enzl

Could be. But that doesn't make me wrong, necessarily. The HHR is not a halo vehicle, anymore than the PT is for Chrysler. Delta sales trended downward in a budget/economy minded marketplace (that rewarded plenty of other mediocre product with different nameplates)--that's a fact. My way might have preserved or added to the #'s & profitability. Instead you've got 2 underutilized factories....massive fleeting...depression of pricing with the G5 fiasco...and nowhere to go with the program in the future.

GM has built over 280K Cobalt/G5 's this year...how many more could have been sold, at higher transaction pricing? The Corolla had its highest sales ever late in its lifecycle...are you telling me that GM couldn't have leapfrogged that effort with a balls-out MCE instead of the HHR? The HHR is built is a separate facility, which requires a needless duplication of production...it isn't being exported in any great numbers & 30% of the output is fleet--and, since it doesn't share a body panel with any other product, it costs 2X each time the delta architecture is revised. And note...the 2.0 T DI gem hasn't yet made it to the Cobalt, but it's appearing first in this decidedly mediocre product! Any enthusiast wants to see it in a car before a trucklet. The HHR is a distraction (GM can ill-afford) from getting on with the business of great car-building, IMO.

...and a great local VW dealer to honor it! Half of the battle is the quality of their dealer network.

"Creepy Asians"??? You wanna hate on the two clear class standards (and sales winners), go ahead....but please don't use cheap interiors as the reason. The Escape, 'Nox trips and just about every other CUV in this price class has some interior issues. I like the Escape, but only the Vue has a really quality look and feel in this class---at the cost of 500-700 lbs. and all pretense of economy. None of these vehicles are sporty in a real car sense, but if you must shop for one of these, I happen to think the Forrester or Outback are the most 'car-like' in performance---the Subaru quirks are just a bonus in a class with little personality.

I would think about CPO's if she's going to trade out in a few years anyway (the Eclipse isn't that old.) BMW is running special finance rates on 04 3-ers...my mother -in-law just picked up a an 04 325 coupe for the low 20's @ 3.9%...The 05's should have similar programs anyday. I've also heard good things about Jag & Volvo CPO programs as well. As for the other cars mentioned new--I would never put my mom into a VW. Too hit or miss, IMO. As for Domestics, the depreciation will kill her...they'll be worth 25% of purchase price on trade. If she must have new, I like the C30 (& its cheaper cousin, the Mazda 3 even more), Accord coupe and the Mustang (because it's worth the $ you'll burn).

Isn't Wolfgang Bernhardt (sp?) a free agent right now? He would fit on the product side---and perhaps help 'internationalize' some of the larger platforms so they can be exported to Europe. It would make the transition to the post-Lutz era easier to have him around now---and ensure continuity if Lutz was to fall ill. Perhaps it makes too much sense for GM's Board or too much competition for Waggoner? It would gel nicely with replacing his ass as well.

Well. whether it's the new LaCrosse or the Impala you're talking about, GM's gotta make them winners. To me, the SUV/CUV's have overtaken the large family sedan as the default choice in families...it would make sense to go RWD for the Impy so that a premium can be charged and a market exploited...the last thing Chevy needs is a G-body derivative. I'm not sure the LaCrosse can make waves as a cut-rate ES competitor, but I guess I'm going to find out....hopefully, the Ep II chassis is up to the challenge of spawning a variety of internationally saleable products. In either case, the styling must be spot on target and the quality demonstrably excellent. Then at least the products have a chance.

I'm nobody....but I have driven extensively in multiple HHR's- these aren't an example of GM's new product focus. They are sloppy, cramped, inefficient and unoriginal. There are a ton of traditional hatches that make more sense and there are CUV's that are better products. I could be wrong, but there's few people clamoring for the SS version and, again, I'd rather see development moneys go to the Cobalt than this product. Again, just because GM makes it doesn.t mean it requires the kneejerk defense...I see many other holes in the lineup that need filling before the 'high performance retro quasi-wagon' needed to be addressed...like the 6 sp. 4 cyl. 'Bu, an upgraded Cobalt, the Camaro, the Volt, a real minivan, Lambda-chevy, et al.(And that's just in its own division). A waste of resources GM can ill afford.

