Now this is the stuff we love! We don’t need to see million dollar super cars or anything crazy, your roots brought us here with hoopties and neat cheaper cars. Don’t lose sight of that.
Had the pleasure of taking a HHR SS on an auto-x course when it was new. I tried my best to lose control of that thing, but it stayed put! The Onstar lady called me and asked if everything was ok. I said, yes! This thing is awesome!
Wait, OnStar called to check on you? You did the same thing Hennessy did with their CTS-V - tripped the G-meter so hard, they thought you were in a collision, just with the lateral sensor, as opposed to the longitudinal one...?
Everyone PLEASE take a moment and thumb-up every comment BELOW here that REMINDS Hoovie that THIS is the type of content we come here for. That this is what brought us here all those years ago. THIS is why we keep coming back. We can get non-stop supercar content on any one of fifty other TH-cam channels.
I have always been a car guy and collector. I never kept any daily driver more than 1-2 years. Seven years ago I bought an HHR SS manual g85 car with 145k miles for a daily. I fell in love with it. I sold most of my old car collection and started collecting these. I own 12 now including two manual HHR Panel SS's. My wife drives an Automatic HHR SS. I am at 300k Miles with my driver and I get about 30 mpg on the road and I always carry a lot of cargo. I have all the others in storage. These are such great cars, the best I have ever owned and I have had about everything.
@Eargesplitten-Loudenboomer I've seen cruiser farms, aztek filled driveways, you name it. I don't understand owning multiples of the same vehicle, they all drive the same, but to each their own.
In 30 years when ev have taken over and ICE vehicles are hard to come by and his collections worth 5Xs he’ll probably love those cars even more. I’m thinking about collecting Trailblazer SS. Nice to have multiple just in case you wanna have fun and accidentally crash one, no matter how good a collision guy is nothing touches factory.
I saw a 4 door Cobalt SS turbo that was an absolute monster at autocross. I couldnt believe how quick it got off the line compared to some other similar cars.
Glad to see you happy and smile on this purchase! And like so many people here, we probably like all of those gems being replaced by the sort of car that brought us to this channel in the first place.. Go TYLER!!!! Love from Holland
This is the kinda Hoovie hooptie stuff we come here for. 6-figure cars can be interesting, but this is much more fun- and relatable. Had no idea they made an SS version of the panel van.
Yeah stuff like the Lambo countach anniversary was fun because it’s that poster car we all wanted and Hoovie did a lot of cool stuff with it, but it started a list of 6 figure cars.
That Trans Am was a absolute steal at $22k. 99-02 WS6 T/A's in half decent shape with more miles are going for more than that. Thanks for showing some deals us mortals could buy. The HHR is a cool unique car. I would have bought it too.
Hoovie…This is why I love your channel! You get just as excited with an old goofy panel van as you do with a super car! Your excitement is so infectious and I am thankful that you keep sharing it with us!
I had a 2008HHR and it had 350,000KMs on it and was still running great. My only gripe was every time I pulled up at a light I had to duck down to see if the light had changed.Other than that, it was a good little car.
I sold an HHR SS Panel when I worked at Carmax years ago. I'll never forget how weird the buyer was. He was beyond excited to get it. Traded in a G8 GXP for it! Also side note, $10k for a Turbo R?!?!?! WHAT?!?!?!
@@rustler08 no they weren't. Auto was standard and manual was option. Just seen one listed on marketplace for a little under 30k that was auto and thought the dude was scamming. Looked it up and learned something.
Idk... On a FWD car, I almost see it as a plus. It will never really be that sporty and is best suited for doing normal stuff like commuting or errands. I would agree on any sports car.
For anyone that has never driven an HHR it is an interesting experience. It surprisingly quiet in the cab. The internals of the doors and dash have about 3" of insulative foam. These cars were a go to for a very short time because of the great stock soundedening and fantastic door seals.
I have been a fan of the GM Delta platform forever! I even owned 2 Cobalt SS coupes. Seeing this video pop up brought me so much joy this morning! I’ve always wanted an HHR-P SS but in manual. Dream wagon right there.
Something you failed to mention, The HHR Panel does have provisions for rear seats. Also you can swap out the rear doors for doors with windows. But still have the panels at the back.
Chevy sold HHR's with just the rear quarter window delete and regular rear windowed rear doors. I saw quite of few of them back in the day. I sort of prefer those since I do not like the major blind spot the full panel. With just rear quarter window delete you still had place for a company graphic if you were to be using it for business.
Well said. This is exactly how SO many of us feel. Yet we keep getting the same supercar content we can get on any one of fifty other TH-cam channels. This here is why we come back to Hoovie's Garage.
Tyler getting back to his roots. I have to admit I have always thought the SS HHR panel was extremely cool. When these were new we had a friend that had a non SS version that he built a speaker box for the back that was a perfect cube with 5 subs on the top, 3 on the back facing the back door, and 4 on the front side facing the driver's back seat. It had 12 8" subs he bought from Walmart and put in a box that looked like a single die like a pair of dice you might throw in Las Vegas. I'm sure you can imagine with 12 8" Walmart subs wired at who know what OHM load on a Walmart amp rated at "2000 watts" in a speaker box that was garbage.
Just love the HHR SS panel van. Only wish we could have bought one in Australia 🇦🇺. We have a very strong panel van culture here and that one would fit in nicely! Well dove Hoovie!
