How 'bout those HUMMERS????
 

Hey:
Anyone own an H2? Know Anyone that has one?

Know anything about: Reliabilty? Body integrity? Interior integrity?

I've been hearing anecdotal stories of pieces falling off them and an absolute mechanical nightmare. Not sure if any of these stories are based on even a shred of truth.

Aside from the horrific mileage and the monster spare tire in the back, what are y'all hearing?

I'm thinking about picking one up.

You'll no doubt win the unabashed admiration of your fellow commuters:
http://www.fuh2.com/images/polaroid.jpg

Some of them have been known to spontaneously combust (when doused with combustibles):
http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2003/08/22/mn_suvarson.jpg

...but other than that, I'm sure they're just fabulous if you're into that sort of excess.

Hummers are arguably the most vandalized vehicle in the US. Consider yourself lucky if you haven't had yours keyed before it's a month old.

Think Different

http://www.mbusa.com/media/images/ma.../G500_main.jpg

Saw a cute video clip of an H2 off road. Rolling through some mild rocks, this H2 broke a tie rod. It's a poser as far as off-road vehicles go -- just a brutish looking SUV built on a GM chassis.

Not much can top the video of the H2 being pulled off a stump by a Jeep. :D

SUV craze is American Made - We did it!
 

It's all marketing and ego problems. The early SUV legislation was a give-away to the Japanese. They threw them a bone by saying the trucks (and classed SUVs as trucks) have low import duty and skirt EPA and CAFE requirements. It was a joke since the Japanese made few trucks and SUVs. The big auto makers found a way to make us the big V-8 and V-10 motors without penalty of CAFE. They also have loose emissions requirements. What a backfire to the US legislature because we have a society of gas gulping, pollution belching vehicles that are unsafe to drive and unsafe to share the road with. There are a few with legitimate use, bur not many. The funny part is most are driven by women. I think its penis envy. The guys who buy them have the same problem, little weenies. If any of this offends you, please substitute “feel powerless” or “ego problem” for the offending reference.

Funny how the hummer hit a nerve. An F-250, and all other heavy duty trucks are the highest mileaged vehicles out there, and have been for decades according to gov't stats. There are alot of these, and the vast majority are driven by one person without a trailer, or cargo in the back 90% of the time. But no one blows a gasket about these. Strange. Image is everything I guess.

Could it possibly be because almost every F250/350 I see is towing a trailer full of calves or loaded with equipment?

Not F150's though. F150's are the Ford equivalent of a Hummer.

All the hummers are garbage. Me and my dad went to the dealer and compared the 12 side by side and then came to the conclusion that the H1 was just 60K more overpriced than the H2. If you just go look at them, you will probably not buy one. And they have the second highest maintenance schedule next to Kia? I think i read that in something, but its believable.

H1 H2 and the REAL macho wheels
 

I think the annoying thing about Hummers is that the H2 in particular was designed to impress one type of person and annoy the Hell out of another type of person.

The Army Hummer is an excellent vehicle for what the Army does with it, which is to carry a whole bunch of soldiers to their war games (they really don't have enough armor to be effective in real wars. Despite this, they are lots better than a Jeep in everything except economy.

But the H1 is too damned big on the outside and when redesigned for rich yuppies with leather seats and all those cupholders, too small inside. So they built a lookaline wannabe Hummer on a GMC pickup chassis and behopld the H2 was born, with a lower price to attract the rich yuppies poor kid brother and an even higher profit margin to please the stockholders and members of the board.

The Hummers are definitely the ugliest thing since the VW Thing.

If it's macho you want, save our money: what will really impress is a 1962 Dodge Powerwagon with a winch on the front, painted in three shades of primer with the words "Gloryhole Mining Co. Tonopah Nevada" stencilled on the door.

One of these makes an H2 look like Liberace in hotpants, Sequined hotpants, but without the talent.

Yet these are the same people that will drive 2000 miles to see a concert. Seems a little odd too me.'

I think the Hummer thing is more envy than anything, I'd drive two at the same time if I could just to piss off the pissniks and armchair enviromental midgets.

