Fuel costs fail to drive down Hummer passion: these SUV owners have no plan to surrender

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Fuel costs fail to drive down Hummer passion
Battered by critics, gas prices, these SUV owners have no plan to surrender

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25863697/

PINE GROVE, Pa. - They rumble in on treads called Super Swampers, wearing their hearts on their license plates.

"PLAYDRTY," declares one behemoth from New York. "HUM THIS," dares another, from Ohio.

The digital board fronting the Shell station at Exit 100 winks back: "Welcome Hummers!"

In the fading light, though, it's impossible to ignore the sign at the Sunoco across the road: Diesel, $4.97 9/10 a gallon.

You've got to be tough to love a Hummer.

The soaring cost of feeding a vehicle that swallows a gallon every dozen miles is only part of it. Environmentalists, who've always had it in for owners, are winning mainstream converts. General Motors, which presided over Hummer's transition from a badge of military bravado into a symbol of driveway excess, is looking to sell.

But tonight there's no apologizing or self-pity in the ranks of Hummer die-hards. They're here to goad machines that can top 5 tons over boulders the size of Smart cars, through stewpots of mud obscuring who-knows-what and across obstacle courses of stumps, logs and stones — it's "like riding a slow-motion rollercoaster," one says.



John Andres drives his H1 Hummer over rocks at the Hummer Club's Straight Up or On The Rocks gathering at the Rausch Creek Off-Road Park in Tremont, Pa.

[aquart]

1. Ah. Bravado after finding they can't sell them to another sucker.

[flvegan]

2. Sigh. What nonsense.

Of course gas doesn't matter to these folks. These aren't average Hummer owners, they're enthusiasts. What will tomorrow's MSNBC headline be: "Fuel costs fail to drive down Ferrari passion." Duh.

Article says itself, sales are down 40%.

How about boating passion? What do boats get, like 4 mpg? Where's that headline? Idiots.

[MercutioATC]

3. Thank you!

"Hummer" may be a four-letter word at DU, but being an "enthusiast" usually means that you're spending money on something that doesn't make a lot of practical sense.

...and there's nothing wrong with choosing to do that.

[gatorboy]

4. Being rich probably helps.

"I told my wife when we bought this, 'Honey, we're investing in steel and rubber,' says William Welch, a Philadelphia surgeon who, cigar clenched between his teeth, offers a guided tour of his lovingly tended jet-black H1.

"If it was $10 a gallon," he says, "we'd still be out there."

[MercutioATC]

10. Well, driving a low-mileage car is an expensive hobby.

I've never gotten into the Hummer thing...they have no appeal to me, but yes, having money would be a prerequisite.

[Causarius]

9. +1

Good point about boating.

Not only are boats very inefficient compared to cars, they gas is a full dollar or more expensive when you get on the water.
Let people do what they want if they can afford it.

[parasim]

17. Well, all of the Hummer owners I know are nothing like the boaters that I know...

What is a Hummer enthusiast? Somebody who likes to take their Hummer out into the country and do a little off-roading? The ones I know drive them to work. and like to talk about them... like, "look what I got, I got a Hummer." the ones I know are total assholes about it. and never go off-roading with their precious Hummers.

Whereas, the boaters I know are lamenting about the cost of the gas to fuel their weekend getaways. "I've had to cut down once or twice a month now, because of the cost" kind of thing. I don't know any boaters with the name of "Boat This" on their boats.

[Robb]

18. I live in Jeep road heaven

...and we see all the clubs every summer. Every kind of 4WD vehicle club rally you can imagine.

And they're good people, to my experience. They're out having their annual fun. :shrug:

We never saw a lot of Hummers here, compared to other toys, because they're a little damn wide for the Jeep trails. But the rest of the clubs still come, expensive gas just means they'll go to one rally instead of two, or pack lunch more.

