hyperv6

Anyone get the crazy idea of maybe coming up with a Pontiac concept that would appeal to a wide group of car buyers and not the dwindeling group of Pontiac diehards. You aim for a bigger target you just might hit it. Living in the past is over as the general public is not wanting to relive the 70's with a Chicken on the hood. Pontiac needs an original concept not a rehashed idea. Something that would generate interest like the Genesis has for Hyundia. an original design that looks so good no one could dis it as well as add some new Ideas. IF John Delorean was around the last thing he would do is bring back an old idea. He always was working ahead and going where GM had never gone before. OHC engines, Big engines, Small engines in other words here though outside the box and ahead of his time. Even John D knew Pontiac's did not all have to be big V8 engines. He was just 10 years too early. I am a Pontiac fan but I want the next great Pontiac not some old rehashed recycled Idea. I hope GM does that on the next Camaro too. I like the present car but it needs to move on to the next level. That is what gave us cars like the 69 GP and other things. The need to do what they and other are not doing. With Pontiac they can afford to take the risk as they have noting to lose. GM needs to move ahead in many areas.

I think he just ment with the stage kit. I think he is smart enough to know with a little more work it could run with them easily. Too bad John Lingenfelter passed away he was doing some great work on the Ecotech. He was telling me about some of the things they were doing and power they were making. I miss him he was just a regular gear head like the rest of us. I was lucky to get to spend some time hanging out with him at work and at the track.

No problem! I just hate to see a good engine package like this to go undiscovered by not only the general public but also many GM fans. Engines like this will play a big part in GM's future performance plans. The CAFE and other standards are going to hurt and this engine give us a clear picture of what they can and will do. It may never replace the sound and power of a ZR1 as speed but this is a good package that makes for fun driving while keeping it afforable to drive daily. I had never considered the HHR untill I drove the SS. It on performance alone sold me. I hated the power loss with the Automatic but the wife dose not drive stick. This kit solved my problem. I see the 290 HP Cobalt SS as being one of the great SS cars in history. With its handling, braking and power it can do thing only the latest Vetts can do and at a price many can afford. I just hope they find room for this engine in another Chevy. A Mini like car with this performance at $20K would be a winner. Just sad so many here know little about this so that tells me few in the general public will know little. The lack of money for marketing is GM's biggest problem right now. GM needs to show how if they can produce a near 300 HP from 2 liters just what else they can do when their engineers are empowered as Lutz has done. I hope his replacment lets the powertrain division continue their good work.

The HHR SS is a well modified vehiclle with upgraded and stronger control arms. 4 wheel disc with a Brembo option. stability control, LSD is also available. This car was tuned by DM engineer retired and SCCA champion John Heinrency of the GMPD divsion. Yes the same folks who do the V series cars and other record holding cars at the ring. You might check youtube for the video of he lap at the ring it is a amazing lap for a small FWD. The HHR SS holds it's class record at the ring and is in at approx 8:43 min lap. As for holding up GM gives it a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty unlike the many aftermarket kits that are just somebodys best guess. You also may want to study up and learn just what a Ecotec can do. It is an amazing engine and one GM should be proud of. GM even published a book on how to build it as a full drag engine and it takes very little to do it. The HHR SS is basically a Cobalt SS that you can used to not just all a$$ but haul other things in it as a daily driver. Both are two of the best performance bargins on the market. Both are well sorted packages. To bad they had to wait till the end of the run for both to make them what they could be. Imagine the Cobalt if it had started out with a package like this. I do not see this as a GTO killer or such but it is more a complimentry model to fill out the Chevy line. Not all of us can live with a Solstice or Camaro as a daily driver. And not all of us want a stock base Cobalt to drive. In fact Pontiac could have used a package like this in a G5 or G6 to make it interesting.

GM sold out twice on these kits. The same kit is for the Solstice, Sky and HHR. The Cobalt is to follow soon. Note the early kits had the wrong wire diagram and lacked the modification needed to the lower intake tube. Also the flash was lackin for the addition of the vacuum pump for the TSB on the automatic turbo cars. These have been corrected and the kit is now approved for the 09 cars in all 50 states. Note the Solstice and Sky make the same HP at 290 HP but torque is up to 340 FT LBS on the 5 speed Kappas. 325 FT LBS on the Auto Kappas. A few of the HHR guys are now hitting in the 12's with more mods. One is looking at 11's soon with a daily driver.

