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So when you go back up the hill, what will your gas mileage be? Something has to have gone wrong with the calculations. My Corolla may be able to achieve that sort of gas mileage in town, and certainly can get 38 or more on the freeway, but my goodness 30.5 in town in an HHR, which weighs in around 600 or more pounds, I assume! Let us know some more reading over the next few fill ups. That is interesting. I did, once and only once get 29.5 or higher in mostly highway cruising in my PT with a stick. With the HHR the automatic is the best on gas mileage, no doubt. Have fun with the new car!
:shades: Loren
I assume you calculate your mpg at the pump and not using the onboard display reading.
As for the HHR getting around 30MPG in town driving, it is really - really hard to believe. It defies logic. Does this mean you are getting 35 to 40 MPG on the highway. Better gas mileage than a Civic? The HHR must weigh as much as a Civic or Corolla with 6 or 7 sacks of cement in the trunk. Running the 2.4 engine on regular will reset the spark advance - could that save that much gas - say a saving 5-6-7 or greater MPG? Seems all too awesome.
Loren
Glad to see you're getting good MPG numbers.
Am I reading this right, or have you gone through 2 tanks in 6 days? Are you driving it more than 800 miles per week? :surprise:
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I don't know who was saying that an American car can not get as good, if not better gas mileage than a comparable Japanese make. The GM V6 cars beat Japan makes often in MPG. Personally, I have never heard of a 3100# Japan or American make van which can get 30MPG in town. It is all new to me.
Comparing four cylinder cars, it is not impossible that an American four bang in a Cobalt could get better gas mileage than say a Corolla, but I doubt it. Cobalt engine is larger for one thing. We are talking apples and oranges here. For quality, the Japan makes have had an excellent record with four cylinders. Are there American excellent four cylinder engines -- I take it the records show some are indeed comparable or better than some Japan makes. On the average, I personally would bet on Japan four banger engines.
Loren
i just sat in an HHR on the showroom floor recently. i was overall pretty impressed with initial apparent fit and finish quality of the interior. i didn't drive it or spend too much time playing with every knob and lever, but for the price point, i thought it looked great. of course, after about $3000 of dealer markups for "rust protection" and "price adjustments", the vehicle summed to nearly the mid 20s!
compared to other low price point vehicles, it seemed to be put together extremely well. i was also impressed with the interior room in the back in the second row and behind the second row seats. the cargo area (behind 2nd row) looked to be bigger than the vibe (54 ft 3) and perhaps only a bit smaller than the vue (63 ft 3). does this sound about right to anyone who knows the exact spec?
Loren
HMMM the detroit news has a little different review than the freepress bigdaddy. I think the review that you found is more or less a sales pitch more than anything. Then I would like to just reply to a few of the people whome I annoyed and enjoyed doing so. I forgot who said it but as for the person who liked to mention the Hemi is built in mexico and had the nerve to say he would rather buy a car from canada or china than mexico. Well Looks like your out of luck with the HHR smart guy. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico That doesnt sound to american and guess what thats where the hhr is assembled.Chevy try again....
Two papers in the same town, printed on the same presses have a quite different opinion of the same vehicle. The Free Press is not being paid, nor is the reviewer to give rosy reports. That was their opinion of the vehicle as was the Leinerts.
"Im not the only person who thinks chevy needs to keep trying"
Here is the same post from 3-weeks-ago that you presented. At that time readers presented their opinions on this drive test, and I don't get why you would want to bring this test back into circulation/discussion. Most of us have read both negative and positive things about the HHR, and by far they are positive. If you are not an HHR fan I am sure there are a lot of forums that would welcome you.
We do have a topic on Chinese imports. Just head to the Chinese and American (but Chinese-built cars) coming to the US.
discussion.
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What is wrong with the Hemi engine? Someone said it is overrated. Wow, all these years have gone by, and the news is that it is overrated. Thanks for the news.
Canada has made a few lemons too. My neighbor owned a Grand Marquis with a bad engine made in Canada. Can't say that makes Canada a bad place to build autos.
Loren
They drove and rode very well with one exception. On the road when going up small and large hills the small motor constantly upshifted and downshifted. It was very irritating to me and noisey. BTW, the Cobalt (same running gear) does this too. The other thing I dont like it that it is an import...made in Mexico. Seems nowadays, you have to get a Honda, Kia or Toyota to get an American made car (certain models are made in USA). I have driven many Honda Elements and the Element is a hands down better choice over the HHR. Think it is import too.