Driveline is closer shared with the Cobalt SS which was an auto or manual as well. The Pontiac and Saturn referenced were RWD versus FWD like this and the Cobalt. They had Chevy Performance packs available that put HP up to 290hp and 340ft/lbs that were fairly cheap, but required a dealer ECU flash.
theres not automatic cobalt ss execpt the fake ss ( 2.4 n/a sport version)... for the turbo version theres a cheaper alternative than gmp stage 1 with a hptuners retune, you can get close to 400hp and even more torque with a catless downpipe and map sensors, engine holds 25psi no issue
The HHR was a very good vehicle. My wife had one. It had over 150K on it when she wrecked it in a snow storm. Even at those miles, the car still felt new.
I've been missing this type of content. You've made a lover of odd cars, and you coming back to them makes me nothing short of incredibly happy. Thanks for bringing them back
i bought an 08 Sunset Orange Panel LT sight unseen on a whim from a FB add up in Detroit. Car was delivered and i literally fell in love with these dumb little things. Shortly after buying the first one i learned of a Panel SS and acquired one last year. I dont know what it is but its one of the funnest cars i have ever owned. Was pretty cool to see it on your channel. In all its trim levels its actually a phenomenal car when remembering its econo price point.
I bought a regular 2.0 HHR new. I liked it. It got crazy good fuel mileage and was more comfortable than the Dodge PT cruiser. I am a dyed in the wool Mopar person saying that! It was also designed by the same person that designed the PT cruiser. The only thing is they are a bit cramped with two people riding in it. I'd say you did good for the money. As cheap as you got it I'd lock it away and hope one day its more appreciated.
I bought one brand new with a limited slip differential, Brembo brakes and 5 speed manual. Probably my favorite car. Took it to Texas World Speedway road course and had a blast. Such an awesome driving car.
Very cool!! My wife has had two HHRs. Actually we still have the second one. The first one was my favorite of the two because of the manual transmission and sunroof, but they’re both really reliable and rather fun to drive. No I want the panel van version!! 😂
Awesome buy, Hoovie, nice seeing you get back to your roots! I have a Cobalt SS Turbo with the exact same powertrain plus the Saab manual transmission. You should check your turbo boost gauge whether yours has the GM Stage 1 Performance upgrade. For something like $600, you could have the dealership boost the power to 290 HP while retaining the warranty. Crazy stuff!
Tyler, how does it feel having all of this support and love from your followers? It seems like a gift, I hope you do not feel alone and that you feel grateful to have started a channel that is there for you always, and support from people who only want you happy because you make us feel good. Thank you for being strong and keeping us entertained during obstacles.
as someone who bought an 09 HHR SS (non panel version) in April of 09 and drove it until it was totaled in Oct 2022. It was a great little car. I'd still be driving it if I could. Had 98k stock and no issues with the engine and still the original timing chain. Still miss that car
Thank you Tyler. Been watching your channel for years. Miss vehicles like this on your channel. High end cars are cool and all, but stuff like this made me subscribe and I’m glad to see you getting stuff like this again. Please continue doing cars and trucks like this one!
Really enjoy the hoopties Hoovie…they made your channel…the Exotics and 6 figure cars are wonderful…but everyone…including yourself appreciates an obtainable treasure. Looking forward to an update on the HHR…safe travels home.
In talking to John Heinrecey (Heinrocket), GM performance engineer, he said he set the class record at the Green Hell (Nürburgring) ; he did likewise with the Trailblazer SS. I bought and still own a HHR. I love it. 5 speed and Pontiac Solstice wheels. 35 mpg highway.
I’ve been waiting for this!!!!! I had an 08 HHR SS manual, red as well with the Recaro seats. Was such a fun car and honestly didn’t look bad in the SS form. Almost bought another a few years back.
Just a small correction, the Saturn Ion Redline you mentioned had the supercharged LSJ 2.0 Ecotec. These and the later Cobalt SS Turbo, along with the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline had the LNF 2.0 Turbo Ecotec
Thoughts & prayers with you sir. I know life is extremely hard an unjust believe me keep your chin up and do the best for yourself and family God bless A+ content I love all the trucks ssr hhr panel van I watched this HHR get sold live glad you got it
Had a Cobalt SS S/C in my early 20s. It was actaully a really fun little car. These along with turbo Cobalt SS's are such hidden gems. Also capable of alot when you throw mods at these .
That’s a great buy! It’s better looking than the PT Cruiser ever was and could be a practical delivery/utility vehicle. Should have had a V8. That BMW is fantastic!
A local small business near me has one of these as a company vehicle! I knew it was rare but holy crap there aren't too many cars with this small of production driving around still.
I think this thing has aged pretty well. For being 15yrs old it looks more than decent, I'm a fan! (Coming from someone that has a 2003 Fiat Multipla 😅 )
Time for a LSD equipped manual swap in the SS! Pretty sure they fixed the timing chain issue in 2010 with a new tensioner. Other than that, I don't think I've ever heard of them being fragile. There are people that run up to about 400whp fairly reliably with that engine.
@@fuzzyschwartzI didn't hear that about his son! That's insane! Hoovie seems like a pretty stand-up guy and will probably still help raise him like he's his own genetic child
bought a 2008 HHR with almost 300k miles on it and drove it from ohio to florida the next day. had the car for another 5 years afterwards one of the most underrated cars of all time imo
I don't know about the SS model, but I knew someone that bought an HHR Panel new, and drove it over 200k miles with no issues. it was a manual transmission, not sure if that matters.
I was 19 years old in 2007 and saw these on occasion rolling around Ottawa, Canada. I really thought they were versatile especially for small business. I would have loved a black or grey HHR/SS manual but with the supercharged engine from earlier Cobalt SS cars.😊
I have to admit that I knew what these vehicles were when they were for sale, knew they would be limited editions, and I passed up purchasing one. I regret not getting a HHR SS with the 5-speed manual when I had the chance to do it.
