March 6, 2006
Rental Car Review: Chevy HHR
Today Avis issued me a Chevy HHR as my rental vehicle. Last week, it was the Ford Focus, and I was pretty happy with that – unfortunately I never found time to blog about it. That said, I’m pretty disappointed with the HHR.
While the interior is pretty nice, the blind spots on this car are pretty dramatic. Here’s an example:
And then there’s this mysterious control. What do you think it does?
Overall, the horsepower is a bit lacking, the steering is really loose, the blind spots are really awful, as well as the visibility through the rear window. And the radio reception for my favorite hard to receive channel was terrible.
I’m afraid I’ll have to give it a thumbs down.
13 Comments to “Rental Car Review: Chevy HHR”
March 6th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
does it turn off the passenger side airbag?
March 6th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
So… i actually tracked down the manual on Chevrolet.com, so I know the answer is no.
Also, it’s rotary switch – so… if it did control the airbag, it would be able to set the airbag intensity I guess. From full air bag to little air bag.
In reality, what it does is control the instrument lighting level. No wonder I couldn’t figure it out today during the day…
January 14th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I have an HHR and I’m wondering if the model you got was of the lower end, with the smaller engine. I drive an LT and it has enough oomph to get me around town. I think what people forget about this car is that it’s not a peppy sports sedan…it’s technically a wagon.
I was also going to comment on the instrument lighting switch, but you’ve got it all sorted out I see
April 25th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
The switch controls the brightness of your dash lights. Also, the blind spots disappear once you drive the car longer than a week. I own one and love it. It’s a sporty SUV type car.
May 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Psst…just an f.y.i., that little knob controls the panel’s brightness. It darkens or brightens dashboard lights.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I have an LS and my wife has an LT. Both were bought used. You get used of the blind spots after while. I did have one really close one though.
The big mystery for me was the purple light in the headliner. It took me awhile to figure that one out. Couldn’t find it in the book anywhere. The Chev dealer couldn’t tell me what it was for and wouldn’t believe me when I told him what it was for.
I think an extended warranty on these are a good idea. I just had a $400.00 extended warranty job done on mine. I couldn’t get the key to off so couldn’t get it out. I have mine set so it is impossible to lock the keys in if the key is in the ignition. I of course couldn’t lock it up and I couldn’t turn the lights on the heater panel controls off. That was enough to run the battery stone dead overnight. Of course I should have taken the battery cable off. Hindsight is 20/20. There was a piece in the gear shift broke was the cause of the problem.
Lots of interesting stuff has happened. When I got it one key worked pretty good in the ignition but it was really hard to unlock the door with it. Finally went to the dealer and it turned out I had the wrong keys. The cuts on the new keys weren’t even close to the right keys.
I just had my wife’s in the shop because the power mirrors couldn’t be moved. They have to order a new switch for it.
As a whole though I like the HHR in spite of everything especially the the gas mileage for the size of vehicle.
Normally you can lock cars manually and the alarms won’t go off but there is a trick to these that dealer had to show me. I set mine off constantly when I first got it because the last vehicle I had didn’t have power locks so I out of habit used the key.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Line about keys should read, Cuts on the new keys weren’t even close to the wrong keys.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:13 am
i love my HHR. I did have a PT Cruiser. But about that button, it’s actually the interior light strenght control. when ur lights are on at night, they turn on the deck lights to high or low.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I just bought a Chevy HHR LT 2006 two weeks ago. I really do love the model as it reminds me of the British cabs in some way. Since i’ve bought it, i’ve had to buy a new tire, my right blinker needs to have the bulb replaced, and the temporary paper license plates flew off during a windy day. I’m usually used to having all the bad luck when it comes to used cars, but I’m trying to not let it affect me (i’m of a nervous constitution)or get me nervous-especially when driving on freeways.
Aside from all of this, or rather the main reason i’m writing is to ask if anyone has had trouble with the keys and starting the ignition. I press the top button like the man at the dealership told me. He said i was to press it and hold it down for about 10 seconds or so and then try to start the car. but it seems i always have to attempt it about three times before the car can finally start. I have read the manual and i know it has a remote Start option, but i can’t seem to do it right sometimes. Anyway, it is only a bother when i have to run errands that only last a few minutes and then i have to go through this whole process each time i have to start the car.
If anyone can help me with this, i’d greatly appreciate it.
P.S.
.
It’s nice to see a blog out there for HHR lovers out there
March 21st, 2008 at 8:42 am
Press the lock button first, then hold the “turnover” button until the car starts (1-2 seconds).
April 27th, 2008 at 7:28 am
OK. I’m confused. My wife just bought a 2007 HHR yesterday. The purpose of that little purple light in the headliner is driving me crazy!! Can someone please tell me what it is?
Thanks,
March 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I imagine that Misseleman has long since found out what the light is for. It tells you that automatic headlight sensor is calling to turn the lights on. It will be on even if you turn the lights on manually because the sensor will still be saying hey it’s time for the lights to come on automatically. The purple light will not be on on a sunny day and often on rainy or foggy days that light won’t be on so you know that you have to turn the lights on manually. I don’t know about other states but in Minnesota if there is rain hitting your windshield your headlights better be on unless you want to help out with the states budget problems.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I rented a HHR at enterprise car rental and they said I broke the key off in the switch . I was charged 177.46 for repairs.
I’ll never rent from Enterprise again.
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