All in all, the HHR is sort of neat. I am coining a nickname for it for its looks and since it is from Mexico. The nickname its TIJUANA TAXI! Spread the word.
In the owners manual it mentions this and tells you to drop the vehicle into "intermediate" gear until you are out of the hilly areas.
And IMHO I don't care whare it's made, it's a Chevrolet. And the majority of my money spent on our HHR will end up right here in the USA. If I wanted huge gas mileage numbers, that's what I would have shopped for. If I wanted all looks, I'd have bought a Vette. I opted for the HHR based on my family's needs, not someone else's opinion; and I'm very satisfied with what we got, and what we paid for it. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and to voice it. But to tell someone else that they are wrong based on one's own opinion seems pretty hypocritical. If you don't like it, say so and move on, but there are only so many ways to say you don't like it. If you do like it, give your opinion as well, and followup with whatever you think would be helpful to others considering the vehicle or to other owners as well.
Sorry for the rant, I guess it's the F Body Club Moderator in me coming out
Is there a board specifically for xenophobes somewhere around here?
From what I've been reading, Chinese cars are not of acceptable quality for export yet. I'd rather have a car assembled in Mexico any day of the week - unless it's a VW. Of course, it doesn't matter where those are built. They're unreliable because they're Volkswagens.
As far as Canadian models being more reliable than U.S. built models, I'd love to see some data to back up that statement. That sounds like conjecture and politics talking to me.
Two of the most reliable cars I've ever owned, a Buick Park Ave. and a Chrysler NY, were both assembled in the U.S. And the two most unreliable, a Pontiac 6000 and Isuzu Stylus, were built in Canada and Japan respectively. Recently, Chrysler's most reliable cars have been built in Mexico (the PT Cruiser and Sebring/Stratus) and its least reliable (the minivans and now deceased LH sedans) were built in Ontario.
I think you need to keep in mind that modern auto assembly lines are highly automated and the reliability/quality factor is baked in long before the robots do their work. I.e., if your parts suppliers are good and the engineering solid, the car should be reliable - whether it's built in Canada, Mexico, the U.S. or Japan.
Why are these the best plants. My experience there shows that both the salaried and hourly employees feel the need to have the best cars built. They work constantly at improving quality. The hourly were always helpful and would do anything I asked to improve the vehicles they built.
Now US plants were not far behind in attitude but not quite the same. I have no idea why but it is what I saw. Actually I feel, overall, the union folks in Canada really have a little different attitude than those in US. Anyway , this is my opinion.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/premium/printedition/Sunday/transportatio- n/chi-0508210205aug21,1,2981459.column?ctrack=1&cset=true
As far as your opinion of the HHR is concerned, I believe any vehicle with a 4 cylinder going up-hill will do the same thing. Try it with a Scion. I've driven the Scion, HHR, Matirx/Vibe, PT, small trucks, Mazda 3, and many others and they all upshift going up hills. Putting the transmission in a lower gear will alleviate the problem.
BTW, of all the small cars I listed, the HHR is the most versatile, comfortable and well made (in my opinion). With my GM card rebates and haggling abilties, my purchase price for my 2LT was 13,500, retailed for 20,000. "You Can't Touch This" 107 Main. BTW, mine did not have any of the so called mark-up fees mentioned by others.
As far as assembly goes, my PT made in Mexico, has not had any problems.
Unless the map has changed Mexico is located in America.
Loren
in what region of the country was this?
Are you sure the HHR has Pioneer radio? I think it could be Panasonic
jt
At the top of the HHR forum there is a consumer review area where I have read others that get mileage into the 30's mpg, and another around 40 mpg highway.
I agree with the Delco radio comments, they have always been known to be the best stock radio.
We are very happy with our car. It is a manual. I haven't seen the gas mileage ratings as high as stated by others. Ours is closer to the 23 city, 30 hwy range. Still, not bad. I have a Pontiac Vibe with a manual trans. and it gets 30 city, 36 hwy. It has a 1.8L Toyota engine. The HHRs 2.4L is on par as far as the NVH is concerned. I think the HHR is comparable with any import, domestic in its class. Really, really love the versatility and the comfort.