I got one of these panel SS HHRs as a rental car from the dealership. It was one of two HHR panels they used as a parts car. Dealership got 3 SS HHR panels, only sold one in 2 years. Why they made them parts cars. Must say, besides looking stupid, it was comfy like a mini van to drive, and was way faster than expected.
Tyler, I hope you like the HHR. I had a 2006 Cobalt SS the supercharged version nothing to write home about but it was a fun car. My Dad was a construction worker, a painter, he bought a 2008 HHR Panel not the SS but the LT2 package in Sunburst Orange II Metallic with the 2.4L. He passed from lung cancer in 2017 and my Mom kept the HHR. I absolutely love this thing partly because it was my Dad's and partially because everytime I drive it I get 2 or 3 old men asking about it and at least 1 of them always wants to buy it. They are fun to drive but a pain in the butt to back out of a parking space lol. BTW, I would give my left nut for a SS Panel they are so much fun.
Hey don’t knock the 1st gen ss cobalt even tho they were only 205hp stock that LSJ engine is great and very solid. Also the 700$ stage 2 kit (bigger injectors, smaller pulley, ecu tune) it brought power up to 270hp with e85 kit so about 1200 bucks and they would smoke this hhr. I know because I’ve had 3 Saturn ion redlines which for those that don’t know is the same as the car you’re referring to. And I beat evos in my plastic Saturn on corn fuel. Eventually I had full bolt ons and much more my car had 432hp in the end on the stock engine and no joke I raced a Lamborghini gallardo and pulled on him about a 1/2 car all the way to 125mph then he was able to pass, also same deal with a Diablo and a v10 r8 IN A SATURN!
wondered how bad the blind spots must be on a panel version - regular window hhrs only have to deal with the massive A pillar... might be worth putting in a backup camera
@@vcall6121 lol no man Im not saying they were bad cars at all I had a friend with a Redline that was pushing close to 400 to the wheels. Although he had lots of stuff done. Injectors, option b, ported TVS blower, all forged internals, ported polished head, etc etc..I was just a broke bitch and couldnt afford to upgrade mine. They are tons of fun and like you say the LSJ block is a solid base for nice tuning.
I had the black HHR SS and I loved it! I'm a musician that played out professionally and it was great to load PA equipment and other instruments in the back. Still rode like a champ with all that weight❤ nothing like showing up to a gig in style❤
At the time when the HHR was in production, I was interested in buying one and rented a non-performance version from the local Enterprise Car Rental; same red color. Useful storage but not a vehicle for a tall driver as I found the low roofline blocked my view of traffic signals. Some very, very nice prices. Congrats on the HHR SS Panel !!
Once all the car inventory is sold for the settlement, Hoovies should consider return to the channel roots with old exotic hoopties. Those videos saved thousands to many subscribers avoiding certain cars.
@@craigm2484 and who said it was her filling for the divorce? Don't you think is a bit strange, someone that is getting a divorce, rushing for a vasectomy? Just because we like Hoovies persona, doesn't mean he is the same in private.
if you're keeping it, do a restoration now with GM parts while they are still available and cheap. It might be worth something in the future. Order whatever is needed to pop open those doors lol.
buddy had one of these to haul bikes to races. It wasn't long enough unless you angled the bars. Not a huge deal with some lumber and fork mounts. More of a hassle with thru axles. The cool part was that it did keep his bikes out of sight. Cool ride if you want to stick to the rule that your bike(s) should be worth at least 2X the value of your car.
Bought a 2008 HHR LS, and loved it! I got the 5-speed manual version, and that car was bulletproof. Drove fantastic. Didn’t have much power, but had 30 mpg, and ran like crazy. Miss that cool little thing. And, as a musician, i could haul myself, my wife, a full half stack guitar rig, head, 4X12 cabinet, two guitars, pedalboard, and several boxes of merchandise! Held a surprising amount of stuff in that car…
Bought a new HHR SS wagon in 2009. The engine put out 260 hp with a standard transmission but it was de-tuned to 235 hp with the automatic. Got 210,000 miles before the timing chain went.
The automatic versions were only downrated 10 HP to 250 HP, not 235. You got it all back plus 40 more when you added the GMPP turbo upgrade kit. Did that to my 2009 SS auto and never regretted it one bit!
it fits so great into character that he needs to sell 4 cars because he needs money but ended up buying one before even one has been auctionded. I love it
The PT Cruiser was pretty unique .. hard to categorize. But in essence it was just an efficient compact car with more room and fun retro design. They were great if that was what you wanted. The problem with PT Cruisers was that people wanted them to be something else than an economy car with more room
The engine is also known as the B207 from Saab. One of the best l4 engines ever made. Yes, the timing chain guide (or more precisely the balancer shaft chain guide) is prone to failures (often around 150kkm or 90k miles) but its an easy fix. The engine itself is rock solid and can be easily tuned to around 320-330hp (thats the limit for the bottom end).
youre wrong, its an opel direct injected engine, engine can hold 400whp and the one youre talking about is from the cobalt supercharged and holds close to 500hp with stock internals, 2 totally different engines, different generations, the 2.0t is the same engine can found in opel opc and buick regal gs with different ecm
@@SteadyRhombus actually the record for a stock block modified internals ecotec is 2000hp at 100psi, guy runs 5.91 at 230mph 1/4 mile in a rwd pontiac g6, stock block from a 2006 supercharged cobalt ss/saab b207r, the block from the turbo cobalt/opels is porous, not a good thing
@@retrocompaq5212 Well then, you learn something new from time to time. I though all GM 2.0 gasoline l4 engines from this time period were b207/LK9. The power figure from my previous comment was ofc whp at the level that is still streetable and reliable.
