Chevy HHR - Bigest Turd ever pushed out by the Gen, Saw the thing on Leno last night. Options

[z28barnett]

Hi,

Is it just me or is this one of the worst cars they have ever built? The SSR was just as pointless but slight better looking rig.

The HHR is a stretched PT cruiser.

Andy Dick and a cast of losers wasted at least 15 minutes of the nations time with a lame stupid mega ad sketch thing.

Leno, whom I normally like, prosituted the Tonight show for the stupid ad sketch.

If you just build a car that doesn't suck, you don't need a 20million dollar ad to try and sell it. The group that produced the SSR and now the HHR needs to be fired now.

Toyota is likely laughing their ass off at this huge blunder.

How could the same company build the Z06 and this piece of crap?

Sorry just had to vent.

Z28

[slowTA]

Yeah, I saw parts of that ad too. I can't stand Andy Dick and his comedy anyway, now I can't stand the HHR because of him. I've never seen an HHR in person and now my image of it is so tarnished thanks to that worthless excuse of a comedian. The poor car doesn't stand a chance now.

I'm even mad at myself for watching it, I was waiting for something cool I guess... knowing that would never happen.

[Absolut Speed]

I liked the HHR in person and by the numbers.
+ 4 adults plus the dog in the back fit decently
+ near small SUV cargo volume, but at 30mpg
+ nice little options (remote start, mp3 input, 17" wheels etc)
+ very good price for the utility
+ it's not a station wagon

So what if it has PT characteristics? Chrysler led the way with minivan, but other manufacturers followed suit without so much complaining. Now Chrysler created an economical, fairly fuel efficient vehicle that is still reasonably versatile for family, vacations, errands etc, so why is it wrong now to follow suit in a new segment?

That said, Chevy's marketing team should be fired immediately. Buying all the ad space was a great idea for launching a new product, but the content absolutely sucked. Every minute of it sucked. A blown opportunity.

[CrashTestDummy]

That's what happens when you steal the PT Cruiser design engineer from Mopar Mercedes. :-)

Gene Beaird

[prockbp]

i didn't see the ad on Leno, but i just looked at the HHR on the chevy website.....

i would have to agree that the HHR is a huge turd... i like the Aztec more than the HHR

[timyerby]

I continue to be amazed at the dichotomy I see at GM

The Corvette team and Cadillac continue to get better and better every year.

The truck group produces some decent vehicles (although the marketing guys tried to gouge America once the popularity was realized).

The engine guys absolutely rock !

Holden makes really cool stuff (GTO included)!

The cobalt is the only car in the product line right now that is even remotely interesting, and it essentially a copy of the Neon SRT concept.

I don't know how they are going to survive.

[Racer X]

I've seen several on the road and a particularly sharp sunset orange model up close on a dealer lot.

*shrug*

I personally like 'em and they seem to be selling quite well.


Some sales "TECH"...if you can call it tech.

I guess their appeal is just hit or miss with the "car guy" crowd. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Does Lutz Get Last Laugh on HHR?

It's become almost a cliché in the automotive media to criticize General Motors' new Chevrolet HHR. Even skeptical GM insiders have been known to refer to the retro-styled crossover as the "PT me-too," a reference to the similarly-styled Chrysler PT Cruiser. But if early sales are any indication, GM "car czar" Bob Lutz may get in the last laugh over the product he single-handedly shepherded through the product development process. "For those who doubted it, it's an absolute sell-out," he boasted, during a preview at the automaker's Warren, Michigan Technical Center. August sales totaled 8000, Lutz said, noting that the automaker has already ordered two increases in production capacity for the much-maligned HHR. And its early success, Lutz stressed, came even though the crossover was not included in GM's employee-pricing incentive program. Perhaps not, but analysts say the automaker certainly increased the car's appeal by holding its base price down to just $15,990, about $1000 more than the smaller Chrysler offering.

