Both. I have 2 HHR's and 1 PT Cruiser. If I had to chose between them, HHR would win. 30 mpg for the HHR's vs 24 mpg for the PT Cruiser. They both have their special features, but the HHR's do not have a timing belt that needs to be changed every 60,000 miles.
Only issue after nearly 5 years, with the HHR, is a coolant temp sensor needed to be replaced (under warranty). 30MPG is possible with the 2.4L. I have a manual tranny. In town I average 23 MPG, even with winter warmup time. Cheap to run, roomy enough for most things. I have a trailer that I pull around for items I need from the store (if they don't fit in back of the HHR).
Doesn't the PT Cruiser use the same engine as the Dodge Neon?
The PT is the same platform as the Neon only the PT is shorter.
They are/were pretty good cars. The only ones I know of with timing belt issues are the ones that did them wrong. Change them before they hit 125,000 miles, replace the tensioner, use the proper tools & procedure and change the water pump and you'll get another 125,000 plus. Another key is to use quality parts not crap found on the internet or some box store.
[This message has been edited by Thunderstruck GT (edited 03-02-2016).]
I've got that engine in my Cobalt. Nice engine, easy to work on, neatest and cleanest oil change you'll ever see. Mine has 191K miles.
The 2.4 is VVT and some people have had to replace the camshaft actuator solenoids, which is easy and takes about five minutes. When they go bad, they turn on the "TC OFF" light (which seems unrelated but it is what it is) and eventually you'll get a CEL which conveniently tells you whether its the Intake or the Exhaust solenoid. A new solenoid is $45 or so.
I had an 06 HHR 2.4 auto for 8 1/2 years and 135,000 miles with no major issues and it averaged 30+mpg while I had it. Brakes were replaced at95 K miles and still looked good. http://imageshack.com/a/img537/5392/kUqQix.jpg Great fuel range.
They are not on the same platform as the minivan, they are on the same platform as the Neon only shorter.
Well, it has been years since I researched the car before I bought one but my understanding is that it was originally developed on that platform but the final production it was not used. Which one do you have?
Well, it has been years since I researched the car before I bought one but my understanding is that it was originally developed on that platform but the final production it was not used. Which one do you have?
I don't have any, I just bought, drove and sold them.
When they were hot I was driving LHS's, Mark VIII's and other higher end cars.
But that doesn't mean I didn't want one. I just put too many miles on back then and the PT isn't a good over the road car. I really was waiting for them to come out with a 2 door version but that never happen. If I were to buy one today, it would be a turbo convertible.
[This message has been edited by Thunderstruck GT (edited 03-02-2016).]
The PT is the same platform as the Neon only the PT is shorter.
They are/were pretty good cars. The only ones I know of with timing belt issues are the ones that did them wrong. Change them before they hit 125,000 miles, replace the tensioner, use the proper tools & procedure and change the water pump and you'll get another 125,000 plus. Another key is to use quality parts not crap found on the internet or some box store.
Yeah, by the time the PT came out they had fixed the head gasket problems from the first year or two of the 1st gen Neon. I do agree, while you changing the timing belt change the water pump. You've got to take the timing belt off to get to the water pump so while you have it off do it. My only real complaint with the Neon isn't Neon specific. I just don't like interference engines and unfortunately they are used in many automobiles.
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Originally posted by Stubby79:
Seen too many PT's with blown this or blown that for sale to trust one much. Not enough HHRs about to know about how well they hold up.
Probably mostly blown head gaskets. The original gasket design typically failed between 40k and 80k miles. There is also the SRT wannabe's treating their Neon like it's a SRT when it's not.
A bit of trivia on the Neon. The 1st and 2nd gen non-turbo Eclipse/Laser/Talon used the same engine as the Neon with one difference. The head flow was reversed so the intake and exhaust were on the opposite sides of the engine in a Eclipse.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 03-02-2016).]
Originally posted by Khw: Yeah, by the time the PT came out they had fixed the head gasket problems from the first year or two of the 1st gen Neon. I do agree, while you changing the timing belt change the water pump. You've got to take the timing belt off to get to the water pump so while you have it off do it. My only real complaint with the Neon isn't Neon specific. I just don't like interference engines and unfortunately they are used in many automobiles.
Probably mostly blown head gaskets. The original gasket design typically failed between 40k and 80k miles. There is also the SRT wannabe's treating their Neon like it's a SRT when it's not.
