03 Compared to 05

[89vette]

Since I have about 1200 miles on the 05, I thought I would post my thoughts on the differences.

Improvements:
Ebony Interior
More leather surfaces
Black trim finish nicer on pieces that were painted silver
Gauges are clearer
Express open and close sunroof (finally)
Middle seat shoulder strap (good for kids)
XM radio
Fit and finish on interior marginally better
Side step bar seems less prone to rusting like the black painted ones do
Not speed limited to 92 mph
We have clothes hooks!
Door sills have a nice protective plate on them

Disappointments
Still has the slip yoke thump when starting from a stop (this really bugs the crap out of me)
Many functions on the trip computer are gone such as the ability to record MPG on a trip.
Key in seat recall is gone (this may have left in 04)
05's use a cheap Bose amp. Hummers used to have the Cadillac systems now they have the Tahoe/Suburban systems. There is a noticeable difference between the two.
Wipers still suck in the snow
Frame still has rapid corrosion

I have not taken it wheeling yet. I did pull a Suburban that my brother drove over a hill in snow if that counts.

All in all I like the 05 better than the 03 but wish there were more improvements on the quality of the interior materials. WTF is so hard about it? Aside from some cheap looking bumpers, the fit and finish (alignment of panels, etc.) of the H2's is excellent IMO. The biggest drawback is the crappy interior pieces. My suggestion is newly designed door panels, as I feel this is where most of the problems lie, and a shifter make from real aluminum that has a positive and quality feel to it. Go drive a BMW, Benz or even a new Cadillac for that matter and you will see what I mean.

Maybe they will get it right when I get the 07.

[Dug]

89- huh? Never heard any thump from my 03 h2 . Is yours air suspension in rear or spring? Doug

[devilsfan]

Express open I can see. But isn't express close illegal for safety reasons?

Stacy

[LasVegas]

Does it seem strange to anyone else how Hummer puts features in and then takes them out??? Wonder what is the reasoning??? At the price of the H2 it deserves a quality sound system for example. And express windows....that should be a given.

[DennisAJC]

Ya bastard.

[LasVegas]

Nice write up & comparison 89vette. I don't need an '05 (only have 14K miles on the '03) but in some ways I think I'd be taking a step backwards. I've never had a problem with my '03 except the cd changer quit & I used that opportunity to upgrade to the TNR Nav & factory XM & really like it so those are nice options in the '05. But the cheaper sound system and other frills they've eliminated would bug me for $55k or so. Just my thoughts.

[lexpro]

Some upper end vehicles have express close on everything ... they (oem) just have to have a feature built in that when it senses a finger or something holding keeping it from closing it goes back down.....

[Hum2]

I've got it big time...the dealer won't even write it up on the warranty servic slip, cause they can't fix the problem.

"Still has the slip yoke thump when starting from a stop (this really bugs the crap out of me)"

Ditto!!!!!

Ric

[89vette]

Since I have about 1200 miles on the 05, I thought I would post my thoughts on the differences.

Improvements:
Ebony Interior
More leather surfaces
Black trim finish nicer on pieces that were painted silver
Gauges are clearer
Express open and close sunroof (finally)
Middle seat shoulder strap (good for kids)
XM radio
Fit and finish on interior marginally better
Side step bar seems less prone to rusting like the black painted ones do
Not speed limited to 92 mph
We have clothes hooks!
Door sills have a nice protective plate on them

Disappointments
Still has the slip yoke thump when starting from a stop (this really bugs the crap out of me)
Many functions on the trip computer are gone such as the ability to record MPG on a trip.
Key in seat recall is gone (this may have left in 04)
05's use a cheap Bose amp. Hummers used to have the Cadillac systems now they have the Tahoe/Suburban systems. There is a noticeable difference between the two.
Wipers still suck in the snow
Frame still has rapid corrosion

I have not taken it wheeling yet. I did pull a Suburban that my brother drove over a hill in snow if that counts.

All in all I like the 05 better than the 03 but wish there were more improvements on the quality of the interior materials. WTF is so hard about it? Aside from some cheap looking bumpers, the fit and finish (alignment of panels, etc.) of the H2's is excellent IMO. The biggest drawback is the crappy interior pieces. My suggestion is newly designed door panels, as I feel this is where most of the problems lie, and a shifter make from real aluminum that has a positive and quality feel to it. Go drive a BMW, Benz or even a new Cadillac for that matter and you will see what I mean.

Maybe they will get it right when I get the 07.

[DennisAJC]

Express open sunroof? Nice.

The antenna mount still sucks.

But enough reason to trade up. Good write up 89.

[DennisAJC]

OH ****! I'm so torn between the two.....Oh my gawd! I'm a color whore!!!!

I think I'll stick with Pewter.

[89vette]

I do not have the air suspension. I have talked to several other owners that complian of the thump. The service manager at my dealer also know about the problem.

[89vette]

Thank you for that information on the wiper blades.

[89vette]

Good point. I never thought of that.

[RI Hummer]

Not all 05's have the express sunroof feature. It's not in the manual and the dealer informed me only a few had them. It seems later '05 models (mine is October) had the feature removed. I do not know why.

RI

[lexpro]

One of my sales people at Lexus was demonstrating that feature to a customer and he kept holding the button and in that case it still trys to close and hurts bad,, but it was good for a laugh...

[89vette]

You're right! I just tried it and while closing I put my hand in front. When it sensed resistance, it opened back up.

[Albie]

hey whats a slip yoke problem? Does anyone know why they have not fixed the rust problem?

[Albie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 89vette:
Since I have about 1200 miles on the 05, I thought I would post my thoughts on the differences.

Improvements:
Ebony Interior
More leather surfaces
Black trim finish nicer on pieces that were painted silver
Gauges are clearer
Express open and close sunroof (finally)
Middle seat shoulder strap (good for kids)
XM radio
Fit and finish on interior marginally better
Side step bar seems less prone to rusting like the black painted ones do
Not speed limited to 92 mph
We have clothes hooks!
Door sills have a nice protective plate on them

Disappointments
Still has the slip yoke thump when starting from a stop (this really bugs the crap out of me)
Many functions on the trip computer are gone such as the ability to record MPG on a trip.
Key in seat recall is gone (this may have left in 04)
05's use a cheap Bose amp. Hummers used to have the Cadillac systems now they have the Tahoe/Suburban systems. There is a noticeable difference between the two.
Wipers still suck in the snow
Frame still has rapid corrosion



Maybe they will get it right when I get the 07. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am going to aggree with 69 I mean 89. The 05 was a rust bucket under the frame. the Bose blows and the trip counter sucks ass. But on the other hand smoother shifting and corners like its on rails. the MPG around gthe same.

[timgco]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DennisAJC:
Express open sunroof? Nice.

The antenna mount still sucks.

But enough reason to trade up. Good write up 89. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

mmmmmmmmm. desert sand.