That’s what I was thinking, those Chevy Vega wagons and panel wagons back in the 1970s. That had a lot of potential if they didn’t cheap out when designing and coming out with them.
I bought one brand new one at the end of the model year sale at a substantial discount. I was active in AKC obedience and tracking trials and my German Shepherds crates fit perfectly. Drove it 258k miles with minimal issues. Never failed to start or left me stranded. It was maintained by the book and for me, at least the engine was bulletproof. The only issue was leaking valve cover gaskets that were replaced at 175k miles. I never knew how rare they were!
I'm impressed! I purchased, brand new, 2008 HHR with the 2.4. It was a great car. Loved it. Mine was just one step below the SS model. Had all the bells and whistles, no leather interior. Step son has it now.
Hoovies Garage. HHR SS ,Cobalt SS 08-10, Saturn Sky redline,Pontiac Solstice GXP all had the same 2.0l Ecotecs engines. The reason the earlier models blew up or failed was due to whats called aporous blockk due to the engine being foam casted instead of sand casted. The foam casting caused tiniy holes in the block, causing failure and was replaced under warranty. Torqure steer is due to bad trailing control arm bushings.
I had a Silver '06 2.4L LT model. It was so reliable. Lost it in a hit and run. I wanted a matching SS one. I enjoy these videos Hoovie. The ones with cheap interesting cars.
![[Full] 4 ต่อ 4 Celebrity EP.922 | 10 พ.ย. 67 | one31](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zmV5HRIxIBI/mqdefault.jpg)
Now this is the stuff we love! We don’t need to see million dollar super cars or anything crazy, your roots brought us here with hoopties and neat cheaper cars. Don’t lose sight of that.
Preach!
Bingo!
Yup
Exactly
Your point is valid, but NO ONE needs to see this piece of garbage
This is the content I came for... seeing Tyler buying oddball hoopty cars and being excited about it.
*Practical* oddball hoopty.
He always does, you didn’t miss anything
I agree 100%
@OneIssueVoter
Go just go dude we don't need your negative feelings here
YES!
Always great to see Tyler smiling...even more so when he's driving a hoopty and not some 6 figure trophy. Keep bringing on the hoopties!
Perhaps he is also relived after the divorce
Had the pleasure of taking a HHR SS on an auto-x course when it was new. I tried my best to lose control of that thing, but it stayed put! The Onstar lady called me and asked if everything was ok. I said, yes! This thing is awesome!
Thats awesome
Wait, OnStar called to check on you? You did the same thing Hennessy did with their CTS-V - tripped the G-meter so hard, they thought you were in a collision, just with the lateral sensor, as opposed to the longitudinal one...?
Hoovie buying unique cars that aren't well known is always entertaining!
Everyone PLEASE take a moment and thumb-up every comment BELOW here that REMINDS Hoovie that THIS is the type of content we come here for. That this is what brought us here all those years ago. THIS is why we keep coming back. We can get non-stop supercar content on any one of fifty other TH-cam channels.
um no
@@NocturnalPLUR UM YES
Algorithm comment.
no
I have always been a car guy and collector. I never kept any daily driver more than 1-2 years. Seven years ago I bought an HHR SS manual g85 car with 145k miles for a daily. I fell in love with it. I sold most of my old car collection and started collecting these. I own 12 now including two manual HHR Panel SS's. My wife drives an Automatic HHR SS. I am at 300k Miles with my driver and I get about 30 mpg on the road and I always carry a lot of cargo. I have all the others in storage. These are such great cars, the best I have ever owned and I have had about everything.
Why did you end up wanting so many?
What a switch to be flipped in the brain. I'd assume the entire breaker controlling the switch must've went with it.
@@spectra_3005 There has to be someone else that does this, I'm sure there's multiple people that do this with PT Cruisers
@Eargesplitten-Loudenboomer I've seen cruiser farms, aztek filled driveways, you name it. I don't understand owning multiples of the same vehicle, they all drive the same, but to each their own.
In 30 years when ev have taken over and ICE vehicles are hard to come by and his collections worth 5Xs he’ll probably love those cars even more. I’m thinking about collecting Trailblazer SS. Nice to have multiple just in case you wanna have fun and accidentally crash one, no matter how good a collision guy is nothing touches factory.
I owned an HHR SS for a couple years. Super under rated modern wagon. Glad to see it on the channel!
Me to, bought a new one in 2008 and it was a ton of fun
I had a Supercharged Cobalt SS in the early 2010s. Super underrated cars, and super welcoming to mods.
Mine was dyno tuned to 300hp and 315 tq. It was way more fun.
I saw a 4 door Cobalt SS turbo that was an absolute monster at autocross. I couldnt believe how quick it got off the line compared to some other similar cars.
It’s a turd. Not underrated by any means.
So awesome to see Tyler having some fun again!
Let the good times roll Hoovie.
Glad to see you happy and smile on this purchase! And like so many people here, we probably like all of those gems being replaced by the sort of car that brought us to this channel in the first place.. Go TYLER!!!! Love from Holland
This is the kinda Hoovie hooptie stuff we come here for. 6-figure cars can be interesting, but this is much more fun- and relatable. Had no idea they made an SS version of the panel van.
Beats just talking about the divorce
Yeah stuff like the Lambo countach anniversary was fun because it’s that poster car we all wanted and Hoovie did a lot of cool stuff with it, but it started a list of 6 figure cars.
@@CastorRabbit His wife divorced him? I don't watch every video...
Supposedly he divorced her.