A buddy with an identical HHR SS has taken his times from a Aerofroce meter. The numbers are for a 2008 SS with a 2.0 Turbo automatic and stage kit. The HHR is 3200 pounds. Conditions were in the 40's. Tires were hard 18" OE Michelin Pilots This was his first run so improvments should only add to this. 0-60 = 5.77 sec 1/4 mile = 13.91sec @ 103 mph 1/8 mile 9.06sec @ 82 My 1/4 estimate was right on but I was a little low on my 0-60. A 5 sp may make the high 4's.

Never under estimate the fools in DC. They have hit new levels of stupied every year. They may not eliminate large engines but your goping to really have to pay a price for them. The next thing we will see is taxes on soft drinks like they do cigeretts.... Did you ever expect to see that in your life time In Japan already has large taxes on large displacment.

Well A quick review of the stage kit for the HHR SS. WOW! This kit has given my SS the bottom end the Automatic lacks. [Auto's are held to 235 HP in 1st and 2nd gear with 250 HP in 3rd and 4th]. The new set up is at 290 HP with 314 FT LBS of torque. So far it has much more usable power and will see PSI reading up over 20 PSI any time you step on it. Some high alt areas may see as high as 27-28 PSI. Torque steer is more but with a FWD your going to get that. Once you are used to it id no big deal and you learn to expect it. MPG I have not checked but most are seeing the same or 1-2 more MPG because of the extra touque. I was able to buy my kit at a discount through work and got my dealer to install it for 1.2 hours. I have $635 in the kit that has gained me 55 HP. The biggest problems I have seen others with this kit have is lose intake tubes blowing off with the increase preessure. It is advised to tell the dealer to check the t bolt on the tubes while installing this. I have yet to get times but I suspect a 14 flat or even a high 13 is possible with this combo. The 0-60 must now be in the 4 high second range. Mileage in the city has been 21-24 depending how cold it is and 28-30 highway. When I get time I will get the performance numbers and post them. Some Sky owners have dyno right on GM's numbers. The best part is the learn feature of the computer is left open. So if you add an exhaust or other performance adding part it will change the computer and adapt to it to max the added power. The stock computer really stops most add on parts from increasing performance. It is amazing what to map senors, two wire conectors and a computer falsh can do. Premium is now required but that is all I used anyway. It is optional on a stock HHR SS. Also note the 5 year 100,000 mile drivetain warrantry is still in effect for this combo. The Ecotech is strong enough to deal with this added power with not even coming close to it max ability. The auto transmission is controled by the flash to keep it safe too. at higher levels you may be on your own their. Bang for the buck the SS and Stage kit is a winner.

I had an Aveo for one day as a loaner. Good God I feel for the owners of these cars! What a piece of crap. This car has little power a poor stereo system, it felt cheaper than it was at every point. The engine was loud. The car would hit a bump and leave the lane I was in. The brakes grabbed with a mushy pedal. It did have a nice sun glass holder that would not hold my glasses. Either way the people who enter the highway with these daily are a very brave lott. This was one GM car I can say not only do I not want to own but I never want to even ride in again.

Hate to break the old news to you but at the rate the goverment is passing new laws the Vette and pick ups will be the only V8 you will see in the not to distant future. You had bet worry more about the goverment capping HP on 4 cylinders as it is. I fear they will step up and limit size and power of the engines you will buy in the name of the all powerful global warming co levels. All auto makers will have to do more with less the sooner GM embraces this the better as I don't see a way out of this this time. We as car enthusiast will lose more and more of the rights to own the kind of cars we want in the coming future. the govement will deem it in our and societies best interest. Big Brother is watching out for us and he hates Pontiac. and what it used to stand for. On the other hand we have a two year supply of G3's

While there is some public outrage toward the banks many times some of it was a well organized effort on the parts of some partisan groups, There has been a rash of fake or hired public outrage and protest toward some groups. I just wonder how much of this may be targeted at the automakers here or in the future. Also we have to remember this is NY too and they are even A holes when they are happy. LOL But we should expect fake outrage toward any recover of our Auto industry as there are many in the world that do not want to see GM, Ford and Chrysler ever get back to the stenght they once were. Heck they do not want to see America regain her power either so it is no shock.

