A Sad Day Indeed...

[HummerGirl]

yep you are right on the money on that one, although the wheel just falling off that other yellow H2 in the testing phase was pretty un-nerving. I hope many folks did not hear about that one.

~amy
HummerGirl's Home Page

[cognitive]

SJ, re-read my posts on this thread.

[cognitive]

Volvo's are vulnerable in deer collisions due to the front end and the windshield. On older models, the geometry (basically 90 degrees to the road) and stiffness were so bad that the deer would basically slide across the hood and hit the windshield at basically the same speed it was hit. The windshield is fairly vertical as well so the deer would essentially go right through it. I'm not positive but I don't know if this is true of the S series and the XC90 must be high enough in the front for this not to be such an issue.

Hummers are certainly high enough but I'd be concerned about larger animals with longer legs. Deer are one thing but a moose is really dangerous. Since their center of gravity is so high, they pose a serious problem to SUVs. A friend of mine ran into one with a land rover and it totalled the car even though the front end was relatively intact. If it weren't for 3 kayaks sticking out in front of the windshield, the moose would have gone completely into the passenger area. Luckily no one was severely injured. I'm pretty sure a hummer would be in trouble in this situation as well since the windshield is nearly vertical. Hopefully the front end is high enough to hit the body though.

In my opinion the most dangerous aspect of Volvo's has been handling. I personally can't stand the combination of power steering and handling in the Volvo's - particularly the wagons and XC. The XC90 (I think) should be a different story but I'm not sure.

[cognitive]

Hummergirl: ??? No thanks to what? I don't want to take my H2 off road more but I already said that it will beat the XC90 offroad unless there's a space that the H2 can't fit in. My point was that the Hummer is not a perfect car. GM can come closer to competing with these other 'SUV's with the H3. And like I said, I wouldn't have bought the XC90 over the H2.

[cognitive]

Have any of you actually seen or driven an XC90? Before spouting off that 'mine is better than yours' maybe you should actually take the XC90 for a spin.

My opinion is that the XC90 will not beat the H2 in offroading except in areas that the H2 simply won't fit but I'm confident that in almost every other area it will beat the H2... and there's nothing wrong with that!

[H2Norcal]

The H2 is a huge target in the SUV market. The SUV vehicle class is not well defined either. I am not sure exactly what they are looking for when they choose these vehicles, but don't dispair. It will all settle down and you will feel no remorse as you drive your H2.

Remember, if they make this "4wd vehicle of the year", "SUV of the year", "truck of the year", "perfect new vehicle of the year", GM will build 10 new plants and produce 80-100k per year. We don't want this vehicle to be the next mass production 4-Runner. Just be glad they are nitpicking and have not exposed some giant flaw in design. That would spell big trouble for reselling and great embarrassment for those of us who drive it.

[MAC]

I always thought Fair Trade would be great. If you charged 150% import duty on American cars(which Japan DID for decades), we will charge you 150% import duty on your cars. So simple, why don't they do it? I bet all of them will change the import duty on American cars instantly. I think the rate is still 50%? not sure.

The news in the paper or larger geopoloitical matters is often not the same as the people one meet on the streets or in their homes. Individuals are generally super nice, as a group with crazy leaders that's a different story. There were a couple times I was confronted by angry Germans and Brits; once an older German had too much to drink and started going after me about how the American bombed them and his family, blah blah blah. Well, you know why we bombed you? you were lucky we didn't drop the big one on you, you deserved it. It was below zero and raining, they were walking me back to my hotel, I wasn't in the mood to be nice or to go into WW2 history with him, he was retiring that week anyway. I did not compromise, it was black and white, good and evil to me. Other than that, everyone has been nice and pro-American, we rebuilt them, all of them. I will be back in Frankfurt for a week in January 03, and Tokyo in April.

[bklynh2srock]

MAC, on the right-hand drive thing, I think as of a few years ago at least, Japan had such rigid trade barriers against foreign-made products that it's almost impossible for US auto makers to get a foot in the door. Things may have changed since, but at least that was the case a few years ago.

And the Germans, well, the contact I've had with them has not been not positive towards Americans (we know a lot of German citizens). My impression has been that they love the jeans and stuff, but not us. How could Schroeder pick up so many votes after he said what he did?

[DRTYFN]

Don't you dare take that beautiful thing down!!!!! It's mezmerizing. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] At certain angles I swear you can see "something".

[HeeHaw]

Hey they (dealership)were a little touchy down there and the vehicle I drove was nice, but it wasn't any where near a HUMMER. It has a very nice interior and sounded like a 4 banger going down the road. When I pressed the peddle, it went OK, but not like the HUMMER. It had a SPONGE-TYPE ride and this car would get ruined or thrashed if you tried to keep with STEVE for just one day. This car is good if you don't leave the pavement or take any steep hills on the highway.

