Hummer hatred becomes a social movement

General Motors said today that it was in talks with unnamed parties to sell its Hummer brand. Reports suggest that those bidders are in India, Russia and China. Be they Indian, Russian or Chinese, whoever buys Hummer may be in for a nasty surprise.

It seems impossible now, but in 2006, 71,524 Hummers sold in the U.S., according to Autodata Corp., making the steroid-enhanced brand one of the best performing and fastest growing in the General Motors Corp. empire at the time.

How things have changed. Through the first six months of the year, only 16,158 Hummers found their way off lots, and in the most recent month just 2,032 sold, a 60% slide from the previous June. To put that in perspective, people bought more Land Rovers, Smart cars and Porsches in June.

How America's love affair with these rolling symbols of the national spirit of largess, or at least largeness, soured so fast is a curiously potent reminder of just how dramatic and fast consumer tastes can change when confronted by things like, uh, skyrocketing gasoline prices. For GM, and Hummer in particular, the worm has turned.

The worm has turned so far, in fact, that it seems the only thing cool about Hummers these days is being able to hate them. In recent months, a whole subculture of Hummer disgust has stepped out of the petri dish and into popular culture, with the oversize SUVs now finding themselves squarely at the front of America's culture wars as Hummer defenders put their affairs with the monstrous machines on terms oddly reminiscent of the 2nd Amendment. ("You can have my Hummer when you pry it from my cold dead hands.")

Perhaps the shining example of this national mood can be found at a site called FUH2.com. The title is an abbreviation for an act — in language inappropriate for a family newspaper (and being such a newspaper, we'll have to let you navigate there on your own) — that encourages Hummer owners to perform an intimate act with themselves. A particular target is the H2 model, which has no fuel economy rating because it's too heavy to be rated by the federal government.

So it came as no surprise last month when GM, ever eager to cultivate a green image for the company (beyond promises of the electric-powered utopia-mobile Volt), climbed off the Hummer bandwagon, hired Citibank and pushed for a sale in double the time, as reported here in the L.A. Times.

So for ex-Hummerites, what's the alternative? Apparently, even a seemingly earth-friendly ride is just another rolling target, these days, as this site illustrates.

— Ken Bensinger

Photo: Hummer H1 plant in Mishawaka, Ind. Credit: Ken Bensinger / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[caerbannog]

Folks who *really* hate Hummers (GM Hummers, that is) will get a kick out of http://www.scaryideas.com/print/4714/

[Chou On Dhat]

Thank god those Land Rovers and Porsche's are so good for the planet.

[spoonido]

It's because of these Hummer buying bozos that high gas demand has resulted in high prices for the rest of us.

[JSH]

To put HUMMER sales for 2008 into the proper perspective, consider the fact that American Axle Manufacturing was on strike for three of the first six months of the year and there were no HUMMERS (H2 or H3) being produced during that time and when the strike ended, there were very few HUMMERs on dealers lots. I figure that only being down by 40% in this economy with no production for 50% of the year should reflect more on the supply than the demand.

[Yuck]

Few things in life are vile as seeing some overweight slob driving a Hummer or Chevy Suburban sitting in traffic. One chubby hand on the wheel, the other chubby hand on their 100-oz soft drink

[h fonseca]

Let's see, 40 thousand identified gang members in Los Angeles, a 12 Billion dollar a year school district that is a systemic failure, a state so mismanaged that it is on the verge of bankruptcy, an immigration policy that has effectively turned parts of the city into Balkanized third world buroughs...and what am I going to get angry and excited about? Ah! The HUMMER, that's it. Well.

[Pasadena'ed]

Good riddance. The fact that they're as ugly as they are large was reason enough for me to hate them.

Chou On Dhat said: "Thank god those Land Rovers and Porsche's are so good for the planet."

Weak argument. The difference is that most folks can't afford Rovers or Porsches, so the number out there polluting was never as large as the number of "thousandaires" in their blingtastic Hummers (with spinners no less).