[flvegan]

24. The folks in the story were in a Hummer club.

That's where I drew the "enthusiast" from. Not saying I agree with them or share their love for what is a big, shitty wannabe offroader. As for the boating comment, I was making a point that MSNBC went for the "ooh, evil Hummer" shock headline.

I know lots of boating enthusiasts, and they say the same thing. One guy I know has some Fountain ICBM thing. It's badass, but gets probably less than 2 mpg. It's what he loves, so gas prices aren't going to bug him (he's also pretty wealthy, so...). The average boater, not so much.

My point is, if a person has some expendable income, gas prices aren't going to keep them from keeping up with their hobby or joy in life, which is why the article is stupid.

Hummer club, Ferrari club, Scarab club...

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flvegan]

7. Oh, boy.

Welcome to DU!

[AlCzervik]

8. you're fun!

[cliffordu]

14. Fuck me I loves me some PIZZA!!!!

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Yeah, let them suck up the gas in those ugly three-ton barges

Who gives a shit that their grandchildren and their children will probably have to scramble to find a source of heat and energy when the fossil fuels dry up?

Fuck 'em.

We'll be dead and gone anyway.

:sarcasm:

[Causarius]

19. There is more than plenty to go around.

Even with the emerging China and India economy and their rising consumption of gasoline, America and the rest of the world will have plenty of gas for decades and decades.

If we in America would begin harvesting the resources that we have in ANWR and the oil shale Utah, Colorado and Wyoming then not only would gas prices go down and oil reserves go up, but since that is OUR oil and not Middle Eastern oil, you can imagine what effect that would have on the US Economy.

I thought this was a progressive forum?
Why are you talking as if oil is the only means of "heat and energy"?
Especially when Obama is poised to become the next POTUS, and even if McCain is, he supports many other types of alternative energy.

In 10 years, oil will not be nearly as big as issue as it is now, so don't give me that "There is only a little bit of gas left and those people who can afford to buy a lot of it shouldn't be able to" bullshit.

You should be content in the fact that people like this are more than willing to let the high gas prices siphon off their income.

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. It IS a progressive forum.

Your views are not progressive.

No one here wants to destroy more of our environment rather than conserve and explore other renewable fuel sources.

Anybody smell pizza?

[dysfunctional press]

25. have you done any actual research in regard to oil shale...?

maybe you should...before we can "harvest the resource", there has to be an economically(as well as physically) feasible way to do so. so far- we don't have either.

also- it isn't "our" oil- it belongs to whatever company pulls it out of the ground, and they are free to sell it on the world market at market prices. a lot of the oil that comes out of alaska now ends up in japan- so will much of what might ever be pumped out of anwr.

if you don't think that oil will be as nearly as big an issue in 10 years- you REALLY need to read some books
open your eyes, and open your mind.

[DireStrike]

36. Again your facts are plain wrong.

We really don't have that much oil in ANWR. Shale oil is another can of worms but you don't get nearly as much out of it. Current prices are artificial and not related to absolute supply. Probably.

Energy would not be a huge issue IF Obama wins and invests a decent amount into alternatives. Plug-in electrics could take in power from solar all over the grid. 100% clean energy. Again IF Obama wins and IF there is money to spend and IF the dems don't sell out again to the corporations like they always do. There might not be much money to go around; it's looking like a depression.

[cliffordu]

37. Golly gosh. McCain talking points spewing forth from the latest addition

from the freepstick follies....

Hugs and Kisses!!

:hurts:

[dysfunctional press]

23. some people just can't help but make it their business what other people choose to drive...

it apparently makes them feel somehow superior as people.

i really don't get it....this is supposed to be a progressive site, but the judgmentalism can really be astonishing.
they decide that they know absolutely everything about a person based on what car they drive.

[kestrel91316]

30. Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

People with opinions may not believe in anthropogenic GW, but legitimate climate scientists sure do.

But you go ahead and live in your clueless little bubble........

