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OMG Car change up...
Why does it have to be so complicated....
I meant to post last week but PB was down then I got busy... So from abt 2 weeks ago I have 2 leases. I have 2 new cars on order to purchase. Before the swap: 2007 Lincoln MKZ due back July 5th 2010 2007 Chevy TB SS due back Sep 30th 2010 *pic is from 2007 http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...NewNew001a.jpg About a 6 weeks ago I ordered: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES due in Aug 2010 2010 Chevy HHR SS due in May 2010 The HHRSS came in 2 weeks ago. I happen to be at the dealership doing some financing homework when it rolled in on the truck (you can see in the rear of the pic). http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...AwMjEuanBn.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...AwMjAuanBn.jpg So instead of extending the MKZ and turning in the TB SS early. We just turned in the MKZ, got the HHR SS. Keeping the TB SS till her new Fiesta comes in. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...AwMjMuanBn.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...AwMjQuanBn.jpg I love the new ride. Once again, like the TB. I don't like the standard versions, but the SS changes most of the things I don't like. Bumpers, side skirts, wheels, lowered, etc. Anyway, I ordered it with the performence package which includes Brembo brakes and a cool gauge screen in the dash. Also, a stage 1 kit for the turbo. Effectively turning up the boost a bunch. According to the in the car display... about 275hp/375 ft lbs. Let's just say... 100 mph in 3rd and 2nd gear is a big handfull. Torque steer all over the place, even with a white knuckled fist trying to hold it. On the highway, the TB SS will take it for the 65mph full throttle roll. But that is again... "No replacement for displacement" theory. I have (haven't d/l the pics to PB yet) done the front door and windshield strip tinting. I changed out the tails for a set of blacked out LED versions (it's not a mustang or camero so I shouldn't hear gripe). I have a TWM short throw shifter in the garage just waiting to be installed. HID kits on the way for the headlights and fogs. I'm ordering today, LEDs for all the other lights on the car (parking, front turns, plate, dome, map, etc). I thinking about running a Margnaflow cat back stainless exhaust, a rear sway bar, and a few others. This is the first car I have bought in over 10 yrs. I'm enjoying myself, doing some mods to it. |
To each his own.
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You can have it. Fugly.
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Yeah it seems like you either like or not. Its never an in between. My BIl don't like it but he said it redeems itself a bit when you drive it, again for somebody that don't like it. For me it will work perfect. I needed a smaller car. Lower payment, and better mpg. It does all of that, can still put the dog in it, and it's fast. Win win.
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So, you mean the engine drives the wrong wheels, and it's ugly?
I'd have passed, and kept looking. The Brembos can't stop my distaste for that styling. |
To each their own... so far it's great
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That's a pretty significant change......A midsize car & a midsize SUV, to a small car and a small SUV.....
You uphold my faith that it is indeed possible for Americans to get a clue and stop getting bigger & bigger vehicles every 2-3 years. |
It certainly is a move in the right direction, and Gas Man's Gas Bills will be better for it.
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Hope you didn't pay too much...
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That's it homeslice. The hhr ss will get abt the same mpg as her mkz did. However, the fiesta will get more than double what the tbss does. From 15 to mid 30's. Fiesta is ranged 30city/40hwy.
Plus with lower sticker prices and good interest rates on the loans for 72 month. Between the 2 new cars (purchase) vs the 2 leases. Will save abt $150. Month in payments. Insurance goes up abt $18 a month once the complete switch over is done. $16 of it with the mkz to hhrss switch. $2 up from tbss to fiesta. So call it $130 a month savings in payment. But mpg shud rack in another $100 a month in gas. At least! Shit the saving alone will nearly make my bike payment. I'm glad I upheld ur faith. That was the trend I was doin. But I have changed my pov. There is no reason for us to have bigger cars. And yes its lowering gas man's gas bill. Not exactly perfect for my job but I need to survive and adapt. I'm also switching over to all syn oils in all my vechicles. Which also lowers crude oil consumtion. Little steps towards a bigger goal. |
Oh and I need to link up fiesta pics n stuff. Will do when on a pc later.
She has a ses model in dark gray on order. 5 speed stick to help with pep. Moonroof and loaded. Except leather. Even thru extra in for sporty ground effects and hatch spoiler extender whatever. Figure if gg with cheaper cars might as well do it up. Sticker price only $20k. Remember I said all but leather loaded. I guess auto trans would increase it like $1200 or somin. But still not bad. |
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Ya know. Idk. I fig for mkz to hhr ss. The ss aspect and turbo charge.
The tb ss to fiesta will go up almost $2 a month. I fig tt is due to size of vech. If the tb wasn't a ss the difference wud be greater. But I fig the tbss is probably already a bit higher due to the big 6.0 motor. |
wow, is that festiva turbo too?
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congrats man. I personally don't like the HHR but if you do then awesome for you!
