Tuesday
10 June 2003
4x4 vehicles: is the Hummer a bummer? |
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The Hummer H2 |
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Huge bulky off-road 4x4 vehicles - you can't miss 'em. And now the
daddy of them all is right here in Manchester.
But is the 'Hummer' a bummer? Have Your Say |
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The seven-foot
wide, 'Hummer' has been dubbed the 'Yank tank' - maybe because it's
overpriced, overweight, and over here.
Based on the Humvee military vehicle, and weighing in at over four
tonnes, the Hummer H2 is the ultimate in mega jeeps.
It's definitely a plaything for the rich. An H2 will set you back
£55K from specialist car importers Bauer Millett on Deansgate.
And you'll get a mere 10 miles per gallon. (Then again, there's no
way you're going to lose a parking row in Asda.)
Sales of 4x4 cars have more than doubled in Britain over the past
10 years. But not everyone is in love with them.
Environmentalists and other motorists have long been up in arms about
the "fake farmers" who take them on the school run, yet
never go near a muddy field in one.
And while our roads are getting ever more congested, the question
is being asked: do we really need them?
We want to know what you think of 4x4 vehicles. Versatile, safe, family-friendly
and fun? A status symbol for the ultra-rich? Or is the Hummer a gas-guzzling
eco-bummer?
Have Your Say below. Or why not discuss on our ?
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From Tim in Manchester
I think it would be cool to own one I will admit I would like
one (But Mucho Money!!) But they are simply to big for our small
double parked street's. It's bad enough trying to drive a Corsa
down most of the street's here let alone a 7 foot wide SUV (Canyonero).
The term Overkill definatlly applies as far as they go over
here at least.
From
Ian Poulson in Manchester UK
Big cars for little people...
From
Mike in DeLand FL USA
The H2 just needs the O and then evryone will be happy. Snorkle
anyone!!
From
Peter Leighton in Rochdale
A Bully car to bully even the other bully cars we already
have on our roads. People who drive these sort of vehicles dont
really need them from a transport point of view but they do
need them to make up for their ignorance, rudeness and plain
disrespect of other road users, these people must feel totally
inadequate to want to drive these vehicles because how often
do you need 4 wheel drive and as for size more often than not
they have only one person on board.
From Jenny in Isle of Mull
There are plenty of excellent 4x4s for those of us who actually
do need them without introducing this monster! This brute is
just not necessary in this small country and anyone who buys
one will be shown up as a poser with much money than sense and
social responsibility!
From clive in Kenya
Just a toy for the rich boys (and girls). The H2 couldn't even
come first in the USA 4WD comparisons in their specialist magazines.
Too big & much too heavy for real offroading it's a plaything
for those with big estates and egos. Give me a Toyota Landcruiser
or Rangerover any day for all the things a H2 is supposed to
be capable of.
From Mike in Manchester
Simply too big for our roads, and I am dreading coming across
one in the local supermarket car park. I watched one lady driver
in a 4x4 do 25 manouvers to get in a parking space and then
could not open the door, so then she started trying to reverse
out. I drove off laughing to myself. Heavy vehicles damage the
road surfaces more, they polute more, and people can not drive
them. Tax them heavily please!!
From Dave in London
If I had that money to spend, I'd have one. I can't imagine
anyone not wanting one, except maybe hippies or girls.
From Trev in England
As soon as Beckham buys one, expect all the brainless morons
to follow suit. To Quote the Rev Lovejoys' wife "Why doesn't
anyone think of the children?"
From Jim Hodges in Seattle
Ha! The Hummer is nothing compared to the Lincoln Navigator
- probably the most clumsy SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) I have
ever seen in the USA. I think I'll stick with my trusty Subaru
Impreza.
From Kevin in Mayland, USA
You can beat them or miss them. Big and butch, they have become
the big brother of all SUV's here in the US and at $45K+ an
average high end SUV price. At 55K pounds that would induce
what we call sticker shock! Well I guess you could always keep
a smart car or two in the back for emergencies! I have no idea
when you would park one. I still can't understand how you can
park and average car in a UK postage size parking space. These
are built for the great US outdoors and parking spaces made
for trucks not rural Barkshire. Still despite us being big brash
America the UK still wants to emulate our culture even if it
is 7 foot wide and drinks gas. Our economy needs they boost
so I hope they sell like hot cakes!.
From Alastair in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
I am curious that you state the H2 is "based on the Humvee military
vehicle". In what way? It is built on GM's T800 truck platform,
which is shared with the Chevy Suburban and Tahoe SUVs and the
Chevy Silverado pickups, plus the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Avalanche,
GMC Sierra and Yukons. Note.....complete lack of US military
vehicles. Sure, they have done a fancy job with the bodywork...but
that is all. So, not only is it far too big, ungainly (and really
does not look good when you stand next to it), it is not even
what it claims to be.....a Hummer. We should all be supporting
clean burning, fuel efficient cars. Not these behemoths that
pollute and guzzle.
From Nick Milton (expat Brit) in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Firstly, it's not based on the Humvee - it's based on a modified
Chevrolet Tahoe chassis which is then beefed up to cope with
the rigours of off-road use. It is a massively capable off-road
vehicle, though few are likely to discover this. They're also
no bigger than a Range Rover or a Toyota Land Cruiser. They
look bigger than they actually are. Granted they're not the
most fuel efficient of vehicles, but then there are plenty of
large saloons which aren't exactly frugal... Finally, it's not
the vehicles which make the roads unsafe or congested - it's
the drivers. Take away the 4x4s and you'd still have all the
mums driving their children to school in less obvious vehicles.
We also have very poor levels of driver training in the UK and
too many people assume that you just drive a large 4x4 like
any other vehicle. They are, however, totally oblivious to the
increased stopping distances, handling characteristics, etc.
which go along with large vehicles like these. So don't complain
about the size, price or extravagance of these vehicles. They're
not illegal to own and there are laws against being a show-off....
From Jim in Athens, GA USA
This vehicle is the most absurd mode of transportation to hit
the streets. I live in the US and see these vehicles on the
road quite frequently. They are nothing more than a 13 mile
per gallon, gas guzzling, road hog! They are unsafe (for everyone
not driving one) and are actually quite ugly if think about
it. A local radio announcer actually stated that his wife drives
one because "he loves her and if she gets in an accident she
will live and you will die". I probably would not mind them
so much if they were taxed accordingly. Here in the US you can
get a tax break on the Hummer (up to $100,000) if you use it
for business purposes because it's weight class slates it as
a "special purpose" vehicle. Absurd.
From Richard Speed in Horsham
H2 buyers beware - we are all laughing at you, not with you...
From Mark Ives
hummers are cool they give you a lot of road credit.
From marty in greenock
whats the problem?.... the hummer has just as much right on
the road as any other car..... as for the price.. £55k.. why
can it be bought for $48k standard?... rough conversion £34-38k
where does the extra £20k come from ( not import/sva costs)
must be pure profit... bottom line you want one? import it yourself...
save a fortune! as for genernal 4X4s.. the state of our roads
I'm surprised theres not more....
From matt beale in Bristol
I've seen one of these on the small winding roads of Cornwall,
and they are a beast. You would certainly own the road with
one of these! If you have the money, then why not! I would!
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