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2003 Hummer H2 - War or Not: The H2 is Ready for Battle!
It comes in extra large and no sizes smaller. It crawls up steps, through deep trenches, mud, water and any other obstacle you lay in its way. Its wheels stand taller than my five-year old niece; thirty-five inches to be exact. It's the "Incredible Hulk" on wheels: powerful, mobile and vicious at times. So what is it? I can go on and on. Whether you view it as an oversized Tonka toy or the "Double-Dutch Bus," the 2003 Hummer H2 is an SUV that is recognized by all walks of life.
As the little brother to the cousin of the military Humvee (Hummer H1), the H2 is less costly, easier to maneuver and far more comfortable inside. Three to four years ago, on the urban music tip, everyone was talking about their "Hummer for the Summer." Then again, that fad didn't last long. I'm sure after driving twenty miles in the oversized and obnoxiously loud militant--they were ready to park it and turn in the keys--since maneuvering the H1 is more of a job than a pleasure driving. It's heavy, noisy, difficult to operate in city streets and exhausts hot air from its engine into the passenger cabin. Plus, there is an arm's length divide between the passenger and driver. This is a vehicle built for utilitarian use and armed forces; not shopping and grocery bags.
The history behind the conversion of the military Humvee to the civilian Hummer H1 is linked to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who liked the vehicles so much that he stepped to AM General (who builds Hummers) and advised them to sell the Humvees to the buying public. AM General concurred and began producing a civilian version, dubbed the Hummer H1. In 1999, General Motors (GM) and AM General entered an agreement where GM acquired exclusive marketing rights to the Hummer brand worldwide. AM General continues to build the vehicles while GM pays manufacturing fees. For that reason, Hummers are now sold at various GM dealerships.
 
 
Now--in the Hummer H2--we have a vehicle with a fresh face-lift; is more civil and attracts eye-popping attention. Its high physical stance and strong, boxy physique gives the H2 a dominant presence. And with seven entertaining colors to choose from, the H2 becomes as fun on the road as its domination. My test model was as yellow and bright as a Yellow Jacket from Georgia Tech. My favorite view was pulling up next to a glass building and watching the wavy reflection of the H2 in slow motion!
The H2 is not military ready, but has 90% of the off-road capabilities of the H1. It now drives with ease while gear shifting is soft and transitional, since 40% of its parts are derived from the Chevy Tahoe and Yukons, including the cheap plastic interior trim and switches. You won't find as much storage space in the H2 as in conventional SUVs either, especially with the huge spare parked in the third-row. Get this: The H2 rolls on 17'' aluminum rims and 35" rubber, which are positioned at the very corners of the vehicle for optimal stability and ground clearance. This is by far the largest tire on a GM vehicle. They suck up everything on the road. Hummer does offer a dealer option to have the spare attached to the cargo door.
Inside, the layout is similar to that of other GM, Chevy and GMC sport utility vehicles. The H2 offers leather seats with armrests and heat warmers; OnStar communications; and a Bose stereo with a six in-dash CD changer. It also falls short on interior appointments where you would expect more from the long awaited "new Hummer." Most of the dashboard is made from tough plastics, the gear shifter is flimsy and the plastic air vents look like discounted, little oscillating fans. The windshield wipers and rear view mirror are just too small for the H2's window size.
At the gas station you will find another surprise -- the cost of driving! The H2's tank was more of a workout than my Bally's routine: $42 worth. Whereas the H1 carried two tanks fueled by diesel, the H2 has one tank that drinks gasoline and lots of it; allowing the brute to travel about 11 miles to the gallon in the city, and 13 on the highway. Its three-ton body and six-liter V8 are the culprits. But with 313-horsepower under its helm, the H2 really moves. That's more juice than the 2003 Lincoln Navigator offers. Though very powerful, the H2's engine is quiet and relaxed. Contrast this to the H1 with its diesel that vibrates and bounces around in every gear.
So how much is all this in comparison to the H1's $113,000 mortgage price? Its base is set at $48,800. Look out for price gouging, as dealers are steadily marking prices up. All things considered, no one wants to live life for empty ideologies--and only 17,000 H2s will be produced this year--so you better get'm while their hummin'!
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