[kestrel91316]

31. Oh, and what skin is it off my back, you ask?

I don't particularly appreciate people WASTING gas so my gas costs go up more.

No man is an island. But I'm sure you didn't learn that in "christian" homeschool........

[DireStrike]

34. Actually, they're not.

Just saying.

And what harm does it do? They're dangerous and encourage others to buy larger vehicles so they can see around them.

[AlCzervik]

6. there was an article not too long ago about a guy that owned a Chevy Avalanche, he

started a local club for other Avalanche owners and he finally ended having to sell his truck because of the fuel costs. He still belongs to the club though but he said the usual meetings are way down.

[bbinacan]

11. I'd like to have one

for weekend 4 wheeling but would never have one as my primary vehicle. Oh well, I can't afford one any way so it's a moot point.

[AlCzervik]

12. i used to have an Isuzu trooper many years ago and that was about the best 4 wheeling experience

i ever had. It sure wasn't the fanciest or most expensive but it was a great truck.

[bbinacan]

21. Do you have any thoughts

on the Toyota FJ Cruiser? I need to get a four wheel drive for my new job. I drove my brother's FJ and liked it (except for the suicide doors and small back seat). For an SUV, it gets relatively good gas mileage. I'm lucky in that my company pays me mileage.

[AlCzervik]

26. i think the FJ uses premium gas, i looked at them and thought they were pretty cool

way over sized gauges and pretty spiffy trim. The whole premium gas thing for me is a non starter right now, my husband's car takes it and i refused to my a vw until they made a beetle that ran on regular.

[bbinacan]

27. My understanding

is that it requires premium to achieve its reported performance. Premium is a big problem. Though I only drove it on city streets, it just feels like it could go anywhere.

[AlCzervik]

29. it sure looks like it could. It's a nice ride and if you need an suv that's probably a good choice

it was really nice inside and the bonus at least as far as i'm concerned was the fact you could get one with a manual transmission. My Trooper had a stick shift and people thought i was nuts because it was kind of heavy but it made it way more fun to drive.

My driving needs have changed, my daughter is now almost 14 and doesn't have all the stuff to travel with anymore and quite frankly i just kind of sick of having a big vehicle when i didn't need one so i switched over and bought an acura, loved it, it got stolen so i got a Honda accord which was a great car just not for me so i finally got the convertible Beetle i always wanted and i still get in every day and smile.

Good luck with whatever ride you end with, stay safe and happy travels to you.

:hi:

[bbinacan]

35. Thanks! n/t

[cliffordu]

13. As I loaded groceries onto my cargo bike today I got to laugh at one in the

parking lot of Safeway.

The man behind the wheel got visibly upset when I made a stroking motion with my hand.......

[fudge stripe cookays]

15. Aaaaahhh..

I see John Andres has a 2 inch penis.

[Texasgal]

20. *snicker*

You got that right!

[TreasonousBastard]

28. I'll never get the attraction of "4-wheeling"...

I spent a few years in the Army driving 3/4s, 5/4s, and deuce-and-a-halfs through the woods. Everything had a trailer, too.

It SUCKED! The 2 1/2s with big communications huts were always threatening to tip over, and when they got stuck in the mud you had to winch them out after unhitching the trailer, which always seemed to be on a little hill. After you got the damn thing free, you're always somehow wedged between a couple of
trees.

The 3/4 trucks were more agile, and closer to the Orgasmatrucks the 4-wheeling assholes drive, but after you HAD to drive for three days through this shit, you started asking why anyone would WANT to drive through this shit.

Oh, and when we got back, we had to wash 'em. That was fun. too.

I'll hike through the woods as God intended us to, thankyouverymuch.

[DireStrike]

32. Good!

A charge for stupidity.

[derby378]

33. Wasn't there one Hummer that was converted to hydrogen or hybrid power?

If so, I'd have no problem with that Hummer - aside from trying to see around it in traffic. I have no problem with big as long as it doesn't require big fuel.