I picked my 09 LS brand new out of inventory. Color and trim was just what I wanted, black on black. I just had them remove the pinstripes. Also got another $1500.00 off cause it was year end inventory.

 

I wasnt even looking to buy but was with a friend that was. Started looking at used cars and saw an HHR then asked the salesman about the AA5 option, and actually had to explain it to him. He then told us he had one and we went and checked it out. Took me a couple hours of thinking but eventually went back test drove and then thought for a couple more hours then signed that dotted line. Would of liked to have the black interior but was to excited at the time to really pay attention.

 

Ordered my '08' LT1, nothing on any SoCal lot matched my vision, couldn't get AA5 deltete with Cashmere Leather (no interior inserts in proper color for rear windows). Got my 5 speed though. Longest six and a half weeks of my life.

 

I ordered mine as I wanted a 2LT panel with 5 speed and only 5 speeds available in 200 miles were LS models.

 

All I wanted was 08 Panel 1LT with 2.4 Auto. and black interior. Only color available at the time with those options was white. Drove 75 miles to pick it up.

 

Had what I wanted (5spd, LSD and AA5) and then some (Sunroof and Upgraded Stereo) The color was a surprise, saw it and fell in love.

Found on a lot. Sitting for almost a year. Dealer told me no one wanted the 5 spd.

Bought it mainly through e-mail. Picked it up 2 hrs away. Tried to get 2 local dealers to get it, but they said they couldn't match the price.

 

I had done a lot of research and visited a lot of So Cal dealerships before ordering mine. Most dealership tried to BS me about this car. I waltzed into dealerships knowing more about the car than they (salemen) did.
The funniest salesman comments to me were that I was not able to buy a manual transmission in California nor get one in white. Yeah right, what ever. His jaw dropped when I produced a (un-photo shopped) picture of one in white. He sure tried the hard sell but I just walked out.

When I found a dealer that didn't try to snow me, that's who got my dollars! I placed my special ordered and waited for it to be built with exterior color of white and options I wanted. At the time I ordered it, white hadn't been a color option at the time, either that or it was that the white hadn't been in production quite yet.
Well worth the wait for me. I got it exactly what I wanted.

I do wish that 1/4 or full panel was an option in 2006 though!

 

It took my over 4 months of looking to find my HHR on my local dealers lot. At the time it was hard to find an Orange LS with the 5-speed.

 

Went online one night and check several dealers inventory. Emailed 3 dealers to see the build dates of the vehicles. The most responsive dealer also had the vehicle with the most recent build date. Went to that store, test drove vehicle, indicated additional dealer installed items I wanted, paid deposit,waited for parts to come in, scheduled delivery date. Then had to adjust delivery date due to wifey going into hospital. Picked car up for her, then later that day picked her up from the hospital in her new Victory Red HHR SS. Good day for her.

 

One day my friend Kris said she wanted to go to the Chevy dealer to check out this new car called an HHR. We went, she loved it. I laughed at it. I think I said it was a PT on steroids. A few months later my car was starting to give up on me. I went the Chevy dealer to look, being as I have only bought Chevys...the choices were HHR 2lt or a cobalt for the same $$. I think I made a good choice. Would have never thought that buying this odd looking little car would have produced so much fun, and so many friends. Todd (Uma)