2010 HHR Panel LT Manual Trans test drive and ?'s
05-25-2011 | 01:51 AM
#11
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 15,984
From: SE USA
I took a used 2010 Panel LT with manual trans for a test drive @ dealer today and notice a few things and have questions for those w/ like vehicles. It had 12K on it.
1). When letting out the clutch, there was a vibration through the pedal, Is this normal?
No, sounds like "Clutch Chatter" caused by overheating the clutch disc (riding the clutch) & the springs lose tension, resulting in chatter aka vibration. Ask to have it fixed if you are serious..
2) It had a rear seat which matched the fronts....I did not thinks the panels had seats in the rear. Is this a option or did someone do a swap?
It's a Swap, NO Panels came stock w/rear seats.
3) Any way to improve the power? Lack of it was quite noticeable w/ A/C on.
Check air filter, add Hi-Test, & /or get a Tune..
Edit: & check to see if the A/C unit is dragging, you should have enough power with A/C on.. Mine does..
4) What is a good price to pay? As low as possible, naturally..
1). When letting out the clutch, there was a vibration through the pedal, Is this normal?
No, sounds like "Clutch Chatter" caused by overheating the clutch disc (riding the clutch) & the springs lose tension, resulting in chatter aka vibration. Ask to have it fixed if you are serious..
2) It had a rear seat which matched the fronts....I did not thinks the panels had seats in the rear. Is this a option or did someone do a swap?
It's a Swap, NO Panels came stock w/rear seats.
3) Any way to improve the power? Lack of it was quite noticeable w/ A/C on.
Check air filter, add Hi-Test, & /or get a Tune..
Edit: & check to see if the A/C unit is dragging, you should have enough power with A/C on.. Mine does..
4) What is a good price to pay? As low as possible, naturally..
05-25-2011 | 08:04 AM
#12
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-07-2010
Posts: 36
From: cold & miserable
The vehicle did have door releases on inside of rear doors. There were a couple tie-down loops lying in bottom of spare tire bay, I'm thinking the seat may have been added and these removed.
Motoretro
Motoretro
I'm pretty sure the back seat would have been added.... For insurance reasons I don't think GM had this as an option. (Lack of rear inside door handles would be a huge liability in case of an accident/fire/flood etc. rear passengers couldn't get out of the car themselves)
Last edited by motoretro; 05-25-2011 at 08:52 AM.
05-25-2011 | 08:08 AM
#13
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Joined: 07-07-2010
Posts: 36
From: cold & miserable
Has power cloth seat and roof rails. Came off a personal lease and I'm a bit skeptical. Car Fax showed very little in regards to maintenance.
Last edited by motoretro; 05-25-2011 at 03:42 PM.
05-25-2011 | 08:17 AM
#14
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Joined: 07-07-2010
Posts: 36
From: cold & miserable
Sleeper,
Are you absolutely sure Panels did not come w/ rear seats as an option? If they have been changed out, would there have been an enclosure/box/cover which was pulled?
As far as the clutch goes, this seemed more of a constant low level harmonic rather than grab & slip chatter which I've experienced in the past on vehicles. I've driven sticks for 40 plus years and this just seemed different for lack of a better description.
Motoretro
Are you absolutely sure Panels did not come w/ rear seats as an option? If they have been changed out, would there have been an enclosure/box/cover which was pulled?
As far as the clutch goes, this seemed more of a constant low level harmonic rather than grab & slip chatter which I've experienced in the past on vehicles. I've driven sticks for 40 plus years and this just seemed different for lack of a better description.
Motoretro
Last edited by motoretro; 05-25-2011 at 08:52 AM.
05-25-2011 | 09:06 AM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: 07-17-2006
Posts: 6,052
From: Dallas, GA
There should be no vibration of any sort with the clutch. If there is, there is a problem someplace.
Panels did not come with a rear seat, but several here have installed seats. The cargo box was removed.
As far as power, mine has the 2.2 and it was the same as the 2.4 auto I also tested. Hard to say what you are comparing it to. But, it just might have a clutch issue. That vibration could be the clutch slipping from a previous driver that didn't know how to drive a stick. What size wheels does it have? If 17", it should have the 2.4. If 16", then it could be either the 2.2 or 2.4.
Look up prices in NADA or KBB and start there. But I would have them fix the problems or keep looking elsewhere. Almost sounds like this one was used hard.
Panels did not come with a rear seat, but several here have installed seats. The cargo box was removed.
As far as power, mine has the 2.2 and it was the same as the 2.4 auto I also tested. Hard to say what you are comparing it to. But, it just might have a clutch issue. That vibration could be the clutch slipping from a previous driver that didn't know how to drive a stick. What size wheels does it have? If 17", it should have the 2.4. If 16", then it could be either the 2.2 or 2.4.
