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Most still have that inner child running about inside of us. We haven't quite grown out of comic book heroes able to leap tall building in a single bound and perform supernatural feats. So maybe that influences the cars we like? Some of us still dream of invincibility, racing along in a military style Humvee, fording streams and climbing tall hills. It's all part of our desire not to be limited, to be free to conquer and go where mere mortals only dream. Maybe that's part of the mystique that civilian Hummers evoke. A freedom to go beyond the ordinary unrestricted by conventional laws of nature feeds the image of the modern Hummer. Currently the Hummer experience comes in two models simply named H1 and H2 with a third and smaller H3 in the works for 2005 according to the Detroit News. The H1 Hummer is essentially the same as the military Humvee without camouflage, weapons systems and with a civilian interior. Unless you regularly drive through 30 inches of deep water, don't mind a vehicle that is almost 7 1/2 feet wide and not expecting creature comforts like a comfortable ride, then you might forgo the $100,000 H1 for the half price luxury H2. The H2 will certainly evoke that superhuman feeling of dominating tall hills and small cars. While you may give up the extreme capabilities of the H1 this is not just a pretty face. The 2004 Hummer H2 will still ford an impressive 20 inches of water, climb a 16" vertical wall and scale a 40 degree hill all in luxurious comfort not even suggested of in the H1. The four-door hardtop powered by GM's powerhouse Vortec 6000 V8 and heavy-duty 4-speed transmission is the only configuration at this time but Hummer recently introduced the SUT with Spring 2004 availability. Dealers should have ordering information now. As the most distinctive sport utility vehicle in the market the real value of the Hummer H2 is how it makes you look and feel. Those of us who have been around the automobile business for any length of time realize that people don't buy vehicles based on price, facts or features. People buy cars based on emotions and nothing evokes more emotion than a Hummer H2. Hummer of Kansas City located just East of I-35 on Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam Kansas supplied our bright yellow test vehicle. Complete with the optional Chrome Appearance package on the Adventure Series this vehicle demanded attention everywhere we drove. This is not a vehicle to be incognito in, for you will get the looks. The most surprising thing about driving the Hummer H2 was how quiet and comfortable it was on the highway. Massive 17-inch wheels and off road capabilities normally would produce a rough ride filled with vibration and harshness, but this was not the case with my H2. Even with the aerodynamics of a barn, stability is enjoyed at highway speeds and interior luxury is a true reality. While the H1 is very primitive in creature comforts, my H2 at half the price indulges occupants with heated leather seats in both front and second row seats. Dual zone automatic climate controls and the standard nine speaker Bose sound system means that you don't compromise comfort for capabilities. The driver's information center and redundant audio controls are at your fingertips on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. There is no question this is both a serious off road and prestige vehicle. Some environmentalists maintain that it represents an evil antithesis of fuel-efficient vehicles. Many claim the massive size of the H2 is a safety threat for those in smaller more vulnerable vehicles. With a starting price point near $50,000 and near single digit gas mileage not even rated nor disclosed, the Hummer H2 is not a vehicle for the masses. Yet for those fortunate to play in this arena they enjoy the capabilities and emotions this vehicle evokes for driver, passengers and spectators alike.
2004 Hummer H2
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©2003 - Stan Risener