The '08 SS is now for SALE....
03-30-2011, 12:49 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-12-2007
Location: Manassas, VA
Posts: 456
Even though miles may be high, when u consider the condition of the vehicle, miles are just a number. Also with the new and installed items from post #1, it's not such a bad deal at all. Of course l am being bias, because it is my SS. I would consider an offer in the 15k range, but anything lower, I'll just keep it. I feel if is one of the cleanest '08's out there. has not used a drop of oil from day one, always changed with Mobil 1, someone would be very happy with this SS.
03-30-2011, 01:52 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: 02-06-2010
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 580
Keep It
I have noticed a pattern on here of HHRs being sold in excellent condition. The prices seem to start high and one of two things happens:
1. Occasionally, the price slowly drops to something reasonable, and the car sells. Girlfriend's loaded 2006 2LT started at something like $9500, and she eventually paid $7500 ($8500 with repairs and expenses of out-of-state delivery).
2. More frequently, the owner ends up keeping it because he can't bear to let it go at a price the market will support.
HHRs were in a lot of rental fleets, are not trendy, and have only average reliability. Their resale value reflects this. The SS is a special case. Its turbocharger has the 5 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty. SS prices seem to drop off a cliff as the end of that warranty approaches. HHR spare parts should be common and cheap, but turbo parts may be costly and have limited availability.
I try to keep cars for 10-15 years and 200,000 miles. This should be doable with our 2LTs, but I'd be scared to risk it in an SS.
1. Occasionally, the price slowly drops to something reasonable, and the car sells. Girlfriend's loaded 2006 2LT started at something like $9500, and she eventually paid $7500 ($8500 with repairs and expenses of out-of-state delivery).
2. More frequently, the owner ends up keeping it because he can't bear to let it go at a price the market will support.
HHRs were in a lot of rental fleets, are not trendy, and have only average reliability. Their resale value reflects this. The SS is a special case. Its turbocharger has the 5 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty. SS prices seem to drop off a cliff as the end of that warranty approaches. HHR spare parts should be common and cheap, but turbo parts may be costly and have limited availability.
I try to keep cars for 10-15 years and 200,000 miles. This should be doable with our 2LTs, but I'd be scared to risk it in an SS.
03-30-2011, 09:13 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-18-2007
Location: Warrington PA
Posts: 602
03-30-2011, 09:21 PM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-18-2007
Location: Warrington PA
Posts: 602
just becuase there are miles on a vehicle is not an indication of wear and tear on said vehicle, they can last for a long time with being properly maintained by doing your PM'sI have noticed a pattern on here of HHRs being sold in excellent condition. The prices seem to start high and one of two things happens:
1. Occasionally, the price slowly drops to something reasonable, and the car sells. Girlfriend's loaded 2006 2LT started at something like $9500, and she eventually paid $7500 ($8500 with repairs and expenses of out-of-state delivery).
2. More frequently, the owner ends up keeping it because he can't bear to let it go at a price the market will support.
HHRs were in a lot of rental fleets, are not trendy, and have only average reliability. Their resale value reflects this. The SS is a special case. Its turbocharger has the 5 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty. SS prices seem to drop off a cliff as the end of that warranty approaches. HHR spare parts should be common and cheap, but turbo parts may be costly and have limited availability.
I try to keep cars for 10-15 years and 200,000 miles. This should be doable with our 2LTs, but I'd be scared to risk it in an SS.
1. Occasionally, the price slowly drops to something reasonable, and the car sells. Girlfriend's loaded 2006 2LT started at something like $9500, and she eventually paid $7500 ($8500 with repairs and expenses of out-of-state delivery).
2. More frequently, the owner ends up keeping it because he can't bear to let it go at a price the market will support.
HHRs were in a lot of rental fleets, are not trendy, and have only average reliability. Their resale value reflects this. The SS is a special case. Its turbocharger has the 5 year, 100,000 mile power train warranty. SS prices seem to drop off a cliff as the end of that warranty approaches. HHR spare parts should be common and cheap, but turbo parts may be costly and have limited availability.
