Agreed totally on the jealousy thing there. I run into that allot just
wiht my DeLorean. As someone who does own an SUV ('99 Explorer Sport,
"Cologne" V6, 5-Speed), I can tell you that I do like them. They're
fun to take off road, you're high up, and if I need to tow something,
I can just hook up a trailer. And they're especially nice for highway
trips. Being a kid crammed into the back seat of my parents car, I
never saw anything out the windows, let alone had that much room. So
it's great when driving, or even riding as a passenger in the back.
And the cargo capacity is amazing. Fold down rear seats, roof rack,
towing capability. And it's ruggedness. 2 weeks I got rear-ended in
the thing by some woman in a sedan who wasn't paying attention. The
damage done: a paint scrape, and the bumper got knocked out of
alignment. Big deal.
Now the flip side to this is that durring my tenure of ownership of
this vehicle, I've developed allot of animosity twards it. First and
foremost, I got raped on it's value. In two years since I bought it,
it's Blue Book value plummeted $8,000! Gas milage I'm OK with, since I
knew what I was getting into. But to keep the vehicle *efficient*, I
have tall gearing that makes my DeLorean seem like a top fuel
dragster. I'm always killing the damn thing in first gear. The worst
thing of all is that these vehicles are so over priced. They're just
basic "cookie-cutter" vehicles, that are so much easier, and cheaper
to assemble than passenger vehicles. But we consumers are always
getting the short end of the stick when it comes to the MSRP of these
damn things. I have torsion bars in lieu of front coils, and single,
yes you read correctly, single leaf springs on the back! What's even
more frightening to me is that my fuel line is only 4" from the
catalytic convertor. But the thin peice of aluminum keeping them
seperate most certainly makes me feel safer (yeah, right). Oh yeah,
and the seat frame also broke.
My mom however fell in love with it, and wanted to take over payments
from me, which she did, and I got a Dodge Dakota pickup. Maybe next
year or so, I'll trade that in and get a Wrangler. I'd like to go
fishing, and while the DeLorean does well at holding my takle box &
pole, it doesn't like going off-road. Trust me on that.
Now, am I adamantly against SUVs? No. If I had to live in a state with
lots of snow & ice in the winter, you bet I'd want something with 4WD
for the winter. However, commuting to work in something like an H2 in
a major metropolitan city that doesn't have inclimate weather looks so
damn goofy to me. It's like carrying camping gear with you on a trip
to the mall, with the cop-out of, "Well, you never know..." Especially
in a "Luxury" SUV. Yes, I know that they only make these things
because consumers demand them. But the purpose of off-roading is to
"rough-it", and to get away from your creature comforts. Dual climate
control zones, leather seats, and LCD monitors really defeat this
purpose. These are for consistantly being stuck in traffic. Not for
off-roading. Hense another part of the animosity felt, since others
look down on things like this as a sign of weakness.
-Robert
--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Jack Stiefel" <jackstiefel@xxxx> wrote:
> I for one am not going to discuss my penis size ( my wife can chime
in if
> needed, but lets say I wear a 15 wide shoe size lol). I have been
looking
> at these automobiles for a while and have found the sentiments from
many to
> be a semi-jealousy thing. No not all comments are that, but as with any
> status symbol, if you can't readily afford it, then you tend to bash
it. I
> mean come on an H2 pathetic??? That sounds a tad over the top
there. If
> you don't like it that's fine, but please have real reasons for it, not
> speculation and H2-envy lol.
>
>
>
> I found that fu site before and had a good laugh but Green-Weenies
always
> make me laugh. Many of the facts are mis-leading and frankly the
interior
> of one is to die for. I test drove an Aztek a few years ago and
even just
> looked at their 360 view on Pontiacs web site, and don't remember seeing
> parts that looked like that on an H2.
>
>
>
> The following is from
> http://www.suvxccessory.com/xccessory/2003-hummer-h2-review.html
You see
> some rumors are only based loosely in facts.
>
>
>
> The H2 is based on the GMT820 platform, the very same platform that
provides
> the underpinnings for the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, Avalanche and all
of GM's
> other full-size trucks. However, the H2 is much more than just a
re-bodied
> Tahoe. The H2 does share the previously mentioned vehicles
suspension and
> 6.0-liter V8, but the similarities end there. The H2 is built with the
> serious off-roader in mind, but the GMT820 platform should insure
civilized
> on-road manners in addition to its off-road abilities.
>
> A joint team from AM General and General Motors decided to shed
almost 10
> inches from the front overhang of the GM truck platform. A few extra
inches
> were also sawed off the rear just for good measure. It might not
sound like
> much, but with the H2's wheels pushed all the way out to the very
corners of
> the vehicle, it is now capable of creeping over rocks no Tahoe could
ever
> hope to master and drive home to tell about it. The H2 is also outfitted
> with all manner of cladding and plates underneath to insure no vital
organs
> are torn up when using the H2 to its full capabilities. Front
suspension is
> torsion bar, but rear suspension is available as five-link coil
spring or an
> optional air-bag suspension that's good for an extra few inches of
ground
> clearance. The air-bag suspension also has a load-leveling feature.
>
> The H2 is said to be capable of tackling 6 inches of standing water
without
> slowing below 40 mph, and conquer 20-inch streams at 5 mph. According to
> Hummer "It can also comfortably and confidently climb 16-inch steps and
> rocks, without getting hung up or jarring its passengers. And it can
paddle
> through deep sand or run over sandy surfaces in high-speed desert
conditions
> with remarkable ease." The H2's 6.0-liter V8 is good for 316 hp and
360 lb
> ft of torque. The V8 is mated to a heavy duty GM 4L65-E four-speed
> electronic automatic transmission, with a 3.06 first gear ratio.
>
>
>
> Just my 2 cents, but it is a very capable vehicle my wife will be
proud to
> drive around since she hates the Mini-van. Truth be told it will be her
> daily driver as I use my 2005 Ram 2500 Turbo Diesel.
>
>
>
> Jack Stiefel -- Tampa, Florida
>
> <http://www.fmtimemachine.com> www.fmtimemachine.com
>
> Direct listen link: <http://www.live365.com/stations/radiocape>
> www.live365.com/stations/radiocape
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: Joe OBrien [mailto:joeyoseppijoe@xxxx]
> Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 5:11 PM
> To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DMCForum] Re: New poll for DMCForum
>
>
>
>
> I just meant, that since GM bought AM General, technically all
> hummers are GM.
>
> And YES, the original AM General Hummers are the REAL hummers. The
> H2 is just for soccer moms, and men with penis envy.
>
> My neighbors cleaning lady drives a giant Yellow H2 to clean houses.
> C'mon, how pathetic have we become sometimes?
>
> If you want, or really NEED a Hummer as you cross the vast wasteland
> to work, then get the H1, the H2 is just pathetic, just a big GM
> truck.
>
> www.fuh2.com
>
>
> Joe O'Brien
>
> 2524,
> 16634,
> 16851
>
>
>
>
> --- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Marc Levy <malevy_nj@xxxx> wrote:
> > H2 is GM, A Hummer is.... a.... Hummer!
> >
> > BTW, there is a saftey recall on the H2, if anyone has
> > one.
> >
> >
> > --- Joe OBrien <joeyoseppijoe@xxxx> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Don't you drive a Hummer? That's GM
> > >
> > >
> > > Joe
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
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