most of the ones with stick are 2.2's, I did not see many 2.4's around in the used market. Alot of places don't advertise the engine either, but if they give the VIN you can tell from the 8th digit. P=2.4 D=Dull2.2

Found mine at a chrysler dealer, was their redheaded stepchild that they hid away on a remote lot covered with dust. Musta known that if a potential PT customer drove it they'd want a new HHR instead

The armwrests are awkward with a 5-speed. Left em up for a while now. When I first sat in the HHR it also felt awkward where the shifter is, not bad now tho, that perception may have been caused by the armwrests too.

 

I opted for an automatic. I've had both manual and auto cars, but 95% of my driving is stop and go in the city. For that type of daily driving, I prefer an automatic, plus they list it as getting 2mpg better gas mileage.

-Alan

BTW, I'm about 1/2 way through my first tank of gas and the info center is telling me I'm getting 20.3 mpg. When I got the car from the dealer it was reading 16.8.

 

While walking Max, my lab mixture, thru this afternoon's snowstorm, my head cleared and I remembered why I want a new car in the first place -- so there's room for two humans and two dogs. I'm getting the automatic so I can have remote start. On a warm day with two dogs in the car, I get out of the car to run a quick errand. I lock up (including putting the Club on) and, as I walk away, restart the car (and a/c) remotely. The car and the dogs stay cool and, as I understand remote start, the car can't be put in gear until I insert the key in the ignition, so it's theft-proof. Hope I'm right.

I don't expect anyone to read this. The thread's dead. But there it is.

 

instead of having the outside air on circulate, when using the remote start is there a way to re-circulate the air inside and make the car actually cold, instead of using outside air?

 

That's good for about 10 minutes, after which the engine shuts itself off. Just make sure you're back before it gets toasty in there.

Yves

 

My wife can drive a 3 on the tree, 4,5, and 6 speed manuals and doesn't grind a gear. A six speed 'vette is no problem. All that said, she preferred the auto trans, and since I drive in the city so much I agreed. This is MY first auto-trans in 20 years.

 

Thank you, DreamHHR, for that very important info!! I'm only thinking of this for a quick pop-in-and-pop-out. Otherwise, I either find shade or skip the errand.

 

my dealer told me that "because of the amount of torque factor these engines have, they can only make an automatic, they never mad a standard and the 5 speed on the sticker is for markup." those were his exact words, so im going to a different dealer lol

 

The standard equipment trans there for mark up?!What unmitigated B.S!I'd have dressed him down then & there,questioned his qualification to sell cars and told him that's why I'm going somewhere else to buy a car.People like him should be porters.