Right you are, Another fine example of GM's incompetence....because ads with music from the 70's always portrays an image of youth.

 

Totally off topic but realted to the last posts.... what is up with advertising? Do these people not get it? Chevy and other American car companiesdon't seem to know what young and fun is. Like I'm gonna want to buy a car becuase the add has "Majic Carpet Ride" in it... I'm 28, quite gainfully employed and ready to spend a lot on fun... shouldn't I be included in their target market? I wasn't even thought of when that song came out.. hell... I don't even know if my mom was old enough to vote when that song was out.

Companies like MINI and Scion have these funky, quirky commercials that people like me love and that people a little older in years but still young at heart look at and go "oo, that looks fun".

I have seen a few HHR's around town, even saw one just now at lunch and every one of them is driven by people twice my age and every one of them has been that same gold color that bored us all to death on the last generation of Malibu (I used to work for Chevy.. don't get me started).

Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone the other day about those newer commericials for one of the big investment companies that uses Paul McCartney. First of all... Sir Paul is richer than God... wtf? Second of all... most of the original and hardcore Beatles fans are very close to or even past retirement age... why are you trying to woo them? What about me and my nearly 40 years left in the workforce? Hmmmm.

I should change careers.

 

The Ranier is based on the Trailblazer/Envoy SUV platform. The Rendevoux is the vehicle based upon the same platform as the Aztec.

 

The Chevy HHR rides on the same "Delta" platform as the Chevy Cobalt compact sedan/coupe and the Saturn ION. Think of the HHR the "stylish" version of the Cobalt/Ion on a tall wagon design.

Brian Nesbitt is the original designer of the Chrysler PT Cruiser and in recent years he went over to GM. The HHR is basically another Nesbitt design, hence the similirarity to the PT Cruiser.

I had an opportunity to check out the HHR at the Autoshow last week. My first impressions that fit and finish were on par with anything Honda/Toyota and the interior felt solid and substantial. It is a nice looking wagon, but like the PT Cruiser, its about show and not much go.

The HHR is competitively priced at around $18K-$20K for a nicely optioned version which is around the price of a Cooper hardtop.

Nice car, but another wasted opportunity by GM to create a class leader not only in looks but also in performance and handling.

You get what you paid for. The HHR is no MINI by any stretch of the imagination but in the future it will be a direct competitor of the MINI Clubman wagon.

 

The guy that created the Aztec came back to design the new corvette.... mmmmmmmmm hot. he has more than made up for that MAJOR screwup...

haha saw an HHR at lunch today. its just terrible.

 

Nesbitt was "one" of the creators of the PT. But he had little to do with the HHR as it was already well on it's way when he joined GM.

The guys who promoted the Aztek and the Monti-Clown Car was Wayne Cherry, ex VP of GM Design...he got "retired"

The guy who did the C6 (I know him) had nothing to do with the Aztek...

 

For what it is worth I will say that the irony to what you and I have both said is that so much of todays "new" music is simply re-done covers of songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But you are right, it seems the songs from these ads are not redone but are the originals or close copies.

As for the investment firm using Paul I would say that the older crowd is exactly what they are looking for people that already have money to invest rather than the younger crowd of people that want to "build" an investment.

 

I am sorry and thank you - you are right and Rendezvous is what I meant when I said Ranier.

 

The HHR offers 2 4Cyl engines with different displacements. I think GM should have done with the HHR what Chrysler didn't do with the PT Cruiser... Give it the powertrain to go with the looks. There are no V-6 or V-8 engine options, no turbo or superchargers available and no rear wheel drive either.

I would say the HHR is a nice alternative for someone looking for a disntictively styled vehicle, offering the practicality of a station wagon/SUV, without the high fuel costs of a real SUV, the poor handling and the high center of gravity.

On the other hand, if you are craving for power, handling and performance in the HHR , look elsewhere. The HHR is an economy car at heart and drives and handles like such. I would say it is a much nicer alternative to a Chevy Malibu, even the Cobalt it shares its underpinnings with.

 

I dunno... I've got tons of investment ahead of me and so do others my age... but for people the age of my mom (huge Beatles fan), her investments are set and she's not about to switch them up this late in life... nor is she going to buy an HHR

I have had a chance to see the HHR in person many times... stock and at car shows. They do look pretty cool when they are modded. There was a blue one at some of the bigger shows at the beginning of this year that I liked and some of the custom ones at SEMA were HOT... of course this is after thousands and thousands of dollars worth of work.

 

AMC pacer ,Gremlin,Yugo, Chevette, Ford Pinto all these cars have something in common all quirky hatchbacks kinda like our beloved Mini. Of course they all sucked to drive and own, but I actually like the look of all but the Yugo and Chevette.

As for the Aztek it was one ugly vehicle, but on the inside it was one of the most versitile I have ever seen. One of my freinds rented one and said he was going to buy one for two reasons 1. it was versitile 2. He would be inside and not have to look at it

The HHR should do fairly well it is a van/SUV that looks like a retro lump. But I am sure people will just stay with their gas hog XXL SUV's. If GM were smart they would have just come out with a HHR sized Hummer god knows the only thing GM can sell these days are Hummers.

