Looking into a 2007 Chevy HHR with the 2.2L ... always liked the styling but haven't driven one yet, anybody own one/drive one that has any complaints/likes?
Any experiences with HHR's ?
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It's going to be a lot like owning a Cobalt.
2.2 is great overall. Super easy oil change, probably the easiest ever. The air filter is a little bit of a pain though if I remember right.
Interior door handles break like crazy, but are still readily available from GM as a handle kit. The throttle body and pedal position sensor can go bad, but neither is a super-major-bad issue.
EPS can have problems. I believe these are part of one of the EPS recalls. They are part of the ignition switch recall.
A well kept HHR is fine, a lot of people just tore them up because they were a cheap crossover kind of thing and ended up on buy here pay here lots frequently.
eljefino has one and doesn't post many projects related to it, so I assume it's reliable for him.
I have an 07 and yeah I broke the interior door handle. $50 for shiny plastic!
The visibility is terrible. With the "slat" windows my pupils dilate and the dumb chrome gauge surrounds catch reflections and bug me somehow.
The rear luggage space is actually pretty small once you account for all the plastic junk taking up room. IMO it's sabotaged to coax you into buying a more profitable Tahoe.
I mostly like the throttle by wire, though giving it a tiny goose to move up in traffic usually overshoots, wasting gas and brake. I like the quick shifts with the engine cutting power and/or rev matching. 4-2 downshifts normally feel harsh in other cars but this just goes at it nicely.
I get the 31 MPG the trip computer claims, maybe 33 on long trips.
The headlights haven't yellowed yet, still clear.
Fighting a brake judder/ "warp" / rattly steering intermediate shaft.
Weird (to me) having a dry engine/ trans underneath with no leaks anywhere. Burns no oil. Top off the antifreeze a couple times a year though. 
Rear springs had to be done for state inspection, they broke right at the end inside the rubber "protective" covering. $35 a pair though, can't complain.
In my search for snow tire rims in the oddball 5x110 pattern, I got used SAAB rims. I chucked the center caps but it's still cast into the aluminum if one looks closely.
I just peeled off the plastic cladding on the rear doors. Rust was peeking out from behind. I wirebrushed the rust off and it didn't go through-- maybe that zinc dip they brag about is good for something. Was able to get the double sided sticky tape off the paint-- you can barely see it and the car looks good without them. In fact the newer models dumped the silly things.
Rear springs had to be done for state inspection, they broke right at the end inside the rubber "protective" covering. $35 a pair though, can't complain.
In my search for snow tire rims in the oddball 5x110 pattern, I got used SAAB rims. I chucked the center caps but it's still cast into the aluminum if one looks closely.
I just peeled off the plastic cladding on the rear doors. Rust was peeking out from behind. I wirebrushed the rust off and it didn't go through-- maybe that zinc dip they brag about is good for something. Was able to get the double sided sticky tape off the paint-- you can barely see it and the car looks good without them. In fact the newer models dumped the silly things.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2023
I drove an 07' once. It rattled and I hated the instrument cluster, the tach was in a dumb spot The dash was warped from the heat and looked like the waves of the ocean. The A/C vents were broken as well and it was pretty gutless, not the slowest thing I've driven but it could have done better. Visibility was poor as well.
is this the car that you must remove the bumper to change a headlight?
I had one as a rental once. It was horrible and I tried to switch it out for something else but they didn't have anything else they could give me. Drove like dung, handled like dung, interior was cheap as dung, engine was underpowered, visibility is poor, and it is ugly as all get out.
No thanks. I would rather walk.
Originally Posted By: NMBurb02
I had one as a rental once. It was horrible and I tried to switch it out for something else but they didn't have anything else they could give me. Drove like dung, handled like dung, interior was cheap as dung, engine was underpowered, visibility is poor, and it is ugly as all get out.
No thanks. I would rather walk.
My cousin has the high performance "Turbo" version of the HHR, the HHR-SS. It's a heck of a lot of fun to drive. Seems to have held up well in the South Florida sun too. [img]http://www.seriouswheels.com/2007/2007-Chevrolet-HHR-Panel-SS-Turbo-Front-And-Side-1280x960.htm[/img]
Originally Posted By: NMBurb02
I had one as a rental once. It was horrible and I tried to switch it out for something else but they didn't have anything else they could give me. Drove like dung, handled like dung, interior was cheap as dung, engine was underpowered, visibility is poor, and it is ugly as all get out.
No thanks. I would rather walk.
Hmm, any other suggestions for a good daily driver in the $5k - $8k range? (This HHR has 86k miles on it for $5995...)
Mainly looking to get out of my Neon, the 3-speed transmission drives me nuts and makes the car get kind of cruddy gas mileage on the highway and in town... not to mention getting on the highway it's screaming in 2nd to pick up some speed... lol
Now on my second. I like the little "trucklets". They have a good ride and handle well. Mine have a quiet cabin and the exhaust note is among the quietest I have heard, both the 2.2 and 2.4. They do have some defects but can be fixed with a little patience.
I owned a PT Cruiser purchased new but much prefer the little HHR.
Originally Posted By: jsfalls
Hmm, any other suggestions for a good daily driver in the $5k - $8k range? (This HHR has 86k miles on it for $5995...)
Mainly looking to get out of my Neon, the 3-speed transmission drives me nuts and makes the car get kind of cruddy gas mileage on the highway and in town... not to mention getting on the highway it's screaming in 2nd to pick up some speed... lol
I`ve owned 2,decent rides.Traded my wifes` in for a new Patriot when it needed a headlight.
This is one of those cars with those fatally flawed ignition keys and lock cylinders.
Be sure it has been replaced, and that the replacement parts are current.
Check the front suspension. Front control arm bushings usually don't last.
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