GM on Hummer’s Image, ‘No one criticizes a bulldozer for its gas mileage.’

Garfield134 February 21st, 2008 10:44 AM Link

Yeah right…Bill Clinton must be the Hummer PR guy. How many Hummer owners take their Hummer off road? Many probably have no idea how to put them in 4WD let alone what to do when it is in 4WD mode. Most people have nO need for 4WD other than to think they can go FASTER when the going gets slippery.

“We really want to get Hummer out of the spotlight as being irresponsible and get it into an image of being purpose-built,” LaNeve says. “It’s never going to be a 60-mpg vehicle, but it’s got a role.”

A role for what? Self-proclaimed vigilante’s? This vehicle is for self image ONLY and flipping the finger at environmentalists. I saw a bumper sticker the other “Any Hummer is dummer”

Gee, are Hummers E-85 compatible?

Clint February 21st, 2008 10:52 AM Link

Bulldozers don’t spend 95% of their time driving to Starbucks, taking the kids to soccer practice, or trolling the Walmart parking lot for the closest space to the entrance. Bulldozers are usually doing something productive.

Phil Floraday February 21st, 2008 10:53 AM Link

I’ll stand up for the off-road capability of these machines. I do lots of off-roading in my spare time and I can vouch for how how well the Hummers (H3 in particular) do on the trail.

There are a number of people who do buy Hummers to go trail riding and the vehicles are among the best available for this purpose. The only other vehicle that is as serious off-road is a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. After that, there is no real competition.

I’m not saying that every Hummer is used off-road, or even that most people have a reason to buy one. But nobody criticizes Ferrari for making cars that guzzle fuel and barely see track time. That’s the fault of the owners for not utilizing their vehicle’s full potential.

chartguy February 21st, 2008 10:55 AM Link

The H1 was the only Hummer that actually was very capable off road. It was limited by its size though. If there was a narrow passage, it wasn’t going through. They stopped making it.

The H2 is barely able to do more than a Suburban. It has slightly better ground clearance, and much less space inside.

Worst of all is Hummer’s abysmal reliability. A neighbor got suckered into one with the huge tax break that went with them (for self-employed individuals). The thing lived at the dealer. I believe they put three different exhaust systems on it in the first 30,000 miles. Now, it mostly sits in their garage, getting driven every few weeks.

Texas_Dude February 21st, 2008 10:58 AM Link

I thought H2s were built for looks… which is totally fine! I love the looks of H2s and H3s, I’d never buy one for anything other than just having a cool looking SUV. Really off-roading enthusiasts don’t buy H2s.

chartguy February 21st, 2008 11:02 AM Link

Phil,

My 1994 Bronco is much more capable off-road than an H2. Several were entered in an ice race up here last year (bare rubber, no studs allowed, run on a frozen lake). Out of 61 entries not one of the Hummers even made it into the elite eight. A Hummer is more capable than most so-called SUVs, but that’s simply because they now call 4WD station wagons SUVs, and have almost stopped making real “Utility” vehicles.

As for the H3, it’s too long. That length restricts it from getting around tight corners.

Phil Floraday February 21st, 2008 11:09 AM Link

Chartguy,

My 1985 Toyota is more capable off-road than an H2 or H3, but it’s not fair to compare them. The Hummers meet current emissions and safety standards. Your Bronco and My Toyota don’t. Oh, the Hummer also has a warranty. To some people, that makes a difference.

I have run a stock H3 off-road with modified Wranglers, and it kept up just fine. All the Jeep owners were impressed by the capability.

Also, an ice race isn’t what the Hummers were designed for. I’m sure a WRX STI would have wiped the floor with any SUVs entered. Off-roading isn’t about speed, it’s about control and capability.

chris February 21st, 2008 11:44 AM Link

According to magazine tests the H3s are very capable rigs. These are very expensive rides, and I dont think that the owners themselves that can afford them worry to much about fuel economy. I wish people would stop crying about what other people drive or complain that these vehicles are bad for the enviroment, there are alot worse vehicles out there then Hummers, how about all the 15 plus year old vehicles on the road that put out alot more pollutants then Hummers. There will always be people who want big trucks and big cars regardless of fuel economy, and untill the government tells us we cant have them anymore, they will always be around.