 

Looks are subjective, and I can appreciate the HHR is not for everyone. However, the HHR is actually selling well and getting decent reviews. As C4 pointed out, it's on the same platform as the Cobalt, so an HHR "SS" variant with a supercharged Ecotech 4 cylinder (same as the Cobalt SS) is a natural within a few years.

For a sub $20K car, it offers decent utility, "distinctive" looks, and quality commensurate with or exceeding what I would expect for the price.

As one previous poster mentioned, though, the A pillars do create a TREMENDOUS blind spot. But other than that I was really sort of impressed with the one I had for a week.

 

I don't really understand what is wrong with the big American automakers but if I did I'd be pretty damn rich! However I definitely have an opinion on this...

The Japanese know the American market better then the American automakers. They make distinctive, low prices high quality cars... Hell, when Honda developed the NSX the reviews were a Ferrari with the mantainence of an Accord. Anyone who says these cars have no soul has never owned a CRX! You got to give it to the Japanese for proving hybrids are viable... Heck how many hybrid models do Japanese automakes sell 6? 7? How many US hybrids? 1? Remember the early 70s (I don't)... when GM was making beefed up muscle cars, the Japanese were developing fuel economy... They're at it again! My dad has an Insight and it definitly has life plus it looks pretty cool.

Not sure what point I'm trying to make... definitely rambling here... I guess I want to say the the Japanese move forward while the American automakers have to be dragged kicking and screaming! Did we really need another PT cruiser clone? How about pretending you are the world leader in automakers GM???

 

I know I'm going to get hammered for this by you Miniacs but here goes... I own a 2001 manual transmission PT Cruiser. I have used it for my "sales car" for almost 5 years now and I have 121k miles on it. Let me repeat that 121K miles. Over the 121k miles, I have put new brakes 2 times, replaced the clutch twice, had lots of oil changes, changed tires twice and that's it. No major breakdowns, just a very solid performing $17K car. The automatic tranny PT is a dog but my manual has pep. (hey, stop laughing in the back!) I also loaded it up twice a week for my work at the farmers market with the following...an EZup 10 foot tent, 2 six foot "Costco" tables, a 90 pound tabletop nutroasting machine with propane tank, 7 boxes of 12 ounce balsamic bottles that each weighed around 10 pounds each and a few small boxes...all with the back door closed and nothing sticking out any windows. That is a lot of stuff to fit in a car and people were amazed I could get all that stuff in and out and set up my display in about 15 minutes. It still runs very well.

Here's my point, for me, it was a very functional car since I could use it as a "sales car" and also a truck. I know no other car would function as both. It also got a ton of people either really liking it, saying how much they loved it, or others say they hated it and it looked like the stupidest thing ever manufactured. Pretty much exactly what people think of Mini's. they either love them to death like all of us here on this forum or think they are stupid little death traps on wheels that shouldn't be allowed on the road. There were even PT Cruiser forums that were no different from this one where people wrote about waiting for their cars and all the mods they were doing to their PT's. In fact, you could go to a PT forum and just delete PT and type in MINI and they would be almost identical. Whenver a car is different looking, people have passionate feelings one way or another for the car. I'm not slamming anyones opinion because if you hate the PT, you hate it. I just wanted to post what a great car it has been for me.
Oh and by the way, I can't wait to Motor when my car comes in!!!!!
OK, slam away, I'll be hiding behind this rock, hehe

 

But beefed up muscle cars are awesome




And on the PT Cruiser... I'm glad you like it, I'm glad when anyone really likes their car, thats the whole point. But the thing that stuck in my head was two clutches... two clutches! My 97 Civic has 109K on it when it got totalled and was on the original clutch... ouchie!

 

Bend over for that spanking, fitch!

Just kidding....I think a lot of us on NAM have had non-car nuts ask us if our MINIs are PTs, which always throws us! Anything different-looking must appear generically different to the non-car buffs.

Sounds like you've gotten more than your money's worth out of your PT....that's cool.

 

Jenn, I had a Honda Accord b4 the PT so I was bummed at 2 clutches too but it wasn't that expensive so not a big deal to me. Mini Clo, I can't wait to hear somone ask me how I like my PT. I can see myself now with that deer in the headlights look thinking back to this moment...and ya batter be tall if ya wanna spank this booty cause i'm 6'4 , but that's probably how you saw me hiding behind the rock, :smile:

 

all he did was take the C5 and make it look cheap and asian. might have been brilliance if it was a supra. but the vette... it's been bastardized.

 

This isn't really quite so much about slamming the PT as it is wondering why Chevy would copy it in making the HHR and it taking them like five or six years to do it. I suppose imitation is the height of flattery but the PT is a few years old now and really is no longer anything new. Heck even the MINI is being restyled slightly next year and there are nowhere near as many MINIs are on the road.

