Probably an eaiser install and less maintence related service woes. Oil coking used to be a problem when the car was shut off and the oil soaked all that heat from the exhaust side of the turbo.

 

Well there's the Ford GT (not the Mustang one) if ya got the bux...
I'd take that over a Vette any day!

The HHR is a front wheel drive joke made to go against the PT cruiser. Not even in the same class as a cobalt or a Neon. I wouldn't worry about the HHR.

You have to remember that a lot of GM's high performance models are mostly fluff badging and limited production. Did anyone here even try to get their hands on an SSR for example? Try at least 5 grand over sticker and maybe 2 on the lots of most dealers around my neck of the woods.

The Ecotec is a great motor and has already proven it's potential. The only 4 banger that comes close was the mid 80's Olds Quad 4, I had one of those in a Grand AM, It was awesome even with the vibration problems. Still I wouldn't trade it for a nicely tuned domestic V8 for real performance.

300 net horsepower from 4.6 liters of an emissions friendly V8 is amazing. Especially when you consider all the headroom you have to get even more out of it.

So don't fret over a motor that needs 9000RPM to hit 260HP guys. They'll be looking at your tailights before they hit powerband!

 

You could get 3 vettes before you can get a GT .

HHR like you said is more of a PT cruiser/ Caliber class vehicle but I'm sure it will have no problem with either with this new motor.

Only 5 Grand over sticker? Where? Many paid up to 20K over sticker on it. It was more of a looker than a runner though. And as of late I'll have to disagree on the performance side of GM. I wasn't impressed with the FWD v8's but the new line of SS's are no slouches. Even the Trailblazer SS's were no joke. For something that weighs as much as it does it can move. I'd prefer a V8 over a boosted 4 anyday as well, I wouldn't discount these SRT neons and now Cobalt SS's I've seen plenty of them (SRT Neons) that I wouldn't want to mess with in my Camaro. I know of one personally that was pushing 500 to the wheels.

 

Ford doesn't make GT anymore.

 

Well there may not be a new 08 GT from Ford proper but there is this...

http://www.fast-autos.net/archive/3037/

 

To bad Ford couldn't have produced this car for about half the price and full production (well except the wheels anyways) I cant think of a better looking american supercar.

 

Yeah the "used" 06 GT's are going for around 130K right now. I actually visited a forum site devoted to these cars. It amazes me that people like to hack on them like we do the Mustangs. Well, I mean like I will hack on it. I'm still getting over the newness of it..