Hummer H2 is best selling Luxury SUV!!?

This took me by surprise when I read it. I've seen an amazing number of H2s around here lately, so I looked up how they were doing. Seems extremely well!

In the month of September:
Hummer H2 sold 2,974 total.
Lincoln Navigator sold 2,863.
Escalade: 2,755

Guess some of our predictions about this $50,000 SUV were way off!

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021001/detu016_1.html
http://www.auto.com/industry/iwire4_20021004.htm
http://www.business-journal.com/LateOct02/GMSeptsales.html

I'm not a huge SUV fan, though I do not despise them....

But, I gotta tell you, I like H2s a lot... I bet they'd be a blast to play around with!

:)

Considering that Hummer has a limited number of dealers, these sales results are amazing. I hope that the decent sales motivate GM to proceed with the H4 as a Jeep Wrangler competitor. I've had just about enough of "soft-roaders" as opposed to real off-roaders.

I also see a lot of them on the road. They look pretty cool.

:cool:

Yeah, these things are everywhere all of the sudden.

I see a couple every day on the way to work

What amazes me out of those stats is that the Navigator outsold the Escalade. If memory serves, the Slade has sold about 40,000 units YTD and the Gator 25,000. I wonder if maybe Escalade inventories are running low?

There is a lawyer that lives not far from me that has one.

I heard this news on Paul Harvey today. He said that most of them were sold with $5,000 worth of extra dealership added goodies. My question is, what do you add to a Hummer?

:D

Originally posted by R377
What amazes me out of those stats is that the Navigator outsold the Escalade. If memory serves, the Slade has sold about 40,000 units YTD and the Gator 25,000. I wonder if maybe Escalade inventories are running low?

Or maybe H2 is getting a little of Escalade's potential customers.

Originally posted by guionM
potential customers.

Like rap stars and NBA players?
I have seen a lot more H2's on MTV Cribs, fewer escalades this season too :D

The H2 is sweet, not bad for having like 150 dealers. I can't beleave the Navigator out sells the Escalade now. How many EXT's did they sell

Originally posted by Meccadeth
Like rap stars and NBA players?
I have seen a lot more H2's on MTV Cribs, fewer escalades this season too :D

Here in SoCal, most of the Escalades I see are driven by older folks, not quite retired, and at least half of them women. The oddest was a lady who looked like she was in her late 40s early 50s get out of a silver one with 20 inch wheels & tinted windows. She was about as far away from the MTV crowd as you could get & still be on the same planet. When I'm up in the Hollywood Santa Monica, or Ventura area, it's a different story though. Ditto in San Francisco, so I guess it's one of those things that have mass appeal (I even gotta admit they look pretty edgy in black & chrome).

But, I don't think I've seen anyone older than me, or female, in a Hummer yet. :think:

I guess some of those goodies someone mentioned earlier would be the grill in front, etc. chrome wheels, and the brush guard, i know that a lot of the ones we see seem to have extra stuff though when you look at them on the road it's hard to point out what they are.. those are a few i have noticed...

I've seen four H2's in one day just running errands (yesterday, in fact!). Two yellows, one black, and one grey. I know the two yellows were different because one was decked out in little stick-on and window-mounted "Houston Texans" flags. I've also noticed that there's a Pontiac dealership out I-45, if I recall correctly, that has a small fleet of H2's parked out front, stickers and all. Surely others are doing the same.

I saw a Sunset Orange Metallic H2 one on the way to the office today....

Its not big enough for my taste. I think it could stand to be a few feet higher, longer, and fatter.

chuck,

buy an expedition, oh wait, they aint around anymore. hehe

Originally posted by Aeromaks
chuck,

buy an expedition, oh wait, they aint around anymore. hehe

The Expedition is all new for 2003.
The Excursion is still produced, though it has been marked for death.

Originally posted by Chuck!
Its not big enough for my taste. I think it could stand to be a few feet higher, longer, and fatter.

and with less gass mileage. :D

Originally posted by jcamere94z28
and with less gass mileage. :D

What's the deal with that! I drove one of those and it felt like the economy car it is. H2 is showing its true colors. Gets double-digit miles to the gallon.

Sissified if you ask me.

C'mon, there's still hope. The Ford Excavation is on the right track.

http://216.103.53.239/carnut/oddball/SUVmonster.jpg

Optional oil tanker (not shown) mounted on the back is ideal for cross-country trips.

I was on the road alot yesterday (Thanksgiving) and I saw three of those things. The Chevy dealership in Morristown has about four of them on their lot. Can any GM dealer order those things?

