I would check for a lower milage one. There are plenty of them out there. That's 30k+ a year average... depending on when they got it.

 

Honestly, the 2.2 is slow. I even turn the A/C off at every stoplight for better acceleration. My Santa Fe (3.5) is an absolute rocket compared to my HHR. So I can't imagine how slow it would be with 120,000 miles on it.

But I don't mind it, because I have a cool car that gets 30 mpg.

 

Take it to a shop you trust and have them look it over.

 

I honestly have no Idea. I can ask them when I go there today. When we test drove it there wasn't any clunking or anything. The shocks and all seemed in great shape but I will ask them.

 

Yeah I see your point. There is another dealer that has like three of them on the lot and we are gonna check them out too.

 

I have an 2007 2.2 which is certainly not sluggish, ever! It is, however, a five speed, which may make the difference.

 

Yes they are a little slow off the line. It is actually part of the ECM programming in order to increase fuel economy. A good aftermarket tune will give you much better snap off the line.
Also, if you drive an automatic, try driving in "I" instead of "D", it keeps it more in the higher rpm power band.

 

Just test another one and verify that it performs the same. It should overall be at least as quick as your old Venture... that thing only had a 3.1 V-6 and was definitely not a rocket. I did notice with my old LT that it was slow unless I gave it a good bit of gas... and then it woke up. The 3.1 V-6 my wife had in a grand prix seemed to have a more linear throttle, but overall was no quicker.

 

The 2.4 is faster than the 2.2, and the manual is faster than the automatic. The vast majority of HHRs, particularly non-SS, are automatic. I drive a 2.4 manual and it has all the power I need. You are looking at a 2.2 auto, and so it will have a lot less. The performance you are experiencing is probably what it is supposed to be. The question is whether it will be enough to satisfy you over years of use. For my requirements (for example, heated leather seats) and price point, finding a rare 2LT manual was just right.

 

120K is a high number. I think that I would look further. Company cars usually have numerous drivers. That in itself is not the best case situation. Good luck in what ever you do