The Chevy HHR SS Panel Is One of the Weirdest Modern Cars 

This is one on my favorite recent videos. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Imagine having very rare, one of 200 cars in the world and its THIS car

Living in germany, I had to turn down the volume immediately. I didn't want the neighbors to hear someone yelling "SS" all the time.

“Designed to rival the PT Cruiser” A round of a applause to GM for thinking that the PT Cruiser was good enough for a rival...

I've had a 2009 HHR panel for 5 years, and didn't know about the hidden hatch release. The last time my battery died, I resorted to attaching a battery starter/charger under the hood, in order to get the hatch open. lol. Really enjoyed the video. Great car too. My non-ss version is ridiculously reliable.

"HONEY I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT, SOMEONE IS COMING TO DOCUMENT ITS RARITY!!!!!!"

"Designed to rival pt-cruiser" Damn that car must be good

Imagine camping out in the back of this van, the windows are already blocked off, an outlet is back there, and obviously, the seats are already gone with storage underneath. I want it now

For the life of me, I cannot understand why someone doesn’t come out with something like this again.

To answer some of the questions. This is my car. It's not finished on the detailing because Doug showed up earlier than I expected. I was still working on the interior. There's an accident in the car's history and the driver door was repaired and repainted. The tape is covering US Navy Base access stickers. I was instructed to cover them up. The original engine was the Gen 1. This has the gen 3. The door buttons only work in park. The front bumper has an intercooler. That's why it sticks out so much. The snow scrapers are because I used to live in Washington and I didn't know that he was going to open those compartments. Also why the cleaning stuff is still in there. Yes I daily it. Yes I haul stuff in it. HHR stands for Heritage High Roof. It's a tribute to the 50s Suburban.

Apparently the San Diego area has at least one of every vehicle ever made for Doug to review.

"it's the SS!" yeah, don't drive that in Germany. 😂

Gotta love that interior. Bulky GM plastic from 10 years ago is unmistakable. But I must admit that little screen is dope 👌

“This” will win his quirkiest car of the year. Mark my words

The Chrysler PT Cruiser look-a-like, now in a kidnapping model.

Hopefully we all noticed the "Knock Retard" at 12:05 that shit got me💀

Doug: "Ess-ess!" Arnold: "Get to da choppah!"

Here's one of those cars Doug talks about how he reviews knowing they probably won't do too well, but he just can't resist because of how quirky and cool it is. I fully support this type of content.

When the wife says “we need to get a minivan, babe” and you come home with this

As an Italian, I must notice and be super proud of Doug's t-shirt today!! Ciao!!

You rated it way low. Had mine since 2009. I've had many high-performance cars and trucks in my life. Hands down the HHR SS gets as much attention as those did and for a lot less initial cost. Enjoyed this video. Well done :-)

When you gotta kidnap kiddies at 3 but are meeting your homies for track night at 7.

My neighbors have one! Seriously! I always thought it was weird but I never realized how rare it was

I own 5 HHR SS's, one is a panel SS. After my first one hit 210k miles and still looked and ran like new, I was hooked. I work it hard, pull trailers and it never lets me down on top of 30mpg. My wife drives one and I have 3 in storage.

My neighbor across the street has an HHR Panel. I walked by it after watching this video, low and behold... ITS AN SS. Told the owner what she actually had. She didnt care a lick.

We need "This!" T-shirts.

The "trunk" storage under the plastic lid in the back is exactly the same as the regular HHR passenger models. So is the hidden hatch release Doug geeks out about. Every HHR has the same thing it's not just the panel trucks.

I'm a little disappointed that the remote start wasn't mentioned. Also that removable panel in the back can be positioned at a higher level....like a shelf. I own a 2011 HHR panel.

“Hey dad, why did GM go bankrupt?” **starts playing this video

Doug: THISSS is the performance version of a cargo van Me: THISSSS is the kind of content I came looking for

"THIS!!" *slam volume down immediately.*

Just a few observation but some features in rear cargo area kept over from the passenger car config are likely there for a good alternate reason despite no passenger seat in the back. The manual door handles are for if a employee/helper is in the back and the door is shut on them so it's a safety thing. That allows then to exit even if they lack the keyfob or can't reach the door lock buttons in front driver/passenger area. The rear map lights would possibly be useful if your loading/unloading something or otherwise doing so something in the rear at night where extra light is needed.

I love these non supercar non 2020 new car reviews I just like the weird/older cars more from a 1970-2010 year’s

“This van doesn’t feel like a GTI” Oh thanks Doug didn’t realize

When I worked at Chevrolet i had one of these I used for a parts runner. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t know it was rare. And yes it was the SS Panel

I have gotten so numb from watching videos of the highest performing hyper cars and the most luxurious cars in the world that stuff like this makes me go nuts

I miss when Chevy made an SS version of literally every car they made 😂

There's a group of 5 that rip it up and down the streets near me every saturday night. Crazy that they're supposed to be rare, and that they're supposed to be for cargo.