Originally posted by kizz
C'mon, there's still hope. The Ford Excavation is on the right track.

http://216.103.53.239/carnut/oddball/SUVmonster.jpg

Optional oil tanker (not shown) mounted on the back is ideal for cross-country trips.

Whats the retail on one of those? LoL I want one.

I wonder what the 0 - 60 on that beast is...

The Hummer plant is like 10 minutes from my house . On the way to work I see truckloads of these things going out daily , definately more than I thought they would sell , damn .

Originally posted by 90 Z28SS
The Hummer plant is like 10 minutes from my house . On the way to work I see truckloads of these things going out daily , definately more than I thought they would sell , damn .

Yea same here. Its a beautiful sight.
BTW, since you live in South Bend and go by the Hummer Plant to get to work, then do you work in Osceola or Elkhart?

Originally posted by Meccadeth
Yea same here. Its a beautiful sight.
BTW, since you live in South Bend and go by the Hummer Plant to get to work, then do you work in Osceola or Elkhart?

I work in Elkhart . Out on CR. 6/ CR. 17 close to the toll road exit out there .

What i meant was get the excursion. =) sorry. =)

09:36 March 31, 2003)
Unintended Effect: War sparks sales of Hummer vehicles, merchandise


By RICHARD TRUETT | Automotive News


The HUMVEE, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, has been a highly visible vehicle in the Iraq conflict.
General Motors didn't plan it this way, but the Hummer brand is getting a big boost from the war in Iraq.

Some dealers are reporting brisk vehicle sales while others say Hummer-brand shirts, mugs, jackets and models are flying out the door.

As in the 1991 Gulf War, the military version of the Hummer -- the HUMVEE -- is featured prominently in news reports from the battlefield.

At Hummer of Orlando in Orlando, Fla., showroom traffic and sales have risen dramatically in the past two weeks, says sales manager Rob Huth.

"People are buying more shirts, hats and models, and that is sparking interest in the Hummer," he says.

But not all Hummers are created equal. The H2 model -- sometimes called the 'Baby Hummer' -- has gotten a big boost in sales. In March, dealers are expected to sell as many as 3,300 H2s.

At that rate, the H2 plant in South Bend, Ind., will be operating at full capacity to keep up with demand. The plant can produce up to 40,000 vehicles a year.

By contrast, the full-sized Hummer -- dubbed the H1 -- hasn't gotten much of a sales boost from the war. Theat may be due to price: The least expensive H1 costs more than $100,000.

Hummer spokeswoman Heather Hall said AM General will produce 400 H1s this year. That will create a sizable inventory; Hummer dealers already have 350 to 400 H1s in stock.

One yardstick for the H2's popularity is Traderonline.com. The online auction service last week offered used H2s that were being offered for more than their original sticker price of $49,270.

The H2's popularity is putting some dealers in an uncomfortable position: They want to sell everything on their lot, but they don't want to appear to be profiting from the war.

"Obviously, any time you can get exposure like that, it can't hurt you," says Stan Parsons, sales manager at Al Serra Hummer in Colorado Springs, Colo.

There has been a "tremendous interest" in Hummer trinkets, and vehicle sales have been brisk, he says.

Before the war, Hummer H2 sales were hot, Parsons says. Despite a general market downturn, it remains a strong seller, he adds.

The dealership has a 15-day supply of the H2, significantly short of its 60-day supply of other nameplates.

At Cerritos Hummer in Cerritos Calif., H2 sales are booming, says Product Manager Tom Bowlin. In the week after the first missile attack on Iraq on March 19, the dealership sold 32 H2 trucks. Normally the dealership sells 70 a month.

Early tax refunds boost sales every March, Bowlin says. But the war appears to be the primary reason for the uptick.

Says Bowlin: "Nothing screams American like driving a Hummer."

Originally posted by guionM
Says Bowlin: "Nothing screams American like driving a Hummer."

YUP.
3gals/mile, $800 tires, and the perception that "I can drive OVER you if I choose to".

That's got American written ALL OVER IT. :(

H2:bow:

GM has got to be laughing all the way to the bank. The profit margins on those H2's is very high, and with the Escalade doing well they are worth the sale of 10 S10's or Cavaliers, for bottom line.

Originally posted by 99SilverSS
GM has got to be laughing all the way to the bank. The profit margins on those H2's is very high, and with the Escalade doing well they are worth the sale of 10 S10's or Cavaliers, for bottom line.

Yeah,They better be making alot of money on it.It is a rebodied Tahoe for cryin out loud.:rolleyes:

I Wonder what it costs them to actually make each $52,000 Hummer. $20,000 or so???