@@readtherealanthonyfaucibyr6444 It's all just comments but it's a fairly well known thing now
A true Hoovie purchase and an absolute bargain. Amazing purchase. Good luck with it.
th-cam.com/video/_SoKLZPgzF4/w-d-xo.html
That Trans Am was a absolute steal at $22k. 99-02 WS6 T/A's in half decent shape with more miles are going for more than that. Thanks for showing some deals us mortals could buy. The HHR is a cool unique car. I would have bought it too.
Somebody got the deal of a lifetime!
Very surprised that it did go that cheap.
I know, makes me wish I had kept my '98 black/black Ttop LS1 6sp T/A & my '99 black/black Ttop Firehawk {bought both new} ✌💖☮
Hoovie…This is why I love your channel! You get just as excited with an old goofy panel van as you do with a super car! Your excitement is so infectious and I am thankful that you keep sharing it with us!
I had a 2008HHR and it had 350,000KMs on it and was still running great. My only gripe was every time I pulled up at a light I had to duck down to see if the light had changed.Other than that, it was a good little car.
I sold an HHR SS Panel when I worked at Carmax years ago. I'll never forget how weird the buyer was. He was beyond excited to get it. Traded in a G8 GXP for it! Also side note, $10k for a Turbo R?!?!?! WHAT?!?!?!
GXP for a HHR SS 😂😂😂no way great deal for carmax ☠️
Damn, A G8 GXP. Please tell me it wasn't a 6 speed. Those cars are pretty rare & valuable.
Damn, and I thought trading a '02 LS430 for my '99 NB1 Miata was silly.
@@davidgalinat4257 All G8 GXPs were 6-speeds.
@@rustler08 no they weren't. Auto was standard and manual was option. Just seen one listed on marketplace for a little under 30k that was auto and thought the dude was scamming. Looked it up and learned something.
It may have been less popular than the PT cruiser, but I think this design aged a lot better
No PT cruiser Ever took off like that.
@@donphillips5957pt cruiser gt turbo has entered the chat
Kinda pointless with an auto. All of the cars appeal goes out the window if it doesn't have three pedals.
i saw a pro street PT Cruiser, it was running low 9's.
Idk... On a FWD car, I almost see it as a plus. It will never really be that sporty and is best suited for doing normal stuff like commuting or errands. I would agree on any sports car.
For anyone that has never driven an HHR it is an interesting experience. It surprisingly quiet in the cab. The internals of the doors and dash have about 3" of insulative foam. These cars were a go to for a very short time because of the great stock soundedening and fantastic door seals.
I have been a fan of the GM Delta platform forever! I even owned 2 Cobalt SS coupes. Seeing this video pop up brought me so much joy this morning! I’ve always wanted an HHR-P SS but in manual. Dream wagon right there.
Something you failed to mention, The HHR Panel does have provisions for rear seats.
Also you can swap out the rear doors for doors with windows.
But still have the panels at the back.
Chevy sold HHR's with just the rear quarter window delete and regular rear windowed rear doors. I saw quite of few of them back in the day. I sort of prefer those since I do not like the major blind spot the full panel. With just rear quarter window delete you still had place for a company graphic if you were to be using it for business.
My 07 has back seats but panel sides!
I was thinking the same thing. Get a couple passenger rear doors and you could have a least a somewhat usable freak-show car.
A proper Hoovie car. Feels like it's been forever!
Came to post that. This is a Hoovie hooptie
Well said. This is exactly how SO many of us feel. Yet we keep getting the same supercar content we can get on any one of fifty other TH-cam channels. This here is why we come back to Hoovie's Garage.
Tyler getting back to his roots. I have to admit I have always thought the SS HHR panel was extremely cool. When these were new we had a friend that had a non SS version that he built a speaker box for the back that was a perfect cube with 5 subs on the top, 3 on the back facing the back door, and 4 on the front side facing the driver's back seat. It had 12 8" subs he bought from Walmart and put in a box that looked like a single die like a pair of dice you might throw in Las Vegas. I'm sure you can imagine with 12 8" Walmart subs wired at who know what OHM load on a Walmart amp rated at "2000 watts" in a speaker box that was garbage.
Very happy to see you still keeping your mood up and making videos ❤
Just love the HHR SS panel van. Only wish we could have bought one in Australia 🇦🇺. We have a very strong panel van culture here and that one would fit in nicely! Well dove Hoovie!
Sandman hhr 🤔👍
Not watched a Hoovie video for sometime now. But now I remember why I use to watch everyone that came out, Lovely Jubbly Hoovie.
Awesome car! Had the same drivetrain in my Cobalt SS. That motor can make good power for little money. I’d love to own an HHR SS Panel
We love you Hoovie, whatever is going on in your life know that we will be here supporting you all the way my man
He went through a divorce and his ex took him to the cleaners
@@versansky75 I know but I thought I would just offer my support and not point it out again
@@versansky75 No shit Sherlock!🤦
Driveline is closer shared with the Cobalt SS which was an auto or manual as well. The Pontiac and Saturn referenced were RWD versus FWD like this and the Cobalt. They had Chevy Performance packs available that put HP up to 290hp and 340ft/lbs that were fairly cheap, but required a dealer ECU flash.
theres not automatic cobalt ss execpt the fake ss ( 2.4 n/a sport version)... for the turbo version theres a cheaper alternative than gmp stage 1 with a hptuners retune, you can get close to 400hp and even more torque with a catless downpipe and map sensors, engine holds 25psi no issue
They were pretty quick with that done too, torque steer anyone
I believe these power numbers were underrated by GM. I think in OEM trim they were closer to 280+HP.
The HHR was a very good vehicle. My wife had one. It had over 150K on it when she wrecked it in a snow storm. Even at those miles, the car still felt new.
I had a 08 ls 2.2 with 5speed. Used it for copier service van. I put 300,000 miles on it. Changed 2 starters, a shift linkage and catalytic converter.
