Hummers

[Redguard]

Is it just me, or is everyone driving a Hummer these days?

I remember when I first saw them back when they were just being considered as concept vehicles for civilian use. But now (at least where I live) people are driving them as if they were Toyotas or something.

An H2 runs for about 6 figures here... I think.

And with gas rates being what they are... it just doesn't make sense.

What am I missing? Do people just like the "appearance" of luxury? Or did everyone get a pay raise except for me?

 

[JulySheMustFly]

I've got a little peeve about real SUV ownership when they are never going to be used to their capabilities. It doesn't make sense to me. They are cool. I'll give them that but the expense and just unpractical nature of the beast for daily urban use boggles my mind.

I'm not totally anti-SUV. I can't be. I own one but it is not luxury and it gets used as a utility vehicle.

 

[Mskedi]

I haven't seen one on the road for a while now, actually. It's nice.

 

[TCat]

With gas at nearly $4 a gallon I imagine that fewer people will be driving at all and more will turn to public transportation and walking.
Personally I think driving a Hummer is more of an ostentatious display of wealth and a poor example of good stewardship.

 

[mont974x4]

We have, and drive, an F-250 and an expedition. They are needed and they certainly get used.

Public transportation is not practical around here, and they are cutting bus routes due to fuel costs.

 

[3girls2dogs]

So not what I thought this was going to be about.

an H2 luxury is about $64,000 and an H3 is about $35,000 which isn't much more than we paid for our loaded Expedition. As far as usage, I don't go off-roading, I admit, but it is used to its other fullest potentials. Besides, I like it. Period. I'm tired of being made to feel guilty because I like my car. We only have one, we carpool and we limit all of our errands to maximize mileage. We drive longer distances a LOT, and we need the room and I like being comfortable. We have 3 kids, 2 large dogs and we usually often need the space for luggage.

 

[mont974x4]

LOL
I thought it was gonna be something else too....dirty minds and all.

 

[fuzzymel]

There is a Hummer over here. Its just plain stupid. The island is 26 square miles. Why on earth would someone need one of those? Its been mentioned on the local message board and everyone has the same opinion on it (something that will get me in trouble if I repeat on here).

Raising gas prices means there will be less SUV's on the roads then I am happy for that (everything has got to have one plus point right?). Here its mostly women who don't have a clue how to drive a massive car on our tiny roads. As a pedestrian its those people who are the big danger to look out for. They don't concentrate fully. Grrrr woman drivers!

 

[Redguard]

We have 3 kids, 2 large dogs and we usually often need the space for luggage.

That's more than justified. If you need a large vehicle due to family size (both kids and pets), and you have a choice between an SUV and a minivan, I'm not faulting people who take the SUV route.

But the sightings that I'm talking about consist of people who are:

a. Driving in the city or downtown BY THEMSELVES, usually to work.
b. Live nowhere near rough-terrain areas that would require the ruggedness of a Hummer
c. Just buy it so they can pimp it out with 24" spinning rims, a couple of sub-woofers and an over-the-top paint job.

 

[pgp_protector]

Don't own one, nor does anyone I know.


As a side when looking at new post I saw the title & section and thought oh oh

 

[Redguard]

My beef isn't quite with SUVs (if I can just go on record saying that).

My initial concern when making this thread was about all the people who are suddenly driving HUMMERS.

I guess the freight expense causes them to be a lot more expensive in Canada versus the U.S.... but still... I think that there are a lot of them on the roads recently and they're not being driven by people who seem to have a need to haul a lot of weight or excess passengers.

One guy who works here drives one and he'll readily admit that he uses it as a chick magnet, amongst other non SUV-related things.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

Thing is Hummers aren't even really good at moving anymore people than your standard sedan.

 

[Redguard]

I could be off base, but my current opinion is that a nice car is an indication of what a guy could potentially offer as a future spouse.

So, if a certain woman has a taste for the finer things in life, then seeing a guy driving a Hummer would suggest that he's the kind of guy who can help her attain these things with little struggle.... whereas the guy who drives the '86 Tercel may not be able to do this for her as easily.

It's akin to buying a book based on it's cover.

 

[tigercub]

Dunno. Haven't seen many here, but I think Australia only started importing them recently.

I hate 4WDs (SUVs to most of you) In the city at least...and research shows that people who drive them are more likely to be aggressive drivers. They require greater skill to drive, but you can use one on a regular licence. In an accident with a car - the people in the 4WD are less likely to be injured - but the people in the car are way more likely to be injured - and more seriously.
Pointless unless you live rurally or require one for work, more damaging to the environment....

I should stop there, or I'll go into a full-blown rant :o

 

[snoochface]

So not what I thought this was going to be about.

LOL
I thought it was gonna be something else too....dirty minds and all.

No offense Red, but this topic isn't nearly as juicy as the title led me to believe.

Okay, really good to know I'm not alone.

People are stupid rich where I live (and I'm not one of them) so I see a lot of people driving Hummers around here. In store parking lots, on secondary roads, not necessarily on highways for road trips. With gas close to $4 a gallon, I don't know how they do it. Well, that's not true, I do - they are stupid rich.

 

[ImperialPhantom]

They're going out of style here. I live around a lot of rich areas, and I see enough Hummers, but not near as much as I used to. They remind me of an ugly yellow school bus moreso than a legit military vehicle - even if I were rich I'd rather get a tricked out BMW or an exotic sports car/luxury sedan, and if I wanted an expensive SUV, I'd rather a Porsche Cayenne or an Escalade.

 

[snoochface]

... I live around a lot of rich areas, and I see enough Hummers, but not near as much as I used to...

You're just a few miles from me. We are probably seeing a lot of the same Hummers.

 

[mkgal1]

Almost all the cars I saw on the road a year ago were luxury SUVs of some sort; Hummers, Escalades, Cayennes, and BMWs. We don't live in a wealthy area, so I was wondering the same thing. Where did they get the $$ and how do they do it? I am thinking that many vehicles were purchased with the ridiculous equity that was falsely accumlating in homes. I am curious to see if things will be different on the roads in a couple of years. There are a lot of foreclosed homes in our areas, so that may be the answer...they don't do it.

 

[snoochface]

I am curious to see if things will be different on the roads in a couple of years. There are a lot of foreclosed homes in our areas.

Actually, I read an article on I think CNN just a couple of days ago about how SUVs in general are become "extinct". Dealerships can't get rid of their stock and private sellers are taking losses on them. The gas prices are really turning people away from buying them, apparently.

 

[ImperialPhantom]

Hahah I didn't notice you lived in Marcos. I was just as the Lowe's off SM Boulevard today doing work in the nursery.