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$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')ealers say Hummers average 8 to 10 mpg, while General Motors, which markets and distributes the latest version of the vehicle, the Hummer H2, puts the figure at 10-13 mpg. By comparison, the Ford Expedition gets 14-19 mpg, and the three-quarter ton Chevy Suburban gets 13-17 mpg.

[Cool Hand Linc]

It has the same running gear as a heavy duty suburban I believe. The hummer2 isn't 4 wheel independant like the military version.
I read most of the 4 wheel drive magazines out there. The original hummer was witnessed turning sideways on a hill that Jeeps had been know to turn endover from. The H2 can not do half that. Purely a status symbol.
"Borrowing from General Motors, Hummer is using the proven Vortec 6000 V8 engine."

"The H2's rear axle is the familiar GM 12 bolt solid axle with disk brakes."

"The front suspension is a GM 25-Series utility truck independent setup using a 36mm stabilizer bar, 46mm monotube gas shocks, and tuned torsion bars."
"Though the H2 began life using more of a Suburban frame, the final frame assembly is made up of 3 sections. The front uses a modified GM 2500-Series utility frame. The mid-section is all new and is completely boxed. The rear section uses a modifed GM 1500-Series frame which is upgraded for 8000 pound gross vehicle weight."
Rockcrawler
It is a capable vehical but a 3/4 ton or 1 ton suburban is cheaper. But what the hey. If you must drive a gas hog then go for the big hog huh!

[Aaron]

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[Cool Hand Linc]

Does it come with its own nuclear reactor?

[larrydallas]

I don't know how others feel about this but I HATE SUVs!
Aside from the environmental nightmare they are they are a danger to the rest of the drivers. They create visibility problems for small cars, flip, roll, and for some reason Ford Exporer drivers hit the brakes for no reason. The "tap the brakes" thing should be deserving of the death penalty.
What price of gasoline at a national level for regular unleaded will kill the SUV?
My guess is about $4.50 a gallon.
At that point anyone seen driving one will probably be sticking out saying I'm an elitist with money to burn. Angry people frustrated by high prices for everything may assault SUV drivers with random acts of violence.

[lotrfan55345]

I don't have anything against SUV's per-se, but I do have a problem with people who don't need them. A 4 person family than only goes on paved roads, why not get a Van or a sedan.

[Jack]

I hear you. I despise SUVs too.
But I suspect that the issue is less absolute price than rate of change of gasoline prices. If the price of gasoline starts going up at 50% per year or so, it will start impacting sales - and after 2 or 3 years, the prevalance of the things would be less.
The problem is that if a person gets, say 10 mpg and goes 20,000 miles per year, the cost of gasoline at $4.50 per gallon versus $2.00 per gallon is $5,000 per year. For someone that buys a $30,000 SUV, that's gotta hurt. For those who pay $55,000 for a Hummer 2, it's probably uncomfortable but not the end of the world.

[JayHMorrison]

For different groups the price of gas will be different. Someone who spends $60,000 for a Hummer SUV likely doesn't care if gas is $4 or $6. It just doesn't matter to that person.
The Mom of 3 who has a Toyota 4-Runner from 1995 and is getting 15 mpg might be the person who considers a more fuel efficient car next time.
The car dealers are already having to offer around $6,000 per vehicle to keep them moving off the lot. 0% financing, cash rebates, $500 in gas vouchers, are the sorts of gimicks that I am seeing. They do this to keep the factory line operating because it is more expensive in the short term to slow down or stop production.
Common sense tells you that the SUVs are not as profitable as they were a few years ago. The segment is now flooded with competition from every automaker.
If you start reading about major buildups in inventory or slowdowns in production lines, then the end is near for many SUV models.

[Andy]

I think $3.00 per gallon is the magic figure. There will still be sales at that price but the people who don't really need them will be forced to think really hard about the operating costs. I think it would quickly start eliminating the largest versions and people would start downsizing. Remember, gas at $3.00 per gallon also means more expensive tyres, lubricating oil etc. which will compund running cost increases

[trespam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Andy', 'I') think $3.00 per gallon is the magic figure. There will still be sales at that price but the people who don't really need them will be forced to think really hard about the operating costs. I think it would quickly start eliminating the largest versions and people would start downsizing. Remember, gas at $3.00 per gallon also means more expensive tyres, lubricating oil etc. which will compund running cost increases

[stayathomedad]

i think it is going to be at twice the rate they pay in europe. $8 or above. this is when I am going into the scrap metal business :D

[lowem]

To me, SUV's are a joke. So are large luxury cars. So are so-called "crossover" vehicles, neither fish nor fowl. Full-sized MPV's *might* be necessary for some people (some of the time) with larger families but most of the time you see them going around with just the driver, on the way to work and back.
And many a time, I try not to snicker when the lady at the cashier cheerfully announces $60+, or $70+ (SGD) to an SUV driver at the petrol station.
But what the heck. The pain will really start coming when the prices at the pump start to double, and then double again, etc. People will start feeling the pinch when petrol costs jump up to become a significant portion of their take-home salary ...

[larrydallas]

Well, I don't think all luxury cars are a bad thing. If you have worked hard your whole life and now you are in your 70's you deserve to own a vehicle that is very comfortable and easy to drive. The whisper soft ride of the Lexus LS series is something I am not offended by. Despite having a 4300cc V8 it delivers around 20-24 mpg.
The SUV I hate because it gives a false security to people. Being high off of the ground is not safe. Also, some people think that 4WD is safe. 4WD just means power is going to all 4 wheels. That has nothing to do with ability to stop or steer. It actually makes a car more heavy. Smart 4WD like in subaru cars is safer since power goes to wheels that get traction.