Look up prices in NADA or KBB and start there. But I would have them fix the problems or keep looking elsewhere. Almost sounds like this one was used hard.
05-25-2011 | 10:14 AM
#16
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Joined: 10-02-2010
Posts: 5,933
From: Port Huron, MI
That could mean one of two things.. Either, the guy who previously owned it, was a motor head. OR, he just didn't change the oil like was needed, and that might effect the engine's performance.
Mine is a 2.2L 5speed, and I have been known to leave a few people here and there in the dust. So you shouldn't have THAT much of a power loss.
May I ask what you are skeptical of?
Mine is a 2.2L 5speed, and I have been known to leave a few people here and there in the dust. So you shouldn't have THAT much of a power loss.
May I ask what you are skeptical of?
05-25-2011 | 10:36 AM
#17
Senior Member
Joined: 04-22-2009
Posts: 763
From: Southern California
As already stated by me in a previous post, and others, there should be no vibrations in the clutch. That vibration is a giant red flag, IMO. As I said my 2.2 five speed, has zero vibrations in the clutch, which works smooth as silk, so to speak.
05-25-2011 | 10:54 AM
#18
Senior Member
Joined: 11-05-2010
Posts: 1,492
From: Detroit, Michigan USA
Dear Motoretro,
I have read through the thread and I am glad that other HHR owners have been able to assist you with your various questions.
According to the information that I have available to me, the rear seats were not an available option for the 2010 Chevrolet HHR Panel LT vehicle. I would have to agree with Greybeard999 about the seats being added after market.
Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service
I have read through the thread and I am glad that other HHR owners have been able to assist you with your various questions.
According to the information that I have available to me, the rear seats were not an available option for the 2010 Chevrolet HHR Panel LT vehicle. I would have to agree with Greybeard999 about the seats being added after market.
Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service
05-25-2011 | 12:51 PM
#19
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-07-2010
Posts: 36
From: cold & miserable
The Cargo box is missing as is any type of spare tire or kit. I agree w/ your assessment on the clutch, 12K in 10 months is not a tremendous amount of miles although my feelings are the previous owner may have been slipping it a bit more than normal. I currently drive a 2.7 powered small truck w/ manual trans. Panel had 16" wheels. With all the current rebates and discounts, I can purchase new for less. Unfortunately the LT Panel is no longer available and I would have to take LS.
Panels did not come with a rear seat, but several here have installed seats. The cargo box was removed.
As far as power, mine has the 2.2 and it was the same as the 2.4 auto I also tested. Hard to say what you are comparing it to. But, it just might have a clutch issue. That vibration could be the clutch slipping from a previous driver that didn't know how to drive a stick. What size wheels does it have? If 17", it should have the 2.4. If 16", then it could be either the 2.2 or 2.4.
Look up prices in NADA or KBB and start there. But I would have them fix the problems or keep looking elsewhere. Almost sounds like this one was used hard.
Panels did not come with a rear seat, but several here have installed seats. The cargo box was removed.
As far as power, mine has the 2.2 and it was the same as the 2.4 auto I also tested. Hard to say what you are comparing it to. But, it just might have a clutch issue. That vibration could be the clutch slipping from a previous driver that didn't know how to drive a stick. What size wheels does it have? If 17", it should have the 2.4. If 16", then it could be either the 2.2 or 2.4.
Look up prices in NADA or KBB and start there. But I would have them fix the problems or keep looking elsewhere. Almost sounds like this one was used hard.
05-25-2011 | 01:00 PM
#20
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-07-2010
Posts: 36
From: cold & miserable
I retired after 34 years from a position of maintaining 200 company owned fleet cars and to me records and history are everything in purchasing a used vehicle. When there is absolutely no record of any maintenance done to a vehicle(not even a quick oil change sticker) I get skeptical. This along with questionable appearance details and missing parts leads me to think something might be amiss. I get an odd itch in the back of my neck i can't explain....
It has kept my out of trouble most of my life so I think I'll stick with it and walk away from this deal.
Motoretro
It has kept my out of trouble most of my life so I think I'll stick with it and walk away from this deal.Motoretro
That could mean one of two things.. Either, the guy who previously owned it, was a motor head. OR, he just didn't change the oil like was needed, and that might effect the engine's performance.
Mine is a 2.2L 5speed, and I have been known to leave a few people here and there in the dust. So you shouldn't have THAT much of a power loss.
May I ask what you are skeptical of?
Mine is a 2.2L 5speed, and I have been known to leave a few people here and there in the dust. So you shouldn't have THAT much of a power loss.
May I ask what you are skeptical of?