I try to keep cars for 10-15 years and 200,000 miles. This should be doable with our 2LTs, but I'd be scared to risk it in an SS.
03-30-2011, 09:24 PM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-18-2007
Location: Warrington PA
Posts: 602
03-30-2011, 09:32 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-18-2008
Location: Oak Harbor, Washington
Posts: 744
Beautiful car and color, I think the bigest issue isn't the mileage although that doesn't help is that GM didn't finish the changes they made on the SS's until mid year in 09, like the seats when they changed them to driver performance as an option in 08 without the passenger side then mid year 09 added both as performance seats standard, brembos etc. if a person is just looking for a fun car then 08's perfect, but if they've done there homework there not going to want the first year build, just my
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03-30-2011, 10:11 PM
#18
Premium Member
Join Date: 10-09-2010
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 14,420
Gee I wish I had that fancy seat to look at while I'm sitting in the other one. Ha Ha You could add a few mods and a tune keep up with the Vette's add the pedders and keep up in the corners too I have to carry too much around with me I like the wagon feature and the 25mpg works for me too. 
03-31-2011, 05:59 AM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-18-2007
Location: Warrington PA
Posts: 602
Beautiful car and color, I think the bigest issue isn't the mileage although that doesn't help is that GM didn't finish the changes they made on the SS's until mid year in 09, like the seats when they changed them to driver performance as an option in 08 without the passenger side then mid year 09 added both as performance seats standard, brembos etc. if a person is just looking for a fun car then 08's perfect, but if they've done there homework there not going to want the first year build, just my,
, when I bought the 08, I drove both regular and performance seats, I like the regular seat better, it was more comfy to me.....Gee I wish I had that fancy seat to look at while I'm sitting in the other one. Ha Ha You could add a few mods and a tune keep up with the Vette's add the pedders and keep up in the corners too I have to carry too much around with me I like the wagon feature and the 25mpg works for me too.
I also like the wagon feature, but we have the Vibe for that, you know what happens when you start thinking, well if I do this and then I can do that, so maybe I will do this to do that....
03-31-2011, 06:43 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: 02-06-2010
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 580
2008 value
I just went on autotrader.com and did a search on manual transmission (I hate automatics) HHR SS under $15K. There were about 9 of them between 12k and 15k, and every single one of them was a 2008. Usually, there's at least one year-later model car in a mix like this. It sounds like the general public strongly prefers the 2009-10 version. Until it was mentioned above, I was unaware of this. Other than the older-style headliner where the light wash lights up the absent window controls and you don't have a decent position dome light, I actually like the 2008 better. I want the LSD, but I'm not impressed with the Brembos and you can't have one without the other in 2009-10. So, why the big difference for 2008? Could one factor be the impending end of the power train warranty?
My concern about the SS as a long-term daily driver has to do with the turbo being an extra, and potentially expensive, point of failure. I also don't want to give up the heated seats in the 2LT. Furthermore, the acceleration in the manual 2LT is good enough for my needs (and not much less than the automatic SS). I really like the manual transmission in the SS compared to the crude Getrag in the non-SS HHRs like mine. In short, I will never get exactly what I want, so my deciding factor in getting the 2LT when I bought it in late 2009 was price.
So, enjoy your SS unless it's exactly what someone else happens to want and can't resist at a price favorable to you.
My concern about the SS as a long-term daily driver has to do with the turbo being an extra, and potentially expensive, point of failure. I also don't want to give up the heated seats in the 2LT. Furthermore, the acceleration in the manual 2LT is good enough for my needs (and not much less than the automatic SS). I really like the manual transmission in the SS compared to the crude Getrag in the non-SS HHRs like mine. In short, I will never get exactly what I want, so my deciding factor in getting the 2LT when I bought it in late 2009 was price.
So, enjoy your SS unless it's exactly what someone else happens to want and can't resist at a price favorable to you.