...go right ahead, two makes for a much grander BBQ.

The biodiesel wrung from the hair of hippies would make a fine hummer fire starter.

BTW: I was talking about the other Hummer's two at a time to piss jealous guys off, the only exception would be a hummer in a Hummer. A stretched hummer could come in handy.

I didn't know you guys were talking about the trucks.

I wouldn't drive over 20 miles to see any concert, I wouldn't think of incinerating any Hummer, not even Karl Rove's or "Duck" Cheney's.

I can't imagine buying any car just to piss anyone off. Other people's opinion's are about as important to me as their pineal glands.

I drive my Mercedes because I like to drive it. When some roadhog wants around, I always yield, because ******* avoidance is ever so much easier when the ******* is in front of me where I don't have to strain to see him.

Still, I dislike Hummers because it is hard to see around them or over them, and because they are basically a phony vehicle that generally seem to belong to someone equally phony. Or at least here in urban, flat, entirely unmountainous Dade County they do. The people who live out in the Swamp tend to drive somewhat elderly Jeeps and pickups. One does not really need a 4X4 military transport to take Becky-Sue to ballet class.

Still, I will admit they have a right to piss away fifty grand on a stupid vehicle, even if they bought it for the dubious motive or pissing off others.

There is nothing I like better than a really good hummer.

You beat me to it.

Those are two different jokes altogether. ;)

That being said I hate hummers, they are stupid. (the kind on the road) :D

I'm just a utilitarian kind of guy. I suppose if I was a Utah polygimist with four wives and fifteen kids, it would make sense to own one, otherwise it seems like a pretty stupid idea.

Pretty much my thoughts on the matter...coming from someone who enjoys off-roading whenever I get the chance, there's no way I would pay $$ for a Hummer (either iteration)...and if someone gave me one, I'd accept it just long enough to turn it around and sell it. The H2 is a joke, and the H1 is too big to do any playing around in...and besides, I don't care who spec'ed the H1 out; I firmy believe that independent suspension does NOT belong on a off-road vehicle.

BTW, my F-250 almost never gets driven unless I'm hauling or towing...or when I need my full collection of tools (most of which are kept in the truck) for something in "the field" i.e. fixing a friend's car. OTOH, my F-250 burns real fuel...none of that g@$$er crap for me ;)

I think the H2 is probably the ultimate overgrown soccer-mom poseur mobile.

But I do like the H1. Mostly because if its burly, industrial look.

....And because it really pi$$es off the radical treehuggers. :D That's ALWAYS fun!

But if I were going to spend nearly six figures of MY money on an "off-road" vehicle.....it would definitely be a black Mercedes G-Wagen.

Mike

Hmm.., interesting. I was just thinking about these cars today and happenned to see this post. I confess a soft spot for these "H2's", not only for the tax breaks they offered early on for business owners, but also because of what remains of my adolescent love affair with the off road Lambo. I know, I know, they have nothing in common. You don't need to tell, me, I'm posting on a car site and its like 2 in the AM.

There is a slight resemblance, at least in theory/design. I have an older Explorer, though, and I know what rotors, brake pads, radius control arms, bushings and balljoints cost for one of those. I can't imagine maintaining a vehicle over the long haul that even looks like its as "heavy duty" as those things are. Especially after considering that the underpinnings are the same as the Silverado/3500 thingy and the Canyon. Thanks for reminding me GM makes it. Also-what is up with the new american style trend of slit windows? Visibility is a good thing.

Ohhhhh yeah. Don't even get me started on these. If I wanted a giant tonka toy I would buy one and go smash into some trees to see how it held up. I think a tahoe would even out do a H2 only because it is not a giant piece of plastic. Anyone who buys one of these is uneducated. Either that or they love to watch the TV everyday to learn how to live like many unfortunate people these days.

Yeah I think an older diesel G-wagon would do the trick, or a diesel FJ-40. I've had a 67 ALL ORIGINAL FJ-40 in places that I never thought any vehicle belonged. Just unbelievable the balance and gearing she had…. Once had to plow down some trees to get out of a very sticky situation. Not a scratch.

