Hummer Guy

Every year for the last 22 years, J.D. Power and Associates rank automotive brands by customer satisfaction. The evaluation is based on five factors: dealership facility; salesperson; paperwork/finance process; delivery process; and vehicle price. In 2008, HUMMER was ranked second overall, only behind Jaguar by a single point and beating Lexus who edged HUMMER out of the top spot in 2007.

Despite the tough economic times, the study shows that overall customer sales satisfaction is up across the board. “The year-over-year industry improvements truly speak to the level of effort that manufacturers and dealers are putting toward providing a highly satisfying experience for their customers,” said Tom Gauer, senior director of automotive retail research at J.D. Power and Associates. “While the industry overall performs well, premium nameplates in particular dominate the SSI rankings — outperforming non-premiums by an average of 34 points.”

Among HUMMER competitors, Jeep ranked 35th and Land Rover was excluded for not having enough respondents. Below are the scores for the two highest groupings by rank:

One question that I get pretty often is, “Do HUMMER owners really ever take their new trucks off-road?” My answer is often a surprised sounding, “yes!” But maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised after being asked so many times. It’s obvious that many people still believe that most HUMMERs never see any dirt or adventure. In reality, there are huge numbers of owners hitting the trails through dealership events and local and national off-road clubs.

Dealerships around the nation put on off-road events called HUMMER Happenings. Some can be as simple as a small group hitting the trails. Others caravan in large numbers (175+ trucks) to resorts with all kinds of food and activities in addition to off-roading. Events such as these really help to educate new owners on proper and responsible off-roading. Only franchised dealers put on such events, so be sure to contact them regarding their next HUMMER Happening. Once owners get their off-road confidence up, they may be interested in joining an off-road club or online forum to take their off-roading to the next level, and the level that HUMMERs really get to show off.

Some online groups and forums organize off-road adventures several times a year. Some of the most active off-road HUMMER communities are the HUMMER X Club and Club HUMMER Off Road. The former is a national group with local chapters and events all over the country. These off-road groups always welcome new members with all levels of experience. Also, they’re quick to assist and teach new owners how to get the most out of their truck. Below are some photo examples of true HUMMER owners participating in HUMMER X Club events.

Photo Credit: HUMMER X Club

Surely one of the most ubiquitous assumptions about the HUMMER brand is that they are largely inefficient vehicles. When compared to the new Chevy Volt that can run exclusively on electric, I would agree. But the difference is negligible when you compare the brand’s most popular model, the HUMMER H3, against other SUVs in its class.

Using the FuelEconomy.gov, I compared the H3 to some of its closest competitor’s in terms of annual fuel cost – since this is the cash you are truly out-of-pocket. I used $2.07 for regular fuel cost (the current national average), $2.27 for premium, and an estimate of 15,000 miles driven each year – the results are below. (more…)

Australia’s largest strength competition recently took on HUMMER as a new and appropriate sponsor. Brisbane’s OZ Strongman challenges contestants to various feats of strength, including pushing an H3 up to 30 meters.

“It makes perfect sense to combine the strengths of the HUMMER brand and the OZ Strongman Championship,” says managing director of the competition Chris Andrews. “Like the HUMMER H3, our competitors thrive in a challenging environment, have enormous endurance and look pretty powerful too.”

This video shows a similar event from a year ago — the HUMMER push kicks in around minute 4. Enjoy.

General Motors typically runs their annual ‘Red Tag’ sale close to Thanksgiving, but this year they decided launch the promotion ahead of schedule. Normally brand new models wouldn’t be included, but GM decided to incorporate the new 2009 HUMMER H3T into the mix.

The sale enables buyers of most GM vehicles, including all HUMMERs, to get the same pricing that GM extends to its suppliers and business partners. Similar to employee pricing, supplier pricing is written on the vehicle invoice to avoid haggling on either side of the transaction – a nice benefit for consumers who wonder if they’re getting the best deal. On top of supplier pricing consumers also receive incentive cash, which in the case of the HUMMER H3T, is $1500 this month. The incentive cash on the 2009 H3 SUV jump up to $5500.