This post has been edited by Racer X: Sep 24 2005, 10:31 AM

[Rob Hood]

Don't care for the HHR, don't care for the SSR either. GM's styling department needs to be fired. Period. The Aztek makes the Pacer look good! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

They throw a V8 in the Impala but it's still wrong wheel drive. Who are these people????? An automatic Z28 gets credible highway gas mileage; why can't GM apply the same driveline into the Impala? They do overseas!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant.gif)

I will give them some credit for the Solstice, if for nothing else than the fact that they built it. However, they blew it with the extra 300 lbs of vehicle weight. Why, oh why, if you are targeting a specific area of the market (Miata), would you end up overweight and underpowered??? Does anyone really like taking a knife to a gunfight??? I guess GM does.

[z28barnett]

I guess I am not the only one who is puzzled by this ad and "Car".

Good to hear, that other people where not impressed. "PT-me to" is exactly right.

The retro thing has been done to death lately, not at all sure why you want to jump on that band wagon this late in the game.

If Andy Dick introduces the new "Retro Camaro", I will buy an import or a Corvette.

Z28

[bubba353z]

Does anyone really like taking a knife to a gunfight???  I guess GM does.

The days of "build it and they will buy it" are gone, but GM doesn't realize it yet. They are too busy selling gas guzzling SUV's to give the proper thought to cars, but that will hopefully change with $3 gas.

If you look at the HHR for what it is, it really doesn't seem that bad of a car (even if it's not too attractive). Just like the PT is a Neon, the HHR is a Cobalt. I would take the PT/HHR over the Neon/Cobalt any day, especially if I were a parent who had rug rats to haul around.

The Solstice is not a bad looking car (I like the Saturn Sky better). Give GM a few years of production to refine it - think about the first Miata's that Madza put out, to put the car in perspective.

Hopefully they won't screw up the new Camaro - but I won't hold my breath.....

[y5e06]

I liked the HHR in person and by the numbers.
+ 4 adults plus the dog in the back fit decently
+ near small SUV cargo volume, but at 30mpg
+ nice little options (remote start, mp3 input, 17" wheels etc)
+ very good price for the utility
+ it's not a station wagon

I completely disagree w/ many of these opinions about the HHR. I do agree w/ A. Speed.
This is a people mover, folks. Its not intended to be niche performance vehicle. Yes it does look a lot like the PT, however it also has a lot of resemblence to the old 40-50's era gmc/chev trucks. The styling could/should have taken a different direction but the platform is the way to go. If people buy it because they think its an small SUV but still end up getting 30 mpg highway, then GREAT! Its a station wagon [but doesn't look like it] w/ nice curves that is meant to move humans around from point A to point B w/ a little bit of style, yet still not weigh 6000lbs while soccer mom drives it to get her nails done at 13mpg. The front wheel drive 4 cyl platform means its much more afforadable and practicle. Its a pavement pounder, not an off road vehicle.
Oh, and there is no comparison between the $50K SSR and the $20K HHR. Two completely different markets and functions. I think SSR's are hideous, esp for $40-50K
no, I didn't see the ad mentioned.

[Mericet]

At least the HHR looks a lot better than the FIAT Multipla. (Which makes the Aztec look like a beauty queen)

(IMG:http://www.pestalozzi.net/motors/shootingbrakes/fiat_multipla_105_red.jpg)

[z28barnett]

For everone who is cheering for this waste of paint and steel.

Here is the club you can join.

http://www.hhrclub.org/forum/Chevrolet_kic..._Sept._5._P303/

The 20 million or so that it costs to hire Andy Dick and cast to dump a car ass first off a car hauler will be added to the sticker price of everything GM sells, one way or another.

Build crap and spend millions trying to trick everyone into buying it.

Not much room for waste in the world of MFG anymore.

It was a bad thing that it was built, will be bad if it suceeds, waste all around.

Been driving the same car for 10 years not seeing any good reason to change yet.

Z28

[Absolut Speed]

...will be bad if it suceeds,

Huh? Why is success a bad thing?

[z28barnett]

...will be bad if it suceeds,

Huh? Why is success a bad thing?