Hey somewhere in the world (I think like South Africa????) the PT has our MINI engine. It was a joint Chrysler BMW project for a reason.

So you can now not only be happy with your personal experience with your PT but you can now smile for your beloved PT being copied.

 

I am not a vette guy and definitely not a Chevy guy but I understand that the new vette is getting some rave reveiws as the best vette in years.

 

Lots of fellas wanting spankings today! Must be sucking up to Santa, I guess, as y'all try to get on the "nice" list, when we all know you are terribly "naughty!"

 

I was trying to stay out of this one, but couldn't resist sneaking another look.
I, too, have a 2001 PT Cruiser (automatic, Atlanta traffic what can I say).
I have driven it alot, it has been my everyday vehicle for a Lacrosse Mom, trips to the barn, carpool, girls weekends to the mountains, you name it.
I have loved shocking the people at delivery places, I put a new washer AND a TV in it at Best Buy once. My brother has borrowed it to haul his drum set. So far the only things I've replaced are the tires and one window switch that got crushed by a large clumsy kid (the placement of the rear window controls IS stupid). I have chuckled to myself how similar to the PT forums this forum is. I've been through the wait, the tracking, the fun add-ons with that car which is why when my MINI gets here on Wednesday, I won't be parting with the PT. It will still be my everyday workhorse and the MINI will be my personal little escape.
As to the HHR, I was one of the many PT owners paid to be in multiple study groups to come up with a bigger "retro style" family car. Having said that, I don't love the HHR and would definately never buy one, but I can see the appeal to someone who doesn't want "another" SUV or a sedan type station wagon. The price is another bonus to a family, alot of useful features without the huge sticker of the big SUVs. Will it "compete" with the MINI, nah, not even in the same game. People looking at the HHR wouldn't consider a MINI a comparable vehicle and vice versa.
Annette

 

There's something that Honda does with their clutches... I had a '91 Integra. 229K miles. Original clutch. And I beat the snot out of that car.

The automobile can invoke passion in a lot of people. The passion we have for the MINI is no different than that of a modded-out Civic's owner... or a Mustang owner's... or a 4x4 truck owner...

My first real "project car" was a '78 Ford F-150 4x4 that I put a 6" lift on and 36" tires - the total anti-MINI. Yeah, it was silly and I wouldn't do 36" tires again, but I was young and it was fun at the time... 16 years ago... and I still look at a nicely modded truck no different than I look at a nicely modded MINI.

A true car enthusiast appreciates the passion of a fellow enthusiast and the work they have put into their car or truck, even if they do not share the same point of view.

 

We are not slamming the PT here at all.....The PT was cutting edge and unique at the time....It created a market even if it was mostly a neon. Crysler is the only american car maker that has a clue on how to create enthusiasm for a car, whether that is youth and styling or reliability and practicallity....Chrysler engines are very close to the hondas and toyotas in quality IMO....

EXACTLY....GM especially just doesn't get it! They are still out there trying to create a vanilla car that everyone likes....Even with the HHR! they are out there polling PT owners to create a compititor after 5 years! Come on.....As car lots pile up with SUV's they continue to roll production full speed ahead and best of all....... They kill the resale value of thier product by thier production and marketing tactics making thier cars less desirable in the process because even if thier cars are as reliable, You dont want to buy one because it's resale dropps like a rock....unlike japenesse cars, and after 10 years your honda is worth up to 3 times as much as your 10yr old chevy.....It just doesnt make sense to buy american cars these days.

 

Your post made me think about what GM's logic was with the SSR. The best selling vehicles in the US by far are pickup trucks. I think #1 seller being the Ford F150 and #2 being the Chevy Silverado. The number 3 selling car I think is a very distant thitd and then I think there are two more pickups in the top ten selling vehicles. And then of course we know how popular the SUVs have been in the last few years. So maybe GM is thinking "let's make everything more like a truck, even our sports cars".

Ford is pretty vanilla too for the most part. The new cars being the Ford 500 and the Fusion are not exactly styling eye catchers. But they do seem very functional. Ford seems to favor the fleet market where vanilla and value and functionality seem to be the norm.

I have never owned a Chrysler. No particular reason really. I have never favored American cars but I have owned a Ford or two and one Chevy and many years ago a Buick. I agree that Chrysler seems to have the best styling of the big three but one thing that has kept me away is what I constantly hear about transmission problems.

It is absolutely astounding how a company like GM can get so stagnant and how with the nearly unlimited resources they have they just don't seem to realize that their dramatic drop in market share has happened for a reason (or reasons) and even with all the resources they have they just can't seem to reverse that trend. With all the nameplates they have you might think they could produce many vehicles to satisfy every market and every niche rather than make so many vanilla vehicles that are essentially the same across all their domestic brands leading them eventually to elimate a brand that had been around for many many years because there was no longer anything distinctive about it. Of course both Chrysler and Ford to this too but to a lesser degree with not as many domestic brands.

So Plymouth is gone, Oldsmobile is gone - I wonder who will be next?