I've been missing this type of content. You've made a lover of odd cars, and you coming back to them makes me nothing short of incredibly happy. Thanks for bringing them back
i bought an 08 Sunset Orange Panel LT sight unseen on a whim from a FB add up in Detroit. Car was delivered and i literally fell in love with these dumb little things. Shortly after buying the first one i learned of a Panel SS and acquired one last year. I dont know what it is but its one of the funnest cars i have ever owned. Was pretty cool to see it on your channel. In all its trim levels its actually a phenomenal car when remembering its econo price point.
I bought a regular 2.0 HHR new. I liked it. It got crazy good fuel mileage and was more comfortable than the Dodge PT cruiser. I am a dyed in the wool Mopar person saying that! It was also designed by the same person that designed the PT cruiser. The only thing is they are a bit cramped with two people riding in it.
I'd say you did good for the money. As cheap as you got it I'd lock it away and hope one day its more appreciated.
I bought one brand new with a limited slip differential, Brembo brakes and 5 speed manual. Probably my favorite car. Took it to Texas World Speedway road course and had a blast. Such an awesome driving car.
I'm so glad Tyler got a new Hoopty. This sort of car is why I started following Tyler and the Car Wizard
Very cool!!
My wife has had two HHRs.
Actually we still have the second one.
The first one was my favorite of the two because of the manual transmission and sunroof, but they’re both really reliable and rather fun to drive.
No I want the panel van version!!
😂
Awesome buy, Hoovie, nice seeing you get back to your roots! I have a Cobalt SS Turbo with the exact same powertrain plus the Saab manual transmission. You should check your turbo boost gauge whether yours has the GM Stage 1 Performance upgrade. For something like $600, you could have the dealership boost the power to 290 HP while retaining the warranty. Crazy stuff!
Unfortunately the manual transmission are Weaker
@@GundamZero5 The Cobalt SS Turbo did not come with an auto. Still the manual is faster, more economical and way more fun in the HHR!
we used the HHR as a work vehicle - it was almost the perfect size- not as big as a box van but still had tons of room on the inside
Tyler, how does it feel having all of this support and love from your followers? It seems like a gift, I hope you do not feel alone and that you feel grateful to have started a channel that is there for you always, and support from people who only want you happy because you make us feel good. Thank you for being strong and keeping us entertained during obstacles.
as someone who bought an 09 HHR SS (non panel version) in April of 09 and drove it until it was totaled in Oct 2022. It was a great little car. I'd still be driving it if I could. Had 98k stock and no issues with the engine and still the original timing chain. Still miss that car
Thank you Tyler. Been watching your channel for years. Miss vehicles like this on your channel. High end cars are cool and all, but stuff like this made me subscribe and I’m glad to see you getting stuff like this again. Please continue doing cars and trucks like this one!
Really enjoy the hoopties Hoovie…they made your channel…the Exotics and 6 figure cars are wonderful…but everyone…including yourself appreciates an obtainable treasure. Looking forward to an update on the HHR…safe travels home.
Hoovie good to see you smiling dawg. Happy to see the panel van out there squealing the tires haha 😂
It is great to see Hoopty smile.
I have one,got it new in 09 love it. Only has 85000 runs strong. I am 72 and love to put the peddle down.
Look at how happy he is before the sale, if only he knew 😮😮
Doug the kind of guy to sell his divorcing friend's cars on Cars & Bids, and still charges him commission.
I know your joking but Doug did sell cars and bids or atleast a big chunk of it I believe
@@6door6four96 Correct. The Chernin Group bought majority stake earlier this year for $37 million
I'm sure Hoovie would rather Doug get it than his ex-wife!
@@6door6four96 you're.
If your a man, marriage is a complete scam
In talking to John Heinrecey (Heinrocket), GM performance engineer, he said he set the class record at the Green Hell (Nürburgring) ; he did likewise with the Trailblazer SS. I bought and still own a HHR. I love it. 5 speed and Pontiac Solstice wheels. 35 mpg highway.
I’ve been waiting for this!!!!! I had an 08 HHR SS manual, red as well with the Recaro seats. Was such a fun car and honestly didn’t look bad in the SS form. Almost bought another a few years back.
Just a small correction, the Saturn Ion Redline you mentioned had the supercharged LSJ 2.0 Ecotec. These and the later Cobalt SS Turbo, along with the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline had the LNF 2.0 Turbo Ecotec
Two videos in one week?! 😲
Seems like Hoovie is getting his mojo back! 😎👍
Thoughts & prayers with you sir. I know life is extremely hard an unjust believe me keep your chin up and do the best for yourself and family
God bless
A+ content
I love all the trucks ssr hhr panel van I watched this HHR get sold live glad you got it
Had a Cobalt SS S/C in my early 20s. It was actaully a really fun little car. These along with turbo Cobalt SS's are such hidden gems. Also capable of alot when you throw mods at these .
That’s a great buy! It’s better looking than the PT Cruiser ever was and could be a practical delivery/utility vehicle. Should have had a V8. That BMW is fantastic!
I have a 2010 HHR Panel with 255k. 30 mpg and drives like a champ. Great car, now I want a better lower mileage version.
A local small business near me has one of these as a company vehicle! I knew it was rare but holy crap there aren't too many cars with this small of production driving around still.
Petition for Hoovie to turn this into the world’s first tuner Chevrolet campervan and do One Lap of America in it…
...meh
It would be a grim experience. No shower, toilet, standing room, kitchen, etc, etc.
He's not the hobo type
@@procatprocat9647 I had just assumed it would be credit card camping
@banovsky what's that? I googled it and it came up with a crappy multi knife
I think this thing has aged pretty well. For being 15yrs old it looks more than decent, I'm a fan! (Coming from someone that has a 2003 Fiat Multipla 😅 )
I had two regular HHR Panel versions when I started my painting business. LOVED IT and miss them.