I just don't see it happening unless the automarket makes a big recovery. There is just too little demand for cars and it will damage Pontiacs chances. As for what Pontiac needs to be. It needs to be smaller, lighter, fast and fun to drive. It will need to get higher MPG if it is to live into the future. So forget about all the big V8 retro ideas. Why follow the Mustang, Camaro and Challanger into a dying market when you could lead the rest into a new market that has to come due to coming goverment regulations. Lighter weight cars will give us handling and braking the present 3900 pound cars can't give. As I see that it is a good thing. Now that I have a 290 HP Ecotech and 315 FT LBS of torque I see the merits of small engines and lighter weights. I will soon be over 300 HP with simple bolt on's

Ok now here is the real question. How many halo cars does Chevy need? Two seat cars are a limited sale and limited profit market. The fact is you can not sell too many Chevy Kappas per year as if you do you will kill future sales. Pontiac over sold the Fiero the first 3 years to buy time till the GM 80 was to be built in the Fiero plant. As we know now it was canceled and left a already damaged Fiero flailing in the wind for Chevy to shoot down. Mazda average Miata sales are only around 11K-12 for all years it was made. At that rate it is easy to to keep demand up with a few special editions per year. But it also makes it difficult to keep a profit. The Daewoo and Opel will help. The question with Chevy just now making ground with a Malibu and still waiting to see if the public accepts the Cruze is it wise to worry about another 2 seater for only 15,000 people? Would the money be better suited to be put into a new 6th gen Camaro a car with the potential of selling 100K vs 15K units and will have to be repalced in 2016 if not sooner if the goverment changes CAFE and Emission regs again. Also cars like the new Hyundia Coupe will set the new trends in Coupes. I see people here who cry GM needs Volume with Pontiac and Buick but support a limited edition 2 seater when that money could make a car with a wider appeal or potential buyers. I always wanted to see a Pontiac Mini fighter but right now it will be left to Chevy. A small FWD or even RWD Mini type car with a Nomad show car like roof and nose would be a hit and keep it priced in the range of 18-25K would be a hit. Also make the 2.0 LNF turbo Ecotech avaiable. This car would have power to spare and still get 30 MPG highway. Lesser engined models even more. As much as a Sky Chevy sounds I can think of 5-6 models GM could build that would out sell and out profit another limited Roadster. Lets fix Chevy first and then dream up halo cars that would be built correctly with the proper funding provided by profitable volume cars. Many of the present Kappa short comings were because of lack of time but also the lack of proper funding. THis also is what short changed the original Fiero. It took them till 1988 top get the funding to do a proper suspension. By then it was too late. Also add in the fact they sold near 340,000 it left few others who were interested. THe last year sold well but many were bought by Fiero owners just upgrading becsue of the new bits and the anouncment of the ending of the line. If they had not anounced the end they would have sat on dealer lots for months. Some still did here locally till the dealer offed them to a buyer in England.

Piss of UAW member or bail out GM that will help spur growth of the Economy that your struggling to help recover. Lets face it Obama is faced with fixing GM or paying to clean up the mess after GM. At least with GM around they will be brining money back into to the economy and jobs vs if GM and many suppliers just tank. I think this time this is one the UAW will lose but I could see the goverment making GM do the dirty work first hand so they can place the blaime on GM and not any elected official. I can see it now. Guys we did all we could do but GM forced our hand when they filed. Biden could just say "I was in Fritz's office and I told him not to do it!" Either way it is a tight rope they will figure out how to place the blaime fully on GM in the end if the UAW loses out. And at this point I don't see GM fighting it.

Too bad they could not build a G6 with the appeal of a G8. But they would have had no money to maket it properly anyway As it is the GXP will be a faily unknown car in the greneral public just as my HHR SS is. I get peole all the time thinking I made my HHR SS and I have to explain they are sitting on most dealer lots. GM get some good cars and can't afford to spread the word.

