Any Advice?

[Seth]

I will be ordering my new H2 in the next week or so [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] I have never wanted a vehicle this much in my life!! My wife thinks I am nuts, I have my screen saver set to flash pictures of various H2's and different parts of the vehicle. The wallpaper on my computer is the yellow H2 from the Hummer website, and of course I have the pewter 1/18" model from Maisto. Yes the jury is back and I am obsessed.

I am planning on getting the Pewter luxury model with a grill guard. My only concern is the tubular assists steps. I like them and I want them but, I do plan on doing some off roading. My question is can I still go off road and have them? I saw one of the members (I think it was one of my Bay Area compatriots) post that in severe off road conditions they will snap. However can you still do more "moderate" off roading with them?

After driving a Durango and a Mercedes for the last few years and a Pathfinder before that and not knowing what I wanted to drive after, maybe the Escalade, X5, G500 none of them "spoke" to me. I feel that I am buying the vehicle that I am destined to drive for a long time (at $55K it better be a long time)

Any advice from H2 owners that have gone through the process would be greatly appreciated. Once again a BIG SHOUT OUTto Mac for driving to my home to help me make sure it would fit in my garage.

[Zing]

Here's one with a good shot of the u-step.

I went from U steps to no steps. I'm 5'8", and I climb in and out without a problem, it doesn't faze me at all. But then, I'm a nutcase -- I used to climb flagpoles when I was a kid, and I'm always climbing on things, I do some moderate rock climbing once in a while.

I also get a kick out of the other guys at work complaining they have trouble getting in when I take them to lunch. It exaggerates the already enormous size of the vehicle, too, which is fun.

[KAC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I am planning on getting the Pewter luxury model with a grill guard. My only concern is the tubular assists steps. I like them and I want them but, I do plan on doing some off roading. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I faced the same issue when I ordered. I have 2 young children and don't want to be lifting them into the H2 forever. I checked with the dealer and they aren't difficult to remove for off-roading. The dealer claims there are 4 bolts on each side (although I saw somewhere that there are 8) and each U step has one bolt so it's really not that much more work to remove them. I can't speak from experience though as I don't have my H2 yet - a few more days supposedly!

Kim

KAC
Red Adv Series ordered 9/14/2002
Delivery expected by 11/30/2002

[Zing]

Gary, I'm only seeing half the picture, I think only part loaded.

[Zing]

I am facing the same dilemma on the tubular assist step. I'm leaning toward the U-steps since I personally like the feeling of having maximum clearance when offroading and I think that the H2 looks better without any assist steps. The U-step gives me this flexibility and on this option I'm choosing function over style. The u-step also doesn't detract from the appearance in my opinion.

[AL MOORE]

Seth, I am over 6', and without the steps or some type of assistance, it would get very OLD climbing in several times a day. Then again, I am 49. That could be it. Go for it and have fun...AL

"Follow the white rabit" .........Matrix 1999

[Zing]

Unfortunately Seth you are dealing with the very basic principle of supply and demand. Dealers have no problems moving these things at present. Despite Mac's persistent encouragement for me to place the order my H2 I have waited and have since seen the price go up $1,500. I haven't heard confirmation of further price increases, only rumors, but in my opinion the H2 can easily fetch $5K more and wouldn't be surprised if the price goes up further. So if you're ready to buy, and it sounds like you are, forget haggling over a few grand and maybe buy a few accessories on ebay to make up some of the difference. How'd I do, Mac?

[Zing]

I'm with you H2XOR. I don't need the steps. I'm 6' 1" and when I test drove I unconsciously stepped over the tubular step to get in and out and didn't use it. Only problem is that girls need it especially when their dressed up, so that's really why I'm probably going to get the u-steps. Look at Mac for example, he's a girl, so he made it a point to get the tubular steps. Sorry Mac, I just couldn't resist!

[kelleymac2000]

Hey all:

I removed my tubular steps to off-road and I'm glad I did. Saw a couple of guys get hung up on theirs, and it wasn't pretty. One bent them pretty good.

They're easy to remove, even for a woman. Total of eight bolts, takes about 15 minutes total. Make sure you have the right metric socket. <grin>

Kelley

[Texas Red]

8 bolts for each side. You may need two sets of hands as you remove the last two bolts (one on each end).

Jim
Red H2 in Texas

[Bill Kervaski]

I went from the tubular side rails to the u-steps. I like them better. It makes my H2 look more aggressive. They are easy to remove.

- Bill

[Big Z]

The tubes were designed to support the weight of, and protect the Hummer, and make it easier to get stuff on the roof. If you want a good read about this machine, check out rockcrawler.com ( 2003 Hummer H2 Technical Briefing). [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[Gary]

Here is the link to photos of my H2 with U Steps.

Gary
Finlayson, MN

<A HREF="http://www.financingyourhome.com/My%20H2%20Hummer.htm" TARGET=_blank>
Gary Lind's H2</A>

[m998]

If you can't open your door all the way (parking lots, gas stations, unfortunantly my driveway, etc.) the U steps are useless and you'll wind up with scraped calfs (no, not little cows). [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

[Seth]

Thanks for the input on the tubular steps all. Btw... This is the first time I have ever shopped a car (new or used) and not had the upper hand when it came to negotiating price. I have spent many days in car lots haggling over the price of a car and with the advent of the Internet it has become even easier to shop. I have in the past even helped friends and family negotiate the best price. I have mostly walked away paying dealer invoice or close to it (in one case I paid $1000 under dealer invoice). Has anyone had any luck negotiating price on the H2? I have talked to a few sales people and all I am hearing is I am lucky to pay MSRP and not an additional mark-up by the dealer. I have looked at some of the auctions on eBay and id does not look any better. If anyone knows of a way to same some money on this very expensive depreciating asset I would love to hear about it. Being a sales person it goes against my nature to pay retail for anything especially a car.

[MAC]

If I do it again.
A wise man keeps his wife happy. If you don't have side steps, your wife will nag you until you get them. Tube steps look nice, u steps look odd, its a look issue, you have to remove them for tough offroads anyway, if you ever do it.
Likewise brush guard and offroad lamps are for look only, I have them for 2 months, absolutely no practical use, I can live without them and keep the money, I am still not sure if Hummer look nice with or without them.
Leather seats are very important, because you are surrounded in them every minute. I have air suspension, no diffrence to me, I rather keep the money. Everything else I would do the basic, if I do it again.

[Klaus]

One thing that helped to make up my mind was that the steps have "holes" in them, as opposed to a flat surface. One thought of my wife possibly getting her high heals stuck in those steps was enough for me.

Klaus

[Gary]

Sorry for the glitch...

[SOFTTAILJC]

tube steps will protect the bottom of the doors