Time for a LSD equipped manual swap in the SS!
Pretty sure they fixed the timing chain issue in 2010 with a new tensioner. Other than that, I don't think I've ever heard of them being fragile. There are people that run up to about 400whp fairly reliably with that engine.
Great video Hoovie. Nice to see you finding some fun during a difficult time.
Keep your head up Tyler. If you feel like you need a break after what happened no one will blame you.
@@siliconicarusHis wife divorced him and raked him over the coals.
@@siliconicarus His wife basically took him to the cleaners when they got divorced. He had to sell just about all of his collection just to pay her
Tmi
@@siliconicarus He actually initiated the divorce. His wife cheated on him multiple times and he found out his son is not his genetically.
@@fuzzyschwartzI didn't hear that about his son! That's insane! Hoovie seems like a pretty stand-up guy and will probably still help raise him like he's his own genetic child
He's really picked up the pace on his video releases. Lawyers cost a lot and he is working overtime.
And we will watch to help,.oh yeah 👍
Most of us have been there 😅
I think he said he doesn't make any money off of youtube, he spent 100k on registration alone last year lol
@@bigshotcelebrity_his local DMV is hiring 3 new employees assigned just to Tyler 😂
Lawyers cost a lot but ex-wives cost even more
Welcome back to Hooptie life!!
I had a Chevy HHR SS and it was the best car ever. It finally needed a new transmission at 268,000. So I donated the car.
My brother owns a 2008 hhr ss and it has 280,000 miles on it and still going strong. Very underrated car and quick with a few bolt ons.
bought a 2008 HHR with almost 300k miles on it and drove it from ohio to florida the next day. had the car for another 5 years afterwards one of the most underrated cars of all time imo
BJ is lucky to have you Hoovie. I wouldn't pay any attention to their auction if not for you.
I don't know about the SS model, but I knew someone that bought an HHR Panel new, and drove it over 200k miles with no issues. it was a manual transmission, not sure if that matters.
I was 19 years old in 2007 and saw these on occasion rolling around Ottawa, Canada. I really thought they were versatile especially for small business. I would have loved a black or grey HHR/SS manual but with the supercharged engine from earlier Cobalt SS cars.😊
Very cool. Love the videos of unusual cars at obtainable prices!
With the manual + no-lift shift these were HILARIOUS fun
i LOVE those. a treat to see when i see a hhr driving around
I have to admit that I knew what these vehicles were when they were for sale, knew they would be limited editions, and I passed up purchasing one. I regret not getting a HHR SS with the 5-speed manual when I had the chance to do it.
I got one of these panel SS HHRs as a rental car from the dealership. It was one of two HHR panels they used as a parts car. Dealership got 3 SS HHR panels, only sold one in 2 years. Why they made them parts cars. Must say, besides looking stupid, it was comfy like a mini van to drive, and was way faster than expected.
Tyler, I hope you like the HHR. I had a 2006 Cobalt SS the supercharged version nothing to write home about but it was a fun car. My Dad was a construction worker, a painter, he bought a 2008 HHR Panel not the SS but the LT2 package in Sunburst Orange II Metallic with the 2.4L. He passed from lung cancer in 2017 and my Mom kept the HHR. I absolutely love this thing partly because it was my Dad's and partially because everytime I drive it I get 2 or 3 old men asking about it and at least 1 of them always wants to buy it. They are fun to drive but a pain in the butt to back out of a parking space lol.
BTW, I would give my left nut for a SS Panel they are so much fun.
Hey don’t knock the 1st gen ss cobalt even tho they were only 205hp stock that LSJ engine is great and very solid. Also the 700$ stage 2 kit (bigger injectors, smaller pulley, ecu tune) it brought power up to 270hp with e85 kit so about 1200 bucks and they would smoke this hhr. I know because I’ve had 3 Saturn ion redlines which for those that don’t know is the same as the car you’re referring to. And I beat evos in my plastic Saturn on corn fuel. Eventually I had full bolt ons and much more my car had 432hp in the end on the stock engine and no joke I raced a Lamborghini gallardo and pulled on him about a 1/2 car all the way to 125mph then he was able to pass, also same deal with a Diablo and a v10 r8 IN A SATURN!
wondered how bad the blind spots must be on a panel version - regular window hhrs only have to deal with the massive A pillar... might be worth putting in a backup camera
@@vcall6121 lol no man Im not saying they were bad cars at all I had a friend with a Redline that was pushing close to 400 to the wheels. Although he had lots of stuff done. Injectors, option b, ported TVS blower, all forged internals, ported polished head, etc etc..I was just a broke bitch and couldnt afford to upgrade mine. They are tons of fun and like you say the LSJ block is a solid base for nice tuning.
Tyler proceeds to dump $3K into the car at Wizard's and then sells the car at Barrett Jackson a few months later for $6K. 😆
That internal water pump is 2k right there.
@@cactuswillable No, wrong. About $500 total, labor included.
And he made $10k with youtube views on this car alone by then....
A prime example of why rarity and value don't always walk hand in hand.
I had the black HHR SS and I loved it! I'm a musician that played out professionally and it was great to load PA equipment and other instruments in the back. Still rode like a champ with all that weight❤ nothing like showing up to a gig in style❤
At the time when the HHR was in production, I was interested in buying one and rented a non-performance version from the local Enterprise Car Rental; same red color.
Useful storage but not a vehicle for a tall driver as I found the low roofline blocked my view of traffic signals.
Some very, very nice prices.