[TAY DIGGA]

I'm not a fan of a hummer just because their ugly to me, but I'm not going to judge someone just because they drive a hummer then hide behind the guise that I think its eco-unfriendly to own one so...Whether u drive a Masarati or a Benz doesn't matter it's your perogative. I notice Prius and other "eco-friendly" people have the same heir that the people in the hot cars do, its just differen't, still screams, "Im better than you..." People need to quit judging people and let people do what they want with their money. Sure, I think more people in the OC or B. hills should be looking to ways that they can help the inner city and etc., but if they don't want to, that's on them so be it...

[Bill in Texas]

Hi Californians!

Do you remember who was it who made Hummers "cool" and desirable by the elite few who first bought them? Clue: He's your GOVERNATOR! Ahhhhnold! Anybody listening? I hear crickets..... I remember seeing images of him in that stupid thing thinking "a--hole! What kind of jerk needs that kind of vehicle anyway?" Yep, he went and got his special ordered when they were first making the jump from military vehicle to conspicuous consumer beast that can't be parked in a normal parking space, looks stupid, gets the worst mileage (probably) of any vehicle ever made, cost way too much, etc. I have never seen one in a parking lot fit in one normal parking space. And here's the thing. I LOVE Ahhhhnold. I love his movies and I think he's a really funny and interesting guy for sure. I guess he's OK with you guys as a Governator so you deserve him since you elected him. And Texas has sure had an idiot as a governor who stole one election to become president (barely!) and only got re-elected because his administration managed to capitalize on the post-9/11 fears which they so skillfully cultivated. But back to Hummers and Ahhhhnold. I blame him whenever I see a Hummer that isn't camouflage painted and in military use. Guys like Ahhhhnold and Shrub never accept blame for things like that, so I doubt that he feels any social responsibility, much less guilt, for launching Hummer as a non-military vehicle. Ahhhhnold currently owns five Hummers, by the way. He bought the first Hummer manufactured for civilian use in 1992. Now he's hamming it up for photo ops with the "green Hummer" guy who's making them run on hydrogen. I wish he were making movies instead! CONAN RETURNS WITH MOOBS!!!!

[Bill in Texas again]

I probably shouldn't cite this since it's a Wikipedia entry and because the quote says it needs a citation, but, here's what they say. Take it with a grain of salt or just say it ain't so, but they say thay Ahhhhnold AKSED the manufacturer to make a consumer version after he was impressed by some that passed by while he was doing a movie:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer

"In 1992, AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Hum-Vee) vehicle to the public under the brand name "Hummer". According to sources[citation needed], they began doing so after Arnold Schwarzenegger asked them to; apparently, he was impressed by a convoy of HMMWVs that drove by during his filming Kindergarten Cop in 1990."

I would be interested in having a pesky reporter get a comment from Ahhhnold on the accuracy of that. He might readily admit it if it's true. I don't think Ahhhnold is widely regarded as a liar. But if it's true, I wonder if he is self-reflective enough (I doubt it; self-reflection and self-doubting and so forth are probably not big on his to-do list) to see his part in the big picture.

Oh, and I want to say that no matter what one thinks of Hummers or their drivers, there is no excuse for vandalizing someone else's property or harassing them because of their choice of vehicle. Just sneer at them smugly and feel superior or something. But don't go messing with their stuff, man. That's not cool at all.

One last thing: Kindergarten Cop. hahahahahahahahahaha! Stupid, awful movie, maybe his worst. But I liked it because Ahhhhnold made it funny. I loved it when the kid told him his headache might be a brain tumor.

