Are these SS changes, or will those be different? I'm looking for confirmation on performance options on the '09 vehicles.

 

General listing of changes across the whole line.

 

I met Brian Brown at the recent Englistown GM Ecotec Tuner tour. He is the Marketing Manager at Cevy for the Cobalt & HHR. I suggested that a rear view camera should be MANDATORY on all panel wagons, due to horrible blind spots. I am pretty used to driving vans, so I use the mirrors pretty well, but I can't get used to how short the HHR is, and depth perception is not that great with mirrors.
He assured me that this would be available as an option, with the camera image showing up in the inside rear view mirror. He also mentioned changing the panel's door mirrors , so they have some convex inserts, like truckers have on their big rigs.

 

SOB There adding Bluetooth in the stereo ... I so want that for my phone. I hope you can add that in a later date.

 

Many good and expected model revisions as to be expected after a couple of years of learning what customers are buying (or not buying), and maximizing the economies of scale of making many items standard (like XM) as the cost of blanket installation is cheaper than order-by-order management.

I really have to admit, for as decidedly as I am NOT a fan of GM or its vehices, the HHR fits both a functional and price points that are nearly ideal for my light-hauling needs. And this is one case when the "toyish" nature of U.S. vehicle design works well, especially as a bit of an eye-catcher for small businesses and "rolling billboards."

If the depreciation hit wouldn't be so horrendous (which is particularly bad on an HHR), I'd update my 2007 2LT Wagon to an '09. It will be interesting to see how feasible it may be to update previous years' models to many of the '09 features. I'd be happy to add the integrated Bluetooth smarts and buy the necessary interior components to make the window switch placement change. Perhaps I can drive my '07 into the ground fast enough to earn enough tax/mileage credit to make it pay off. (I used to be able to do that when gas was $1.50 a gallon). :)

Though it's not bloody likey, I sure as hell wish they'd make On-Star optional again. I simpy refuse to own any vehicle with that homing beacon following me around, and I'd just as soon not have to go through the "rip out" process. But then again, I'm sure the money GM can save by universal installation and make from people who may have never considered ordering it, but buy occasional service as an "impulse" over time make it more than worthwhile to "wire up" the world.

 

I can't believe they have discontinues the Sunburst Orange. I LOVE mine and have always planned to replace my 2006 2LT with another in the same color. I hope there is a color that I love as much as this one when I am ready for my next car. The color was the only thing that led me to look at (and sit in) the HHR in the dealer showroom in the first place. I guess I'll grieve a little, then go on.

 

I wonder why they dropped the block heater? Seems like an odd decision since a good portion of the continent could use those in the winter.

 

Synthetic oil? Give the dealers work? To hot in Mexico?

 

LOL. to the above response, but given the decided southward shift in population over the past decade, a block heater doesn't have the de facto usefulness to the audience it once had. Perhaps they're also hedging their bets due to global warming. :) Maybe it just didn't sell?

The point about synthetic oil is a good one. I've run synthetics exclusively for the past decade or more, and with the petro-dollar consistently weakening, I wouldn't be surprised if the price difference between synthetic and traditional oils continues to narrow making synthetics an even-better value than they already are.

 

be nice if we can retrofit the Bluetooth in the older models. Especially now that California has a handsfree law going into effect.