4x4 of the year, what a joke.

[Huck BB62]

Y'know, I used to enjoy the the offroad mags so much, but since I bought an H3, I dunno. It's not like I need their affirmation, it's just that I find the dumbassed articles shoved in my mail box at work by gomers that believe that these fartknockers know what they're talking about.

The latest 4x4 of the year writeup. It's so frickin' lame. They just HAMMER the H3. They play down it's offroad capabilities, yet beat it to death for the engine. Well, they call it a tractor engine. Hey, I own a tractor, that's a good thing! They rate the Fuggin' Junk higher. Ok, in a drag race, what would it win by in a quarter mile, a car length or so? Yeah, I want more engine too but I can tell you this, I've never ever bogged the H3's engine offroad, ever.

The article doesn't mention the 33" tires, the 4.56 axles, fording depth, outstanding stability sidehilling (that NONE of the others would have once their lifted to match the tire size capability of the H3) the 4:1 tcase and the turn on a dime turning radius (all of these attributes are extremely important to any of us that actually use the H3 offroad) in anything but a mute point. And they sure as hell don't talk about the long bed pickuptruck like turning radius of the others or some of them lacking the 4:1 tcase, or stock gearing to handle the large offroad tires.

Or how about this: If you're going to give such weight to it's quarter mile capability, and act like a friggin' Car and Driver putz, then by all MEANS, let's talk about how they ride and handle on the road, shall we!? Let's run 'em through a slalom course. Let's see what track times they put out. Let's do a long road trip article in them to see how they feel after five hunred miles. Let's see how they are in the crash tests. Let's check their mileage figures. Let's see how they tow. No, they cherry pick. I'd be embarrassed if I couldn't turn out a better comparison article than that. I'm not very impressed with their content, and less impressed with their writing style.

Ah well. I guess it's time to save money on magazine subscriptions anyway.

[DRTYFN]

Some day you'll all finally grasp the concept of Japanese payola. It's disgusting how obvious it is.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

I agree with all of this. They are very critical of the H3, but offer no real "proof" to dispute it's abilities other than their "professional" opinions. I think one of the mags did one test that was supposed to be an off-road indicator: articulation. The H3 was the winner by a large margin (this is before the JK). It also had the best crawl ratio.

As DRTY says, it's all about the Benjamins. Well, maybe he didn't say it quite like that.

[DRTYFN]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

As DRTY says, it's all about the Benjamins. Well, maybe he didn't say it quite like that.

If I'd said it Ebonically I would have said it that way.

[kma]

Originally Posted by DRTYFN

Some day you'll all finally grasp the concept of Japanese payola. It's disgusting how obvious it is.

you know, I don't think I've read a more true statement this year.

[Mike E]

I agree. I refuse to subscribe to those mags just for the fact that they are paid off to write in favor of certain vehicles. I've seen all the competition on an off road course and let me tell you, they cannot come close to the abilities of the H3.

[BEST 4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by DRTYFN

Some day you'll all finally grasp the concept of Japanese payola. It's disgusting how obvious it is.

?? Wasn't it an American product (the new JEEP) that was declared the winner?

[K9sH3]

Originally Posted by Mike E

I agree. I refuse to subscribe to those mags just for the fact that they are paid off to write in favor of certain vehicles. I've seen all the competition on an off road course and let me tell you, they cannot come close to the abilities of the H3.

This is exactly what I was about to write.
I would rather read what I need to know on this forum.

Originally Posted by Mike E

I agree. I refuse to subscribe to those mags just for the fact that they are paid off to write in favor of certain vehicles. I've seen all the competition on an off road course and let me tell you, they cannot come close to the abilities of the H3.

This is advertising at its best! Whomever the publisher/ owner is, is getting a lot of ad money as well as bartered equipment for good reviews on certain products whether or not it's true.
I worked for a mag once and they used to handpick the companies who offered the most money or free equipment for ad space. They would also take it a step further and occasionly do a story on one brand's new product over another.
It's capitalism, 1,2,3.

