New Status Symbol

[HummerMann]

From the Morning Sentinel.

"(Monday June 16) The Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Land Rover have been displaced by the Hummer H2 in Westchester County as the vehicle of choice of the rich and famous. Driving the behemoth Hummer H2 makes a statement, that I don't care how much gas costs, I can afford eight mpg, as they look down upon you from six feet above.
Just take a look in the players' parking lot of many NBA stadiums and the Escalade has been displaced by the Hummer H2. These vehicles have the headroom and a level of luxury and comfort that many find surprising. The ride is nothing at all trucklike, and more comparable to a Cadillac Fleetwood. What's more, there is more bling available for these SUVs than you can imagine.
Did you hear about poor Rodger at the club, he got clobberred in the commodities market and had to sell his Hummer? He couldn't afford the eight mpg anymore. These tales are becoming more and more common place. Selling your Hummer now is a sign of downward financial mobility. For many years offroaders have known of this vehicles abilities, but now a new genre has learned about the H2.
While sales for its little brother, the H3 were down over 30% for the last two weeks, sales of the H2 are actually up slightly. Holman Custom Coach Works offers a security package for the H2 which includes bullet resistant glass, body armor and other features that make this land tank the ultimate in safety for the CEO who wants to drive his own vehicle. They currently have a three month waiting list for their security package.
Perhaps General Motors made its announcement on the Hummer brand because it was worried about the inroads it's making on Cadillac Escalade sales. GM is tight lipped about the current profile of an H2 buyer, but statistics show they average in the top 1% of US income earners and 92% of all buyers have a college or graduate degree, the highest level of any brand, foreign or domestic."