Why is the press crucified as 'anti-GM' when reviews are negative, yet we run right back to them when they offer a glimmer of hope? Sorry, the hhr SS is, at best, a mediocre product with a great engine that still hasn't found its way into a car that is truly worthy of it. Prediction: this car will languish on lots, awaiting its inclusion in the big rebates already available on the hhr itself....real enthusiasts will avoid this car and HHR fans will balk at the MSRP

Denied repeatedly by Ferrari already...rumors are that a Maserati (Kamal) badged SUV is on its way, with a Ferrari V8 as the top engine choice.

Just in case you'd like the facts to get in the way, check out the latest sales percentages from CA (AN, dec 24): Toyota 28.8 Honda. 14.6 GM. 13.6 Nissan. 8.5 Ford. 8.4 Chrys. 6.5 That's frightening... Make sure those deckchairs are arranged just right, fog...

Just in case you'd like the facts to get in the way, check out the latest sales percentages from CA (AN, dec 24): Toyota 28.8 Honda. 14.6 GM. 13.6 Nissan. 8.5 Ford. 8.4 Chrys. 6.5 That's frightening... Make sure those deckchairs are arranged just right, fog...

They are 100% limiting supply...this week's Automotive News indicates a 31 day supply ---the second lowest of GM vehicles still being actively produced (behind the CTS). This is 1/3 of the average supply of all GM products! Yes, you've read that correctly...GM has a 3 month supply of vehicles heading into the winter months.

There are plenty of 'unprofessionals' raving about how great the new 'bu is....are they drunken Double-widers as well? The Element & xB are frequently described as not having hit their socioeconomic target. Is the AARP at letter writing campaign level yet? And, lastly, the HHR is a rip-off of the PT...from the poached designer on down, it reeks of what was broken in the GM product development process---hopefully, it's been fixed.

Basic Human Psych 101- There's an overwhelming need to justify decsions...especially when its' the second most expensive one you make....I don't want to hear from owners who are compelled to post--they're either going to be real positive or negative, as that's what pushes people to post in the first place. Brakes---another example of GM cost-cutting---and my 750mi. HHR has mushy brakes and doesn't have decent feel or particularly stellar stopping distances...and I'm not driving it at full load, like a Panel Van version might. MPG doesn't matter in the most popular version? Please. Many consumers have this point at or near the top of theb list. Most wouldn't consider buying the SS version. THe MS6 is not part of this discussion, but I'll bring up some products that should be: the Rabbit, 3, Spectra 5, Matrix, Astra, Vibe--all of which have either a killer USP or two, or are just flat-out a better overall product for 95% of users...and generally possess one or more qualities the HHR lacks-- "import humper"'s are now 50%+ of the retail market. Time for GM to compete in this segment, legitimately.

First, of course an owner who just plunked down his/her hard earned cash is going to have nicer things to say... Second, I'd like you to outline exactly how the HHR is a 'vast' improvement on the PT? It's a moderately more modern platform and...that's it. Third, the 3, and virtually every other hatchback on the market is 95% as useful and most are simply better product--I've got a baby seat in mine right now that barely fits in the back facing forward! Forget about using the front seat at all if you have an infant-mode safety seat facing backwards...just like every other hatch on the market! In essence, for the sake of some questionable style and a few cubic feet of cargo room, I've got to accept poor sightlines, rear drum brakes (nonSS), crappy interior quality and poor MPG? Plus, the Mazda will smoke this thing in most, if not all perfomance categories. No thanks.

Or the HHR SS is a 'been there, done that' product that doesn't really bring much to the table? The PT has had a turbo for years, the Mazda 3MS is vastly superior and, at the end of the day, this is a 'putting lipstick on a pig'. Who's clamoring for this product? Why have development $ gone into it, rather than the Cobalt (or, god-forbid, the Camaro)? How come when Edmunds has nice things today, they don't suck quite so bad? While I'm no Edmunds fan, I just don't see the purpose of this vehicle, nor can I stomach the blind defense of the indefensible here. The HHR is a mediocre product, whether you guys want to hear it or not, it's painfully true. I'm driving a 750mi. example right now--it's a slow, space inefficient, 21MPG, cheaply manufactured middle of the road product---at best. The PT was at least original--the HHR is a copy of a copy. GM needs to avoid product like this going forward if they are going to have a chance to survive.