Congrats on the HHR SS Panel !!
Once all the car inventory is sold for the settlement, Hoovies should consider return to the channel roots with old exotic hoopties. Those videos saved thousands to many subscribers avoiding certain cars.
Settlement of what a divorce ?
@@craigm2484 what you think? He isn't very reserved about it throwing many tips.
@@RogerM88 I've been working away from the computer but screw her then he got 2 kids with her and he is a Good kid Hell with her . Peace
@@craigm2484 and who said it was her filling for the divorce? Don't you think is a bit strange, someone that is getting a divorce, rushing for a vasectomy? Just because we like Hoovies persona, doesn't mean he is the same in private.
@@RogerM88 Not really my business but yes you are correct.
if you're keeping it, do a restoration now with GM parts while they are still available and cheap. It might be worth something in the future. Order whatever is needed to pop open those doors lol.
They open from the inside i think. Unless its broke. Wouldnt shock me.
So, I will say this: the clutch in these is absolutely atrocious to deal with, so having the automatic is a very nice touch.
Why is that? Zero issue here.
buddy had one of these to haul bikes to races. It wasn't long enough unless you angled the bars. Not a huge deal with some lumber and fork mounts. More of a hassle with thru axles. The cool part was that it did keep his bikes out of sight. Cool ride if you want to stick to the rule that your bike(s) should be worth at least 2X the value of your car.
Bought a 2008 HHR LS, and loved it! I got the 5-speed manual version, and that car was bulletproof. Drove fantastic. Didn’t have much power, but had 30 mpg, and ran like crazy. Miss that cool little thing. And, as a musician, i could haul myself, my wife, a full half stack guitar rig, head, 4X12 cabinet, two guitars, pedalboard, and several boxes of merchandise! Held a surprising amount of stuff in that car…
Man did we go back in time? What a great car! Great seeing you living your best life, Hoovie!
Bought a new HHR SS wagon in 2009. The engine put out 260 hp with a standard transmission but it was de-tuned to 235 hp with the automatic. Got 210,000 miles before the timing chain went.
The automatic versions were only downrated 10 HP to 250 HP, not 235. You got it all back plus 40 more when you added the GMPP turbo upgrade kit. Did that to my 2009 SS auto and never regretted it one bit!
Regardless what it is it’s nice to see affordable cars again 😊
This is the best type of content that i miss. Never could really get into the exotics usual euro cars he was doing. Hope there is more of this!!
it fits so great into character that he needs to sell 4 cars because he needs money but ended up buying one before even one has been auctionded. I love it
The PT Cruiser was pretty unique .. hard to categorize. But in essence it was just an efficient compact car with more room and fun retro design.
They were great if that was what you wanted.
The problem with PT Cruisers was that people wanted them to be something else than an economy car with more room
The engine is also known as the B207 from Saab. One of the best l4 engines ever made. Yes, the timing chain guide (or more precisely the balancer shaft chain guide) is prone to failures (often around 150kkm or 90k miles) but its an easy fix. The engine itself is rock solid and can be easily tuned to around 320-330hp (thats the limit for the bottom end).
I’ve seen bottom end Ecotecs run 400+
youre wrong, its an opel direct injected engine, engine can hold 400whp and the one youre talking about is from the cobalt supercharged and holds close to 500hp with stock internals, 2 totally different engines, different generations, the 2.0t is the same engine can found in opel opc and buick regal gs with different ecm
@@SteadyRhombus actually the record for a stock block modified internals ecotec is 2000hp at 100psi, guy runs 5.91 at 230mph 1/4 mile in a rwd pontiac g6, stock block from a 2006 supercharged cobalt ss/saab b207r, the block from the turbo cobalt/opels is porous, not a good thing
@@retrocompaq5212 Well then, you learn something new from time to time. I though all GM 2.0 gasoline l4 engines from this time period were b207/LK9. The power figure from my previous comment was ofc whp at the level that is still streetable and reliable.
I always liked the HHR panel . It reminds me of the Vega Panel wagon. Best of luck with it. It looks great.
That’s what I was thinking, those Chevy Vega wagons and panel wagons back in the 1970s. That had a lot of potential if they didn’t cheap out when designing and coming out with them.
I bought one brand new one at the end of the model year sale at a substantial discount.
I was active in AKC obedience and tracking trials and my German Shepherds crates fit perfectly.
Drove it 258k miles with minimal issues.
Never failed to start or left me stranded.
It was maintained by the book and for me, at least the engine was bulletproof.
The only issue was leaking valve cover gaskets that were replaced at 175k miles.
I never knew how rare they were!
I'm impressed! I purchased, brand new, 2008 HHR with the 2.4. It was a great car. Loved it. Mine was just one step below the SS model. Had all the bells and whistles, no leather interior. Step son has it now.
Hoovies Garage. HHR SS ,Cobalt SS 08-10, Saturn Sky redline,Pontiac Solstice GXP all had the same 2.0l Ecotecs engines. The reason the earlier models blew up or failed was due to whats called aporous blockk due to the engine being foam casted instead of sand casted. The foam casting caused tiniy holes in the block, causing failure and was replaced under warranty. Torqure steer is due to bad trailing control arm bushings.
I loved every second of this video. This is a dream car of mine too, and Hoovies giddy reaction to actually owning one is on point 😂
Love this Hoovie, exactly the content for the normal car guy haha. Love the supercars, but a change of pace is nice!
I had a Silver '06 2.4L LT model. It was so reliable. Lost it in a hit and run. I wanted a matching SS one. I enjoy these videos Hoovie. The ones with cheap interesting cars.
Well, I didn't know they ever even made this, now I want one lol. It's pretty much the perfect daily. Very functional, but still fun.