getting a new car... chevy hhr

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

Ok, so i've sold the jeep, and should have my dakota sold soon too, and should have around 3,300, maybe closer to 4,000 for a down payment. i still have the MINI, and my explorer (which isnt driveable right now) and the MINI isnt a good daily driver becuase of the wall and all the stuff im doing to it, so it stays in the garage and only gets driven probably a few times a month if that.

i need something reliable, and good gas milage (honestly i could care less as i daily drive an excursion right now so it cant get much worse lol)

but this is going to be vinyl wrapped for a business advertisement, and be my daily driver, for a while. nothing will be done to it as far as system or anything lol, and im set on getting this car, ive driven a few and like them, theyre pretty room inside, cheap, get good gas milage, and i personally like how they look. they are also popular for vehicle wraps, as is the scion xb etc...my dad has an xB(the older one) and i like it, but i like these better. i drove a nissan cube too, i like those but they are a little TOO goofy looking lol.

thought about getting a panel version of the HHR, since the rear glass will be covered, but those dont come with rear seats, then i'd find myself swapping in rear seats, and all that so im just gonna get the regular model.

they come with 3 engines. 2.2L(155hp), 2.4L(tad bit more power, 172hp) and 2.0L (SS version, 260hp). i drove a manual SS, and it was pretty nice. i drove an auto 2.4L, was nice too. from what im reading, the 2.2L manual gets the best MPG (30+ on highway, some reporting as high as 37-38mpg)

i kinda wanna stick with a manual.

so im deciding between a couple options here... a BRAND NEW 2010 HHR LS (manual 2.2L) is 18,720, then its showing online theres a 2,000 dollar discount, making it $17,440 after dealer destination charge etc. then i have about 3-4g down, so lets say id be financing around 14k.

the other option is buy a used SS, theres a used 2008 that i drove, stick shift, for 18,xxx (plus all the tag dealer fee all that ish) with 12,000 miles and a 5 yr warranty. this obviously wouldnt get as good fuel as the 2.2L either, but not too bad at the same time.

which route would you guys go? i know for sure i want black interior (all black) and leather or anything doesnt matter. i drove one with leather and its nice, but i actually like the cloth seats alot as well.

problem with buying a used LS model is most of them are automatic (which if i have to, ill go with that, its not THAT big of a deal, but i prefer manual) and then alot of them arent full black interiors (some have gray on the dash and seats, or tan, etc)

give me some opinions here guys

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[duece212 5,000+ posts]

I've driven a 2.2 and a 2.4 back to back and didn't feel enough of a seat of the pants difference to make the bigger motor a requirement. If you are 6ft or taller, drive the car around a bit and see how you like having to duck down to see traffic lights through the windshield. Its not really made for a tall person.

I would not buy one of these new, they depreciate like a motherfucker. Early last year I picked up an 06 with pretty much every option, leather, sunroof, chrome wheels, power windows/locks/seats, etc with under 50k miles for 9 grand.

Automatic isn't as fun, but factory remote start is nice sometimes.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

mine had a manual with a 2.2...it drove just fine...I wish I would've never got id of it.....

 

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

lol @ a vinyl wrapped SS. That would be some funny ish. Talk about a sleeper.

 

[quest51210 10+ year member]

i own a 2007, less than 29k on odometer, black interior, 20's, lowered, auto and 2.2L....one owner

might be willing to part with it for 9.5k cash

reallly looking for a decent 99-2002 silverado and possibly a harley sportster in good condition to trade for

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

That depends on if you have the cravings of speed. Obviously even the SS won't be the thrill of your life. But it'll most likely put the 2.2 in the dust.

I drive a '08 Suzuki SX4 and live with a 13.4s 0-60. However, ~30 hwy and the ability to lock into 4wd have their advantages.

It all comes down to priorities.

Either way, the HHR is a nice car. And a lot more room in them than it looks.

Buying new is not always the best thing to do with fast depreciating vehicles. However, with the current economy, it is very doable and not a major loss. Hell, if i had waited 6 months before my SX4 purchase, it would have been 14k BN instead of 18k BN. Whereas used were being bought for 8k and sold for 12k (by dealerships). So the hypothetical 2k for BN can be worth the miles that remain a mystery.