Steve’s Auto Blog » Marketing shift for HUMMER February 21st, 2008 11:51 AM Link

[…] Full story here and here. […]

The Stig February 21st, 2008 11:52 AM Link

GM has already made me rethink the Hummer line. What was once a niche line with a purpose has been dumbed down with the standard GM parts bin.

CARSON44 February 21st, 2008 12:03 PM Link

LaNeve is the PR guy, he’s really got his work cut out for him trying to defend this poser-mobil.This thinking is one of GM’s big problems, the niche market. They should stop wasting precious design and R&D dollars on this jewelry and give us irresistable cars. They “are” capable of this.

Jesda February 21st, 2008 4:17 PM Link

I like how they anger the ignorant.

Mena February 21st, 2008 4:34 PM Link

Jesda, I find it amazing how many control freaks exist.

Wrong Turn award: GM suggests Hummers are just tools to get a job done » Hybrid News February 21st, 2008 5:52 PM Link

[…] [Source: USA Today via Winding Road] […]

Jeff February 21st, 2008 5:57 PM Link

Motorcycles are designed to carry one or two people, and most of the time they are used to do just that. UPS and Fedex trucks are designed to carry cargo and most of the time they are used to do just that. Airliners are designed to carry passengers and cargo and most of the time they are used to do just that. Cruise ships are designed to carry passengers to various ports of call and most of the time they are used to do just that.

SUVs are designed to go off road, tow trailers, and carry five to eight people. Most of the time they are used as a commuter vehicle with a single occupant, while getting half or less the fuel economy of a proper passenger car.

Does anyone else see the disconnect here?

If SUVs were used most of the time to do what they were designed to do, I doubt most people would have a problem with them.

Winding Road » Archive » Question of the Day: Are Hummers Tools or Toys? February 21st, 2008 6:16 PM Link

[…] greeted the morning today with an hour-long debate whether the Hummer was a tool or a toy. See, General Motors is trying to refocus its marketing strategy to sway the mindset that the Hummer is merely a gas-guzzling SUV purchased as a vanity […]

Mena February 21st, 2008 6:55 PM Link

Jeff, sedans are designed to carry 4-5 people and…oops, I see single drivers in those too. Need an example of how this can be applied to ALL vehicles? Check your local freeway with a carpool lane. How many people are in the carpool lane as apposed to the regular lanes? How many different types of cars do you see outside of the carpool lane? With F150’s, Silverado’s, Camry’s, Accord’s, and Civic’s making up the bulk of the vehicles driven, I seriously doubt it’s all single drivers in SUV’s.

Jeff February 21st, 2008 7:38 PM Link

Mena,

Did you miss the part about SUVs getting half or less the fuel economy of proper passenger cars?

And no, I’m not looking an example that can be applied to ALL vehicles. The disparate examples I gave in my previous post should be enough to tell you that. You’ve merely chosen to take my examples to an extreme. This does nothing to negate my examples, but it does show that you are an extremist.

I’m hardly suggesting that everyone ride motorcycles or drive around in single-seat vehicles. To think that I am is disingenuous and nothing more than an attempt to justify wastefulness.

And, by the way, apostrophes are not used to indicate plurality, they are used to indicate a possessive.

Your Best BMW » Post Topic » HUMMER attacks perception problems with "Purpose Built" campaign February 22nd, 2008 3:52 AM Link

[…] [Source: USAToday via Winding Road] […]

Oollyoumn February 22nd, 2008 8:38 AM Link

Mark LaNeve needs to pull his head out of some place unnatural. There would be a lot of criticism of bulldozers if they where driven as commuter vehicles. GM can try to lipstick this pig all it wants, it is still just a gas guzzler.

CARSON44 February 22nd, 2008 1:34 PM Link

Oollyoumn, you sir are to the point, well said. If these Hummers got 24mpg, these posts wouldn’t exist.

Winding Road » Archive » J.D. Power Says Coupe Sales Flagging in the U.S. February 28th, 2008 2:30 PM Link

[…] a study that seems to show waning interest in the U.S. for what it calls midsize “sporty” cars. According to Power, January saw only five models in this segment, which is perennially dominated by Ford’s Mustang; […]