[Steven]

Having a fractured spine post surgery for a disc issue my 2008 H2 SUT is the only vehicle I am able to drive with comfort. I was able to have a special electric step installed so I can enter and exit without applying stress onto my back. As far as gas mileage is concerned my 2008 H2 gets 13 MPG an improvement over my 2005 H2 SUT which got 11 MPG. Now considering I only drive 400 miles per month to visit my Surgeon, my pain management Doctor and the Pharmacy I could care less what others think. Although I do go out to dinner on a rare occasion too. But, according to my ON Star monthly report I stay well within my 400 miles a month. I would have to say my Hummer ownership and use has a much less negative affect on Green House Gases than any Hybrid vehicle being driven. Especially since all of the issues in the green house gases released during the construction of these hybrid batteries. If my health were different might still own a H2 to use and enjoy off road I honestly can't say for sure. But, I am well aware of the off road capabilities of the Hummer brand. I do believe the H3 Alpha would be my choice because of it's smaller size if I were buying and off road vehicle. We all have hobbies or at least most of us do and we are fairly selfish when it come to doing those things we enjoy to remedy the stress of everyday life. Off roading is an excellent hobby for those people with high stress. But as I stated above my choice in owning my H2 SUT is strictly about comfort due to my disability. It is easier to step up and into my vehicle and also easier to step out and down with my condition. In between my 2005 and 2008 H2 SUTs I leased a 2006 Cadillac STS and it was very difficult getting into it and twice as hard getting out. So for all you Hummer Hatters be my guest but I strongly suggest don't think about causing any damage to my H2 unless you are seeking a lawsuit from the ADA Attorneys.

[Jeff Sullivan]

I understand the fact raising gas price impacts many people judgement about their hatred towards the Hummer brand. But consider this, Hummer is currently the US main vehicle provider and I'm sure the Hummer corporation has some secrets that would be sold in the transition because this transition... Now maybe I'm wrong, maybe but sell Hummer to another country seems a little like a George Bush move and not very smart. If anything, GM should stop production on Hummer line except for the military division. Further, GM might want to consider working out an agreement with the US Military (only) that would honor the sale and purchase of Hummers to be produce for use...

[Joe S]

The people that hate hummers are mostly jealous wieners that can't afford to drive one.

[Rick in LA, not L.A.]

Hate a vehicle? That's a classic pathetic fallacy. Hate a person because you despise his choices? Stereotyping at best, but more likely bigotry.

I neither have nor want a Hummer, but I have a friend who drives one. He's a construction contractor, which in LA means going places best visited by boat. He needs his Hummer. And I, like another poster, really could use an SUV on account of my back. (To my eternal sorrow, I sold a Boxster S because of it.)

Sorry, folks: there are better reasons for disliking people: intolerance, bigotry, vincible ignorance. . . .

Of course, my own dislikes are equally subject to criticism and ridicule: the use of "gender" when "sex" is meant; slovenly grammar; "political correctness" in any area, creationism; theocracies, including the incipient one in the U.S.

[Marcotico]

Sorry Steven, but if you can afford a Hummer and the litany of overpriced SUV's and Cadillac's you mentioned I don't really have a lot of sympathy for you and your poor back. that is the silliest thing I've ever heard. "I drive a hummer because nothing else is comfortable" What a pampered pathetic bunch of whiners we have become.

[Ra'fat]

Freedom is a beautiful thing.

[Kevin]

Hummer H1, H2, or Prius, it makes no difference. Removing every gasoline burning vehicle (okay, H1s mostly diesel) from the US roadways would reduce daily oil consumption by less than a factor of two. This change is irrelevant in the greater scheme of things. Regardless, less consumption is better, but guess what? I like my H2. I don't drive very far, about 5 miles each way per day to work and the gym and aside from the usual here and there's of life that's about it. I can afford it and I like my truck. It isn't blinged out, but it is fun to drive and it gets about the same gas mileage as my Dodge 1500 5.9L pickup that I just sold. 12mpg or 20 mpg, do you really think this is relevant ? But you crazy nuts out there that have to scream and yell about (and push your stereotypes of suv drivers) fuel economy - if I sell my H2 and buy a bicycle, does that make you the a-hole? It all boils down to the "I'm better than you" stance humans seem to love to take. I just like my truck. So whine and moan from high on your mountain, and then drive back home in your gas burning vehicle, sit in your heated or air conditioned home, buy your food stuffs from the grocery store, shop at Wal-Mart, etc. and continue on with your share of socially irresponsible behaviors. It all just depends on what your pet project is to save the world.