<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by devilsfan:
I personally would like to see fewer corners cut. It's a $60,000 vehicle - it should LOOK like one. I want better paint - I have at least 20 rock chips at 22,000 miles, which is 19 more than I had on my previous GM truck (which also had 50,000 more miles on it!). I want the interior to be nicer - the seams on the carpet finished, no more rust on my accelerator/break/glovebox, no more cheap plastic breaking parts. It should be as refined as the interior of the Escalade. And I don't want faux wood trim and all that crap - just attention to details would be nice! GM also needs to address the rust issue on the undercarriage. Also, I like Phil's idea - there should be more options that come integrated into the H2 from the factory for off-roaders, like stronger tie rods, lifts, tires, lockers, etc. And these should be UNDER WARRANTY. If the truck is marketed for off-road use, then off-road use should be covered - without question!

Stacy </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I agree wholeheartedly with Stacy. They should do quality work and charge accordingly. Also, they should keep the price high so not everybody would by one (like those F-150's) Cause if I saw a Hummer in every corner, then I wouldn't buy one.

Efrain,

I was one of the first to own the H2...well, at least within the first weeks of new owners. It was awesome...people starred, marveled, admired, gathered, even followed me. The "honeymoon" only lasted about 9 months...then the general public turned on us.

Anyways...months before I took delivery I had actually anticipated spending years explaining to people that they were looking at the newest model of Hummer, an H2. I actually thought it would be as rare as the Humvee or H1. I wanted something different, unique....even an "exotic" of sorts. Well....NOT

I'll tell ya straight, I wish this thing had gear-driven hubs, CTIS and some other kickass features like night-vision and other offroad capable gimmicks....and had it cost $90k, I'd have tossed my money at it anyways. Frankly, I was counting on price being a barrier to ensure exclusivity.

Just the other day I was returning from a jaunt of mountain biking, when I pulled upto an intersection, there were 2 other H2's, and this was just a residential neighborhood. Course, mine was the only one with a trashed skid-plate, no side-steps and chunks missing from the tires...but still, it rather upset me.

GM is only interested in numbers, or so it would seem.

Quite frankly, why the hell does it matter what others are doing with their vehicle and why WOULDN'T GM be interested in numbers. They are a business and are trying to create a product to sell, not one to create exclusivity and produce in low numbers so that it can't have it's own dealer network, or own vehicle division.

My H2 is 3 years and 2 months old and I had placed the order for it in the spring of that year. I had no illusions of the vehicle and was buying it for what it was stating it offered not some image crap.

There are plenty who have and do buy it for the looks or whatever and pimp it out, that's fine, it's not my deal, but it's fine. GM selling more vehicles that way makes it better for me as a consumer as my vehicle ages.

Steve,
I definitely understand the exclusivity thing. But don't fault GM for making the H2's affordable so a much as for making the [new] H1's unaffordable.

It's only been in the past few years that I got to the point where I would be willing to throw some money at a hummer. But I've been into them (and humvees) for the past 20. I always figured I could get an H1 with a few options in the $70-80s and be pretty happy with it.

And then the H2 came out. I actually disliked the design at first pretty strongly, H1 biggot that I was. Then I found out that AMG started rolling options into the base vehicle and it's base price started rising prohibitively. More strikes against the H2.

Of course, with a little thought, it all seemed like very sound business practice to me...expand interest in the Hummer brand by making it a little more accessible to the average Joe, in retrospect, I agree, perhaps a little too accessible.

I personally was soured by the fact that I'd no longer be able to afford a new H1. In due time
however, I warmed to the H2 design and now own one. I'll still probably get a used H1 someday.

But for the moment, I'm grateful to be able have my H2. Even if it isn't the beast that an H1 is, it still has some exclusivity of the Hummer brand. Plus I know it really is much more capable if than another of GM's SUVs had simply been outfitted with a new body. That's enough for me right now.

That there are a lot of H2s out there that are prettied up and haven't seen anything but pavement, annoying, but oh well. I take pride in owning a functional H2 rather than a showcase that's like the family pet dressed up in kids clothes against it's will.


Regardless, why should GM be blamed considering numbers? I can certainly see being upset if all they considered were numbers. But it's not as if the H2 is just a Tah.... (remember the Caddy that zigs).