I actually quite like the Hummer although it wouldn't be at all practical over here. Not only would it cost a fortune to run due to our ridicules petrol prices but I don't think it would get to some of the places my Land Rovers go :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...e/RIMG0618.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...sse/rich2a.jpg

Definitely Not a Hummer
 

Paris - Dakar Lambo:

http://www.lambocars.com/highres/lm002pd.jpghttp://www.lambocars.com/lm/lm002pd2t.jpg

:eek:

The weird thing is, I almost never see women driving them. It's usually a fortyish, pallid, embarrassed-looking white guy. You have to scale down to the Escalade, the Tahoe, or even the Grand Cherokee to find the soccer moms. (oh shi-)

I don't know that I'll ever be able to wrap my mind around the idea of driving a $60,000+ vehicle through mud and branches and such. Won't the paint get scratched up and the carpets stained? Why not an old Bronco or Blazer or something for offroading?

That's everybodys point. None of these H2 will ever see mud, well, except the little dirt spill from a dump trunk on an Interstate.

My neighborhood is full of those ugly H2, wish I have money for a G-Wagon to show them what a real 4 wheeler is.

It really comes down to which hummer you are talking about, the H1(military humvee) or the H2(the rebodied suburban). The H2 is absolute junk, just a ploy to make money using the legendary hummer name. The people that buy these do it for the image. The H1 is just an amazing vehicle, one of the most capable off-road. During the introduction of the H1 during Desert Shield and Storm, the GIs would have contests of who could get their humvee stuck during R&R. Very few succeeded. And do remeber, the new H2 has a V8 gas engine that gets maybe 12 mpgs at best, while the original H1 has a diesel V8, so 20+ mpgs is attainable.

I still fail to understand why some people feel obliged to get all bent out of shape over another persons choice in vehicles.

Personally, I couldn't possibly possess any less desire than what I have now to own an H2. I don't like the parent company, I don't like the interior quality. I've seen heavier duty looking plastic in a Yugo. I have no need for such a vehicle. Nor do I see how GM can possibly ask 50 large for the contraption.

Irregardless, I couldn't care less if somebody else buys one and drives it to and from the grocery store only. It's their money, and they can waste it on whatever they want. I know I'm pretty good at wasting money myself. I feel that it's none of my buisness why they bought it, and I have plenty of my own issues to take care of. It's called living in a free country, and that includes the freedom of one person to purchase a vehicle that another may not like.

Choices have consequences. Some consequences are collectively shared/suffered--see oil war.

Hey, I'm selling my '71 ;)

So, this justifies jeering and harassing other people, and vandalizing their vehicles, burning them up on the dealership lot? Come on Z, freedom in this country is not "freedom for me and only those who think like me."

If you really want to effect change, find a way to get the 170 million people in this country into the voting booth on election day, and find a way to get people to ignore the propaganda spewed by both parties regarding third party candidates being a wasted vote. Otherwise, just do what YOU can do personally, and around your own home to minimize your own impact on the environment.

Whoa there bucko...I'm officially neutral about politically motivated property destruction. I neither condemn nor condone such actions. I'm merely pointing out that our individual choices do have consequences for others around us. In the big picture one A-hole driving a gluttonous road pig doesn't mean diddly to this nation's perverse addiction to petroleum, but it does represent an excellent metaphor for excess and myopia. If folks get PO'd about that metaphor and take matters into their own hands, then there are consequences for those choices as well.

You and I are in perfect agreement about the current state of electoral politics.

I couldn’t care less what anyone does as long as it doesn’t affect me. The SUV craze affects me, directly, in a variety of ways. This is why I hate them with such a passion.