 

[bigwheel15 10+ year member]

The fuk you sell the jeep for? Weren't you putting a wall in that?

With your ADD, no attention span, never finishing projects havin' ***.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

p.s. the MINI is hella sick.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

one good thing the battery is in the rear...and easy t add a spare battery.....and keep the spare

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

mine was the half panel which is pretty rare...I sold it for $10,000 it had 4000 miles on it....an 08 model

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

The battery comes stock in the back? That's a fun lil' thing to know.

2ft. Power wire ftw?

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

I've driven a 2.2 and a 2.4 back to back and didn't feel enough of a seat of the pants difference to make the bigger motor a requirement. If you are 6ft or taller, drive the car around a bit and see how you like having to duck down to see traffic lights through the windshield. Its not really made for a tall person.
I would not buy one of these new, they depreciate like a motherfucker. Early last year I picked up an 06 with pretty much every option, leather, sunroof, chrome wheels, power windows/locks/seats, etc with under 50k miles for 9 grand.

Automatic isn't as fun, but factory remote start is nice sometimes.

Im about 5'10", i didnt seem to have an issue on the ones i test drove. coming from a mini cooper, i dont think it could get any worse LOL. do they all have factory remote start or is that an added option (im assuming it is)

mine had a manual with a 2.2...it drove just fine...I wish I would've never got id of it.....

nice. why'd you sell it?

lol @ a vinyl wrapped SS. That would be some funny ish. Talk about a sleeper.

yea haha. even though it is an SS, its not that fast. deffinently faster than the 2.2 though for sure.

i own a 2007, less than 29k on odometer, black interior, 20's, lowered, auto and 2.2L....one owner
might be willing to part with it for 9.5k cash

reallly looking for a decent 99-2002 silverado and possibly a harley sportster in good condition to trade for

pics?

That depends on if you have the cravings of speed. Obviously even the SS won't be the thrill of your life. But it'll most likely put the 2.2 in the dust.
Either way' date=' the HHR is a nice car. And a lot more room in them than it looks.

Buying new is not always the best thing to do with fast depreciating vehicles. However, with the current economy, it is very doable and not a major loss. Hell, if i had waited 6 months before my SX4 purchase, it would have been 14k BN instead of 18k BN. Whereas used were being bought for 8k and sold for 12k (by dealerships). So the hypothetical 2k for BN can be worth the miles that remain a mystery.[/quote']

i agree on the whole new thing, but at the same time, i can see myself keeping this until 80-100k, or more miles (or until it starts giving me problems). I dont plan on keeping it for like 40k and then selling, so im not sure what route i will go at this point.

they do have the LS's used with under 20k miles for around 12 grand, but most are auto, and alot that i've looked at arent all black interior, and i think i want silver exterior (not the whole thing will be wrapped, IE the roof, mirrors, door jambs, etc)

so for me to find an LS (or even LT) with all black, manual, and silver paint...

i could live with auto ****** but i'd rather have the stick.

The fuk you sell the jeep for? Weren't you putting a wall in that?
With your ADD, no attention span, never finishing projects havin' ***.

lmao. i need something new for a daily driver, ill buy somethin else later on and do another big build. dont really have the money right now to shell out on 12 subs, amps, wire, tons of batts, and then stuff will start falling apart and there goes that daily driver.. lol

mine was the half panel which is pretty rare...I sold it for $10,000 it had 4000 miles on it....an 08 model

ive seen a few of these used, actually only one in my area on autotrader, pretty cool. i didnt know that was an option, i originally thought he bought the panel, then swapped the rear doors and added rear seats lol. i then noticed it as an option on chevy's site for "panel rear quater glass"

 

[quest51210 10+ year member]

before the 20's

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

yea, i just looked at your build log. badass!

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Yeah I plan on running mine into the ground. Hopefully I'll have the self control to continue making "payments" into a savings account after she's paid off so by the time she expiress I'll be ready to have a hefty start on something else.

What you have planned for the vinyl?