I never really liked these, the SSR, or the 'new' T-Birds as they incorporated too much of today's rounded body styling into something which was supposed to look older. The more pointed hood of the PT Cruiser and the fewer blended swoopy curves looked the part better. And like with the mini-vans, being first to market with a concept paid dividends to Chrysler in gaining a following others had to overcome. None of the other older attempts at making a "Neoclassic" car succeeded like the PT Cruiser. Once folks figured out that these types of cars were essentially just a cheaper model of an existing car or it's parts dressed in different clothing at a higher price they began to have less market appeal as there's really nothing special about that. It's that cheapness which likely killed them. The 'new' Mustangs, Camaro's, Challengers, and Chargers did succeed because they were new underneath and had something special to offer other than looks; those are not just a rehash of something cheaper dressed differently. I've always wondered how things might go if someone did one more nearly identical to the old model(s) it was based on outside with the advantage of newer technology inside. Maybe CAFE and safety ratings prohibit that here, but the newer 'clones' of the Lotus Seven are still popular and still in production in Europe for those in the market for that type of car. The older buyers who appreciate the 'nostalgia' are dying off and the younger folks are more attracted to modern designs. Given the financial state of US carmakers now I doubt that we'll see anything like this come along now or even in the future, and with Dodge being very likely to being owned by BYD of China soon there's almost no chance of their iconic "retro look" cars continuing. Anyhoo, another well-done episode about interesting cars and a pleasure to view as always.
@P_RO_ Very well put and thank you for sharing! Yeah, I would say attempts at literally offering a old model with updated tech on a large scale, just isn't feasible. Ever increasing safety mandates...Including things like designs to minimize injury to pedestrians, just would make it prohibitively expensive.
I currently own and drive a 2009 HHR 1LT Half Panel, and love it. Paid just under four grand two years ago, and it's holding up well. Great fuel mileage too. About to replace the front wheel hubs and bearings, and new shocks up front. Mainly my work vehicle, as I drive my 2000 Subaru Outback on the daily.
These were great to drive. I didn’t want to give them back as rentals. Probably one of the most practical designs of the 2000’s. They weren’t built to last with typical GM failures, but probably outlasted most PT Cruisers.
@gregg9672 LOL..I haven't eyeballed a running one in a few years now. Considering that some are less than 15 years old, that's a little surprising to me.
@@autochatter I am just outside The Villages and have seen plenty still on the road here. I rented one years ago and liked it other than the center console dug into my right knee a bit.
You did a good job. I was watching closely. I laughed at the Malibu Barbie footage. I saw the Dollar Tree name around the footage of the interior. I guess that was a way of saying it was cheap. I saw so many GM parts on the interior because it used a lot of GM bin parts. That is not necessarily a bad thing. wjen doing something with economies of scale. I recall Brian Nesbitt too. I also recall Bob Lutz the man with guts or Bob the Builder as I call him. I liked when you showed each time the GM cars that used the same engines and and the saame platform. That was just the North American brands. The HHR served its purpose. The Retro thing died too. Chrysler was building one upon until now the Dodge Challenger. You did a good job. I like the footage and the inside jokes too.
@OLDS98 Thank you Olds! Yeah the Dollar Tree logo I put there was for that reason. The Malibu Barbie was more obvious LOL. I know they had a lot of parts bin going on like most of the lineup then!
@@autochatter You are welcome. I thought those were inside jokes. The Malibu Barbie one was funny. Barbie had a Corvette. It is still funny. I saw the steering wheel and climate control in other GM cars. There were other parts, but they did great economies of scale to get the product character.
I have one of these lol. Very roomy for the size. I find them pretty decent and personally better looking than the PT, but most I've seen are not looking so well despite being not being to old. I think the retro look definitely devalued them when it came to the average persons upkeep. Keep up the fun vids!
I actually like these more than the PT Cruiser. But I wonder retro looks aside, if this would have been better if this was based on the malibu platform instead of the cobalt plattform. With AWD it eould have been Chevy first crossover. LOL Great video 😊
I have an 08, and I have mixed feelings after driving it for two years. The gas mileage and rear capacity are great, and I kinda like the center glove box. That said, the quality is typical GM bottom-of-the-barrel cheap. I've never owned a vehicle where the glove box hinge literally wore out (and it's not a replaceable part). The think nickels and dimes me so much, the MPGs don't seem like a huge win anymore. I could go on about the troubles I've had with this thing as compared to other cars I've had (that were much older, yet better built), but you get the idea.
Seems weird for as few you see today huh? Really sold about as well as the PT Cruiser, but those broke the million mark being sold about twice as long.
