GM to discontinue H-2

[toyrunner95]

do you guys remember the bummer? The h1body you could slap on a suburban or truck? Yeah they looked kinda funny. But imagine an h2 body on a tahoe. I think that the h2 will come down in price and maybe end up being a decent expedition platform I really want someone to do a SAS on an h3 and trick that out. It is a perfect platfom. Small, tight turning radius, slight aftermarket, and potential to become a big off road contender. Its on a Colorado frame so there are parts available.

 

[pete.wilson]

Hey

4Rescue quoted: Originally Posted by pete.wilson
It's a bit of a shame that the H2 is biting the dust

First, I was quoting someone else in this post, those weren't my words.


4Rescue quoted me: Originally Posted by pete.wilson
...I remember toyota's when they were flimsy little pieces of junk that lacked power, rusted out, used cheap materials and who were worn out in 4-5 years......Your Reply: "I think you may be confusing old Toyota's with the Corvair... Seriously, I grew up in an 83 (I think) 2wd Toyota pick-up and that truck was every bit as tough as trucks twice, hell three times it's size. Underpowered yes, but tough as nails."

I think you missed the rest of the statement I made.
"They bore little resemblence to todays product other than by name only. I think that competition has been good for the big 3 as well, as their quality has much improved because of Toyota, Honda, and the rest."


The only real problem with Hummer IMHO, is that of timing. They came out at time when fuel was cheap, setting itself as a higher end product which kept it out of most peoples driveways except for those who are looking for a status symbol (bling) and the cost of which did not warrant driving it off-road even though it is a rather capable vehicle. The only aftermarket half way through it's life was for everything chromed for those bling people who like shinny objects. prices started to drop allowing those moms and and their hubbies who always wanted one could finally buy them reasonably. However, By the time fuel prices started to explode, and they don't get too good a gas mileage as it is. Some people started to say well they are to expensive to operate, oversized, ugly fat pig (sounds like some tree hugger with his head up his A**)......it's all relative to increasing fuel prices.....My 94 Suburban 4X4has a 42 gallon tank, gets about 15mpg which was all good when gas was $1.25 a gallon (2002) about the time Hummer came out, now it's $125.00 to fill it. Who ever thought gas would go up by leaps and bounds to todays prices (almost tripled in 4 years). In four more years gas will be what $9 - $10 a gallon or more. You might not be able to afford driving any full size vehicle or even your wonderful loaded decked out Toyota's by that time. Next thing you know there will be legislation saying you can no longer modify any vehicle from it factory form and since it's a waste of gas to go off-roading, you won't be able to, which of course will make all of the tree huggers happy. After all, it will cut down on the causes of global warming!

Pete Wilson

 

[evldave]

I agree with Scott on pretty much everything, but have a slightly different experience. I've wheeled w/H2ers who converted from a Rubi/Yota/etc. - the primary reason is, to be honest, the same as many soccer moms - comfort and convenience.

If you've got a family, but like to wheel (or just camp in way out places), you will be hard pressed to find a family-friendly vehicle that is as comfortable as a H2, but also has the capability to go 90% of everywhere. Throw 2 kids and 2 dogs + camping gear in a Rubi and I guarantee it won't be comfortable (trust me I know, my wife has a JK). On long trips, my H3 is cramped too - mid-size vehicles and families camping aren't all that fun on long trips...and what else is there? Range rover, G55, and ???? Sorry, even used those are out of my price range and still too small imho...

So yeah, there are the blingers - waaaay too many of them, but they also drive escalades, suburbans, navigators, etc. I cringed when my mom went out and bought a '07 Tahoe and immediately had it lowered w/20s and low profile tires - she's 60! :yikes: Bling is a societal problem - Hummers are just to symptoms - the real infection goes much deeper

As for the H3, I believe they are planning diesel. They have already announced a V6 in 2010 (IIRC) to replace the I5 (finally!). Combine the new engines with the H3t, and you have a strong platform that should be around for awhile. Not as many offerings, but the ones that will stick around are solid.