For Yuppies (and I'm sure I'll get nailed for this) families, who never intend to drive off road, that don't mind being the NORM and want a low maint, raised station wagon, then this is the VEHICLE for them

Personally, I wouldn't be buried in one. If I had to go back, then I'm going back to the TAHOE, SUBURBAN, JEEP or something like that. These imports really disapoint and I think they are useless, but that's my OPINION, and I COULD BE WRONG.

Before you start throwing stones my way and sending we hate mail, just remember, I drove the dang thing, not once, but twice, because I wanted to make sure of what I was seeing, hearing and feeling during this test drive. They really tried to PRESURE me into it, which is probably the norm on most lots.

LOVE YA ALL HEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHawwwwwwwww

[Steve R]

[quote]Originally posted by TonkaH2:
If I could flip a switch and lower the vehicle a couple of inches on the highway, I'd be able to add a couple more inches of lift for offroading.

That's a killer idea. I remember hearing of some hybrids that look like sports cars but are jacked a bit off the ground. I'd like to see a vehicle with 2 suspensions on it...one that is basically for typical use, and the second just raises everything well off the ground. The gang-bangers have them...so it can be done.

The guy I spoke to who works on design and innovation for the H2 told me there was some amazing mind-blowing things coming down-the-line...we can only hope. And before anyone asks me...the answer is "NO"...he couldn't talk about it with me.

[MAC]

HummerDogg, its you. Don't take it down, I like it. Nobody gave me no girl this Christmas.

[Steve R]

sory to tak so longg to responn, its VERYY VRY HRAD to tyyp with omly one hand. nEed morr tyme too study hot-asz new icon...... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

[SJ]

Hummerdogg:

I won't repeat what I wrote in my response to the Consumer Reports thread, but I've given up on most magazines.

Four Wheeler is usually one of the better magazines when it comes to rating vehicles based on their off-road worthiness, so I'm a bit suprised. On the other hand, the rating for SUV of the Year is weighted by criteria for the status quo and therein lies the H2's weakness. The H2 is not for the average SUV buyer, let alone the average consumer. The H2 won't appeal to people that have no desire to venture off the beaten path.

[Dan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TonkaH2:

I would like one feature from some of the luxo-station wagons they call SUV's these days: the ability to lower the truck at speed on the road. If I could flip a switch and lower the vehicle a couple of inches on the highway, I'd be able to add a couple more inches of lift for offroading.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

How about that "Bagged H2" thread that went by about a month ago. I think that'll do what you're looking for [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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SUT on order - 18 months to go!
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[Steve R]

Heehaw....do that thing where you test-drive it and thrash the hell out of it....then roll it back to the lot and tell the dealer that you'll have to think about it!

[TonkaH2]

You go away for a couple of days, and it starts to get all R-rated. Steve-o, you're the man. . . [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I would like one feature from some of the luxo-station wagons they call SUV's these days: the ability to lower the truck at speed on the road. If I could flip a switch and lower the vehicle a couple of inches on the highway, I'd be able to add a couple more inches of lift for offroading.

BTW, I know that it doesn't matter what awards it wins, and most magazines 'of the year' awards are bought and paid for by advertising, but I thought surely 4-Wheeler would have a hard-core test? There's now WAY you can convince me the LX470 outperforms the H2 in the rough. And how much does it cost?

It's called VALUE, BAY-BAY!

[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

-Jack
Yellow H2 adv. on order
"I think I can make it. D'OH!"
www.sunspotnatural.com

[TJ]

Unfortunately, our experience with GM, Hummer and our dealer has not been quite so positive.

We have had our H2 for approximately 3-1/2 months, three trips into the service department for the equivalent of one entire month of that time, and now trying to get it scheduled to go back in for a fourth time. Contact with GM/Hummer about our problems has been less than satisfactory and now it seems that our dealership's service manager does not even want to call us back. But, to be fair, I'm sure that they're getting pretty tired of having our H2 sitting around their shop so much. I really do love the H2 and think it's an awesome vehicle...but I'm not so sure that I love the one that we have all that much and, so far, I have not been very impressed with GM and Hummer's "customer assistance"

[JJ]

I never put much stock in Motor Trend's opinoin, but 4-wheeler - that's a bit of a surprise. They must be trying to enlarge their subscriber base by appealing to the luxury class. Nice to know that we have luxury and awesome off-road capability not to mention safety all rolled up into one great package.

Did a little bit of wheelin today in a sandy arroyo near the house and used the rear locker several times while climbing some rather steep sides of the arroyo - what a blast. A group of young adults came screaming by in a blazer and they gave me the all hands wave - cool.

JJ

[HeeHaw]

COOL ICON..............

HeeeeeeeeeHawwwwwwwwwwwww