HHR Anyone?

[Mr Brown]

investigation is needed..


just as a precaution.. i'm calling BS now though.

I'm off to find these huge gaps, flimsy plastic, and overall crappy workmanship.

be back later... actually probably tomorrow..  got parade duty tonight... but we'll see.

Huge gaps is a relative term. I've not sat in an HHR, so maybe the general has made leaps and bounds in quality. The interior of most low end cars reek of cheapness and cost cutting, not only GM. Just cause a car is inexpensive shouldn't mean it's cheap.

 

[Relsek]

I know the cheap feel you guys are talking about. It was in almost every Chrysler product of the 80's. That's too bad because Chrysler has put out some really cool looking stuff lately but all that comes to mind when I think Chrysler is the cheap 80's junk.

<<<< kind of like my grandaughter's four wheeler in my avatar.

Kevin



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[Tree]

Chevy didn't learn anything from the PT. They have a perfectly good 4.2L I6 with 291 hp and 277 #ft of torque. What did they put in the HHR? Two crapy 4 cylinders. Come on. They wonder why they are loosing money, then they come out with another POS. If they were to put the I6 in the HHR, I'd be in line to buy one. Give it a towing capacity, and a hot rod engine. With that engine in the HHR you should still be able to get mid 30's MPG. They could offer a "HO" option with a 6 speed manual, and a "utility" version with an automatic and tow package.

 

[VaBusa]

The difference in typical low-end plastics and the higher-end ones is the finish. Low budget manufacturers invariably find a way to make the car "Feel" cheap, where in more luxurious brands, although the plastic may be the same chemical content, it has a better tactile feel. Fit and finish also has a lot to do with it also, when there are big gaps and warped lines in between interior panels, it just looks sh!tty.

I think the HHr and Element, Scion and PT all look stupid, kinda like a guy driving a VW Cabriolet, but if that's your thing, go for it.

I agree with J here...

And I'm not going to bash one brand over another, BUT when I was just out of high school and out to buy my first brand new car, I could afford a Pontiac Sunbird or the Chevy Cavalier. I didn't have any brand loyalty, so I checked 'em both out. I just felt like Chevy missed the boat on fit and finish even though they were essentially the same stinkin' car. The Pontiac felt just a step up from the Cavalier...it was the grade of plastics used, the fit, the finish...the overall feel was certainly enough to steer me to the Sunbird...

Just my opinion

 

[pure_ego]

investigation is needed..


just as a precaution.. i'm calling BS now though.

I'm off to find these huge gaps, flimsy plastic, and overall crappy workmanship.

be back later... actually probably tomorrow..  got parade duty tonight... but we'll see.

Huge gaps is a relative term. I've not sat in an HHR, so maybe the general has made leaps and bounds in quality. The interior of most low end cars reek of cheapness and cost cutting, not only GM. Just cause a car is inexpensive shouldn't mean it's cheap.

so you haven't sat in one, never driven one.. and basically... you've never been within 10 feet of one that you paid any attention to..

yet you know it's a cheap vehicle, and obviously GM could have done better.


I'm [/investigation] until somebody actually has something to dispute here.

so far.. we've got 1 guy that rented one of the cheapest ones.. and complained about the firmness of the seat, lack of power, and where the power window buttons are located.

I agree'd about the buttons, the seats are intentionally firm. They will be a bit firm for the first little bit, but when "soft" seats are "mush" a year from now the chev. seat will still be comfortable. Plus firmer seats are much better for your body than a soft, mushy seat.. especially on a long trip.

anybody that buys one with the small 4cy. is stupid anyway... thats for little old ladies.. the 2.4l 4 cy has more than enough umph to keep life interesting for the average person.. and will get over 30mpg doin' it.