[felsmann]

You are absolutly right... It almost seems like Hummers should get their own magazine... Jeeps did it.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Originally Posted by DRTYFN

If I'd said it Ebonically I would have said it that way.

It's all about the Pentiums would have been the nerdy way to say it.

[wpage]

If GM were smart. Or devious they would get control of this problem. They have a good 4x4 product. They spend a lot marketing it. However they need a undercover crew to infiltrate this media issue. Bush has a similar dilema

[BlueHUMMERH2]

I picked up this mag at Autozone last night. It's Petersen's, which has a website that is suspiciously similar to 4-wheeler magazine, which usually likes Hummers.

Anyway, I didn't get to read the article, but flipped to the results page. Unless a smaller vertical bar meant better, the H3 was last or second last in their comparison! The KIA SORENTO looked like it was 2nd or 3rd!!! So, I pretty much threw the magazine down and walked away.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Ok, here's the breakdown (from a magazine with rock buggies and 42" tires on the cover):
1. JK
2. KIA SORENTO
3. FJ
4. GMC Sierra
5. Chevrolet Avalanche
6. Chevrolet Silverado
7. HUMMER H3
8. Chevrolet Tahoe

So apparently, if I want a 4 wheeler, the Kia Sorento should be pretty far up on my list.... WTF!?

[RazM]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

Ok, here's the breakdown (from a magazine with rock buggies and 42" tires on the cover):
1. JK
2. KIA SORENTO
3. FJ
4. GMC Sierra
5. Chevrolet Avalanche
6. Chevrolet Silverado
7. HUMMER H3
8. Chevrolet Tahoe

So apparently, if I want a 4 wheeler, the Kia Sorento should be pretty far up on my list.... WTF!?

Yup saw that, and almost threw up. Petersen's is a joke.

[Hummer3]

These magazines are full of crap. I think its a compliment to say the H3 has a tractor engine. Tractor engines are built for endurance and torque. Enough said. I also have a Tahoe and a Avalanche and they are completely different creatures than my H3. But, the people that wrote this article don't know what a 4 wheeler really is or what gives it its personallity.

[Viet Nam Vette]

What you also have to take into account is the fact that...it's one or two peoples opinion who wrote the article. But given that it's in a magazine that thousands read...suddenly your average wheel-en guy thinks that it's all true and the gospel because it's in a magazine.

The first thing I do after I read a test report or a tech write up is go back and look at the writer....Who is he...?? How Long has he been doing this job?? What are his qualifications....is he and engineer..?? Where did he learn his craft ..??

In other words....Look at who wrote the piece. Don't blindly except what the writer says unless he is well known and respected in the area your reading about.

I use to subscribe to 3 different Corvette Mags... I got tired of reading Bull**** article' by people who just opened a corvette shop and are now experts. I don't read them any more.

Always trust the Engineer...who designed the component in your ride. It's there for a reason. It can be modified or improved upon by some one else if they know WTF there doing and have the sheep skin to back it up. It would be nice to see a real road test by Engineers instead of Crack Heads.

As mentioned above ...It's all about the freaken money.

[fourfourto]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

Ok, here's the breakdown (from a magazine with rock buggies and 42" tires on the cover):
1. JK
2. KIA SORENTO
3. FJ
4. GMC Sierra
5. Chevrolet Avalanche
6. Chevrolet Silverado
7. HUMMER H3
8. Chevrolet Tahoe

So apparently, if I want a 4 wheeler, the Kia Sorento should be pretty far up on my list.... WTF!?

Very capable of climbing steps

[Viet Nam Vette]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

Very capable of climbing steps

Yeah..Freaken Side Ways.....

Let me see it do a 16" wall Head On Like The H3...

[DRTYFN]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

Very capable of climbing steps

The the gheyest thing I've seen in awhile.