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The Fiesta is supposed to be a very solid and refined small car. I was going to buy one, but I'd have to buy it instead of lease. Malibu is up on my lease so I got a cheap 2010 VW Golf for 220 a month including tax, 36months 15k a year. 1k OTD including the first month payment.
Do a writeup on the Fiesta when you get it.... |
lets hope the fiesta last the duration of the loan.........lol
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Here's some info on the Fiesta
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fie...2973|210910854 1.6L 16-valve Duratec® I4 Some Ford.com pics (ours will be dark gray not green) <well Ford's won't let me insert the pics> Ford pics Saw one at the HD dealer that I was able to stop and snap some pics. You can even see my bike behind the car. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...a/IMG00010.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...a/IMG00011.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...a/IMG00008.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...a/IMG00009.jpg |
Best looking American small car, that's for sure.
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i would want one of the festiva
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I love that car in the wild green, it would be bad ass done up like the RS Euro version.
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I'm not a fan of the MKZ or the HHR (HHR is about as ugly as it gets). The trailblazer is a pretty good SUV, nothing I would ever consider taking off road, but definately a good on road SUV. The most exciting car in this discussion is the fiesta, a subcompact 5 door hatchback that can handle is a great car, especially with the gas mileage it gets.
I bought a Honda Fit a few months back, and while I'm not super impressed with its power, it is overall an excellent car, comfortable, spacious, doesn't feel cheap, and it is great on gas (seen 50+ mpg a few trips). I drove a ford focus hatch for 8 years and I love that car, it did everything I asked of it plus more. I'm definately looking forward to what the fiesta can do and how it is recived by the public. |
So is the Fiesta replacing the focus then? they bear a lot of resemblance to each other.
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Festiva = ancient history
Fiesta = this car Focus = still around, larger than a Fiesta |
Tommy. Yeah wife n I like the green but we worry that after a few years (remember we purchasing) that the green will get annoying. Keep it simpler. Ya know
Derf, its cool. Some hate and some luv the hhr. But the people who like em, luv em. I know more than a dozen households that have either 2 hhr's in the garage at once or simply traded in 1 for a new 1 (repeat buyer). Their following is big. Just not for everybody. Plus it got a big recommendation from my service guy at the chevy dealer (riding friend). He said chevy simply doesn't have problems with it. And yes the fiesta is about honda fit size. My wife knows a bunch of engineers at ford's tt say its one hell of a car. We are excited to get it. Oh and I got my first and second teenage kid comments on the hhrss. 16yr old boy commented on the nice led tail lights and wanted to know how fast it was. Then neighbors kid (18yr old) asked when I got the new whip. |
Damn! That's a huge bumper.
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Your the first person I know that liked the HHR. Have fun with it not my thing. I wouldn't mind the fiesta though to save gas with. They are very successful in Europe for 30 or so years. I drove various ones when I was stationed in Germany, slow as hell but helped save on the ridiculous price of gas there.
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Front. I barely see ricers with that big of a bumper. |
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How about the ST in orange? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...g?t=1275346723 And I hate Ricers and Fart cans and all that...but how can you not dig this car? I am seriously thinking about this as my next car and getting as much of this look(and performance) as possible. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...g?t=1275347009 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...g?t=1275346972 |
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*edit, nm we got boned again. fucking mustang |
Still rather have the Fiesta.......the styling is 10 times better.
The Focus has old-skool Cobalt slab-sided styling. |
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As long as you and your wife are happy, then good.
Fiesta (or whatever) doesn't look bad, reminds me of the Focus. Looks like it might be pretty fun to drive, if it comes in a manual tranny. |
So I am still going on this... having mostly fun. I do enjoy moding it.
Well since the new tail lights are LED the rest just look stupid. So off to SuperBrightLeds.com Cool white SMD led in the plate lights vs the old yellow http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights002.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights003.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...lights040a.jpg Same goes for all the dome lights Front http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights009.jpg Back seat http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights007.jpg With reading lights http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights008.jpg Cargo area http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights006.jpg This junk is gone http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights004.jpg Little red LED on the rear side bumper markers http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights015.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights025.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights017.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights041.jpg Front markers http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights020.jpg In order to do these front turns I need to go thru the wheel well http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights021.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights026.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights027.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights030.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights031.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights033.jpg While I'm in there... throw in some 55W 8K HID headlights... http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights035.jpg |
They're in there... couldn't get a pic for shit!