I find it really cool when a rare/uncommon vehicle is still being used as a daily/work vehicle. in my town there is a classic 1975 international pickup tuck being used as an everyday work truck.

I wonder if Doug rehearses his "This" intro before he actually starts recording just to make sure its on point! 🤔

When you have to get those wedding cakes or flowers to their destination quickly

I loved my 06 HHR was a very reliable car! Good gas mileage only broke down one time! Bought it used with 35k on it had it until last year and only had regular maintenance on it. It's still running like a champ! And for a GM that's pretty darn good!!

Re: plastic moulding to unlock the trunk 4th gen subaru outbacks have that. If the battery dies or wiring to the trunk fails, you can remove a small plastic cover on the inside of the trunk to reveal a switch. This switch becomes a manual lock/unlock switch, and the handle outside the car functions normally. It's not as hidden as the one in the HHR, though.

GM: *Reuses old keyfob, hopes no-one notices* Doug DeMuro: *shows up* GM: "...crap"

Finally, Doug is back to his roots: weird and quirky cars.

Now I know where’ve I seen those wheels -the Holden Commodore VE SV6.

Hello, my name is Zack. I absolutely love your videos but I had a question. I've found that you did both this video for the hhr ss and you did one for the dodge neon srt4. Is there any way that you could do one for the cobalt ss?

I have one of the 216, a black one, and it's one of the 84 that were 5spd, sitting in the garage as we speak. Turbo swap and tune, then they truely become a Super Sport. I love em!

I emailed Doug last year to see if he’d like to review my HHR SS. Long shot, I know. But, I figured it was quirky enough that he’d at least consider it! He actually emailed me back(!) and said he’d be interested, but was swamped. I’m in the Midwest, so the logistics would have been tough. He couldn’t do it, totally understandable. I couldn’t believe he actually got back to me, so that was pretty cool. I have a red ‘08 with a manual and the LSD. It’s the not the panel. Mine has a tune but other than that it is stock. It’s my daily driver. I don’t even like HHRs, but I LOVE the SS version. I think it’s bonkers that GM actually made these things. The amount of engineering that went into them is actually kind of astounding when you remember it’s a freaking HHR. It has launch control and a no lift shift feature that is way more fun than it aught to be. It’s weird and fun and I love it. Also, I should mention that just because my car is technically “rare” I’m not delusional; I definitely know it’s not super sought after lol

Here's a fun fact for you about the DC5 Honda Integra/Acura RSX, it has a similar panel on the inside of the hatch to manually actuate the tailgate lock (which fail often, has come in handy a few times), and to also service the third brake light easily. Only it's not disguised as a weird trim bulge, it's just a removable panel.

Hoovie just bought one of these. The circle of life is complete.

Do engineers watch these videos and start jumping up and down when the feature they designed is pointed out?

Me: What do I do if the doorbell is broken? Chevy HHR SS Panel: 12:04

entertaining video ... but you missed mentioning the G-Force gauge - also in the performance pod - one of the cooler things to watch and see how many g's you can pull in a traffic circle!

"For dorkiness, Doug gets a 9 out of 10."

Imagine showing up at Homecoming with this.

Literally looks like a HotWheels car with no rear windows, lol.

Guess I should feel honored that that I saw one of these things where I work. It was a manual and everything. It was owned by Hunter Engineering Technicians and was being used as a work van. It had sweet looking Brembos on the front.

This is a perfect example of a cool car I would never actually buy😂.

Me before watching: A chevy what??? Me after watching: I want one ASAP!!!

Doug: the kind of guy to laugh a little every time he says "SS panel van"

This is the content I'm subscribed for.

I got a thing for wagons, liftbacks (vertical hatchback), and small SUVs. It's the utility of it matched with being able to add performance because the chassis is usually stronger from the start. I'm building a Jeep right now with a new frame and new body. What I'd really like to do is turn it into a do everything kind of vehicle. I'm trying to set it up so I can swap the coils, shocks, and wheels between offroad and on road, with on road being car tire sized to grip a bit more on the road. The body I bought is aluminum so it should be a few hundred lbs lighter and should lower the center of mass as well since it doesn't have a roof. I really want to swap in the engine from my mustang since I'm probably going to end up retiring that car when the body finally gives up the ghost to rust but for right now it's still a solid car. Really want to track down a 351 Windsor since the aftermarket parts are shared between the two engines (302 and 351). So anything I can do to the 302 can also be bolted onto the 351.

I want to see a "vanlife" conversion of this thing...

