Heard about this. I don't have any great love for the Hummer, but I'm glad the Chinese didn't get it. Ultimately it seems as though the hummer was a fairly niche vehicle, somewhat like the VW new beetle and after awhile there just wasn't enough interest. Plus a growing social stigma against driving them, especially the gargantuan and preposterous H2 probably didn't help either. The H3 seemed to have more going for it and it's genuine hard core wheelability from the factory was matched by very few other vehicles. However it was saddled with the rather crappy Colorado platform and for the first couple of years was offered only with the Colorado's wimpy 5 banger. ultimately a truck that was probably as much about macho compensation as anything it's hard to justify when it's slower than most econoboxes. It needed to lose about 500-1000 lbs and it would have been more nimble offroad and would have made a lot more sense on road. As important as off road capability is for these types of vehicles, the on-road capabilities can't be ignored, as they're really the only reason for buying something like the H3,wrangler, etc. If you just want something to wheel in you can build a better wheeler for a lot less money. Anyways so long Hummer, it's been polarizing.
Or the European market, as the new crop of Buicks are just rebadged Opels and Vauxhalls. I mean if it wasn't for China, Buick would be dead also, but the interesting new Buicks are rebadged euro cars.
Heard about this. I don't have any great love for the Hummer, but I'm glad the Chinese didn't get it. Ultimately it seems as though the hummer was a fairly niche vehicle, somewhat like the VW new beetle and after awhile there just wasn't enough interest. Plus a growing social stigma against driving them, especially the gargantuan and preposterous H2 probably didn't help either. The H3 seemed to have more going for it and it's genuine hard core wheelability from the factory was matched by very few other vehicles. However it was saddled with the rather crappy Colorado platform and for the first couple of years was offered only with the Colorado's wimpy 5 banger. ultimately a truck that was probably as much about macho compensation as anything it's hard to justify when it's slower than most econoboxes. It needed to lose about 500-1000 lbs and it would have been more nimble offroad and would have made a lot more sense on road. As important as off road capability is for these types of vehicles, the on-road capabilities can't be ignored, as they're really the only reason for buying something like the H3,wrangler, etc. If you just want something to wheel in you can build a better wheeler for a lot less money. Anyways so long Hummer, it's been polarizing.
ReplyDeleteBuick is here to stay. Buick is very popular in China. We can thank the Chinese market for new world-class Buick models.
ReplyDeleteOr the European market, as the new crop of Buicks are just rebadged Opels and Vauxhalls. I mean if it wasn't for China, Buick would be dead also, but the interesting new Buicks are rebadged euro cars.
ReplyDelete