Ah, it must be nice living in Canada, where no one would dare breach that kind of trust between a dealer and a customer...

So about a month ago, I had this client that kept calling and telling me that she wasn't going to make it to court. I told her she needed to get her butt down here otherwise the judge was going to throw a warrant out for her. Lo and behold, she shows up to court. Now, she didn't have a car, nor did she have the means to borrow or rent one--so what did she do?

She went to a car lot the night before court and arranged for an overnight test drive. She put 300-plus miles on a BRAND NEW CAR that now cannot be sold as new. On top of that, she had already served a four-year prison term for armed robbery. So I'm sure you can see why some car dealers are hesitant to offer long-term test drives when there's a million scam artists out there waiting to take advantage.

 

I have a good one for you from Canada about this guy that works on the line at GM.We all come back first day after Christmas.About an 1 1/2 hours into the shift the police walk up to him and take him out of the plant.That`s not a big deal this guy is as crazy as they come.So a few days later we find out he goes to the Caddy dealer 2 days before Christmas too test drive a new Caddy.

Goes home loads up the wife and kids and off to Florida and does the whole deal for 10 days.Comes back home to Canada drops the car off in the parking lot.Don`t know all the details about what charges they laid but I found out he had to pay so much per Kilometer times the 7,000 plus he put on it.

 

Down here they'll let you take the car home before you even secure financing. We usually financed through our credit union. I think they do a quick check of your credit rating before that option is offered.

 

Struck out again tonight...at least I'm getting to know the lot attendant pretty well Told him exactly why I was there just in case he thought I was scoping the place...I think the might have 2LT's to rent because he mentioned leather seats etc.....thought they would only rent LS's and LT's but I'm willing to rent any of them if I can just find one . He did say they go quick because with Alamo you can pick any car that is in the "class" you rented row. People come out and see the HHR in a sea of G6s and Malibus and gravitate right to the HHR


Maybe Friday will be the day...people return cars on Fridays right?


Goose

 

Next time you go ask him what beer he drinks up here in Canada a 2-4 goes farther than flashing a $50.00.Back in the seventies you could get half a dozen realy good painters to paint your car for a case just keep the other 22 till he`s done painting.I realy don`t no how it all started but you would not believe how many times during the year you need or want something and they say it will cost you a case of beer.Now don`t get the idea that we drink to much, name brand is up to $37.00 a case but it`s soooooo good.

Mike

 

But Mike, that's what us Canadians are known for...hockey and beer

 

Hey my Mom grew up in Toronto on Lake Ontario...her Dad was a lighthouse keeper..some I'm half Canadian eh? Hell all my relatives are in Canada also...London, Toronto and I think some out in BC lol Used to visit them in Sarnia and also Missasuga (sp I know)

Going up to check out what is on the Alamo row in a couple of hours!


Goose

 

I rent from national all the time and just walk past the counter. Pick a car in the executive or emerald Isle and off I go, just check out at the exit.. There were 6 HHRs at the portland airport two weeks ago..

 

Well tonight was the night I got lucky...sort of lol...drove by the lot as the short term parking was jammed so I figured I'd do a drive by...lo and behold an HHR! Found a spot in a second lot and ran over to the Alamo counter...while I was waiting to check in some dude used the quick check in kiosk while the knucklehead behind the counter was trying to sell me insurance...blah, blah, no,no no no no..geez come on buddy...the other guy finishes and starts to hoof it over to the terminal..I wrap up with the counter guy and haul ass into the garage about a minute behind kiosk guy. Oh no...he is looking at the mid sizes also!

Ever see the VW commercial where the guy licks the handle of the car he wants to buy? Well I didn't go that far but I jumped in the car while he was still looking around. He took a Corolla so I guess he wasn't even interested in the HHR.

I have a 2007 Summit White LT with leather. No fogs or running boards. In my haste to get into the HHR I ran right by a second one that was in the lot So I guess I really didn't have to run...I guess I was just so jacked that finally there was one to rent. When my wife brought me back to the airport later to get my Matrix from the lot I took a look at the other HHR. It is that purple color and had fogs, 17" tires and the chrome finsher but has cloth seats?? It looks like a 2LT to me but does the 2LT have cloth seats?

I imagine it has the 2.4 in it...in fact I thought that the one I rented had the 2.4 in it but just the 2.2...felt really peppy to me! The purple one has the 2.4 I think and now wish I had rented that one but the white one is probably closer to what I would buy minus the leather. I will say that the heated leather seats are nice

14.3K on the clock on this car and it seems to be pretty solid for a rental..I've gone about 30 miles and computer says 29 mpg which I find pretty good for back roads driving


Like a good member of this forum I checked the fuse box under the hood and sure enough..they were not seated all the way! Pushed them down Will look at the ones in the cabin tomorrow..


Gotta admit when I drove out I felt real uneasy driving the car in the garage....felt like my vision was pretty much cut in half due to the really thick pillars and the blind spots...after a driving around tonight for a bit I'm starting to get a bit more comfy with it.

Well I have it until next Thursday to drive until my hearts content...we will see



Goose

 

Goose...way to hang in there on the HHR rental. Sounds like you probably do have a 1LT with the 2.2 and nice and broken in with 13k. I'm not feeling a huge diff yet on my PE Cap HHR w/ the 2.4 but I've only put on 200 miles and it will feel tight till at least 5-600 miles or more in my experience. You will get a great idea driving it around. Remember to stop by your local Home Depot or Lowe's and pick up some junk...even if you don't need it...just to check it's utility factor. A far as visibility I've gotten used to mine quickly so that feeling should go away for you too. Take off the rear seat headrests while you're getting used to it...unless you have folks back there. I'm still getting used to the rear view mirror though...but I remeber someone somewhere saying you can adjust it up a bit higher..still checking that one. Above all else have fun and don't look back.

Wilson