That "this!" could't get any better

my aunt has a base HHR and I've driven it several times, and it's honestly a nice car. I enjoy the interior quite a bit, and she uses it to haul her motorized chair sometimes. I've also ridden in a PT cruiser a few times when I was growing up, my mother's best friend had one. PT cruisers are honestly weird, and I remember the backseats are higher up than the front seats in a PT cruiser. I must say the HHR is a good car, and I was actually considering buying one myself when I was 17 and looking for my first car. I've also seen an HHR SS out in public and they aren't much different than a base HHR in appearance, so they're sort of like a sleeper car.

I saw one of these the day after I watched the review not even lying and it made me so exited

Doug is the kinda guy to read the terms and conditions when connecting to wifi...

When the maid needs to upgrade her PT Cruiser: "Give me something fast!"

This is the type of content we expect from Doug

Doug forgot to mention that the front passenger seat folds flat forward and the car will accommodate 8' lumber comfortably. They're fun, funky, and yes highly polarizing.

Doug has the best type of energy man. You can tell he really loves doing what he does.

I’m not mad you didn’t use the launch control, I’m just disappointed.

Imagine having a Chevy thats more rare then your Hypercar

Had an HHR. Only thing that ever broke was the inside door handle (retro styling does not equate to durability). But I did not like how I could not see where where the right side of my hood ended, much less the right fender which jutted beyond it. Made parking within enclosed spaces a dice roll on whether or not I dig that fender into something.

I've always loved these. I priced them out a couple times but never pulled the trigger on one. And now I wish I had.

This is perfect for the vanlife crowd for urban stealth camping.

Something: is weird Doug: I L O V E I T

I have a 2009 Chevy HHR LT1 Panel. Meaning it has the deleted rear window, but still has normal rear doors with windows and rear seats that fold down. It also has the 2.4 liter. We bought this car so we could easily put the dogs in the back and still fit the family in it. It's in really good shape, just needs new front struts, tire pressure sensors (waiting for next tire change) and sway-bar couplings all which I plan to do soon.

Looks like Doug filmed this in El Cajon. He was driving down 2nd st which turns into Winter Gardens Blvd. He also appears to be parked at Greenfield Middle School at the end when he is talking about the Doug Score.

I've seen one of these in middle of nowhere Virginia, had no clue they were this rare 😂

The most amazing fact in this video is that someone actually sought out the designer of the PT cruiser, not to smack him upside the head and say “what we’re you thinking?!”, but to actually hire him to design another car.

Compared to the standard seats, those SS buckets are a massive improvement. I’ve had the cloth and I’ve had the “leather” seats in the cobalt sister car of the HHR, and they were both horrible.

My company had one of these--well, the panel version but not the SS. The unibody construction ensured that there was hardly any vertical room. Open the side doors and you can see the bottom one foot or so is blocked off.

Doug when he sees a slightly weird car:"I always wanted to drive thissss"

"And you have an SS badge in the middle" Erstmal die Lautstärke runterdrehen

Of course there is a Star Trek sticker on the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and it has phasers, I don't believe it. Fun stuff Doug, keep it up!

3:25 I legit keep my backseats down after watching this video, even tho I really hate how easily that cheap plastic gets scratched 😂 I love my LT

Doug is the type of guy to lick his fingers when he turns a page on an iPad.

Nobody: Absolutely no one: Doug DeMro: "AYUND"

The parent of a friend of mine years ago had one of these with rear seats. It may have been an option to still have seats. Their HHR was the base panel though.

Back when I was a mechanic at a Chevy dealer I got to drive one of these with the manual. As I recall the shifter in the manual was in kind of an akward position. Felt like it was slightly too far rearward to be comfortable

I have the 4 door passenger SS and I love it. I keep it around as my second car and it pretty much lives in the garage now. Mine is also red, in amazing condition (zero dents and interior is in fantastic shape) and it’s decently modified. Lowered, intake, exhaust, GM stage 2 tune, Trifecta tune on top of that, and upgraded sound system. Best of all, mine is still under a hundred thousand miles. I’m holding onto it and hoping that the value may go up in like 10 or so years!

This seems surprisingly well thought out for early 2000s GM

Looks good l like the styling there were plenty of vans in Australia most of them came from Japan from most Japanese car companies except Honda also holden and ford had panel vans also there were vans from Britain the Ford Transit still available and also Mecedes make a van which they use as ambulances in Australia

On the version of the HHR with the rear seats is the cargo space different between one of these and the ones with rear seats when you fold the seats down?

I have a normal hhr ss with a Manual trans it’s my first car and I freakin love it

The body is in great shape for its age, and the seats held up well. Once he was inside, you could see plenty of wear, but it appears the owner was using it as intended. No, that wasn't supposed to be dirty.

It's so quirky and rare, I kinda want one! And yeah, they would make a good delivery/work vehicle.

Ah what pretty sweet car! I was in San Diego when you filmed this!