Impractical, inelegant, and ineffiecent.
Sorry Phlosphr, while it has the heavy duty hitch, I’ve no experience pulling anything heavier than a ski boat or a couple of 4 wheelers. For that it was just fine.
It was a 1976 red Fiat Spider 124 tan interior with a black ‘spider 2000’ dashboard rug…The 2000 is what always stuck in my mind. Oh and I was 7 in 1976 
And I wish I still had her…very nice automobile. I think I sold it when I moved to AZ…
I like my Toyota Landcruiser. I hate the Hummer. Ridiculous looking, horrible gas milage (even for an SUV), bad handling compared to other SUV’s (stopping, cornering, etc.), and way, way over priced. When I see people driving one I can’t help but wonder what kind of idiot they are. YMMV.
Another vote for obnoxious excess.
Another anti-SUV person here who thinks hummers are atrocious. Plus they look like they’re made out of Legos and that reminds me of that Simpsons episode and I giggle.
I pass the Hummer dealership in Manchester (NH) frequently – it’s on the way to most of the shopping spots. It does seem to be a good, solid vehicle. I’ve never driven one, but from the people I know who have tried it, they have two complaints: It’s overpriced for it’s value (other vehicles are about as good for less, although I don’t know which ones specifically), and parking the dang thing (it’s a BIG think to find a spot for).
“Small Penis” is what they say to me.
Ferrari and Hummer(H2) are definitely on the wish list. Workin’ towards that.
Nothing at all to do with compensating for any “physical” shortcomings. Don’t have that problem. 
I just like 'em. Not trying to impress anybody.
After paying off the second vette, we toyed with the idea of a Hummer before the H2 came out…went and looked around above below and inside and discovered that it really IS a vehicle with a 40 year life expectancy…I’ve also heard it requires frequent expesive maintenance, but cannot find the source of that (look for a Hummer blog/mailing list/enthusiast site)
Just looking at the tie-down/tow points (3/4 diameter steel hoops with pins) you know this was something designed to be abused.
However, the interior was really well laid out for carrying a wounded soldier on a stretcher. And the interior was one half step above the military grade HMMWVW-grumble-mumble-forgot the acronym…
So GM took their truck parts bins and made a Hummer like vehicle that was better suited for a typical civilian. It’s got a bigger motor, a better interior, and about 85% of the off road capabilities of it’s big brother.
And if you never ever use those capabilities, WHO CARES?
Listen, if you like it, and it’s fiscally attainable, don’t listen to THIS group for approval. I think it’s a pretty neat vehicle and would consider owning one if a)We didn’t already have an Avalanche, and b) if the next vehicle really didn’t need to be able to tow a fifth wheel.
My daily driver is a fairly gas thrifty PT cruiser, and it’s great for the 5 day a week commute. The wife’s drive is somewhat shorter at 10 minutes, and the AV works out well for that. It replaced a gas thrifty Saturn.
We have twins. Before the Avalanche, if we needed to hit the grocery store AND the pet store, it took two trips. I guess what I’m saying is: The folks that can’t understand a SUV don’t have to. We have a need for one and I’ll be damned if I care what someone else thinks about it.
As for the impending end of the world’s petroleum supply, I suspect that’s been severely over hyped. There are two potential ends: The gas supply won’t run out (research is showing previously ‘dry’ fields are refilling, and that petroleum may not be squished bio-matter), or it’ll be replaced with a renewable resource (hydrogen, ethanols, hydrogenerated electricity). The period of time required for EITHER to happen will mean your next new car will be well rusted and recycled before it’s an issue. The governmental powers that be are more than happy to continue to attempt regulation of already VERY efficient automobiles while conveniently overlooking the Trucking industry and Industrial manufacturing, which produce the lion’s share of pollution.
If you like it, buy it. The worst thing that’ll happen is: You won’t like it and won’t buy another.
For myself, I drive one because it is efficient.
A popular, empty argument from the anti-SUV group. Phlosphr coined the phrase ‘non-enthusiast’. I sort of like it, but I’m not really an SUV enthusiast. I buy what I need. Does that make me a ‘pro-enthusiast’. I think it just means I’m practical.
