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bearmtnmartin
bearmtnmartin GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/17/14 2:23 p.m.

Looking at one of these little panel vans for customer service, sales calls, deliveries, etc. I would logo it up and it would look pretty sharp. I would have bought a Ford Transit but I can pick one of these up for a third of the money. I'm just not sure what image it would project. Too girly? (No offence to girls who may read this thread)

bgkast
bgkast GRM+ Memberand Dork
2/17/14 2:26 p.m.

No, those are sweet. Especially with the turbo engine.

bearmtnmartin
bearmtnmartin GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/17/14 2:26 p.m.

Sorry, can't seem to post a pic from my phone.

Ok there it is

mw
mw Dork
2/17/14 2:26 p.m.

What's your manly business? That could make a difference. I've never considered it to be a girly vehicle, but I dive a miata...

pres589
pres589 UltraDork
2/17/14 2:28 p.m.

How does using the a good tool for business, at a good price, give you gender issues?

I personally wouldn't want an HHR for my business because I don't really fit in them all that well (the top of the windshield is too low, sight lines out of the driver's seat are off for me) but that's a separate problem.

Wally
Wally GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/17/14 2:31 p.m.

You could always paint flames on it

bearmtnmartin
bearmtnmartin GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/17/14 2:44 p.m.

So it would be added to a fleet of heavy equipment and diesel trucks. It would be the only one on the job site that's for sure. What the hell. I might as well try it out. The transits are 20000 plus even for a used one, and that's a lot for a high roof four cylinder mini van. I can get one of these for 5500.

gofastbobby
gofastbobby Reader
2/17/14 3:21 p.m.

If you have to ask, then you're not manly enough to pull it off.

BUT overall, I think they are a nice economy vehicle, and comfortable. I have never driven a panel version, but would imagine it has some godawful blind spots.

Greg Voth
Greg Voth Dork
2/17/14 4:33 p.m.

A friend of mine has a 5 speed panel HHR he has had since new. Personal use and he loves it. Gets mid 20's in mixed use. No mechanical problems as far as I know. Roughly 80k miles iirc.

Knurled
Knurled GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
2/17/14 4:50 p.m.

I service a bunch of 'em as fleet vehicles. It was the weirdest thing at first to see an HHR with a ladder rack and five-six ladders strapped on top, but now it's normal

Appleseed
Appleseed UltimaDork
2/17/14 4:50 p.m.
Wally wrote: You could always paint flames on it

Datsun310Guy
Datsun310Guy PowerDork
2/17/14 7:30 p.m.

this 25 year old young lady at my church just bought a bright red one.......

bearmtnmartin
bearmtnmartin GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/17/14 7:38 p.m.

I bought it so its time to embrace my feminine side I guess. thanks for all the input.

chaparral
chaparral GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/17/14 8:23 p.m.

A customer at my first job had a John Deere 4.5 four-cylinder engine they couldn't get to run right.

He'd called up the local farm-equipment dealer, who brought a one-ton van and a hundred grand worth of tools. They couldn't find the problem let alone solve it. Then came the local Deere distributor, who sent an experienced technician and a full complement of gauges and diagnostic equipment. No improvement and a diagnosis of a bad $$$$ injection pump.

He then called our boss. Two nineteen-year-old boys showed up with a CRX, one toolbox, and a best-guess rebuild kit. An hour later the incorrect, backwards fuel filter was in the trash, a new one was on, the lines were bled, and it ran like a Deere again.

It's not what the customer sees when the truck shows up to the job, it's what it looks like when it leaves.

bearmtnmartin
bearmtnmartin GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
2/17/14 10:26 p.m.

In reply to chaparral:

While I agree with your premise, I also think that matters hugely how you look while on the job. My company image is a huge part of my success. We have spotless equipment with a paint and logo theme, and all employees wear uniforms. It is kind of a big deal to introduce something different so I need to do it right.

fasted58
fasted58 PowerDork
2/17/14 10:31 p.m.

Neighbor has several for his fire extinguisher business, flames yes, manly lookin' too. Well, why would flames be Bob Costas looking anyway.

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 PowerDork
2/18/14 8:19 a.m.

Wait. Half of you guys drive Miatas and you're worried about the manly quotient of an HHR? Seriously?

I think you can pull it off if you grow a "Duck Dynasty" beard.

slantvaliant
slantvaliant SuperDork
2/18/14 10:32 a.m.

Do this livery:

Wally
Wally GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/18/14 11:13 a.m.

In reply to 1988RedT2:

What could be manlier than more men

AverageH
AverageH Reader
2/18/14 11:14 a.m.

I'd be more worried about social responsibility than appearing effeminate as far as a work vehicle goes. Showing up in an HHR would be more acceptable than say a jacked up smoke spewing truck. Especially since it sounds like your company is concerned about their image, which I feel is a good thing. I think it's a perfect vehicle for what you're needing it for, and I hate those HHR's; like a PT Cruiser but a decade too late. I think You made a good choice.

-Hamid

Kenny_McCormic
Kenny_McCormic UberDork
2/18/14 11:36 a.m.

I don't think so short of a combination meat, guns, alcohol, tobacco and shaving equipment company.

Wally
Wally GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
2/18/14 12:41 p.m.

Who shaves?

moparman76_69
moparman76_69 SuperDork
2/18/14 12:51 p.m.

I was going to suggest one of these:

We recently got some at work, and apparently it is very easy to be going much faster than you think you are. They are 3.6 VVT pentastars with 290HP.

speedblind
speedblind HalfDork
2/18/14 2:51 p.m.

Agree with the minivan comment. A minivan is far better for construction than an open-bed truck if you have to carry stuff. All of your tools stay cool in the summer, dry in the winter, etc. If you're looking at an HHR, though, you probably don't have that much equipment.

I've always disliked the look, and I've had a few as rentals. They drive just like the price point and target market suggests they will.

Mazda787b
Mazda787b Reader
2/18/14 4:05 p.m.

Over in Europe, you could get a Jeep Cherokee (XJ) in a panel van. Why not do something similar? Still "manly" enough, dead nuts reliable. You can haul quite a bit with the rear seat folded down.

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