I get really turned off when people blame businesses for watching their bottom line and producing what sells. Duh, this is how they sustain themselves and continue to provide more product and services (provide jobs, pay corporate taxes, fuel the economy, ... oops a political digression here). Perhaps if they make more money on these things, product managers will be able to do some of the more advanced things you want to see in an H2 in the future.

Please, stick to the GM encouragement aspect. I'm not sure GM will appreciate your thoughts as much if you start diving into the evil-corporate sellout bit.

For all those that are worried about the exclusivity of the H2, it is probably time to move on to another vehicle. As the H2 starts to age, you will see more and more every year on the used market and more and more on the road. I love them for their looks and capabilities. Of coarse I also love the fact that it isn't the same SUV as everyone else has but that isn't an exclusivity thing but a being different thing.

Frankly speaking, I always view the H2 as just a truck, 'cause IT'S JUST A TRUCK!! -- albeit one with exceptional styling and capabilities.

The biggest advantage to me is actually socio-economical. I feel as special driving this $50K vehicle as I do driving a $100K Mercedes -- if not more so. Any other car I can buy for that price would feel.. inferior, if that makes sense. The off-road prowess, the safety issue (surviving crashes, etc), the security issue (mobility in natural disasters, etc), are all +ve extras.

So, no, the H2 is not exclusive, but it allows me to belong to the (much more expensive) exclusive circles. Imho, you don't hit "truly exclusive vehicles" category until at least $125K anyhoo.

Now, if only GM can make the H2 more quiet on the inside -- that would be AWESOME!!

I'm glad there are more H2's around. I was only lucky enough to buy one because the prices came down. Look at all of the aftermarket parts and accessories available because of the number and variety of owners. If you want a $90k vehicle buy an H1, or dump $40k into your H2, then it will be more unique. I'm proud of mine and could care less how many others there are. No manufacturer will ever be able to offer a "custom" car. If you want a custom you have to make it that way.

I heard GM was thinking of changing the interior by eliminating the raised air vents in the dash. IMO, that would be a Step in the Tahoe direction. The interior is different than anything else on the market and changing it to a smooth dash will make it look too much like everything else out there. Offer an option that doesn't have the carpet and leather seats. Some folks want an easy to wash interior.

This is an off road line of vehicles. Keep the theme. CTIS would be a good option to offer. Can you imaging the toys people could put on their rigs with an airtank to run them? That would be good for people that run on the Street and Off Road alike. The H2 especially has the aftermarket accessories attention. If it has problems, fix them. One good place to start is the navigation system. Right now if you use it to navigate, you don't have a CD player. Program it with topographical data, that can be used when navigating remote areas. These trucks aren't just used for playing off road or commuting. Thousands of folks use them for Hunting, camping, Fishing and riding Mtn bikes and motorcycles, and even for riding/finding cattle and getting to the damned remote areas they can find.

Make a decent place to put wires through the firewall for adding aftermarket components like lights and horns and the like.

If Hummer wants to build a new line of more affordable vehicles, then make a good platform to start from, and let people make their rig what they want it to be. Hummer started out as a military vehicle, and GM should not stray too far from that theme. As Steve R said earlier, the H1 was designed for military uses, but it wasn't made to go down the tight trail of a Jeep. It is my argument, that if they had made the HUMVEE first, Jeeps would be complaining that the trails are to wide. Keep on truckin, and the trails will widen out.

I don't want to be driving down the road three years from now, and say is that a Tahoe, Yukon, or Hummer? Keep it square.

Ok, I'm at a loss at the exclusivity thing also - it's a $50,000 truck, what did you expect? It's hardly unaffordable, you see how many Escalades are running around, those are a good $10,000 more!

Sure, the H2s LOOK different, which may deter some buyers, but they're different in a GOOD way. Those who don't understand the difference bought Pontiac Aztecs.

My big wish for GM is to not screw this up. I bought the H2 because it's hands-down the coolest looking truck I have ever seen. I always felt that trucks should be big, boxy and mean, not sleek and tailored like a sedan. Glorify what it is - a monster - and that's what Hummer did. If they start making this thing more aerodynamic and streamlined like everything else on the market, then I will find another vehicle - or just keep the one I have.

Stacy