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well it's 3 years old.
and my personal opine is it's ugly.
but that's me, i prolly drive pcs of crap in plenty people opinion 

fortune with it tho.. errr you did get the carfax on it eh?

Well, 2006 was the first year they were made so don't be surprised by some v1.0 bugs. It is based off the Cobalt platform though, so it's not totally new.

Anticipated reliability is average, so you probably won't get 200k trouble-free miles out of it but if you're dilligent about routine maintenance you should be fine - unless it's someone's unloaded lemon.

Last edited by Tallgeese (2009-10-19 1:53 pm)

Personally, I've been having fantasies about the Ford Transit Connect. It's built in Turkey, so you know it'll be dependable! I just wish I had a business so I could get one and make deliveries with it.

What is it with US auto manufacturers trying to bring back the 50's and 60's? It's not so much that the car is ugly, as it is anachronistic.

That said, it will probably be about like most GM products. They aren't necessarily bad cars, but you will see parts start to drop off after a while. At some point, probably around 100k, you will need a timing belt change, at which point you will want to seriously consider whether you plan to keep the vehicle or not.

radarman wrote:

What is it with US auto manufacturers trying to bring back the 50's and 60's? It's not so much that the car is ugly, as it is anachronistic.

Because

vs.

That said, it will probably be about like most GM products. They aren't necessarily bad cars, but you will see parts start to drop off after a while. At some point, probably around 100k, you will need a timing belt change, at which point you will want to seriously consider whether you plan to keep the vehicle or not.

I think that he has a timing chain, which does not require replacement.

OK, I got it. The rep at the dealership is one of my best friends and my landlord, he went out of his way to make sure I wasn't going to get screwed.

I don't think it's ugly, certainly no uglier than a PT Cruiser, which is what the HHR is in competition with. There are uglier cars on the road (*cough* Honda Element *cough*). I needed something with cargo space, and the HHR has that in spades. Perfect for how I am going to use it.

And the styling is classic, it's based on a 1949 Chevy delivery truck -- what could be better for a delivery vehicle?

Oh, and the last bit: it has 93,000 miles on it and was listed on the lot at $8300. I got a screaming good deal.

I wasn't really nervous about buying the car, I was nervous about going to the bank -- my parents grew up during the Great Depression and taught me to be very frugal. I've never even owned a credit card until I got my business and I've used that card a total of once.

Did you read the smurfing mileage? It has more than the 11 year Jag dad bought a few years back. It also has more than moms old Nativa (Mitsubishi Montero Sport in USA) Dad is pondering on selling the former at 12 grand because of its great conditions mechanically and in the bodywork. Both owners, my dad being one of them have babied the car a lot.The jag currently has 84k miles. He got it with 36k. The Nativa was sent to a junker at 120k miles. The thing couldn't be looked at without breaking down. A freind's mother has a Nativa with around 242k according to him and the damn thing needs a repair almost monthly.

I guess the pricing is reasonable. It could, though, be a lemon.

Last edited by gd (2009-10-19 7:12 pm)

Uh, gd, my 2000 Grand Cherokee has 92000 miles on it and runs like new.  I think that vehicle will work just fine for Pith.  Mileage is not nearly as important as it was years back.  Proper maintenance is key to keeping a vehicle for long periods of time.


Congrats Pith!! 

Last edited by Orion (2009-10-19 8:39 pm)

The HHR will soon be replaced by the Orlando. Hopefully they will offer the diesel engine that other markets are getting? Not sure how 7 passengers will do in something that small? Wondering how long it will be before they offer a panel van version? Styling might be polarizing just like the HHR but I like them both!

Congrats on the new delivery rig, Pith!

Until very recently, diesels were not an option for America.

Look at the Mercedes diesels of the 80s. The only cars I see on the road slower than mine.

Then when that problem was solved, emissions were horrible.

Hey, not so.  You can absolutely get an American-made diesel vehicle.  Any of various massively oversized pickup trucks, the Freightliner Custom Van (which are actually quite nice, designed by Mercedes), or just go all out and get yourself a Kentworth (9 MPG!).

Of course, keeping log books and trying to follow hours of service regulations might be a drawback if you go for the larger option.

Seriously, I'm hoping that the fallout of auto companies in the economic crunch will result in more European-styled competition, with the additions of Opel and Fiat to American car lots.  If you get those, one or two diesel models are bound to enter the lineup.

Edit: I've just forgotten that there's a new American regulation that requires some diesel vehicles to use an exhaust fluid, which exhaust gasses are passed through so that sulfuric emissions are eliminated.  This fluid is horrendously expensive and, just like the catalytic converter, doesn't live up to its design.

Last edited by Jokotai (2009-10-19 11:32 pm)

I'd suspect it's similar.