Oh yeah, I drove a 1983 yota pickup (2200R egine) for 3 years in high school in the late 80s. Beat the heck out of it, had to replace the motor, radiator, and numerous other doodads. Drove my 91 cherokee for 100k+, never had anything wrong with it except exhaust manifold leak & water pump, drove my 88 suburban for 50k+ miles to Alaska and back, lots of off road - beat the hell out of it and only had a pinhole leak in the radiator...my H3 has 45k miles on it, was a 1st run vehicle, and I've only had a couple trips to the dealer. And I've beat the hell out of it too (not just rock crawling, but lots of washboard, off road, curbrashes, mallcrawling, wet dogs, kids spilling junk food in the back seats, towing trailers, wood, a honda civic, boats, hauling lumber, you name it)

I wonder, is the reason so many yotas, nissans, honda's etc. show up on the 'best quality' awards is because people only drive them back and forth to work? Maybe the reason GM/Ford/Dodge get such a bad rap is because they sell a lot of trucks that all get abused so require more warranty (and post-warranty) work...

(note, the above paragraph was written to explicity upset some forum users. it was intended solely for humorous purposes and should not be taken to reflect the opinions of this poster. personally i think that all those sissy import vehicles look very nice on the cover of car and driver magazine all parked in a row on a grass field)

 

[Scott Brady]

I will go on record that the H3 is pretty cool. I drove and tested one over a week and even without the rear locker it was pretty impressive stock. Unfortunately, we are having to get excited that a "specialty" vehicle is only just reaching the capability of a standard SUV of 12 years ago (like an FZJ80, 4Runner, DI, Defender, etc.).

 

[Lynn]

//snip//But imagine an h2 body on a tahoe.//snip//

Hmmm, I could be wrong, but I seem to remember when the H2 first came out I read an article in Road and Track about it. They stated that it used Tahoe running gear, which would seem to indicate that it already is a rebodied Tahoe.

Not trying to offend H2 owners, by any means, but weren't the H2s based on Tahoe running gear?

 

[Scott Brady]

Not trying to offend H2 owners, by any means, but weren't the H2s based on Tahoe running gear?

Yes, an H2 is based on a Tahoe frame, suspension design and much of its drivetrain.

 

[calamaridog]

Yes, an H2 is based on a Tahoe frame, suspension design and much of its drivetrain.

Exactly, so you can still get all the function in a Tahoe without the bling and bad image.

 

[evldave]

Yes, an H2 is based on a Tahoe frame, suspension design and much of its drivetrain.

That's partially true. I'm pretty sure the H2 uses 2500 Suburban front IFS, uses a custom boxed frame, and 2500 rear suspension. Tahoes are generally 1/2 ton (6 lug, like my H3) and the H2 uses 3/4 ton suspension, only available on Subs & pickups.

The rear dif on the H2 is also not the same as the Tahoe, I think it's the 3/4 Suburban rear end (not 100% sure, but I know you can't get an electronic locking differential on a Tahoe, but can on full-size chevy pickups). I also think the H2 uses it's own transmission/transfer case combo (i'm only like 50% sure of this one)

Also, the 6.0L V8 is standard on the H2, and I think the best you can get on a Tahoe is the 5.3L. The 6.0L is standard on the 2500 Subs, with more power in the Subs, the H2 engine is tuned specific to it's gearing, so lower HP but I think more torque.

The 5.3L comes in the H3 alpha, although it too has had some modifications for tune & some parts changes to get it to fit & pass crash tests.

Basically, if you were to totally generalize, the H2 is more of 2500 Suburban parts on a boxed and re-inforced tahoe frame, and the H3 (Alpha) is Tahoe parts on a boxed and re-inforced colorado frame.

 

[Ron B]

me thinks the h2's supension/frame is all 1500 stuff. I heard the frame is a combo of the silverado (front) and tahoe (rear), the middle is lengthened and boxed for extra strength...there might be an additional crossmember in there? The h2 is 12 inches shorter than a tahoe, yet has a 7 inch longer wheelbase. It has good stock ground clearance (10"), pretty good approach/departure angles (40/39 degrees), 35" tires, rear locker and a decent traction control system. Compare those numbers to a tahoe. I'm not defending it, just quoting some stats most ignore, choosing rather to jump right to the "destroying the planet" and/or "useless pos" factor.

It's been over 4 years since I owned one, but I have to say that even though many components are from the tahoe/silverado/escalade line, it is not merely a "hummer" body on a tahoe frame.

again, I feel Scott's observations are spot on
rb