I think what you guys are forgetting is that this is the same motor that comes standard (2.4l 173hp) in the SS Cobalt everybody is raving about.. you can upgrade it in the cobalt SS to the class leading 2.0 supercharged at 205hp if you wish.

but the HHR wasn't designed to be a hotrod.. I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see them do it... and with enough interest they will. Go drive one with the 2.4l you'll enjoy it... especially the 5 speed version.

say what you will... but as of today people are paying OVER MSRP just to get a HHR. One of the hottest things in the market at the moment.

We'll have to wait and see on long term desire.

do yourselves a favor and stop thinking about your grandpa's 81 caprice wagon as the typical GM vehicle..

I firmly believe american cars have caught, and in some cases surpassed honda/toyota.. you guys just haven't opened your eyes enough to pay any attention.

Do a little research.. more power, more room, higher crash ratings... the only thing missing is resell.. and thats because you people would rather pay a premium for a name plate and a belief that they are somehow better (10 years ago.. yeah you had an arguement.. not anymore though) than to ever think the big 3 (ford, chrysler, GM) could produce something better... with 3X's higher production costs.

 

[pure_ego]

I think our defintions of "low-end" cars is different also..

low end to me is.. any damn Kia, Daewoo, Hyuandia, Scion, blah blah blah..

that is the scum at the bottom of the barrel in the automotive world.. you ever wanna see a car depreciate 75% overnight... buy any one of those.

3 out of 4 in that list can't even be financed by any major finance company because of the ridiculous depreciation...  buy one...  and you may as well run it until it falls apart (which from my calculations, and what I've seen.. is about 80,000 miles) because you aren't going to get more than a bag of farts for it after about 25,000 miles.

the only "low-end" vehicle GM makes that I'm aware of is the chevy aveo..

and you can buy new ones all day long for $9,990.  How many you want?



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[pure_ego]

and before you start bragging on these big LOOOONG warranty periods you should read the fine print..

yeah they will warranty it for 100,000 miles... as long as it's something in the power train.. AND assuming you can prove that you've done every bit of maintenance suggested in the owners manual... and oh yeah.. it HAS to be done by a authorized repair center... IE... the dealer.

you could buy 2 new cars for what you'll spend in "required" maintenance on most of these cars if you have to get it all done at the dealership.

check the manual on one, and read that fine print..

it's kinda like the aftermarket warranty things i know you all get in the mail from people you've never heard of... yeah,, everything looks great until you actually try to get something done then you figure out you just got screwed.

 

[Mr Brown]

so you haven't sat in one, never driven one.. and basically... you've never been within 10 feet of one that you paid any attention to.. [/QUOTE]

I've not sat in one cuz at 6'5", it's a pain in the ass to fold myself into, but I checked one out at the dealer here in town, and the interior looked cheap, the body panels didn't have uniform gaps, and the styling looks retarded.
I agree'd about the buttons, the seats are intentionally firm. They will be a bit firm for the first little bit, but when "soft" seats are "mush" a year from now the chev. seat will still be comfortable. Plus firmer seats are much better for your body than a soft, mushy seat.. especially on a long trip.
[/QUOTE]
Sounds like typical dealer tripe to me. Why can't you design and manufacture a seat that is comfortable and lasts well? Other manufacturers seem to be capable of it?
I firmly believe american cars have caught, and in some cases surpassed honda/toyota.. you guys just haven't opened your eyes enough to pay any attention.
[/QUOTE]
Maybe in the upper reaches of their ranges, and definitely in the truck arena, but the big 3 have never been able to create a small inexpensive vehicle of the same quality as the Japanese. Even when they try to copy one, it just sucks, Cavalier/Sunfire, Escort, Neon.
do yourselves a favor and stop thinking about your grandpa's 81 caprice wagon as the typical GM vehicle..
[/QUOTE]
You mean do you and other salesmen a favor and believe GM's hype? The company is going bankrupt, probably because they still can't get it right.......
Now before you think I just hate GM, or domestic auto manufacturers, I own a Ford, a Chevy and a Honda....

 

[VaBusa]

pure_ego...I kinda think you're taking this talk a bit too personally...I know you're in the business, but...

