Not saying that xBs are bad, or Civics for that matter. What I'm saying is that the reason that most people are going to buy an HHR, PT Cruiser or yes, a MINI is for the fun retro styling. I know my mom bought her Cooper for that reason. She isn't going on any MINI runs, let alone track days - she just thinks it's a fun, cute little car.

The xB has quirky styling, but it's a modern looking car, not a retro looking car, like the MINI, PT and HHR. The big draw of the PT and HHR is the retro styling, otherwise just get a minivan. Suggesting an xB to someone who loves the HHR styling is sort of a waste of breathe.

 

Exactly! Panels and sedan deliveries have always been hot-rodder favorites.

An HHR panel done up like this would be cool:

 

the HHR panel i sat in was very small, carpeted, cheap feeling/looking interior, cramped and dark. i would be surprised if a full sheet of plywood fit in the back, i wouldnt be comfortable putting a full size ladder on the roof even if it does come with roof racks. i would rather see a contractor pull up in a Honda Element than an HHR, figure the element looks better (my opinion), more than likely gets better mileage, will probably run longer, has an interior you can hose out, is probably more fun to drive, flat floor...you get my point

 

BARFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!
they didn't even smooth out the seem where the back doors should be. this thing is attrocious.
if you do the body work and take out the seam and add the classic look i could a least respect it. but if you left it plain and put the magnet on your car i would just be depressed.

 

There are back doors on it /the seam is ugly !

 

And the bright white only enhances the seams- a darker color would hide those much better but you said it has to be white.

Have you looked into the Silverado hybrid? It's new and motortrend got 24 mpg in mixed driving.

 

I see HHRs all the time, but I have only came across one or two of the panel version. Both were red. I kinda like them in red...they remind me of an old fire truck.

That white one is pretty atrocious.

 

I think the HHR Panel is a sweet car. 10x better than the regular HHR. But the white panel does look pretty bad...

 

If the HHR won't do and a full size is too big/inefficient how about a Toyota Tacoma?? If you get the base model it's in the same range as the HHR price wise an probably gets close to the same MPG. It maybe boring to look at but a truck like that has a tool appeal-it's not sexy but it works, and works and works.

 

do the sedan doors open or did chevy cut costs and weld em shut..

still gross

 

I believe they still open, but only from the inside.

 

the HHR is a horrid excuse for a vehicle. I'd rather buy a Sprinter. I know one for sale in San Diego...a vendor here selling it

 

Well played.

 

I love Toyota's,I've had lot's including a couple trucks . The new Tacoma has a strange seat , it's like your sitting on the floor with your legs strait out .Tacoma gets 20-25 mpg and I've heard you rarely get 20 and HHR 22-30 mpg and have heard you usualy get closer to 30 .Seeing that people have strong feelings for and against the HHR could steer me away thats why I posted the question ,It's also why I didnt try to work out of a PT Cruiser .That and if I spill paint thinner or paint I have to smell it ,unlike a truck . Oil base paints are are not sold in California anymore so the fumes thing is not as much as an issue .

 

there's a contractor around my area that motors around a jetta or a
passat wagon (i forget which). they even have roof racks carrying
their ladders. white with company info on the side. very stylish imho.

 

My first paint truck in 1979 was a VW Rabbit hatch back , surf racks on the roof for ladders ,It worked fine .Station wagons are not that un common for painters .

 

sounds like a plan.

 

This ones 200 HP I could get to work real fast !

 

...and if you turn the ladders sideways you'll take flight!

(acutally that one is more like 600hp if I remember correctly)

 

so that's wat the texans were seeing a few weeks ago in the skies...

 

The back doors do open. They have "poppers" inside the door frame that has a button in the front that you can press to pop the door open. There's also a button on the key fob that can pop the door open too.

 

This is how an HHR SHOULD look!!! Dad and I have a joke, HHR=Hardly a Hot Rod!

 

They're cool. Go for it!

 

I am contemplating the next truck for our Airbag Service business as well. We will be keeping our full size chevy cargo van (10-12 mpg) and adding a "quick service" vehicle that i can write estimates and do diagnostics and clear airbag lights from. with fuel costs NEVER going down, that is definitely the driving force. I have it narrowed down to an Element, or an HHR-but-you gotta have a stick/2wd Element to get over 20ish. The awd/autos, with mostly intown driving, average about 19ish, from my impromptu survey of owners at gas pumps over the past 6 months. I don't mind the stick at all in the honda, unsure about a GM fwd in either stick or auto. Plus, of course, my heart yearns for the turbo HHR, which would defeat thepurpose of a beat it work vehicle that gets fuel mileage-might as well buy a clubman!! decisions decisions......