"LJ909" (lj909)
07/11/2018 at 10:52 • Filed to: None
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"LJ909" (lj909)
07/11/2018 at 10:52 • Filed to: None | 2
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You know, if Hummer could have weathered the storm that killed it that was the Recession, and high gas prices (somehow Jeep survived and I’m not sure how), it would be working today as GM’s Jeep fighter. With the SUV,crossover and truck craze, they would probably be having record sales.
Just before it died, in an attempt to lure in more buyers, Hummer introduced the Colorado/Canyon based H3 and the proper truck H3T.
Introduced during not only the last 2 model years of the H3, but during the last years of the brand itself, it was based on a modified version of the GMT 355 platform that underpinned the first gen Colorado/Canyon. Borrowing the engines from those trucks as well, the H3T could be had with the I5 as well as the small block 5.3 V8, but that was only available on the top dog Alpha trim.
The H3T was previewed way back however in ‘03 by the H3T concept. The concept was a regular cap, short box set up and featured shit that wouldn’ t have made it to production even if hell had froze over. Things like a turbocharged 350 horse version of the I5, Nike designed seat fabric and military inspired dash and switches. The only thing that pretty much carried over was the design.
Being a Hummer though, it actually had off road chops while having a backseat and a bed that made it usable as well.
In addition to the standard 5 foot bed with bedliner, i t came standard with full-time four-wheel drive, 32-inch tires and functional skid plates as well as front and rear locking differentials and 33-inch tires. It was actually the Hummer you could go do stuff with on the weekends.
Out of 159,529 H3's that were made, only 2,738 were H3T’s, probably even less of those were the top trim V8 powered Alpha. So if you were looking to pick up a used one (I know I would) , just know that they are surprisingly rare. Too bad its not still around today as a Jeep alternative.
Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 11:41 |
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There is only one bad Hummer and that is the H2. I always wanted a H3 in any combination.
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LJ909
> Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
07/11/2018 at 11:44 |
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Right. The H3 was what they should have been from the beginning. But early 21st Century American excess saw the H2 be the poster child for the brand. The H2 was trash. The bed was useless and the whole thing came across as something West Coast Customs could have done over the weekend.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 11:56 |
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U nfortunately the people who own them know what they have. Which I dont like because that means price.
HammerheadFistpunch
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 12:06 |
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“32-inch tires and functional skid plates as well as front and rear locking differentials and 33-inch tires”
uh...
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HammerheadFistpunch
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 12:14 |
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The main problems with the H3T where the fisher price interior, and the pillbox exterior. There was NO reason to take the perfectly good greehouse from the C olorado and “hummer it up” like that.
My bird IS the word
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 12:38 |
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Honestly the h3 was absolutely tiny inside. I don’t think they made good cars. I would have liked a competitor for the wrangler though.
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LJ909
> Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/11/2018 at 13:03 |
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Yep. Doesn’t help values at all. And if you do find one the owner would probably want way more than what it's worth.
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LJ909
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/11/2018 at 13:09 |
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Yea....I only got 2 hours of sleep.
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LJ909
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/11/2018 at 13:17 |
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It was old GM at is best . Thinking everything needed a variant. That interior was trash though. The Colorado/Canyon shined through. And not in a good way:
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HammerheadFistpunch
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 13:28 |
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did you know that in 2006 this interior actually won somebodies version of “interior of the year”? I don’t know why I remember this but...well...there you go. This copy of the press release was all the evidence I could find.
“DETROIT
- Two of General Motors newest vehicles, the 2005 Cadillac STS and the 2006 Hummer H3, garnered honors in their respective car and truck categories for automotive “Interior of the Year”.
Nominated by Ward’s Auto World magazine, the Cadillac STS won “industry-at-large, premium priced car. The Hummer H3, which begins shipping to dealers later this month, won the “industry-at-large, popular priced truck”
...
The 2006 HUMMER H3 interior represents the future design theme for the brand. As a mid-size SUV, the H3 is more likely to be a primary vehicle in a household than previous HUMMERS. This fact influenced the design strongly, making comfort and intuitive function the key design objectives “The goal was to make the interior more refined, purposeful. comfortable and well-crafted, “ according to Jon Albert, interior design manager for the H3. The interior features bright trim accents and more use of color than any previous hummer. Six interior color combinations are available - three for the standard cloth seats and three for the available leather.
The center stack, flush fit to the instrument panel, is finished in a material called Nissha. This new material carries a metallic finish for a premium look, but is resistant to light reflection and smudges for excellent wear. An emerging material for automobiles, Nissha has previously been used mostly in the electronics industry. This material also is used as the main component in the gauge cluster.
More than eighty journalists and 900 industry at-large executives made the winning selections. Thirteen cars and 10 trucks were nominated for Interior of the Year awards.
The Auto Interiors Show is the largest annual industry event in the world dedicated exclusively to interiors professionals, and is attended by several thousand interior professionals who come to see the latest in vehicle interior products, components and technologies.”
Here is the STS interior that also won
Can we all agree that the 2000's were a dark time for the car industry?
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LJ909
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/11/2018 at 14:39 |
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Dark times indeed. The interior of a Elantra is worlds better than both of these now.
Milky
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/11/2018 at 14:41 |
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I had Jon A lbert as a teacher, he was “old” school GM if you get my drift. Probably a great designer back in the day, but probably shouldn’t have been the lead on anything made in the last 25 years.
Tristan
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/11/2018 at 15:45 |
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I was working as a valet when these were new, and I remember all the praise for the interior. Naturally, I was excited to see it in person when one pulled up to my podium... So much disappointment.
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Tristan
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 15:50 |
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Jeep survived the recession by building reasonable cars with off-road prowess and a storied brand name. Also, there’s a massive difference between 18 MPG in a JK Wrangler and 10 MPG in a 6.0 3/4 ton GMT800 platform. Jeep survived by being competitive and making a decent product. Hummer died because it was a caricature of the early aughts SUV craze.
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LJ909
> Tristan
07/11/2018 at 16:18 |
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Spot on. But you have to think though: with the position that both were in, Chrysler could have done the same thing and killed off Jeep just as easily. Gas was crazy high end of last decade. And while he's a 16 mpg Wrangler is better than a 10 mpg H2, both still are shit mileages when gas is 4.50-5 bucks a gallon. Jeep just got lucky I think too.
BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 16:46 |
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Hummer was vilified by the eco-nuts, and GM was bankrupt... so hummer got the chopping block.
Arguably, it was the best of the Colorado/Canyon mid-sized trucks, and the Alpha actually offered the 5.3 V8.
It may have had crap visibility, but it looked simultaneously least and most like a toy. Most by being over-exaggerated, least by looking actually solidly bu ilt, not held together by wishful thinking and elmers glue.
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Tristan
> LJ909
07/11/2018 at 21:47 |
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Jeep is all Chrysler has... The JKU had just come along at that time and was selling like hotcakes.
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LJ909
> BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/12/2018 at 03:35 |
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It was typical GM. They finally get it right when it’s going away or on its last leg.
adamftw
> Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
07/12/2018 at 07:05 |
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I used to feel the same and now I’m the opposite. I’d love an H2.
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BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> LJ909
07/12/2018 at 09:43 |
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Let’s see...
Fiero..
Firebird
Sky Redline
H3T Alpha
yup, trend checks out.