Hi Everyone, New here & have some ?'s
03-20-2007 | 08:33 AM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: 02-01-2006
Posts: 1,421
From: lockport,ny
We have 6 kids, 15yrs old to 3 yrs old, so we are quite familiar with infant seats, car seats, and booster seats. Our main family vehicles are a 2002 Chevy Venture (with dual power sliding doors) with the 8-seat option, and a 2002 Chevy Suburban K2500. The HHR is mostly my vehicle to drive when we don't need more than 5 seats.
The rear seat seatbelts in the HHR hold a car seat much better than the seatbelts in the Venture or Suburban. The only better feature on the Venture was the built-in foldout car seat in one of the seats.
If you are buying a car seat, consider one with a LATCH system. It will latch to a set of steel hooks on the seat instead of using the seatbelts, which is MUCH more convenient than using the seatbelt. Both outboard rear seats on the HHR have the LATCH system from the factory.
The HHR has a huge amount of room for its size. If you remove the floor panel from the rear and install it on the upper support, you now have an upper shelf. This is important on a trip so you can dig thru the stuff on the bottom without taking everything on top out.
On a trip last year with 3 people in the car, I got 32.5mpg (indicated on DIC) at a steady 70mph. I have the 2.4L engine and the 5-speed manual. I believe the EPA mileage ratings DID show slightly LOWER mpg for the manual, which is very strange. I still believe that a properly driven manual will get better mpg than the automatic, but it may only be slightly better. Modern automatics are far-removed from the old "slushboxes" that wasted large amounts of power due to slippage. I would base my transmission decision on personal preference rather than any mileage concerns. There probably won't be much difference in mpg, but you will save about $1000 with the manual. Unfortunately, 2.4L engines with the 5-speed manual seem hard to find. I had to order mine as it seemed like 99% of the HHRs at the time had automatics.
Steve
The rear seat seatbelts in the HHR hold a car seat much better than the seatbelts in the Venture or Suburban. The only better feature on the Venture was the built-in foldout car seat in one of the seats.
If you are buying a car seat, consider one with a LATCH system. It will latch to a set of steel hooks on the seat instead of using the seatbelts, which is MUCH more convenient than using the seatbelt. Both outboard rear seats on the HHR have the LATCH system from the factory.
The HHR has a huge amount of room for its size. If you remove the floor panel from the rear and install it on the upper support, you now have an upper shelf. This is important on a trip so you can dig thru the stuff on the bottom without taking everything on top out.
On a trip last year with 3 people in the car, I got 32.5mpg (indicated on DIC) at a steady 70mph. I have the 2.4L engine and the 5-speed manual. I believe the EPA mileage ratings DID show slightly LOWER mpg for the manual, which is very strange. I still believe that a properly driven manual will get better mpg than the automatic, but it may only be slightly better. Modern automatics are far-removed from the old "slushboxes" that wasted large amounts of power due to slippage. I would base my transmission decision on personal preference rather than any mileage concerns. There probably won't be much difference in mpg, but you will save about $1000 with the manual. Unfortunately, 2.4L engines with the 5-speed manual seem hard to find. I had to order mine as it seemed like 99% of the HHRs at the time had automatics.
Steve
03-21-2007 | 01:46 PM
#12
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 03-19-2007
Posts: 75
From: Kansas City, MO
Hey guys,
Thanks for all the info... it has really helped...GDZHHR, that pic of the back loaded... GREAT! LOVE that shelf!
I went & drove one yesterday.... then took my hubby back last night...we really like it.... & so does our son!
The search is on =)
Thanks for all the info... it has really helped...GDZHHR, that pic of the back loaded... GREAT! LOVE that shelf!
I went & drove one yesterday.... then took my hubby back last night...we really like it.... & so does our son!
The search is on =)
03-21-2007 | 02:19 PM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: 03-15-2007
Posts: 125
From: Homer Glen
I have 3 kids ages 6 2 and 1, and the latch system in the HHR is in the perfect position for my brand of carseats. My other car is an 05' Uplander with dual power sliding doors. Nothing is easier to get a child into than a Minivan because the door is completely out of your way but the doors on the HHR dont interfear with the process. If your looking for a comfortable ride with great gas milage then the HHR is the car for you!