First, the drivers cannot see anything. I had a Tahoe back into me at a red light. The moron was trying to read a sign in a parking lot and looked into his rearview mirror. He couldn’t see me right behind him but he saw a car ¼ mi back so he put it into reverse and stabbed the gas. He did $6000 damage to my car. Every year about 40 parents back over and kill their own children in their SUVs. I don’t know how many are simply injured. The average person shouldn’t be driving one but the average person is too stupid to know better. Truck drivers know they have to get out and walk behind their vehicle before they ever put it into reverse

Second, I can’t see around them, especially in my roadster. This creates a dangerous situation. Third, the drivers do not have training or proper mindset to drive a big truck. They drive them like regular cars causing numerous accidents and creating a dangerous situation on the road. They should have the same rules as the semi-tractors.

Third, most SUV owners try to intimidate other drivers. They think they are special. I had a woman drive around me in a snow storm using the cross traffic lanes in an intersection while all the traffic was at 4 mph. I was tempted to crash into her just to show her she can’t get away with it. But I didn’t because I have good enough judgment, at least compared to an SUV driver. Autoweek magazine did a survey and although the sedan drivers thought it is not normal to ever have an accident; SUV owners said they expect to have an accident every 3 years. They shouldn’t be driving a GEO Metro; they should be on the bus. It is pure ego to drive one. Every man I know who has a pickup is a contractor and every H2 owner I know is a 120 lb housewife. I guess you have to get your feeling of power somewhere. I hope my friends don’t run over their children. I got one of them to install the back-up camera.

The real way to make change is to make the EPA, CAFE and DOT laws for cars apply to SUVs. The big 3 would stop building them. It is they who fool you into thinking you want one. If people understood vehicle dynamics no one would buy one without the need. These housewives know nothing except what the TV shows them. The automakers make an extra $10,000 profit over a sedan. They love our ignorance. My wife wants one and I can’t let her buy one. I bought a BMW wagon instead. She still wants an SUV. She is brainwashed like the rest.

Is this a filibuster? Sorry for the rant.

I really like the Magnum Wagon. I am ready to trade my Mercedes and BMW Wagon on a new Magnum but then I wouldn't have anything to work on. My wife wants a Honda Passport. She thinks she needs the cargo and seating. That means minivan. (She doesn't like that). Seating in SUV's is awful because the floor is so high to get ground clearance; tall riders have their knees in their chests.

H2? Ridiculous...
 

We had one at our company.

The interior has the quality of a Chevrolet Chevalier rental car, the front chrome ist plastic but the most ridiculous feature is the height sensor at the rear axle, which ist installed inside of the wheel house. A few rocks, some mud and this funny little plastic thing will be gone.

I wonder who designed something stupid like that.

Kind regards
Eberhard

The fact that you don't unequivocally, unconditionally condemn such criminal acts is very telling.

"Politically motivated property destruction"???? That's just P.C.-speak for "terrorism". Those enviro-radicals are no different than any other radicals who blow up cars, buildings, planes, and people for their own political and/or religious reasons.

Folks can dislike SUVs all they want....I don't care much for most of them either....They can lobby against them, advertise their cause, write letters, e-mails, blogs, call their congressman, run for office....whatever variety of anti-SUV activism that tickles their fancy.....But when they start committing REAL CRIMES against person and/or property....They undermine their entire cause, and should be punished for thier actions just as any other criminal would be.