Thanks, I had an Optioned out 2006 RED! Well daughter totaled it so I got another HHR but a 2008 all options but turbo. Still driving it. Lower control arms cage nut is a pain in the butt.... Daughter now has this car and runs great. Maintenance is key! Change your oil!!!
For some reason I like these in the panel truck version.. wish I had one. Specially if manual transmission.. ss be best Idk y.. I live the old vehicles an I feel this is close to that from new age crap.. it not close to perfectly done but I dig it.. maybe bcuz there hated so much lol I like the first retro mustang also.. wish more company's did stuff like this from Hondas to gm an ford all of em it would be awesome
I think if they had stayed a little more like the concept you showed in white with the split grille they would have sold more. I remember my dad wrecked his Impala and absolutely refused an hhr rental. He was about to be told to come back tomorrow then, when an Impala came in. We were then on our way
Yeah the concept was a little more interesting....Happens alot unfortunately. I didn't really mind how the PT Cruiser or HHR looked myself. Didn't want either, but they seem to he pretty polarizing to many...Like a Nissan Cube.
I liked the panel version back then, but something about them felt clunky. The frontend design didn’t age very well at all. The quality was there for the best part. As usual, great episode
The front suspension in these just didn't hold up. I remember the shocks/springs needing replacement abnormally early. Unrelated, my co-worker was so excited to buy a then-new HHR. He knew better than to buy the first year of a model - better to get a 2nd year or later so they could work out the bugs. His 2007 was sure to be a reliable car! NOT! His steering wheel literally came off in his hands when parking it, and he scraped it all down the side of the adjacent car. He also had frequent issues with the dashboard. The engine had something wrong with fuel injection. He hated - HATED - that car before then end of his first year owning it. He wanted it to be stolen or destroyed in a storm. His wife called it "His Huge Regret" - HHR.
@autochatter I didn't understand his excitement for the car because I despised GM carbage in general at the time, and I didn't expect the HHR to be any different. He loved Chevrolet - they could do no wrong. Boy, the HHR turned him! He traded that for a Focus, which became famous for grenading transmissions. He made bad choices.
@jamesjohn834 If it's a feature you need,it makes all the difference. I knew a few people with PT Cruisers over the years, who didn't even know the rear seats came out!
I can remember the first time I got in one and thinking that Power Wheels kids cars had better interior quality🤢🤢🤮🤮🙄Just ABSOLUTE JUNK!! GM should've been ashamed!
If we are talking just purely looks, not necessarily mechanically speaking here, but I think I'd rather drive a PT cruiser or HHR over any mini van of that era, and any other crossover suv of any era, especially the current era, where literally every car/suv looks like a carbon copy of eachother. I can't tell the difference between A current range rover, a ford or some pile of garbage Kia/Hyundai. They all look the exact same.
I never really liked these, the SSR, or the 'new' T-Birds as they incorporated too much of today's rounded body styling into something which was supposed to look older. The more pointed hood of the PT Cruiser and the fewer blended swoopy curves looked the part better. And like with the mini-vans, being first to market with a concept paid dividends to Chrysler in gaining a following others had to overcome. None of the other older attempts at making a "Neoclassic" car succeeded like the PT Cruiser. Once folks figured out that these types of cars were essentially just a cheaper model of an existing car or it's parts dressed in different clothing at a higher price they began to have less market appeal as there's really nothing special about that. It's that cheapness which likely killed them. The 'new' Mustangs, Camaro's, Challengers, and Chargers did succeed because they were new underneath and had something special to offer other than looks; those are not just a rehash of something cheaper dressed differently.
I've always wondered how things might go if someone did one more nearly identical to the old model(s) it was based on outside with the advantage of newer technology inside. Maybe CAFE and safety ratings prohibit that here, but the newer 'clones' of the Lotus Seven are still popular and still in production in Europe for those in the market for that type of car. The older buyers who appreciate the 'nostalgia' are dying off and the younger folks are more attracted to modern designs. Given the financial state of US carmakers now I doubt that we'll see anything like this come along now or even in the future, and with Dodge being very likely to being owned by BYD of China soon there's almost no chance of their iconic "retro look" cars continuing.
Anyhoo, another well-done episode about interesting cars and a pleasure to view as always.
@P_RO_ Very well put and thank you for sharing! Yeah, I would say attempts at literally offering a old model with updated tech on a large scale, just isn't feasible. Ever increasing safety mandates...Including things like designs to minimize injury to pedestrians, just would make it prohibitively expensive.
I currently own and drive a 2009 HHR 1LT Half Panel, and love it. Paid just under four grand two years ago, and it's holding up well. Great fuel mileage too. About to replace the front wheel hubs and bearings, and new shocks up front. Mainly my work vehicle, as I drive my 2000 Subaru Outback on the daily.