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights043.jpg Can't have miss matched headlight/fogs. Looky... 35W 6K HIDs for those http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID001.jpg The old http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID002.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID003.jpg Wire in http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID005.jpg One done... http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID006.jpg Both fogs done http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID007.jpg Both headlights done http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID009.jpg IDK why they come off green when I try to take a direct picture http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID014.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID016.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID019.jpg Just headlights http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID022.jpg Heads and fogs (there is more filling and lots more side, but didn't come out with camera...IDK why) http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ods/HID021.jpg That wasn't enough... and all of which why I haven't been online much. A TWM short throw shifter with bushing kit. Let's just get some stuff out of the way http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights036.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights037.jpg New goodness... almost there... where we find crisp, short shifts http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../lights038.jpg YES!!! 1st gear http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...shifter001.jpg 5th http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...shifter004.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...shifter002.jpg Reverse still with the lockout feature http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...shifter003.jpg I'm still debating an exhaust and will probably leave the sway bars and intake stuff for later... |
had the emblems blacked out this weekend. Sure beats the gold.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...emblems002.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...emblems003.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...mblems001a.jpg |
we have an HHR (not the SS) it is an '07 and has 120,000 miles on it. Been a great car so far. no break downs and even lasted through a 16-17 year old driver for a bit.
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Blacked out emblems and short throw shifter = good !!
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redflip |
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I still can't get over on how HUGE the front bumper is. It's junk is in it's front.
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my 08 jeep has just under 60,000 on it. |
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I might be replacing my truck soon and that's one of my options. I'm not crazy about front-wheel drive, but there aren't a lot of RWD options in my price range that meet my requirements. (not a truck, pref not a SUV, enough interior space to accommodate the dog, rifle cases, etc) How manageable is the torque steer? |
Well first off good luck finding one. This is the last year for the SS. They stopped taking orders on them in May. So you'll have to find a dealer stocked one.
I love it. I, suprisingly so, love the compact size. It's great in traffic. Regardless of gear (5 speed stick) vs speed, if you give it the beans, the turbo kicks in and it takes off. The interior size is just perfect really. Bigger than a compact car, smaller than the Equinox SUV, big enough for dogs, seats 4 adults resonably. Getting about 20-21 city (stickered at 22) as long as I'm not railing on it... otherwise it drops to about 18. Haven't done any real highway time with it. I think while I love the stick it probably negatively effects my mpg in the city. You tend to wrap the tach more... I really liked the price. Sticker around $25k. I got like $4k in rebates, incentives, and retireree discoung as well as another $850 off in employee discount (x plan style). Have lots of family on wife's side that worked for GM. I spoke about how some like it, some love it. Rider mentioned so do Prious lovers. That's totally different. Many people don't like the styling of the HHR. It has a retro, big fendered, 1930-1940s look to it. My MIL calls it my old school gangster car. She says when she sees it she remembers all the old gangster movies with the big fendered cars. I can see that. But it's the reliability and utility of the car that makes the owners love em. I don't know many other SUV style vechicles that can (normal hhr) do 30+ mpg. Now on the mod front... since I did the LED's in the front the ECM put my blinkers in hyper flash... very annoying. The car has a ECM based, internal programmed flasher aka nothing I can just change out. So I ordered a resister from superbrightleds.com and installed that inline on each front blinker. Fixed, back off the homo hyper flash. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...AwNTcuanBn.jpg Had to install a smaller one on the dome light as well. Stray 6 volts on that circuit when they are "off" was keeping the LED dome lights just so slightly on, very dim. That fixed it and ate the stray volts. |
I drove our HHR down to Florida for a spring break vacation. was actually not bad for comfort on a long trip. hauling wise it is very good for a car. the better half runs a cleaning business and hauls all of her crap in it and still has seating room if needed.
it has survived being run into a curb at speed by a teenager. tires have been spun more then once (judging by the slightly bald fronts I had to replace) I'm sure it's hauled a ton of kids in it at one time and considering the seats fold flat I'm sure there are a few stains in there that mom hasn't found yet. LOL Our neighbor went and bought one after seeing ours for a couple months. Best part was the Chevy dealers have been very good about maint and what not. they even gave her a free hubcap to replace the one that was lost by previously mentioned teen. ($55 value) of course now she needs another one because of his curb surfing. he is no longer allowed to drive any of our vehicles. We've had to replace the front bearings in it under warranty but that was the only issue. Granted I don't know about any extra maint or issues with the turbo version. there are a few sites dedicated to modding the little HHR with some good forums. |
Exactly Wild. And that wheel bearing was probably due to the curb hit as well. You can dent the race and they will only live a short life after such a impact. I know I smacked a curb once... but was good enough to repalce the wheel bearings after the hit.
I have yet to completely utilize the cargo area but you can see that with the said fold flat rear seat, fold flat front passenger seat and the cargo area all covered in plastic, you know it's a handy little car. Oh and AM... the torque steer. With my turbo and the stage 1. 2nd gear is a hand full at WOT. Otherwise it's manageable. I honestly haven't met anybody who owned one that doesn't like em. All to which fueled my purchase. |
nah the bearing went out on their own. fixed under warranty. the curb slid got the tie rod connectors or something like that. I thought about doing it myself but got lazy and don't like crawling under the car. LOL
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On the upside, I drove a Mazdaspeed 3 today and loved it. :wink: Whether I actually end up buying one or not remains to be seen, I need to do some more looking. Still, thanks for the info. :dthumb: |
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