Do not agree with the Edmunds review.
I'm in late forties and drive very economically. I wondered if it was the use of the AC that was killing my mileage. But got to have AC. I figured it from the dash tabulator and the old fashioned way. Even made sure not being syphoned out at night. Wow this is a disappointment because I really like the HHR. Does anyone have any suggestions?? other than getting rid of it.
Going in Monday to see dealer because I ponied up the savings for this so would not have payments, and this is a far cry from what I was lead to believe it would get.
Loren
You said you have 1,190 miles on the car. Maybe it will get better around 2k to 3k miles on her. If not, see what Chevy has to say. Is this with four people in the car? A lot of cold engine driving? You really should be around 20 to 22 MPG in town, I would think.
Loren
Your 24.6 and 26.9 mileage on the freeway is actually quite good. My PT Cruiser freeway mileage was 23-24 on the freeway; our CR-V mileage is 24-27 on the freeway. My daily commuter, a 2005 Focus ZX3, which weighs a lot less and has a stick shift, gets a dependable 31 mpg. The highest I ever got was 35 mpg with a Scion xA stick shift on my daily commute, and the same mpg on a stick shift Neon on an interstate trip.
Don't feel bad. Your life style (city driving) is what it is, and you have a solid, roomy vehicle.Imagine what SUV's get in city driving!
Under 20 mpg city driving, even with air, with this fuel efficient four-cylinder engine is unacceptible. I would think there is some kind of problem with the computer or something else.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/auto/car-news-car29.html
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I bet they forgot to take the parking brake off !
My new PT Cruiser is the only car I have owned which so far has gotten less than
the EPA. I do have to really baby it to get something around the mileage figures
the government had. I am pretty sure, all the other cars I have owned got pretty close
to the average, to as high as 10% greater than the EPA data. A GM V6 usually delivers
at EPA gas figures, to 10% higher. The HHR, like the PT is going to catch more wind,
and are heavier cars, so a little heavier foot trying to more the weight along, or a strong
wind, or a hill to go up really hammers the gas mileage. My '98 Corolla would get around 38 to 40 MPG on the freeway, yet a strong head wind and a hill or two, would dump it down into the 32 MPG range. If it was blockier and weighed in higher, that
difference would be magnified.
What CR and others do in tests to get such poor gas mileage in the average car is beyond me. Most cars, in the 1990's got up to 10% better than sticker. Well, perhaps
Fords did not. But that is hearsay for people griping, and not based on any testing.
Loren
Your statements certainly do not agree with the hundreds of complaints in the Edmunds forums of people "constantly" complaining about not getting the EPA figures but a lot less"!!!!!
Loren
As far as hp, pretty weak compared to my 108 hp motorcycle. For a small utility vehicle, its right on. If I wanted a hot rod, I would have looked for one.
It draws a lot of looks. People pull up along side at red lights and ask about it or walk up to us at restaurants and want to talk. We like it. We got the 2LT with everything except the XM. Oh yes, regular gas - no pinging. I quizzed the dealer pretty hard about this one after reading this board. Hope everyone gets a ride they like, whatever you choose.
HHR LT1, 2.4 , auto, pioneer, Fog Lights, Roof Rails, MSRP $19200, I only paid $17168.
I had to order it 6-8 weeks. The problem I had is that every 2.4 in omaha was loaded, leather, onstar etc etc etc pushing the MSRP to $22000 +.
I hate waiting.
I say:
I personally have a Honda Civic hybrid..you know the one with the little 1.3 engine and CVT transmission. No shifting noise and very, very little motor noise going up any hill. The new 4cyl Honda Element and CRV dont do this to any extent.
Toyota Camry 4cyl, none of this constant shifting...and 35+ miles per gallon.
Scion..Drove one of those too, 250 miles, nothing like the shifting in the HHR. I think GM could do some adjustments and help that problem. If I want to be shifting gears, I would get a straight drive! Dont get me wrong, I like the HHR. Just drove another new one 250 miles mostly interstate. Great radio and nice driving vehicle. Chevy should sell a lot of them. Dealers are selling them quickly. Gas mileage figures could be better however. Have now driven 3 of them and all around 26 mpg on road <20 around town.