Loving the HHR - A Life Retired

With 3000 miles already logged on the ‘HR, I am enjoying the little ride. My husband picked a good one when he decided to steer us in this direction. It’s fun to drive! An average of 26 miles per gallon, so far, and I’m loving the HHR!

The things that makes it most fun

The things that makes it most fun to drive are the steering and it’s low center to gravity. I really believe it’s steering is tighter than the Buick’s. With absolutely no play in the wheel, there is no forgiveness for looking at the scenery, your off the road before you know it. It’s best to keep eyes on the road.

It sits low without having to pull yourself up out of the vehicle. I’m not sure how that is possible but I enjoy going into curves without having brake to disengage the cruise control. It’s cornering ability is the best. Not to mention it’s reaction to missing dead animals in the road and pot holes. The HHR is able to zip around anything without putting the driver in a panic.

It meets my needs

Add to that the fact that it meets my needs and you have one happy camper behind the wheel! The rear seats and cargo area are hard plastic instead of carpet. Everything I haul around will be easily cleaned up after. Not like staining a carpet!

It also has just enough amenities to make the ride enjoyable:

Automatic headlights – turn on at dusk
cruise control in the steering wheel
radio controls in the steering wheel
fog lights
Dimming rear view mirror
Lumbar support
electric windows
remote start
car alarm

Those are all things that I really needed to make the vehicle an easy and painless transition. It didn’t come with Bluetooth, but am able to work around it. I also didn’t get a compass in the mirror or dash but so far that hasn’t been a big deal either.

No ABS brakes

The most noticeable missing thing is not having ABS brakes. You can definitely tell they are absent in the few times I and my husband have had to stand on the brakes to avoid hitting a fawn (hubby) and a couple of bucks (me). The ‘HR has front disk and rear drum breaks. It still stops but not as quickly.

The car is a coaster too. It will even coast uphill for a short distance! I had to re-learn coasting up on people on the highway when I turn off the cruise instead of breaking.

It has more than enough power

I don’t baby any vehicle I drive. Getting up to speed on an highway entrance ramp is essential. Passing someone on rural roads has to be mindful of the horses under the hood. There’s no comparison of the ‘HRs ability to pass to the Buick’s. The Buick sports a 6 cylinder, while the ‘HR has a tiny – but full of heart – 4 cylinder.

There are no complaints about the get up and go of this little car. It does 80 mph without hesitation, but you can literally watch the gas gauge drop. Since we bought it for the miles per gallon; I: try to keep it under 75 mph; make an effort to engage the cruise at every possibility; and even though it has no bearing, the gas gauge never gets below 1/4 tank. I read somewhere that it’s not good on the car to let it run empty or close to it.