@19chucki74 Thats cool and you have the one I think looked the best!
The 2003 Ford GT was an awesome retro reimagining that came out in that early 2000’s trend too.
@MaximillianPrintz Good point and the 05 Mustang could be considered a retro throwback too.
These were great to drive. I didn’t want to give them back as rentals. Probably one of the most practical designs of the 2000’s. They weren’t built to last with typical GM failures, but probably outlasted most PT Cruisers.
@BillLaBrie PT Cruisers catch alot of hate, but I still.see one running around every now and then.
@@autochatter The PT Cruiser hate is for the styling, usually. The hate should be for electrical and build problems that made them disposable.
@@BillLaBrie True.
Lord these things are sitting around broke down everywhere around here
@gregg9672 LOL..I haven't eyeballed a running one in a few years now. Considering that some are less than 15 years old, that's a little surprising to me.
@@autochatter Neighbor by me has one as his seasonal car here in Fl when he comes down in November.140000 miles and still a runner
@emeyer6963 I'm in Florida too. Saw a white Pannel a few days ago on 95 , and just saw a black LT while picking up lunch today.
@@autochatter I am just outside The Villages and have seen plenty still on the road here.
I rented one years ago and liked it other than the center console dug into my right knee a bit.
@@emeyer6963 Ah...North Florida. I'm in Palm Beach County.
You did a good job. I was watching closely. I laughed at the Malibu Barbie footage. I saw the Dollar Tree name around the footage of the interior. I guess that was a way of saying it was cheap. I saw so many GM parts on the interior because it used a lot of GM bin parts. That is not necessarily a bad thing. wjen doing something with economies of scale. I recall Brian Nesbitt too. I also recall Bob Lutz the man with guts or Bob the Builder as I call him. I liked when you showed each time the GM cars that used the same engines and and the saame platform. That was just the North American brands. The HHR served its purpose. The Retro thing died too. Chrysler was building one upon until now the Dodge Challenger. You did a good job. I like the footage and the inside jokes too.
@OLDS98 Thank you Olds! Yeah the Dollar Tree logo I put there was for that reason. The Malibu Barbie was more obvious LOL. I know they had a lot of parts bin going on like most of the lineup then!
@@autochatter You are welcome. I thought those were inside jokes. The Malibu Barbie one was funny. Barbie had a Corvette. It is still funny. I saw the steering wheel and climate control in other GM cars. There were other parts, but they did great economies of scale to get the product character.
@@OLDS98 That they did.
I have one of these lol. Very roomy for the size. I find them pretty decent and personally better looking than the PT, but most I've seen are not looking so well despite being not being to old. I think the retro look definitely devalued them when it came to the average persons upkeep. Keep up the fun vids!
@@ToyotaPrius-km9lb Thank you! I will continue to try!
I actually saw a white pannel version coming back from a road trip yesterday!
Interesting vid. I knew a guy in the military that had an HHR. It looked cool, but I heard they didn’t hold up too well though.
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon I was at a stoplight next to one yesterday, and I forgot how small they are in person.
I actually like these more than the PT Cruiser. But I wonder retro looks aside, if this would have been better if this was based on the malibu platform instead of the cobalt plattform. With AWD it eould have been Chevy first crossover. LOL
Great video 😊
@@Hobotraveler82 In hindsight, I think it may have made for a better vehicle! Great comment!
@@autochatter
Thank you
This car basically is GM's PT Cruiser, as it was designed by the same man that designed the PT Cruiser, Bryan Nesbitt
@jeremyanderson1139 Thats true! It was better executed I think in some ways, but was also a little late to the party.
I have an 08, and I have mixed feelings after driving it for two years. The gas mileage and rear capacity are great, and I kinda like the center glove box. That said, the quality is typical GM bottom-of-the-barrel cheap. I've never owned a vehicle where the glove box hinge literally wore out (and it's not a replaceable part). The think nickels and dimes me so much, the MPGs don't seem like a huge win anymore. I could go on about the troubles I've had with this thing as compared to other cars I've had (that were much older, yet better built), but you get the idea.
Most cars that age may start demanding more attention. The trick is when do you stop giving it in favor of a new one LOL.
Had no idea they sold as well as you have noted.
Seems weird for as few you see today huh? Really sold about as well as the PT Cruiser, but those broke the million mark being sold about twice as long.
Thanks, I had an Optioned out 2006 RED! Well daughter totaled it so I got another HHR but a 2008 all options but turbo. Still driving it. Lower control arms cage nut is a pain in the butt.... Daughter now has this car and runs great. Maintenance is key! Change your oil!!!