The “Red Tag” sale runs until January 4th – the only thing that may change (for better or for worse) will be the incentive cash early December. Below are some examples of HUMMER pricing under the special – check out GM’s Red Tag site for more info or check out our Buy a HUMMER page. (more…)

Since the well of HUMMER news has been somewhat dry in the last week, we’re going to show you a custom HUMMER that you probably have never thought of – neither had we! This specially equipped HUMMER H2 is the newest starting gate for Pompano Park Racetrack.

I don’t know much about harness racing other than it looks somewhat comedic and dangerous at the same time. Though if an H2 can help get a strange job done effectively, we say, “welcome to the HUMMER family!” (more…)

The Aussie team at ARB 4×4 Accessories recently announced their plans to go global with their HUMMER product, and this week introduced the ARB Edition H3 at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The customized solar flare HUMMER H3 my look familiar to you, since it’s the same vehicle that was used for Chris Collard’s two-month off-road trek across Africa this year. Some of the less obvious highlights of the vehicle are ARB’s Air Locking Differential and hi-output compressor with tire inflation kit. The H3 also has an ARB FreezerFridge to keep your safari beverages cool.

“We were hugely excited to work with this highly customizable vehicle.” says ARB USA President, Jim Jackson, “We’ve accessorized the H3 to be expedition ready and have completed long range product testing in both Africa and Australia, in some of the harshest conditions on earth, and were thrilled with the results. We hope H3 enthusiasts will love our new line of products for this vehicle.”

Release after the jump. (more…)

We try and stay out of politics as much as we can, but when HUMMERs mix with politics – we’re sort of obligated (e.g. Schwarzenegger). So here’s a somewhat surprising vehicle. This HUMMER H1 was spotted in California sporting a huge political ad for Barack Obama.

I’m sure there are many within the left wing that would be extremely opposed to such a vehicle, so what is the point? Does he think it will bring votes in from the right? Or is it because HUMMERs, especially H1s, are great attention-getters? Probably more of the latter, although, I can’t imagine that Obama’s HUMMER would be very effective given the conflicting message.

No matter who you’re voting for, remember to do it Tuesday!

Source: Flickr via Jalopnik

The team over at The Garage Blog recently took a new 2009 HUMMER H3T out for a short off-road adventure and took a video camera along with them. Check out their footage below!

The editorial team at Popular Mechanics tested over 100 vehicles and logged over 100,000 miles in order to name their top ten categorized picks for the 2009 automotive model year. The 2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha took the top prize for “Off-Road Ability” in this year’s Automotive Excellence Awards.

“Our Automotive Excellence Awards honor the newest cars and trucks in the industry today,” said James Meigs, editor-in-chief, Popular Mechanics. “Our automotive team spends months with hands-on testing and research before honoring vehicles with our award. This year we are proud to recognize the ten best and brightest vehicles ever produced.”

Here’s what the Popular Mechanics team had to say about the H3T:

When we first heard that Hummer’s new H3T comes with the option of Eaton electronic locking differentials in each axle, we got excited. Locking differentials allow true four-wheel drive. And during a recent test in Moab, Utah, those differentials, part of the Alpha’s off-road package, really proved their worth. Locked in 4×4 low, we slowly made our way through a stony maze of crumbly sandstone vertical drops and steep climbs. Thanks to the Hummer’s stout drivetrain, the whole experience was surprisingly effortless. But there are plenty of features that make this truck a versatile tool on pavement, too. The 5-ft-long bed has 35.7 cu ft of cargo volume. And thanks to the Alpha’s V8 torque, the H3T can tow 5900 pounds. As capable as the H3T is in the dirt, it’s that pickup bed, roomy interior and nearly full-size-pickup-truck towing capacity that will draw in the mainstream haulers. But when it’s time for some 4×4 recreation, those lockers are there if you need them.

Complete release after the jump. (more…)