Largest Hummer to Go the Way of the Dodo

[midnight armadillo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/automobiles/13hummer.html

May 13, 2006
Largest Hummer to Go the Way of the Dodo
By MICHELINE MAYNARD and NICK BUNKLEY

DETROIT, May 12 — General Motors is preparing to give a final salute to the hulking Hummer H1, the ultimate in sport utility might and, to its many critics, the ultimate in environmental incorrectness.

G.M. said Friday that it expected to stop building the H1, flagship of its Hummer line, next month. The move comes 14 years after it first went on sale to the public.

The H1, originally called simply the Hummer, and lately known as the H1 Alpha, is derived from the military vehicle called the Humvee.

The wide, rugged Jeep-like vehicle captivated many television viewers, who watched it trek across the Iraqi desert during the Gulf War. Hoping to capitalize on Humvee-mania, its maker, A.M. General, quickly brought out a street-legal version.

Despite its $140,000-plus price tag, rough ride and a fuel economy rating of about 10 miles a gallon, well-heeled buyers and celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger snapped up the H1 when it first reached the market in 1992.

[benburch]

1. The only worthwhile one... nt

[LiberalVoice]

2. seriously.

I mean from the operational stand point the new hummers are complete trash compared to the "H1"

[benburch]

4. If I had a ranch in rough country, I'd want an H1.

Wide enough not to roll over, can deal with serious inclines, enough capacity to haul about anything.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Nothing more than a glorified pickup truck. No independant

suspension, probably comes as a two wheel drive without the "add ons".