Originally posted by guionM
I Wonder what it costs them to actually make each $52,000 Hummer. $20,000 or so???

I'd say that's a pretty low blow. A hopped up Tahoe like the Escalade might have an enormous profit margin, but the H2 is a different beast. Considering the relatively small (planned) production volumes, they didn't have a huge number of units to amortise the design and one-time production costs over.

Overall, I'd say that the H2 required a fairly substantial investment. On a visual level, I have a hard time spotting any shared components or structures. Even the interior design is fairly original, and more appealing, than a conventional GM offering. The wild styling draws your attention, but a look in the window doesn't disappoint.

Now I'm sure that GM is turning more than "one thin dime" on each H2 sold, but compared to a Navigator or Escalade, the profit can't be staggering. I like the H2, and I'm glad that its a success.

Sadly, I don't have any call to buy one. If I cared to work hard enough to afford one (yikes, too many ulcers!) I'd say that an H2 would be worth every penny of the MSRP.

Originally posted by guess who
Yeah,They better be making alot of money on it.It is a rebodied Tahoe for cryin out loud.:rolleyes:

It may share a some components, but the only more capable off-road vehicle if the H1.

Not that these things will probably get used for that... but still, it is quite capable.

Originally posted by Darth Xed
It may share a some components, but the only more capable off-road vehicle if the H1.

Not that these things will probably get used for that... but still, it is quite capable.

Im not knocking how capable it is,But Id like to see a On/Off road test of the thing with Tahoe wheels and tires on it.;)
Styling?Sure it looks different,Yeah it followed the H1 theme.But with more "sexy" looking vehicles on the market.Heck I find it odd to buy one of those things just because it "looks" different.
<insert Red-Neck voice> "Yeah,I just paid 53,000 for this here truck,So what if it looks like the box that Shaq's shoes comin":eek:

Originally posted by guess who
Im not knocking how capable it is,But Id like to see a On/Off road test of the thing with Tahoe wheels and tires on it.;)


The "wheels and tires" aren't all the difference. ;)

Originally posted by Darth Xed
The "wheels and tires" aren't all the difference. ;)


Im aware of that,BUT,I still wanna see that test with the Tahoe rubber.;)

Originally posted by guess who
Im aware of that,BUT,I still wanna see that test with the Tahoe rubber.;)


Well, to perform like that off road, you need the proper equipment...

You could put Tahoe-type wheels and tires on a military issue Hum-Vee (sp?) and it wouldn't perform to it's capabilities either...

I guess what I'm trying ot get at is that saying that is similar to saying "I'd like to see what that Top-Fuel dragster would run with a set of Cavalier tires... " but to a lesser extent. ;)

:D

Originally posted by Darth Xed
Well, to perform like that off road, you need the proper equipment...

You could put Tahoe-type wheels and tires on a military issue Hum-Vee (sp?) and it wouldn't perform to it's capabilities either...

I guess what I'm trying ot get at is that saying that is similar to saying "I'd like to see what that Top-Fuel dragster would run with a set of Cavalier tires... " but to a lesser extent. ;)

:D

I understand your point,But your just missing mine I think,They bring all this hype about this thing,Which like most already know 90% of the H2's wont see real offroading.But I would like to see how the H2 would do against a Tahoe with a equal tire set up.Now Im not talking a GM truck commercial where they put the smallest tire on a Ford truck and then run the GM with the biggest tire GM offers.Even steven "both" GM products.Same tires.
Now that would be some really good reading wouldnt you say?;)

Originally posted by guess who
I understand your point,But your just missing mine I think,They bring all this hype about this thing,Which like most already know 90% of the H2's wont see real offroading.But I would like to see how the H2 would do against a Tahoe with a equal tire set up.Now Im not talking a GM truck commercial where they put the smallest tire on a Ford truck and then run the GM with the biggest tire GM offers.Even steven "both" GM products.Same tires.
Now that would be some really good reading wouldnt you say?;)


Fair enough. :)

Not that I am an H2 expert or anything, but from the bit I've read, I was pretty sure that there was substantial suspension changes compared to Tahoe... the type that would provide better stability and traction and the ability to climb crazy grades and such...

Hey - shoot GM an email... maybe they'll let you gdo the comparo and loan you a Tahoe and an H2! :eek: :D :D :D

Originally posted by Darth Xed
Fair enough. :)

Not that I am an H2 expert or anything, but from the bit I've read, I was pretty sure that there was substantial suspension changes compared to Tahoe... the type that would provide better stability and traction and the ability to climb crazy grades and such...

