Saturn Vue AWD or Chevy HHR

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Steve - 12 Aug 2006 21:47 GMT

My better half is pushing me to get rid of the Saturn SC (too small and
burning as much oil as gas). We've narrowed it down to either the Vue for
the AWD or HHR for fuel economy, price, and "cool" factor. Can any owners
share their opinions of either/both of these. Keep in mind it will only be
used as or toad 6-10 times a year, but will be my daily driver (70 hwy
mi/day).

Thanks in advance,
Steve

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Chris Hill - 13 Aug 2006 15:07 GMT

>My better half is pushing me to get rid of the Saturn SC (too small and
>burning as much oil as gas). We've narrowed it down to either the Vue for
>the AWD or HHR for fuel economy, price, and "cool" factor. Can any owners
>share their opinions of either/both of these. Keep in mind it will only be
>used as or toad 6-10 times a year, but will be my daily driver (70 hwy
>mi/day).

Wouldn't it be hard to tow an awd vehicle? It would seem to me that
you'd have to trailer it.

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Rick Onanian - 13 Aug 2006 18:40 GMT

> >the AWD or HHR for fuel economy, price, and "cool" factor. Can any owners
> >share their opinions of either/both of these. Keep in mind it will only be
> >used as or toad 6-10 times a year, but will be my daily driver (70 hwy

> Wouldn't it be hard to tow an awd vehicle? It would seem to me that
> you'd have to trailer it.

Nope. Well, I don't know if this particular HHR is AWD, but:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.outdoors.rv-travel/browse_frm/thread/b717131a
d97be61

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John Andrews - 13 Aug 2006 21:12 GMT

>> My better half is pushing me to get rid of the Saturn SC (too small and
>> burning as much oil as gas). We've narrowed it down to either the Vue for
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Wouldn't it be hard to tow an awd vehicle? It would seem to me that
> you'd have to trailer it.

According to the Saturn Vue spec sheets refered to earlier in
this thread, all the Vues are towable four wheels down. Nice to
know.

Now, for about the same price you can get a Sky. No word about
being towable for that models specs, though. Now that car would
be a nice replacement for an SC.

John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee

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Steven Shelikoff - 13 Aug 2006 19:59 GMT

I can't comment on how it is to tow, but as a daily driver I love my
2005 Satern Vue. I have the V6 FWD, not AWD. My MPG average over the
first 15,000 for a mix of highway, city and suburban has been around
21-22 mpg. Oh the highway I get 28mpg at 60mph, 27 mpg at 65mph, 25mpg
at 70mph and 22mpg at 85mph. Not bad for a 250hp mini SUV that does
0-60 in 7 seconds. The Honda 3.5 v6 in the Vue really is great.

When I bought mine last year, I came down to the same final choice as
yours. The main reason I got the Vue over the HHR is the Vue is rated
to tow 3500lbs and the HHR only 1000lbs and I like to drag around some
toys that are over 1000lbs, but way less than 3500. The HHR is only
rated at 2-3 more mpg than the Vue FWD but the Vue is *way* more
powerful.

BTW, a friend has the HHR and likes it as well. So either way, I don't
think you'll go wrong.

Steve

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SnoMan - 13 Aug 2006 23:22 GMT

> Oh the highway I get 28mpg at 60mph, 27 mpg at 65mph, 25mpg
>at 70mph and 22mpg at 85mph.

I used to have a old Toyta Camary that would do 40 MPG plus at 60 MPH
and still in upper 30's at 80 to 85. It was around high 20's to low
30's in town too It was only a DOHC 2.0 cyl with a stick but it would
get with the program surprizingly well and it would easily exceed 120
MPH (speedo was marked to 130) I did it a few times out in the vast
spaces of Wyo and MT and it was very stable at those speeds riding on
T type tires. It had well over 200K miles on it and using maybe a
quart every 3500 miles before it was totaled in a freak accident a
while ago otherwise it would probly be pushing 300K today. Also early
Saturns were better built than the new ones because if you read around
the web you will find that people have a ot more problems with the
newer ones than the pre 2000 models. For a toad I would tend to stay
away from a AWD regardless of its claimed tow abilty not to mention
all that extra hardware to wear out because the drive axles are always
turning.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

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Steve - 13 Aug 2006 23:23 GMT

Thanks for the comments. We test drove the HHR and a Malibu Maxx Saturday. I
liked how the HHR drove, but the Maxx just felt "wrong". Guess I will take a
long lunch Monday and give the Vue a thourough test.

Steve

> >My better half is pushing me to get rid of the Saturn SC (too small and
> >burning as much oil as gas). We've narrowed it down to either the Vue for
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Steve

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