...to each his/her own...don't need the sales talk...if someone likes it, great, if not, go look elsewhere...it's the American way...every person could go on and on here with stories of what they've purchased/liked/didn't like...blah blah blah...you'll have to agree to disagree on this one 'cause most people already have their minds made up, myself included...

Oh, and free post with my useless drivel...

 

[Vic_E55_2001]

so you haven't sat in one, never driven one.. and basically... you've never been within 10 feet of one that you paid any attention to..

I've not sat in one cuz at 6'5", it's a pain in the ass to fold myself into, but I checked one out at the dealer here in town, and the interior looked cheap, the body panels didn't have uniform gaps, and the styling looks retarded.
I agree'd about the buttons, the seats are intentionally firm.   They will be a bit firm for the first little bit, but when "soft" seats are "mush" a year from now the chev. seat will still be comfortable.   Plus firmer seats are much better for your body than a soft, mushy seat.. especially on a long trip.
[/QUOTE]
Sounds like typical dealer tripe to me. Why can't you design and manufacture a seat that is comfortable and lasts well? Other manufacturers seem to be capable of it?
I firmly believe american cars have caught, and in some cases surpassed honda/toyota.. you guys just haven't opened your eyes enough to pay any attention.
[/QUOTE]
Maybe in the upper reaches of their ranges, and definitely in the truck arena, but the big 3 have never been able to create a small inexpensive vehicle of the same quality as the Japanese. Even when they try to copy one, it just sucks, Cavalier/Sunfire, Escort, Neon.
do yourselves a favor and stop thinking about your grandpa's 81 caprice wagon as the typical GM vehicle..
[/QUOTE]
You mean do you and other salesmen a favor and believe GM's hype? The company is going bankrupt, probably because they still can't get it right.......
Now before you think I just hate GM, or domestic auto manufacturers, I own a Ford, a Chevy and a Honda....[/QUOTE]
+1
and a little more...

You don`t have to maintain car at the dealer if you don`t want to. This is federal law...

My GF owned Huinday and stupid thing was in the shop every other week. they fixed it free...They don`t have problem with me changing oil, etc.. What the point of 1000 years warranty if it is in the shop all the time. I sold it and bought Contour 2000 with 50K miles for $2K... leather, v6, everything...
50K miles later she sold it for $3K and wanted another one...
To bad they discontinued... I know why... It`s now called Jaguar and with little shiny additions cost 3 times more then original contour was.

Focus has 160 recalls... nice hah?

Dimestic tracks, some of them is not bad and hold resale value well.

Leftovers not bad.
40% off MSRP on Taurus
45% off MSRP on Buicks (some models)
well now it make sence...
Still crap.... for 10K new Buick? not bad, I think.

Chrysler maybe.... Mercedes ownership improoved them big time.

 

[Vic_E55_2001]

Hey Michelle,
That black one you pictured is a good buy.
It has MB E class suspension, 5 link ingenious one..

USED or Leftover. You can buy another Busa and customize it on what left..

well.... People NEVER listen anyone who has opinion different then theirs....

 

[VaBusa]

Hey Michelle,
That black one you pictured is a good buy.
It has MB E class suspension, 5 link ingenious one..

USED or Leftover. You can buy another Busa and customize it on what left..

well.... People NEVER listen anyone who has opinion different then theirs....

I will wait 'til I can afford another car, and it won't be new...gotta wait 'til someone ditches a nice, fully loaded 300C SRT...black...

I refuse to buy new cars...only bought one and unless I win the lotto, that's how I'll always buy...they just aren't worth the money off the lot anymore...that goes for all cars IMHO...unless, of course, you're rich...

Now, always buy Busas new...

 

[Vic_E55_2001]

Now, always buy Busas new...

I agreed 100% on this statement.

 

[GSXRFANN]

I like the Scion's. I think they look pretty neat. Kinda like the Busa, in the fact that the first time you see one you're like that's ugly.....well no, actually that is kinda cool. It is different.
And, if someone wants to laugh at me while I am driving it,,,,more power to them