Hey - shoot GM an email... maybe they'll let you gdo the comparo and loan you a Tahoe and an H2! :eek: :D :D :D

If they did that,I would definately call you up!;)
Man I wish a mag would do a test like that.:(

Been reading your conversation which left me wondering, what actually makes a good offroader?

It's not like a performance car where the quickest or fastest wins. I know ground clearence, short overhangs, steering and a resistence towards bending itself in half are all very important.

But on expanding on the Hummer vs Tahoe conversation, how would one determine the better 4x4 between say a Blazer and Dakota, or any other 2 vehicles with 4 wheel drive (including your H2 vs Tahoe conversation), a full frame, and a ability not to get stuck? Especially if both vehicles being compared did in fact have the same wheels & tires?

(See, I don't know everything. ;))

Originally posted by guionM
Been reading your conversation which left me wondering, what actually makes a good offroader?

It's not like a performance car where the quickest or fastest wins. I know ground clearence, short overhangs, steering and a resistence towards bending itself in half are all very important.

But on expanding on the Hummer vs Tahoe conversation, how would one determine the better 4x4 between say a Blazer and Dakota, or any other 2 vehicles with 4 wheel drive, a full frame, and a ability not to get stuck?

(See, I don't know everything. ;))

Ya, offroaders arent my area of knowledge either... but if I were to look for an offroader, my #1 priority would be not getting stuck somewhere!! :eek: ::D

Originally posted by guionM


(See, I don't know everything. ;))

When I got the email,I could of swore you would lay down the law here,But mainly what an offroad guy wants to know is "How big a lift kit can I get for it" ;)

How is that car luxurious?? At night it looks like a frickin landing strip for an airport with all those crazy orange lights on the top of it..Sheesh!

Originally posted by redzed
Considering that Hummer has a limited number of dealers, these sales results are amazing. I hope that the decent sales motivate GM to proceed with the H4 as a Jeep Wrangler competitor. I've had just about enough of "soft-roaders" as opposed to real off-roaders.

I hope that comment wasn't directed at the Wrangler (TJ). It's the best true 4x4 out there under $50k. (Have to add that qualifier, because the Mercedes G-Wagen and Unimogs are the absolute best)

To comment on what makes a good off-roader:

Depends on your terrain. Mud is a lot different than rocks, hills, etc. Mud requires a lot of HP, a longer wheelbase and a taller suspension than other setups.

I used to do rocks, hills etc. For that, the best vehicle would be one that had a low center of gravity, short wheelbase, wide track (but small enough that it can get through obstacles), good suspension articulation (the body staying level while a wheel drops down into a hole), good, sticky mud tires (the Goodyear MT/r is the best right now for on and off road, MTs/Swampers for straight offroad), and high ground clearance between the wheels.

If anyone wants to know more, feel free to email.

Originally posted by bulldoguav
To comment on what makes a good off-roader:

Depends on your terrain. Mud is a lot different than rocks, hills, etc. Mud requires a lot of HP, a longer wheelbase and a taller suspension than other setups.

I used to do rocks, hills etc. For that, the best vehicle would be one that had a low center of gravity, short wheelbase, wide track (but small enough that it can get through obstacles), good suspension articulation (the body staying level while a wheel drops down into a hole), good, sticky mud tires (the Goodyear MT/r is the best right now for on and off road, MTs/Swampers for straight offroad), and high ground clearance between the wheels.

If anyone wants to know more, feel free to email.

So being that the H2 is basically a Tahoe on steroids structurally, and that it has the same powertrain & (I'm just guessing here) suspension components that are at least simular, what if anything, would make a H2 a better offroader than a cheaper Tahoe, or vice versa?

Well, quickly:


2003 Hummer H2 2003 Tahoe Z71
Price $49, 270 $42,862
Wheelbase122.8 116.0
Length 189.8 196.9
Front overhang 32.6 37.0
Rear overhang 34.6 43.9
Diff height 10 8.4
Engine 6.0L/316hp/360lb 5.3L/285hp/325lb
Suspension Coil IRS

For $7000 more (but don't forget the possible tax write-off), you get much better angles of approach and departure (as indicated by the differences in wheelbase and length - closer together is better), nearly 9" less overhang in the rear, 35 more lb-ft of torque (which is essential offroad), and coil suspension, which allows for greater articulation (allowing one tire to stay on the ground while the other is higher/lower and to keep traction and the body level)

I'd buy an H2 over a Tahoe Z71 any day of the week since the price is so similar.