@J_J_Ander Nice! Good to hear there's still some running around! I haven't seen a HHR on the road in 5 years at least.
For some reason I like these in the panel truck version.. wish I had one. Specially if manual transmission.. ss be best
Idk y.. I live the old vehicles an I feel this is close to that from new age crap.. it not close to perfectly done but I dig it.. maybe bcuz there hated so much lol I like the first retro mustang also.. wish more company's did stuff like this from Hondas to gm an ford all of em it would be awesome
@Manchild..dadchild I do like that they made what would otherwise be a practical family vehicle, into somthing that looked a little more fun.
I think if they had stayed a little more like the concept you showed in white with the split grille they would have sold more. I remember my dad wrecked his Impala and absolutely refused an hhr rental. He was about to be told to come back tomorrow then, when an Impala came in. We were then on our way
Yeah the concept was a little more interesting....Happens alot unfortunately. I didn't really mind how the PT Cruiser or HHR looked myself. Didn't want either, but they seem to he pretty polarizing to many...Like a Nissan Cube.
I liked the panel version back then, but something about them felt clunky. The frontend design didn’t age very well at all. The quality was there for the best part.
As usual, great episode
@@Project_Low_Expectations Retro can be tough. Making a next gen Retro model can be tricky. Thank you for the props again!
The front suspension in these just didn't hold up. I remember the shocks/springs needing replacement abnormally early.
Unrelated, my co-worker was so excited to buy a then-new HHR. He knew better than to buy the first year of a model - better to get a 2nd year or later so they could work out the bugs. His 2007 was sure to be a reliable car! NOT! His steering wheel literally came off in his hands when parking it, and he scraped it all down the side of the adjacent car. He also had frequent issues with the dashboard. The engine had something wrong with fuel injection. He hated - HATED - that car before then end of his first year owning it. He wanted it to be stolen or destroyed in a storm. His wife called it "His Huge Regret" - HHR.
Wow...I don't think I would think highly of a model if I had that many issues either!
@autochatter I didn't understand his excitement for the car because I despised GM carbage in general at the time, and I didn't expect the HHR to be any different. He loved Chevrolet - they could do no wrong. Boy, the HHR turned him! He traded that for a Focus, which became famous for grenading transmissions. He made bad choices.
@@doug6191 Does he drive a Toyota by chance now? Experiences like that....Can change a man. 😆
@autochatter Last I knew, he had a mid-2010s Sonata. Probably for that 10-year warranty. 🤷♂️
@doug6191 Ehh..They have their share of issues too.
HHR- Hillbilly Hot Rod!
@@user-yk9mb5qz3c 😆
My favorite retro car is the 2005 mustang
@joemazzola7387 I liked those too.
Hot hemorrhoid roller
@@tholbrook422 LOL!
Biggest difference between the Cruiser and the HHR? Cruiser rear seats have always been removable.
@jamesjohn834 Thats true, but was it a feature the majority used often?
@@autochatter it was enough for me to choose the Chrysler over the Chevy.
@jamesjohn834 If it's a feature you need,it makes all the difference. I knew a few people with PT Cruisers over the years, who didn't even know the rear seats came out!
If these came out 4 or 5 years earlier they might of been a hit.
@@blue_lancer_es Agreed
Have you done the US market Mercury Capri? The mid-late 70s were so close to the Euro market cars but with ugly bumpers.
@robl7532 I have not. But am planning on a Capri one from that model, to the Mustang clone, and even the Austrailian Mazda based convertible.
@@autochatter brother sounds great. I was able to see the Ford Cosworth models run a touring car style at the ‘Ring a couple times.
@@robl7532 Yeah
..The first gen ones were pretty cool.
Parts bin car
If GM wasn't making mediocremobiles in the 2000s, this could have been better.
@@GeeEm1313 Can't argue with that!
I can remember the first time I got in one and thinking that Power Wheels kids cars had better interior quality🤢🤢🤮🤮🙄Just ABSOLUTE JUNK!! GM should've been ashamed!
@95blahblahhaha Yeah.....I give them a A for feature content, but the inside plastics was a fail
That's every gm foe a good 20 years
If we are talking just purely looks, not necessarily mechanically speaking here, but I think I'd rather drive a PT cruiser or HHR over any mini van of that era, and any other crossover suv of any era, especially the current era, where literally every car/suv looks like a carbon copy of eachother. I can't tell the difference between A current range rover, a ford or some pile of garbage Kia/Hyundai. They all look the exact same.
Yeah alot of the current crossovers are hard to tell apart untill you see the grille.
They were garbage cars
Ecotec terrible engine
@Doofwarrior88 Yeah...I didn't get into it, but they had some known issues.