What do you think? Chevy HHR

[Lew]

http://www.hhrclub.org/galleries/hhr-cu ... dark-side/

I like this one!

(Warning, old man rant)

Boys and their toys, you know what Freud said.

That car, designed to blast out the ears of the occupants, and anyone nearby, is just obnoxious. There's nothing I hate worse than sitting at a traffic light and having some selfish boor pull up with their sub-woofers booming and shaking my fillings. There's no need for it and it indicates a total lack of class.

That said, although I don't care for the looks of the HHR, I'm glad to see GM producing a practical car that's not a gas guzzling hog. The mileage could be better, but it's better to drive one of these than a Hummer or Suburban, the majority of which are driven by one person on a highway.

I feel the same way about the 'vette that was posted and all other "muscle" cars. People should be entitled to buy what they want, and the Government should not get involved, but there is no need for a car that can do 200mph for roads on which you'd be lucky to go 80.

A car for me is a way to get from point A to point B. I want one that carries the stuff and/or people I need in relative comfort, is reliable, and gets good gas mileage. The more I spend on a car, the less I have to spend on other things, or the longer I have to work before retiring.

I have had my head turned by the looks of many a car, but I wouldn't spend the money on them, just like I have had my head turned by a number of women, but I wouldn't trade the one who has stuck with me for the past 30 years.

[TMurphy]

I already have a vehicle that size:



Doc

Wow....a PT Cruiser police...cruiser. That certainly surprising; PT Cruisers (as has been discussed) are notoriously underpowered. I'm assuing they've been "suped" up to hold up with the demands on a police car???

This has got me thinking...around here, just about every cop car I see is a Ford Crown Vic. What about elsewhere??

[JCalkin]

[quote="TMurphy]This has got me thinking...around here, just about every cop car I see is a Ford Crown Vic. What about elsewhere??[/quote]

Crown Vics are the ubiquitous police cruiser in most places (US), though I have seen several (thru 05) Impalas, Mustangs for high-speed chases and unmarked Tauruses and Explorers in various places. One of the big deals with the re-release of the Charger (and, IMHO, one reason it was made into a sedan from the old (read "better") coupe design is that it will be introduced into police service in many places (in its auto show premiere one Charger was all dressed up in cop garb, complete with paint lettering and light bars). Car and Driver had it right when they said "Memorize this grille NOW."

I was surprised at the PT CruiserCruiser too. Dressing up a dressed up Neon for police service seems silly to me.

[Joe Baker]

I've seen the PT Cruisers used in various community-relations and school security roles, not in situations where chases would take place. The DARE officers at my kids' school in Wylie, TX drove a PT Cruiser with a police paint job and pearlized flames. I thought it looked pretty sharp, but the intent to impress the teenagers was too obvious, and never really played well with the kids (the guy was still "the man", and apparently the kids felt that he didn't like them very much). As I understand it, that's what DOC does with his, too, though most likely with better success.
_______________________________
Joe Baker, who likes these new hatchbacks MUCH better than the hatchbacks of the 80s (remember the "first Chevy of the 80's?" Made even the Scion XB seem inspired!)

[Brassdad]

*snicker, chortle, snort.....HAHAHAHAHA!!!![/list]

[ThomasDodd]

I'll take that one.

You can have the rest of 'em

[ThomasDodd]

I wonder if a 455 would fit under the hood? Oh yeah, don't forget the blower.

455? PFFT!!! Let's go for the 572!!!

Hey Ralph. I'm not familiar with the 572.

To the best of my knowledge the Cadillac 500 was the largest displacement engine ever used in a production vehicle.

Now if you ment the 472 (the 500s little brother) I know where to get them, but I doubt we'd ever get it to fit. Having just rebuilt my 472, and working on another, I promise you need lots of room.

[TexTuba]

Hey Ralph. I'm not familiar with the 572.
To the best of my knowledge the Cadillac 500 was the largest displacement engine ever used in a production vehicle.
Now if you ment the 472 (the 500s little brother) I know where to get them, but I doubt we'd ever get it to fit. Having just rebuilt my 472, and working on another, I promise you need lots of room.

I shoulda been more specific. The 572 is a crate motor Chevy offers. I know the 455 is for Poniacs/Buicks/Olds...but bigger HAS to be better, right?

Ralphhttp://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfpartsjs ... p#12498827

[Rick Denney]

I shoulda been more specific. The 572 is a crate motor Chevy offers. I know the 455 is for Poniacs/Buicks/Olds...but bigger HAS to be better, right?

The only replacement for cubic inches is cubic dollars.

In this case, you get both.

By the way, the 455's you mention are all different engines. They just happened to have the same displacement. All the real Oldsmobile engines were their own designs. Same is true for the Olds engines with smaller displacement. Olds didn't really have a small block like Ford and Chevy. All that went away with the corporate engines.

The Caddy 472 is more like the Olds engines, actually. The 500 came in the front-drive Eldo, and is a potential replacement for the 455 in front-drive applications. I thought about putting a 500 in my motorhome, but decided it depended too much on the existence of a single company (for Thomas: The Cad Company, which I think is in Albuquerque).

It seems that Chevy is trying to trade on the fake nostalgia boom first tapped into by Chrysler. I'd rather have the old car. Or, a new car that captures the true essence of the old car without such contrivance, like the new Mustang.