Could they merge a new Kappa and C7 program under the basics of a Alpha? The Chevy Sky would carry on with improvments over the present Kappa problems and a 4 cyliner while the Vette carrys the V8. Kind of a modern Sunbeam Alpine/Tiger. Both could share a line and parts in KY. Add into this mix a small Mini like car with a Nomad theme to cover for the loss of the HHR.

I would love to see this come about. But is there enough maket to support a Vette and a small fast little 2 seater? As the C6 goes on in age sales will drop year after year it remins. There have been poeple on the Vette team that have made it clear it is not as easy to get a new C plaform approved as some like to think. The Fiero was finished off by Chevy. The Fiero had many issues but the final straw was when Chevy pointed out the Fiero plant was well under capacity at the 30K units Pontiac was building. John Schinellia pointed out to us that Chevy was affraid of lost sales of the C4 that could have prevented a C5. A Sky Redline with a Stage kit would make a great alturnative to a low end Vette roadster. I have not driven a stage kit yet but will this afternoon when I pick up my SS after mine is installed today. I can only imagine a Sky with 290 HP and 340 FT LBS at less weight of a Vette.

I just hope they do what is right and best not based on who donated how much. This is no time for political games for GM's sake.

What is going to be interesting is how the Obama admin deals with his Surgical Bankruptcy as they call it with thew UAW. The UAW has been pushing them to avoid Bankruptcy so I wonder if they found a way not to mash any toes or is the UAW going to be mad. The details will be interesting.

And then when when they don't sell and GM could have used that money to make a perfect Chevy something that could make a profit and sell in greater volumes? GM is not going to get a second chance so they need to get back to the basics. Goodyear did the same and shead all the other lines like belts, hoses, convair belts, chemical, aerospace and more. It was painfull but today they are a company that is holding it's own when most of their competitors are struggling. They got back to the core of selling tires and not much else. I could justify Buick as if it fails here it will still do well in China and beable to recoupe any loss. If Pontiac fails here it will just be a loss out side the G8.

I am sure if anyone is willing to write the check to pay for them they would love to keep the other divisions open. If models can be reserected limited brands like Pontiac could be down the road if anyone shows that much interest. Note not saying it is likely.

That is what some are claiming and it is the right thing to say but to be honest no one really knows for sure. Even if things get better starting now it will take some time to recover the lost jobs, markets and earnings. The more taxes go up will hurt and the threat of more goverment debt is also a wild card. Many are watching the Trillion put into the Fed Res. If the timing is righ they can pull this thing out. If their timing is late inflation takes over and if it is early depressiona and inflation happens. No one knows if it will work as it has never been tried. We also have to worry about the threat of a another 9/11 or world conflict as it can stop improvments quickly. One plot was stopped in England just this week. We can and should come out of this but we are still need to hold our breaths for a little while longer to see how it all pans out. Just too too early to count on a full reovery yet as too many things can still cause issues. We have for sure seen worse but the irresponsible ways of many could still make this worse. Just check what he average credit card debt is in this country.

I firmly feel we will have life figured out about the time we are on our death beds. I just had a co worker hit 40 and find out what I told him is true. You can drink and party like your 20 for the rest of your life and not pay for it in several ways. A new girfriend, Health issues, near bankruptcy and a 10 year old daughter have tought him well. He no longer calls me goody two shoes. I may have been mad and mom and dad in the past for stopping me at many things but now I see they did me a great favor. The way I see it we are all only on bad choice way from a episode of Cops or Politics.

I was trying to avoid the old saying but it is very true in many areas. I had Grand Parents that had the stories and the savings as they knew it could happen again. People today just don't save or put themselves in great debt. It is nice to have the big house and the Bemmer but if you lose your job you lose everything, The scary part is while it is not as bad as the great depression it still can reach those levels yet as we are far from out of the woods and the handling of the economy has yet to convince Wall Street and investors. New taxes and public works projects are not going to jump start the investing we need. I hope to see something that will encourage the private sector. I wish they would start they would spend more time teaching in school responsible handling of money and savings. If they can teach them to recycle a can they can surely teach them how to be fiscally responsible. I would like them to teach ethics again but the lack of qualified people will prevent that LOL.

Few people under 40 know or care about GM history. In fact they could care less about most history in general and will pay a price for not knowing it.