It seems a little conspicuous that 98% of the responders on that site appear to be male, late teens, and of a certain ‘me-too’ demographic. Kinda makes me wonder what they’d be driving, if they could afford a $50k vehicle.
“I may not agree with what you say but I’ll fight to the death for
your right to say it.” -Voltaire
I guess the same goes for guns and cars. I’d much rather you have the choice and ability to purchase WHATEVER YOU WANT than to have a section of the population successfully tell you you CAN’T have one.
The funny thing is, the Excursion failed in the market because it was too big and cost LESS than the H2. Wonder what the H2 did right that the Excursion did wrong? Further, when the majority of vehicles purchased in the US today are SUV’s of varying sizes and dimension (but mostly Large and Top Heavy), it seems like an awful lot of the population of pots calling the kettle black.
I really didn’t think I was in for such a shame on you bashing when I posted the thread about owning an H2. For those who gave constructive answers and support thank you I appreciate it. My wife and I will most likely go with the Land Cruiser or Defender. Both solid cars that will protect our impending family. And THAT is what is the most important.
My 2 cents: While the original was cool looking, the H2 looks exactly like an armored bank car.
I also think if you are going to be towing that much weight, the longer wheelbase the better.
Count me in the hate them crowd. I recently bought a Subaru Forester, which is about as far as I’m willing to go in the SUV department for now. My experience of Hummers is simply that of being on the roads with them. They’re impossible to see around, hog up space on the road that is at a premium, and take an excessive amount of space to park.
Now, bear in mind, that I live in Chicago, where streets are narrow and space is kind of at a premium. When I see these ridiculous Hummers driving around (almost always with abundant evidence that the drivers are from the suburbs), all I can think of is that this car is an offense against all that is holy and good, and that the owner is basically giving a middle-fingered salute to all his/her fellow drivers.
Enipla - apparently the defender limited edition seen here can tow 4000kg or 8800 pounds…my boat wieghs roughly 8650…It would only be twice a year anyway…first to the slip in May, then back to the barn in October.
I suggested that I’d prefer a Defender to an H2 - but a Defender is not a safe car for a family! No way, no how!
If I recall correctly, someone in the US cannot buy a Defender newer than a 1997 because it has no air bags – can’t import them. Further, the thing is NOT built for safety, no more than a Jeep Wrangler is built to survive a high-speed T-bone.
The Land Cruiser is a better choice (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates is crashworthiness as “acceptable” or “marginal,” depending on the year), but if you are looking for safety, I beseech you to get past the idea that “large equals safe.”
If you’re looking for a safe car for your family that also has towing capability and 4WD, I urge you do to some serious research on this subject, not just decide bigger is better.
Before you leap, check to see if a limited slip Differential is included/available. It’d SERIOUSLY suck if you couldn’t pull the boat up the ramp cause you can’t get traction!
Any new vehicle I get will have a limited slip differential. It will have to be able to tow my boat…no ifs, ands, or buts…Don’t get me wrong, I started this thread to see what people liked about the hummer. I’m looking for best overall utility vehicle for my family and my needs…
I love this part of the Gladwell article " internal industry market research concluded that S.U.V.s tend to be bought by people who are insecure, vain, self-centered, and self-absorbed, who are frequently nervous about their marriages, and who lack confidence in their driving skills. "
To me, the Hummer series seems like overkill. Short of, say, some really remote snowbound areas. There are smaller, cheaper and more fuel-efficient vehicles that have 4WD and a ton of cargo space that would serve its purpose in 90-95% of the US. But I have seen at least one H2 in Virginia, a place that has absolutely no need of them. In that case, it’s an example of a yuppie with high amounts of cash and low amounts of clue. If it were somewhere in the Yukon, I might understand.
Disclaimer: I am a “member of the anti-SUV crowd.” I admit that I equate SUVs with low fuel efficiency, high emissions, and compensation for some inadequacy. Especially in a place where such vehicles never leave the pavement.
Heya Andros, I’m one of those folks that lives in a snow bound State. Central Colorado Rockies here. One of the reasons I own an SUV is deep snow, but there are plenty of other reasons as well. They are, frankly, very adaptable vehicles. Good towing platform, good for general cargo, reasonable people mover.
I really don’t think the anti-SUV folks realize how much use people get out of their SUV’s. If other SUV owners get a tenth of the use out of their SUV as I do out of mine, they have a very good reason to own it.
I’m curious why you anti-suv-ers don’t express the same vitriol for any OTHER vehicle that costs more than your car does. I mean, why buy a 600 class Mercedes? You MUST be compensating for OTHER shortcomings.
I’m also not entirely sure why it comes down to some Freudian analysis. Based on the vehicles I own (two vettes, an Avalanche and a cruiser) I must have some SERIOUS feelings of inadequacy.
I sure am glad I have the freedom to purchase the vehicle I want, vs. the vehicle YOU want me to buy. I take great pleasure in being a gearhead. I’ve had driving satisfaction from trucks, big cars, little cars, ALL SORTS of CARS. And I’m glad the lattitude is there to play with.
Tell me, Do you consider a car an appliance? HAVE you lifted the hood of your current vehicle? Do you consider anytime your vehicle breaks to be a stomach tightening journey into the unknown? If so, I pity your ignorance, especially on THIS forum.
And, to top it off, a 600 class Mercedes is much less practical than an SUV.
I’m going to take a shower, grab my list, and drive into town to get the stuff I need to finish my in-floor heat in the addition that I am building on my house. The anti-SUV folks don’t understand that there are people that do things for themselves.
for the sarcasm impaired.