stage 1 tunes.
Is that advised?
I could be happy with the auto tranny but want that 290/340 I saw advertised at chevyperformance.com or wherever the salesman found it.

I've been driving turbo'ed cars since about 1999 and know:
It's all about high MPG with high performance on tap

BTW - Here's my intro thread - Go say hi

 

I don't have the Stage 1 yet but I don't think GM would offer it up and maintain your warranty if it wasn't capable enough

 

A76marine has an auto with GM stage. There's a couple others around here too. Honestly, I've heard more about issues with the MX than the auto.

 

Not to discourage you, but those numbers are 290/315 the other cars get 340 from the kit, but not the hhr.. I guess thats another wtf

 

I have an 08 auto with a stage kit. It's the best option I've ever done. I haven't heard of there being any issues with the auto not being able to handle it.

 

I am pretty sure all the other cars that have the stage 1 option get the same hp increase.

 

Here are the power ratings:

Solstice/Sky Stage Kit man 340 lb-ft@3600 290 HP@5200
Solstice/Sky Stage Kit auto 325 lb-ft@3600 290 HP@5200
HHR SS auto & manual 315 lb-ft@4800 290 HP@5200

 

I could live with 290/315 (beats the smack out of 222)
I'll have to find one with the Brembos & LSD (Groovy, man)

Also - I could have sworn the torque peak was somewhere down around 2000 RPM
Does it change with the stage kit or was that something else I was looking at?
My '92 Mitsu V6 pickup truck has a 4.22LSD and a 2000 tq peak - it's the strongest feeling 175 ft/lbs I have ever had

 

pretty sure the brembos and LSD option is only available with a manual.

 

Here are the production ratins of the LNF engine. Torque curves are very flat

Solstice GXP, Sky Red Line 260 hp @ 5300 260 lb-ft @ 2500-5250
Cobalt SS manual 260 hp @ 5300 260 lb-ft @ 2000
HHR SS automatic 250 hp @ 5900 222 lb-ft @ 1650
HHR SS manual 260 hp @ 5300 260 lb-ft @ 2000