Because success will mean that they have fooled the buying public again.

Trained us to expect crap and like it.

Made money by not doing anything orginal or expanding the art of automobile design.

If they succeed this will be the first of many repeats of the formula.

GM will take a greater and greater loss of market share to companies that lead rather than follow.

It is like succeeding at cutting a rope that you are hanging on, bad long term results.


My .02

Z28

[Absolut Speed]

Maybe I'm looking at this from a different perspective than most auto enthusiasts. That price range is built around value per dollar. This isn't a performance vehicle, it's not a luxocruiser, it's a vehicle meant to maximize utility per dollar. When measured that way, I don't see how GM has failed. Considering the state of GM's hybrid program, and the price of fuel, I think this hits an emerging spot in the market. Good amount of room for kids, errands, etc without the penalty of high fuel consumption and it's at a good price. The interior is also better than one might expect in a car sold as low as $15-20k.

[Rob Hood]

I just don't care for the styling of the HHR, or for the SSR for that matter. To me, retro styling says that the design department cannot come up with something new and is incapable of thinking on their own, and must rely on an existing design to sell a new product. I do understand that a vehicle is designed for a purpose (i.e., people mover, truck, sports car, etc.). But the HHR could have had a more modern design.

GM is just simply too big and cannot pare down its product line to a more efficient and competitive level because the vast majority of the American consumer is hung up on a label (Buick, Chevy, Pontiac, etc.). GM really needs to restructure and reinvent itself if it expects to survive the next 50 years. For instance, they need to get rid of the GMC line and simply absorb that into the Chevrolet manufacturing and sales (even though I think the GMC trucks look much better than the current Chevy trucks). However, that's another soapbox... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant.gif)

[#07]

...will be bad if it suceeds,

Huh? Why is success a bad thing?

Because success will mean that they have fooled the buying public again.

Trained us to expect crap and like it.

Made money by not doing anything orginal or expanding the art of automobile design.

If they succeed this will be the first of many repeats of the formula.

GM will take a greater and greater loss of market share to companies that lead rather than follow.

It is like succeeding at cutting a rope that you are hanging on, bad long term results.


My .02

Z28

Ditto, Im not liking either of these models in discussion. I have thought many times "what in the world is gonna happen next". These damn people that are so impressionable and don't know what THEY want are ruining it for the ones who do.

Hopefully they won't screw up the new Camaro - but I won't hold my breath.....

It don't get any better I seen the sneek peek in a car craft of the new Camaro. It disgusted me unbelievably ugly and a huge waste of time IMO. Completely uninterested. And if they came out with something interesting or at least in the spirit of CAMARO I am a definite sale. But still uninterested its trash.

I endorse fixing the Impalla drivetrain that at least is in the same ball park as the GTO in which both cars the body style really don't appeal to me but in doesnt disgust me either.

But also GM is not the only one producing these body styles that are ugly or just not right in my eye. I don't know I might be getting old or something (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[JonV]

The hhr is ugly. The previous version of the impala wasn't exactly inspiring but at least it didn't look as homely as the new one. I don't like the styling of the new vette nearly as much as the old one.

GM and styling are two words that don't belong in the same sentence. Bleh

[Formula WS6]

you know i don't know too many Mopar guys who like the K car, but they will never forget the thing considering it saved Chrysler. i think the HHR will do exactly what they want it to do and i actually hope it will suceed. granted i think retro styling is lame on a production vehicle. i also don't think the HHR is something i will ever own or even drive possibly. However, I will not sit here and say GM sucks because they built the HHR or even the Geo Metro. If you take that approach then Chrysler must really suck. Afterall they built the Kcar and the neon. Nevermind the Magnum, 300C, or Charger that are for a completely different target demographic. The Neon is in the line up so the rest of the cars must suck too.


GM needs to make a lot of changes, but I for one would much rather see a vehicle like the HHR sell like hot cakes while GM takes in huge profits than for them to not build the car and go bankrupt.