by "HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
Published 04/22/2017 at 10:00
by "HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
Published 04/22/2017 at 10:00
Tags: Cars I don't hate
STARS: 5
In its base form its a terrible car, from a terrible era of GM to pander to a terrible trend in retro.
Its also by far the coolest SS to come from that era. Yeah, the Cobalt SS is great, and the Camaro SS was...a Camaro. This thing though.
Panel van
260 hp turbo engine - easily tuned to more.
5 Speed manual transmission
Limited slip diff
decent chassis setup
I guess the non-panel van version is pretty great too, and much more likely to be found used these days, but you have to admit that GM accidentally hit one out of the park with this lazy cash in on the retrowave.
The interiors are still pretty much crap though, so you’ll have to deal with that.
On a scale of hate to love, I think the HHR SS Panel van is closer to love...but its still an HHR so it puts it firmly in the “Don’t Hate” category on account of needing to explain to EVERYBODY what makes it cool.
"Discerning" (discerning2003c5z)
04/22/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 0
The ecotec had tremendous potential but they aren’t super reliable from what I’ve heard. Can’t cite anything specifically but I’ve heard owners complain about regular repairs
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
04/22/2017 at 10:04, STARS: 1
"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
04/22/2017 at 10:09, STARS: 1
I hate all HHRs indiscriminately for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the quality, looks, or performance of the vehicle itself
"arl" (arl1968)
04/22/2017 at 10:11, STARS: 0
But the interior and driving dynamics are soooooooo terrible. Must hate despite the turbo.
"arl" (arl1968)
04/22/2017 at 10:11, STARS: 0
Do tell.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/22/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 1
Mlady intensifies
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/22/2017 at 10:15, STARS: 0
The SS doesn’t drive too bad I hear
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/22/2017 at 10:15, STARS: 0
I don’t judge you for that at all
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
04/22/2017 at 10:19, STARS: 0
Eating disorders intensify :/
" The Compromiser" (charger)
04/22/2017 at 10:30, STARS: 1
There’s a panel version here in town used for a business. Looks neat. I thought I wanted one. Then I found out you have to pull the tire to change a headlight. That’s when I discovered it was designed by a committee of morons.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/22/2017 at 10:33, STARS: 3
I thought that was generally assumed being old gm
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
04/22/2017 at 10:40, STARS: 2
If only someone at GM had realized they put the crossbar in the wrong spot...
"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
04/22/2017 at 10:46, STARS: 0
A little too personal in this case
" The Compromiser" (charger)
04/22/2017 at 10:49, STARS: 2
If you’ve dealt with new GM, the committee of morons is still there, they just have better PR.
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
04/22/2017 at 10:57, STARS: 2
I don’t think it’s in the wrong spot. It lines up with the headlights where it is, and having the bigger grill gap above it makes the vehicle look taller and more truck-like, which is important when you’re trying to make a retro truck but you started with an economy car.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
04/22/2017 at 11:09, STARS: 0
What happened, get a pube stuck in the seat belt?
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
04/22/2017 at 11:12, STARS: 0
I think that’s the gen 1 supercharged variants (LOTS of complaints from Cobalt SS and Saturn Ion owners), not the gen 2 turbo that’s in this. FWIW I have the NA variant in my Solstice, it’s rock solid.* I’ve only had one water pump go but I blame that on Dexcool.
*at 56k kms... but many other Solstice owners have pushed more than 100k as daily drivers.
"AfromanGTO" (afromangto)
04/22/2017 at 11:41, STARS: 0
Sounds like a Caliber. To change the alternator you must remove the passenger side front suspension.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
04/22/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 0
No, the turbos like to have ringland failure, even up to it’s use in the ATS. In fact, the Supercharged version has a much stronger bottom end.
"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
04/22/2017 at 12:07, STARS: 0
If that were the case I would also have a vendetta against pants
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
04/22/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0
It lines up with the top of the headlights stock, which gives it a bigger opening below the crossbar. But it looks much better centered on the headlights with the bigger opening above the crossbar.
ETA: You realize I photoshopped this one, right?
" The Compromiser" (charger)
04/22/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 0
Back in the old days there was a specialtool needed to chanel the last spark plugs on the Aerostar. If you didn’t have it, I’ve been told it was easier to pull the engine to get them.
My old Protégé 5 fog lights recommended that you remove the front end to change the bulbs.
"AfromanGTO" (afromangto)
04/22/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 0
That sounds like changing the last spark plugs in a 98-02 Trans Am.
You have to love it when removing the front end is required for a simple problem.
My buddy is an Audi tech. He had to work on a R8 to replace the ac compressor or alternator, and it required removing the entire back half of the car short of removing the engine to replace it.
" The Compromiser" (charger)
04/22/2017 at 14:12, STARS: 1
The poster child of 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag.
"boxrocket" (boxrocket)
04/22/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
Better idea: get rid of the horizontal crossbar, and continue the vertical centerline ridge that runs from the bumper up the hood (then disappears) in body-color (or black?) with the emblem mounted to the same.
"Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)" (6speedhaven)
04/22/2017 at 16:36, STARS: 0
If you got the special factory dealer installed tune/flash, you could have 290hp/310,320 torque.
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
04/22/2017 at 17:16, STARS: 1
TIL BMW F30s are the same.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
" The Compromiser" (charger)
04/22/2017 at 18:05, STARS: 0
I feel like this is a follow up video to the one where they explain what a turn signal is to the owners and how it operates. JK. There is no such video.
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
04/22/2017 at 18:28, STARS: 0
Not them, but BMW themselves.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
" The Compromiser" (charger)
04/22/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 0
How did you get this video? Who do you know? Who does number 2 work for????