Mike

I see your point with some of the large American SUVs but branding all 4x4s under the same banner is a little bias.
You say the drivers cannot see anything? I find this strange as being higher gives me a better view of the surroundings. The argument that 40 parents back over and kill their own children each year is one I've heard numerous times. No one has yet been able to show me any real statistics for this, the same as nobody can provide statistics for bull bars killing people. I know of not one case (in the UK at least) where a bull bar was blamed for a death in an accident and the vehicle most involved in a child being crushed is in fact the School Bus!
You also comment on blocked view. What about Vans, Lorries, Buses and People carriers? A little patience goes a long way!
You say drivers do not have training or proper mindset, causing numerous accidents and creating a dangerous situation on the road. You could say that about any enthusiast’s vehicle be it a sports car, performance saloon, convertible roadster, a motor cycle or even a hot hatch!
It's said there's no need for SUVs which never go off road. Again the same thing could be said for any of the above. Why produce cars which can exceed the speed limit? Why don’t we just all sell our Mercedes and buy some cheap run around like a Saturn or a Kia? Well basically it’s because of choice and free will!
SUV drivers intimidate people? Can’t say I’ve ever intimidated anyone. I’ve heard people say the same about BMW and Mercedes drivers, can’t remember ever using one of those I’ve owned to intimidate either. I think you’ll find people feel intimidated by SUV not the other way round and if people are that nervous about other traffic maybe they shouldn’t be driving?
You mention EPA, CAFE and DOT laws etc. In the Euro NCAP tests under pedestrian safety only a handful of vehicles attained 3 stars for pedestrian safety. Guess what? A SUV was one of them, the Honda CRV - safer than over 90% of all other vehicles.
And when it comes to the CR-V and emissions, the 2.0 SE petrol CR-V has a lower CO2 emission and a better m.p.g. than a 2.0 Vauxhall Vectra. Any idea what a R107 500SL might be? :rolleyes:
So remember not all 4x4s and their owners are the same - PLEASE recognise this.

Ugly huh?
 

I just bought a Honda Element and people alwasy tell me it is the ugliest car they have ever seen and it also looks like a baby hummer. In reality the only offroad a Hummer will see is the landscaping it drives over when the cluesless driver backs out of his/her driveway. :)


PS-HI TLJ :)

...yes Mike, it's very telling isn't it? Notice upon re-read that I mention there are also consequences for those same said choices. Now go back to bed before that vein in your forehead explodes. Life's too short...

Of course there are consquences. What, you want extra credit for simply stating the obvious?! :rolleyes:

You openly admitted that you do NOT condemn such actions. So I stand by my comments.

Mike

But isn't there a larger issue here? There is nothing inherently right or wrong with a Hummer. It’s just another commodity. What I find creepy is how many hate mongers, even on this web site, who see Hummers as yet another focus of a seemingly endless desire, even a self-perceived need to “discuss” items, for no reason other than as an object of or exercise in hate. What can be so lacking in someone’s life that they would destroy a car or any of the other typical objects of hate? More to the point, why is hate such a growing rallying point amongst certain groups in our society? What can ever be gained by these hateful actings and lashings out?

...Google: oil war - climate change -- inflamed passions

...oh, was someone advocating violence? Well then, I condemn violence. There, I said it...violence is bad. Stay away from violence.

I wouldn't go so far as to destroy one, but, to me, the H2 is probably the single most blatant symbol of the current SUV craze. And, while I understand that people are allowed to get whatever they want, I still see the modern-day SUV's as an insult to the 4x4's of "old" that were and are actually, heaven forbid, used off-road. Heck, except for the Jeep Wrangler, thanks to the SUV craze, there aren't any serious 4x4's sold anymore, and the Jeep's borderline (except the new Rubicon series). I'm hoping that the new Dodge Power Wagon is a step back towards the "real" 4x4 off-road vehicles; the specs look rather impressive...but I'm not holding my breath.

H2's are junk, GM is just trying to cash in on the Hummer name. I refuse to tarnish the Hummer name by calling the H2 a Hummer. The H2 is a fat pos truck that people buy to feed their ego's. Don't even get me going about the H3.

Now the H1 is an awsome truck! If I had the money I would buy one for the winter in a second. :cool: Not to mention all of the off roading that one could do.

But I hate SUV's in general, sorry people you don't need a truck. A 4wd Audi, MB, BMW, Subaru wagon is better in the snow and can carry pretty much every thing an SUV can. What can you stick in those things anyway? Buy a pickup with an 8ft bed if you want to carry big stuff like drywall and plywood.

Hatterasguy,

I didn’t think the M998 HMMWV was that an awesome winter vehicle the winter of 88/89 when I drove one on the DMZ in Korea and no one in the motor pool could get the heater to work. Brrr.

88/89 you likely had the joy of experiencing the brake problems as well.

Yeah but the civilian ones have better interiors. For $90k they better. :D

But they have plastic exteriors

:confused: other than better paint the civilian versions look about the same. Where is their plastic on the outside?