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

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.

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.

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

Gene Beaird

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

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.

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.

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!

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!!!

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.

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

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.....

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.

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

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

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

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.

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...

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.



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

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

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.

I saw an HHR today and I don't think it looks all that bad, its just kind of boring. With gas prices where they are GM will sell a bunch of these. 30 MPG and a lot of room inside. I really do like the SSR though, but it serves no purpose. Its a crappy truck and a crappy sports car, one big expensive toy.

I am not all that crazy about the HHR...but for the money it isn't a bad vehicle.

And it is not nearly as bad as the Asstec in styling.

Same here.....I was one of the first to bash GM for making YET ANOTHER copy of something successfull.....a day late and a dollar short....but after seeing one in person...

They are MUCH BETTER looking than the pics...and the inside looked kinda nice...I had a PT Cruiser rental car once and it was typical Chrysler junk on the inside...do I still think it is "the best" GM could do.......no...it is still derivative, and not very forward thinking...

However, I think, to the masses, it might just sell/work....it is definately servicable...

...just wish we could get something a little more cutting edge from the general...maybe SOMETIME in my lifetime...

I know I am being pretty harsh on the HHR, but the comercial really put me on slow burn.

Build something really average and then hire every ad company and actor to push the thing.

That is the cart pushing the horse.

But to use my approach you would have to add content to the car, that costs money. I would assume that the actors were cheaper than building a great car, and they assume we are all stupid.

Many people have posted on how cheap and efficent the HHR is.

I don't buy it.

The LS1 Z28's were rated at what 25-27 highway? The HHR is at 30 and some great achivement?

If you had left off the '40 Ford fenders and huge side flares, that would have improved the aerodynamics of the HHR and reduced weight. That would have been efficent and perhaps a 6 speed auto, you would have a simple streamlined box that would have gotten much better than 30mpg.

Look at the new Civic, not great looking, but I can respect aerodynamics.

But what I am describing is content and features.

That is a moot point to a company that would rather blow money on actors and ads and to hell with value and content.

Remember they are smarter than us.

How they can do the HHR and the Z06 at the same company is beyond me. But surprise, you don't even see an ad for the Z06, I guess they don't have to sell it as much, wonder why?

Z28

I had to stop by the dealership parts dept today, so I checked out the HHR.

With it being compared to the PT Cruiser, I expected it to be smaller. It appears to have more passenger and cargo room than the PT. I didn't think the exterior styling was that bad. Better than the Grand-Amesqe GTO. More curves than boxy minivans and most SUV's.

The HHR should satisfy the people mover bunch quite nicely.

Me too, I can see the HHR getting it's job done fine. But to watch GM and Andy Dick working together kills me. Especially since the commercial was SO bad. It's almost like they HAD to get someone stupid enough to be in it because everyone else under the sun knew it was a horribly stupid commercial to begin with.

Can you tell I can't stand stupid people? I know everyone pulls some stupid moves every now and then, but this was stupidity piled a mile high.

Andy Dick
:stupid:

I travel a lot, and get to experience many of the fine 'fleet' vehicles produced by the big 3.

A few weeks ago in Orlando, I rented an HHR. I came away very impressed. No, it's not a Z28 (on anything SS), but GM did a great job on this car.

Having rented more than a few PT Cruisers (and even SSB Neon racing) gave me a good base to start from, and the HHR is that much more of a car than either of the Chrysler twins. For what it is meant to be, it had:

Good power (damn, the thing reves past 5k without getting 'buzzy', and even pulls up there),

Excellent room inside (3 6 footers, plus 3 sets of golf clubs, 1 hard golf club case PLUS beer)

Very good comfort level, in all seats

Very good gas mileage (though I AM comparing it to a Vette and an Avalanche)

The fun part was, pulling into a gas station after I landed (for a lighter - damn flight security), and a non-local born fella comes out of the store, stops and stares, and says "Hey man - is dat the new Cheby?". "Does it have a V8?" That one killed me.

I think if people looked at it for what is IS, instead of what they WANT IT TO BE, it would rate very high for them.