I think he's just stating that the concept shouldn't have been shown that far out....or that GM should have been closer to production. Or both.....ex. Challenger or how Honda shows lightly disguised products as concepts 1 year or less b4 intro... The wait for the Camaro has seemed endless--and its given the competition a chance to respond & anticipate

Coming from a man hell bent on bringing the Stars & Bars back, that really must mean something to those left-coasters.....or does that mean that the 100's of GM stores that closed their doors permanently in the last few years are sellouts? Can't you just enjoy a few moments of good vibes from a positive Neil review? Trust me, there will be little good news coming out of the 2.8's PR machines in the next year. Pundits are talking about a 15 million unit market--wanna guess where the lost sales will disproportionately come from?

But...California is the most populous state...so its no surprise that many GM products are sold in CA. Unfortunately for GM, the rest of the country is trending towards California's Percentages---The Southeast may be a Toyota strength, but California is in pretty close lockstep. I'm not sure what the 3 HHR reference is, but I'll assume the implication is that my Chevy store is doing less new volume? We're 15% above projections for about 8 quarters running...how many GM stores can say that? But that's not the issue--the fact is that Californians' turned on the Domestics first and the rest of the country has followed suit, just like many trends, it hits the coasts first...

The whole cute-ute class is like this...the CRV and new VUE are nicer inside, but these vehicles have become replacements for compact/midsize sedans and people coming out of 'real' trucks so the expectations are not that high. I can't stand any vehicle with its tire on the rear door. Too many light bumps result in shattered rear glass. But I can't find solace in the Equinox, which is awkward, inefficient and built with some glaringly substandard materials as well. The video game steering is what would make me completely avoid the nox/torrent twins. I tell anyone shopping this class of vehicle to think about a CPO wagon for a similar monthly payment...get the warranty protection of a new vehicle and drive a car, rather than an econobox on stilts.

That is 100% GM's fault for not having a properly inspected and completely 100% operational car available for media drives. Assuming the gentleman wasn't making up the incidents, all of those cars should have been perfect. Better to keep writers out of the cars than to have less than perfect examples for review. The GM PR machine failed, not the author of the article. When you have such a narrow margin for error, you must have every controllable aspect taken care of first and foremost. GM clearly didn't. I'd fire every staffer that was present and didn't pull those cars that were misbehaving---there's just no excuse. The test cars are generally run hard and fast---they should have been prepared with multiple vehicles and a pit crew of engineers and mechanics.

Now can we start a 'Death Watch' series for the media bias dragon? What a shock. GM puts out creative, unique, solid vehicle. Glowing reviews follow. And small correction: The LA Times isn't anti-GM, California is!

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/3907

They didn't change it---you have to have them side-by-side (Gen1/2) to tell them apart...And, if the HHR was as good a car as the Mini is, we wouldn't be having this argument. The Mini, in a sense, makes my argument for me. BMW's Mini plant originally had a limit of 125k IIRC, they had to expand on 3 different occassions to meet the WORLDWIDE demand for the vehicles (which is at 300k.) Using the Mini as an example only shows how piss-poor the HHR has done...are there worldwide fanclubs (or even sales)?NO. Is the HHR class leading, in any respect?NO. Has GM needed to up production (from initial projections of 100k+, not Bob Lutz' backtracking predictions of 50k in its intro year)? NO. Keep in mind, I'm not saying the HHR is a total disaster, only that the development Moneys could have gone elsewhere...like for a vehicle with international demand (Zafira) OR a better Cobalt OR the Zetas OR a 6 sp. Auto for the 'Bu upon intro---all things that would have helped Chevy sell more cars without creating another nameplate to (mis)market. I'm driving one right now--its not the worst car in the world, its just an example of GM doing things half-right, and thus incorrectly. My wife thinks it's cute...that's about it. A cramped, inefficient interior, terrible sightlines, crappy plastics, a lethargic tranny/engine combo, mediocre gas mileage and a sloppy suspension all conspire to make it a forgettable ride. I live with dozens of cars & trucks on a yearly basis--this one just isn't GM at the top of its game.