Anyway, it is disgusting to see people who buy these things and put brush gaurds and running boards on them but never venture off of the road. To drive to the mall and Starbucks a proper car is a Chevy Metro. The rich can afford to be stupid but I have also seen many expensive SUVs in the poor areas of towns decked out in accessories. I'm talking like a Chevy Tahoe worth $40 grand with chrome wheels and TVs parked in front of a $20K double wide. What do these people think?
You people make some great points. Something like a $5000 increase in fuel cost will surely kill them off. I used to spend about $900 a year on fuel prior to these skyrocketing prices. I recently changed jobs to where I drive about 60 miles per week to and from work. Sure I take pleasure trips but my fuel cost has been cut down a lot. My old job was 70 miles round trip for just ONE DAY!

Since this move I have been hoping gas goes to the majic # to kill the SUV. It will be heaven to drive among cars made to travel on the roads instead of mud trails and rivers.
I doubt the govt will be able to save the SUV if fuel costs rise out of control. With that high oil price will come many layoffs. The car manufactuers will face higher production costs and the used car market will become very hot for small vehicles.

Like I said before; the guy that can afford to buy a Hummer H2 will not care about the price but he will be wetting his pants when the angry packs of disgruntled motorists confront him because he is rubbing it in their face that he can have one and they can not by driving it.
I think the illusion of affluence is a major selling tactic for the SUV. The real high end SUVs are made by every company but just to sell to the masses they catagorize cheap SUVs like the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4 the same. They even slap in a 4WD option on these underpowered tin cans to make the driver of a RAV4 think he can go and do anything that the driver of a $50K 4 cam V8 Landcrusier can do.
People are so stupid.

[buster]

When the gas price spikes sufficiently high to pry their fingers from the wheel, these soccer moms and dads will have already signed up for the "Low-Carb Foraging" course at Learning Annex

[k_semler]

My father has a 1986 Chevrolet Blazer, but it is not used only on pavement. It is used as a general purpose farm vehicle also. He hauls many things in this ranging from dead deer after hunting, to dried brush that needs to be taken to the burn pile, to steel and concrete. This serves as more of a truck to him, and he has for several years considered purchasing a truck to replace it. This vehicle has had its transmission, rear running gear, differential, engine, and about half of the body panels replaced. This vehicle does not look good at all, and according to Kelly Blue Book, this would have a resale value of only $150.00. This is truly a utility vehicle, not just a show vehicle that has never had a dent or rust. This is also is transportation during the winter, as we get 4ft high drifts very frequently during the winter. This also serves as a snow plow to remove snow from our driveway during the winter, as for the last several years, we have been snowed in at least 3 times. It also serves as a "trail buster" during the winter months. When the snow is very drifted, he drives about 50 yards ahead of me into town, and creates a path to the highway so I can get to work. This vehicle has been lifted 6 inches, and the largest tires possible that will fit are on this vehicle. It is more of a work truck, than a show vehicle. For what it is used for throughout the year, (and especially during winter), it is necessary to have a heavy vehicle with four wheel drive and a 350.

Therefore, the SUV its self is not a waste of resources, the people who use the vehicle for a main family vehicle, and never see any off road except for backing over a curb are the waste of resources. Also, just because you have a regular car, does not mean that you cannot do some off-roading. I have went off-roading in my car, a 1981 Oldsmobile Delta 88, but I only do so during the summer and early fall.

[lotrfan55345]

My family is planning to buy a diesel Jeep Liberty, since we only have one car right now, a 2wd van. We "need" a 4wd for the MN winter.

Thats "ok", right?

[k_semler]

No, you do not "need" it, but you also do not need many conveniences of the modern world. The only things you would need in order are:
1. Water
2. Food
3. Shelter
4. Clothing
5. Fire
6. Sanitation
7. Defense
8. Transportation
9. Communication
10. Electricity
Everything else is a convenience. The Blazer, and my car are both conveniences not necessary to the perpetuation of life, they merely ease life. I could sustain life fine without them, but it would be much more difficult to sacrifice all of the modern conveniences of life, and live in a post-peak world prior during the oil age. Having stated this, if you feel that a new purchase, (regardless of what it is), will simplify your life, or any aspect of it, do the "Ben Franklin".
Get a piece of paper, and divide it into 2 columns. At the top of one column, write "PROS", and at the top of the other column, write "CONS". Place the negative items associated with the new purchase in the "CONS" column, and the benefits to the new purchase in the "PROS" column. If you have more "PROS" than "CONS", then your purchase is justified. If you have more "CONS" than "PROS", then the purchase would be foolish, and un-necessary. "I want it" or "It would be cool" are not valid arguments for the "PRO" column. Likewise, the statements, "It Sucks", or "I don't want to" are not valid reasons. This exercise is only for objective facts, not subjective opinions.

[trespam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('larrydallas', 'W')ell, I don't think all luxury cars are a bad thing. If you have worked hard your whole life and now you are in your 70's you deserve to own a vehicle that is very comfortable and easy to drive. The whisper soft ride of the Lexus LS series is something I am not offended by. Despite having a 4300cc V8 it delivers around 20-24 mpg.