Bingo!

If you want the only turd with a bowtie on it, here ya go!!!

GM is not "wasting money on actors". It's called marketing and advertising, most companies can write that stuff off. If you think hiring Andy Dick stopped a future Camaro from being produced, then you are sadly mistaken. The HHR is obviously not marketed towards you, or people like us. But it is far from the biggest turd ever pushed out. If you feel you could run GM better, why aren't you up there bidding for the Job, you're obviously a marketing genius. It's easy to play Monday morning quarterback. My $.02.

I remember a time when a certain company put out something called a Pinto, or Mustang II, funny, that company is now being lauded as the only company to cater to enthusiasts.

I'd give that title to the Trailblazer before the HHR.

We're saying that Andy Dick was a waste of money, ANY other actor would have been a million times better. I also saw the first part of a show where 3 custom shops were building their own versions of the HHR. They should have shown that during Leno instead.

This has nothing to do with a new Camaro or the rest of GM, just the stupidity of that commercial. Some of us like the HHR, some don't, and most don't even care. But GM should hang their head in shame for that commercial.

I don't think you saw the comerical, it was beyond bad.

I don't think you need to be a marketing genius to run GM.

The comercial made it clear that no marketing genius works at GM.

Yes I could have done better than anybody they had, because I would have killed the project.

Why do you need massive marketing? I can answer that one, "because you are building boring crap".

If you build a better car you don't need marketing, notice how few ads you see from toyota and they are out selling GM.

Build a better car, let people know it exists, price it in a reasonable manner, and get out of the way.

The Z06 is an amazing car, see any big hollywood type hyping it? Not needed, its a great car.

Value= cost/Hype as hype goe to infiniity, value goes to zero, or in this case the lower limit is HHR.

Z28

I haven't seen one in person yet, but from the pictures of it on the Chevy website, "Dopey" is the best way I can describe it's looks.

If the retro look is done right, it can make a really nice looking car, but if not, it makes the car look stupid, and the HHR falls into the second category, in my opinion.

The drivetrain (on sedans, etc.) is a gripe that I have had with GM in general, and this is no exception. There's not enough engine, and generally poorly programmed transmissions, which results in a slug of a car.

Don't get me wrong, for driving down the boulevard, they're fine, but when I need to merge onto the freeway from behind some idiot doing 35mph on the on-ramp, and there's a tractor-trailer heading my way, I need a car that will get up and move right now.

My experience with 4-cylinder front wheel drives, with a couple of exceptions, is that they are slow to respond (1 or 2 second delay from the time I hit the gas to the time it kicks down and starts picking up speed), and they just can't move fast enough.

Even my Camaro, with the V6, was slow to get up and get going, and that was with a 200hp, 225lb/ft engine. This problem would only be compounded in a vehicle that was as big or bigger, both in size and weight, than my Camaro, and has a smaller engine.

I'm going to be buying a sedan for my wife in the next few years, and GM isn't on my list of companies to check out.

It's funny, a few years back, I thought Chrysler was in the lame category, because they didn't have a single V8 and/or rear-wheel drive car of any kind, and the cars that they did have were pretty bad quality, and over-priced.

It seems that now, the situation has reversed, with GM, with the exception of Cadillac and the Corvette, in the lame category for basically the same reasons. Plus they have the added insult of some seriously poor attempts at "Cool" cars, a la the Impala SS and the last "sports car" version of the Cavalier.

John

The problem there is the car itself doesn't look like what it is. The average person isn't going to WANT the car to be anything. They're just going to look at it and interpret what it's supposed to be based on what it looks like.

GM could have built this vehicle with contemporary styling and still attained what everyone is claiming the HHR is in this thread, but without the off-base, misguiding retro-styling.

FWIW yet another production increase has been ordered.

I heard a quote somewhere,

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

Here is another case of sucess.

Sad to say,

Z28

So am I the only one who thinks it's only a matter of time til someone puts a 10" lift on a HHR, 44" Super Swampers and a green and black Grave Digger paint job?