Again with the need argument. The people that I know that have SUV’s do, at the very least have good use for them. But I will admit, that I live in a part of the country where 4X4 is pretty much mandatory.
ehhh. The anti-SUV folks seem to like to press their needs on other people. They sure aren’t impractical for me, or the people that I know that own them.
Inelegant? Inefficient? Elegance can mean a few things. Efficiency means one thing to me. Does it do what you need it too. Sure, some people that own them could get by with less. Some can’t. Casual observation on your daily drive can’t determine who is who.
Many things in our life is excess. Comes down to that tricky ‘need’ argument again.
And the always popular -
Not really worth a response, except to say that in every SUV thread, someone like yourself chimes in. You may as well, post your sad attempt at an insult in the gun threads as well.
People, there are people that find an SUV to be the most practical useful vehicle they can buy. I’m one of them.
Phloshpr
My brother pulls a 26’ McGreggor with his Tahoe. One thing he would rather have is a longer wheel base. He has considered getting a truck.
You must already know this stuff if you’re pulling a 35’ 9000 pound boat.
But.
For safety, the longer the wheel base on the towing vehicle the better. The more the towing vehicle weighs the better.
People that tow boats always have a lot of ancillary equipment. People (:D), gas, coolers, more coolers, food, shore grill, cooler, and just about a spare extra everything. Truck or SUV is the only way to go. The Hummer may let you lock more stuff inside while you are on the lake. And let you tool people around. A truck is a bit limited on the extra people factor unless you get a crew cab.
I hate them. I hate them less than the H2, but still hate them.
That said, I like them better than your current vehicle. I firmly believe the Avalanche is the ugliest vehicle ever built.
You can go just as many places off-road in a Land Rover Defender. You can pick up just as many chicks (although perhaps not as many all at the same time) in a Porsche. You can be just as patriotic on a Huffy.
Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
Smells like a steak, and seats thirty five?
Canyonero! Canyonero!
http://hangingon.org/canyonero.html
I don’t like the H2. It looks silly. No, it looks obnoxious. In ten years, I think it’ll look like those rediculous wood-paneled station wagons from the 70s… except a hell of a lot more expensive!
If I had the bucks and wanted a big, manly car, I’d take a Range Rover Defender any day, not a Chevy Tahoe with a boob job.
Why do you say this? They’ve never been crash tested, and they don’t even offer side airbags.
I read an interesting article about four months ago. It stated that a curious thing was happening in the auot industry - something that had never happened before:
Vehicles are being built that generate an extremely polar reaction, you either really like them, or don’t. Think about the following:
Hummer
PT Cruiser
Porsche Cayenne
Aztek
Mini
New VW Bug
All are vehicles with strong styling that rarely generate a neutral response.
I read an interesting article about four months ago. It stated that a curious thing was happening in the auto industry - something that had never happened before:
Vehicles are being built that generate an extremely polar reaction, you either really like them, or don’t. Think about the following:
Hummer
PT Cruiser
Porsche Cayenne
Aztek
Mini
New VW Bug
All are vehicles with strong styling that rarely generate a neutral response.
Yep, my folks had one of those. ‘72 Chrysler Town and Country’.
We called it a ‘Cleverly disguised log’.
Thing is, as ugly as it was, it served us well. Go figure.
You can go just as many places off-road in a Land Rover Defender. You can pick up just as many chicks (although perhaps not as many all at the same time) in a Porsche. You can be just as patriotic on a Huffy.
I bet I can put more chicks in my Pathfinder!
The feathers are starting to be a bit a problem.
I’m not sure how accurate the facts on the front page are, but the pictures are pretty funny
http://www.fuh2.com
BTW, I’m not opposed to them.
Penis Extenders !! , thats what I think when I see someone driving an ugly Hummer or it uglier cousin the Avalanche. Just like the jackasses that drove Porches 20 years ago. Those things just scream " look at me ! look at me !!! "