A bit of trivia on the Neon. The 1st and 2nd gen non-turbo Eclipse/Laser/Talon used the same engine as the Neon with one difference. The head flow was reversed so the intake and exhaust were on the opposite sides of the engine in a Eclipse.
The head gasket issue wasn't an issue at all. It was a misdiagnosis of the cam sensor seal.
It all started at the dealerships. Cars would come in with an oil leak, the mechanic would look at it, see oil mainlining out the back of the head and call it a bad head gasket. Eventually Chrysler said WTF and investigated the problem. Their findings were a $1.86 O-ring cam sensor seal which is in the back of the head above the tranny. Once Chrysler found the problem they bounced (negated) any warranty claims by franchised dealers for head gaskets.
Local repair shops made (and probably still do) a small fortune off of head gasket jobs Neons never needed.
This is also why it is a very rare occasion to hear of a final gen Neon or a PT Cruiser needing a head gasket. It isn't that they fixed the problem, they fixed the mechanic.
As far as the Mitsu connection, I can't comment on that. It's the first I've heard of it. Although I have my doubts. Mitsu's are a POS.
[This message has been edited by Thunderstruck GT (edited 03-03-2016).]
As far as the Mitsu connection, I can't comment on that. It's the first I've heard of it. Although I have my doubts. Mitsu's are a POS.
I double checked because it had been awhile. It wasn't the 1st gen just the 2nd. So 95-99 Eclipse RS/GS and Neon. The Neon used the ECC while the opposite head ported where dubbed the 420A. This was the DOHC models.
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The version used in the PT Cruiser (non-US) and Dodge Neon features a cylinder head with the intake ports facing the front of the vehicle, like the SOHC A588. Versions (420A) used in the Dodge-designed chassis, such as the Dodge Avenger and Mitsubishi Eclipse, have the intake ports facing the rear of the vehicle. Most other specifications are identical, however, and even some head components (such as the valve cover) are compatible.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 03-03-2016).]
HHR. Bought one off a insurance auction, basically sight unseen. Trailered it home and charged the battery up. Fired right up, but sounded AWFUL. Went underneath and found a hole big enough to put my fist through in the side of the block. I was AMAZED that thing ran, with a hole that big and no oil in it. Drove it around the yard to move it a couple times.
My father found a used engine, and in a day we had the old one out and the new one in. Now my mother drives it daily, no problems at all. She loves it; its quick, gets great gas mileage, and has enough space in the trunk for stuff.
I only have 2 complaints about it; For one, it is a smaller people car. I'm no dwarf (6'4"), but it's a bit close quarters in it. Secondly, the battery placement when paired with the trunk door. When we were fixing it, the battery kept going dead. But with the trunk closed and no power to the trunk door, we couldn't get it open! Had to climb over the rear seat :/
quote
Originally posted by Stubby79:
Seen too many PT's with blown this or blown that for sale to trust one much. Not enough HHRs about to know about how well they hold up.
It's funny though, I never noticed any of them before buying it. After, though, I see them EVERYWHERE. They're like late 90's grand ams, all over the place.
[This message has been edited by BazookaFiero (edited 03-04-2016).]
Originally posted by BazookaFiero: Secondly, the battery placement when paired with the trunk door. When we were fixing it, the battery kept going dead. But with the trunk closed and no power to the trunk door, we couldn't get it open! Had to climb over the rear seat :/
There is a rear hatch release... but it is inside (owners manual covers this)
The battery placement and no key access is not uncommon in the industry.
BTW... highway, state road combined on last trip... 30.5 MPG, running winter tires. Stopped into big box home store, picked up a few things. 8' pieces need to rest on dash, or mount to luggage rack on top (not all HHRs have this, but they can be added).
Jaskispyder, are you on the HHR forum? (I know Hyperv6 is there also) Its a really active forum and even I as a Cobalt owner like it since the tech sections are more useful than on the Cobalt forum.
Jaskispyder, are you on the HHR forum? (I know Hyperv6 is there also) Its a really active forum and even I as a Cobalt owner like it since the tech sections are more useful than on the Cobalt forum.
Wow... excellent, what year and model? What particulars do you like/dislike about the HHR? This is what the OP is looking for... opinions about each, not general GM bashing.
Originally posted by jaskispyder: Wow... excellent, what year and model? What particulars do you like/dislike about the HHR? This is what the OP is looking for... opinions about each, not general GM bashing.