Rick "who hopes GM isn't considering the HHR its halo vehicle" Denney

[ThomasDodd]

I shoulda been more specific. The 572 is a crate motor Chevy offers. I know the 455 is for Poniacs/Buicks/Olds...but bigger HAS to be better, right?

OK. I don't know what all GM sells from that group. The 500 is still the largest ever in a production, passenger vehicle. No, semis don't count as a passenger vehicle

The Caddy 472 is more like the Olds engines, actually. The 500 came in the front-drive Eldo, and is a potential replacement for the 455 in front-drive applications. I thought about putting a 500 in my motorhome, but decided it depended too much on the existence of a single company (for Thomas: The Cad Company, which I think is in Albuquerque)

The 500 was in the RWD too, but a little later, 75-76 (except the Seville). It debuted in the Eldo in, but late on all the full size Cads used them. Then in 77 they went to the 425

When did you consider the swap? There are many options other than CadCo.
MTS has been around since 1989, though the current owner has only been there for about 10 years.

It seems that Chevy is trying to trade on the fake nostalgia boom first tapped into by Chrysler. I'd rather have the old car.

Did Chrysler beat Ford?

I thing the Tbird was the best though, especially in the 50's pastels, in 2002 or so.

[TexTuba]

OK. I don't know what all GM sells from that group. The 500 is still the largest ever in a production, passenger vehicle. No, semis don't count as a passenger vehicle

Yes, yes it is. I seem to be getting this whole PRODUCTION thing wrong lately...

Ralph

[TexTuba]

It seems that Chevy is trying to trade on the fake nostalgia boom first tapped into by Chrysler. I'd rather have the old car. Or, a new car that captures the true essence of the old car without such contrivance, like the new Mustang.

Rick "who hopes GM isn't considering the HHR its halo vehicle" Denney

I would agree to some extent but then again no. If they WERE trying to get in on the action they would go back to the Camaro. Have you(or any of yall)seen some of the drawings of the new one? I guess they're happy with Ford and Chrysler passing them by..

Ralph

[Leland]

we each have our own style and tastes bloke,,,, what amazes me is the attitude to which people jump on others taste,,,, to me,,,, hey if you like it,,,, go for it,,,, you dont fit the arrongant ones here Joe, you actually try to be funny,,, that i like,,,, the rest,,, who knows

I caught plenty of flak for posting pics of my wing-festooned riceburner of a hatchback, but I'm still around, and I'm still modding my Honda, too.

The people that just don't get it, well, maybe they will someday, but it's not up to me anyway. The people that don't like it... eh, whatever, I'm not going to waste a few kilobytes of space arguing over opinions. It's nice to know that some people dig it, too, but I'm not doing anything to my car to please them, either.

The important thing is that I have fun with it, and if I feel like showing it off a bit, that's fine too. I've always liked quick cars, and after finding a Honda hatch for my first car, I've been just as interested in the practical side. It's as difficult for me to understand the "a car is just to get from A to B" mindset as it probably is for someone like that to understand why I fiddle with my Civic. I'm not going to lose sleep over it, though; it's all just a bunch of opinions.

[CJ Krause]

yup

[Leland]

such kind words from such and elegant animal

Sorry man, but he was right. Nobody can ask for opinions and seriously expect a love-fest to come their way.

Opinion-seeker: "Hey everybody -- who here likes Budweiser?"
Guy #1: "Yeah, I do! Wooo hoo!"
Guy #2: "Oh, that stuff? At least it's usually cheap..."
Guy #3: "Oh god no, I wouldn't even wash my mother-in-law's car with that stuff.

I could understand you taking personal offense if you had designed the HHR, but you didn't, and if other people don't like it, it's really not your fault at all. Who cares if they don't like it.

[TexTuba]

such kind words from such and elegant animal

i base nothing i do on this board nor will i suggest anyone else to read it for advice either

love your post
anything esle nice to say?

Well I'd say that there is some GREAT advice on this board. You just have to cut through the crap to get to it. For some advice I'd stay out of this particular forum(off-topic). I mean hell that's why it's called that!!:lol: I know people have given you some flak for what they think about this vehicle but who cares? YOU like it and that's all that matters. As it turns out I like it too. It is just general that when you post here you have to take the good with the bad. I don't why this is still an issue. You like it, others like it, others don't. Big deal, next subject. So you don't suggest to anyone to read here? So? People eventually find their way onto here. I know I did and I haven't looked back since. Through this board I have met some great men and I hope to meet more one day. I'd still like to meet you...maybe next TMEA. I'm sorry you feel the way you do towards this board but I say it's great. And I think you still like it to some degree otherwise you wouldn't keep coming back. Take care Mr. Krause and I hope you like your new ride!!

Ralph Alvarado

[clagar777]

Through this board I have met some great men and I hope to meet more one day.

Ralph Alvarado

Same here...and to me, you are one

[TexTuba]

Through this board I have met some great men and I hope to meet more one day.

Ralph Alvarado

Same here...and to me, you are one

Thank you Clay. It was a real treat to meet and play with you at state and I look forward to seeing you again at TMEA. Take care..

Ralph

[CJ Krause]

[quote="Doc"]

[Leland]

most here need to pull their liberal heads out and go try something first before they insert their foot

Jeezus, no need for a bitter, political cheap shot.