Could GM Shut Hummer Down if deal with Tengzhong falls through?

[H3AlphaGuy]

Originally Posted by American_Muscle

Exactly! There's no reason some of these can't become GMC's. The name "Hummer" had a huge impact on the reason these didnt sell much lately, so switch the name, switch the styling, and do a little rearranging, and you have GMC with a brand new off road division..with the best mid-sized truck and a Wrangler competitor.

Why not move the GMC trucks into Hummer dealerships? The design of the Hummer dealership buildings looks a helluva lot more "Professional Grade" than any GMC dealer around me in 30-40 year old nondescript concrete buildings.

They haven't built new H2s or H3s for a while which is a big issue for the domestic sales numbers. All of the H3s and H3Ts being made in Shreveport RIGHT NOW are going to Mexico and Canada, with no US distribution. You can thank the auto task force for that one.

[H3AlphaGuy]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

You know why GM is selling HUMMER? Because no one wants to buy one.

2. You don't need HUMMER to make a Wrangler competitor. What you do need is vision. Toyota tried with the FJ. Result: too big and too thirsty. People stayed away in droves. What are the odds GM could produce an SUV that isn't too heavy, and too big? I don't think they've done it yet, so I'm not hopeful.

The FJ failed because when you took it off road the frame cracked. Kind of an important oversight when it's marketed specifically at that demographic.

For the past few years people were going to the Hummer dealerships for H3s (and recently the H3T). They only were selling maybe 150+- H2s when monthly sales for the H3 were in the thousands.

GM's issue is that in order to platform engineer Hummer vehicles into their platform lineups they had to modify the platforms to prevent frame flex and other issues, which the only way to do it cheaply is throw more metal and steel on it to stiffen it up.

Perfect example is the H3. The curb weight of a H3 is 1400 lbs heavier than a Chevy Colorado. Same platform, tranny, and engine, but 33% heavier. GM was so stuck on using the same platform to engineer it that weight, and as a byproduct, fuel economy would suffer.

If the platform engineering teams would have actually planned and designed with the more rugged applications in mind first, that weight would have been reduced, which would aid fuel economy, and also strengthen the more economical models for use.

[zmanjr]

Originally Posted by H3AlphaGuy

Actually GM brought it over as part of "GoodGM", so they can get the 100-200 million for it.

from what i read it is part of bad gm....

[Whitesky]

It's a shame what's happened over the last 2 years. It was a great brand.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

HUMMER isn't criticized for the H3. They are criticized for the H2 and the H1 before it. If the most efficient vehicle you make gets 14/18 you deserve to be the posterboy for inefficiency because, well, you are.

who criticizes the h1? people who don understand that its a purpose built vehicle- mpg be dammed. the h2 isnt even rated by the epa because its basically a 3/4 ton truck. these vehicles arent meant for good mpg. how do you expect them to perform the way it does off road and get good mpg? no vehicle can be an awesome off road performer and get good mileage.

front and rear lockers, 33 inch all terrains, v8, foot and a half of ground clearance doesnt say good mileage no matter what you do. and a hybrid? have fun with that in the middle of the woods on a trail.

the only people who criticize are the ones who would never ever buy them, and they also happen to be the most vocal.

[zmanjr]

Originally Posted by chakis24

who criticizes the h1? people who don understand that its a purpose built vehicle- mpg be dammed. the h2 isnt even rated by the epa because its basically a 3/4 ton truck. these vehicles arent meant for good mpg. how do you expect them to perform the way it does off road and get good mpg? no vehicle can be an awesome off road performer and get good mileage.

front and rear lockers, 33 inch all terrains, v8, foot and a half of ground clearance doesnt say good mileage no matter what you do. and a hybrid? have fun with that in the middle of the woods on a trail.

the only people who criticize are the ones who would never ever buy them, and they also happen to be the most vocal.

to be fair hummer got a bad rap from people like Ed Bagley Jr. and the rest of save the planet, Hummer is killing us all type of people. Hummers at least on the outside looked different then what they were based on, however the insides could be a bit more different. But Hummers were and are what i call an extreme Jeep.... Hummers H1 only took off after the 1st Gulf war. If it was not for the 1st Gulf war Hummer may not have been apart of GM...

[vcs2600]

Originally Posted by chakis24

who criticizes the h1? people who don understand that its a purpose built vehicle- mpg be dammed.

Purpose-built for hollywood celebrities and trashy prom night limo conversions maybe. If you think the sales appeal was offroad capability, then lol.

[desmo9]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

Yeah. Everyone knows Asians can't make good cars. Like Lexus. No one buys those pieces of crap. And Jag is totally dead. And by totally dead I mean its getting more positive reviews than it has in years.

Yeah, the Chinese -- the subject of this post -- make stellar cars. Where's Lexus come into this really? OK, I said Asian. Can you not connect dots to the subject being discussed or do you like going out on whatever limb helps you make a point?

Jag reviews are rooted in journalists looking at the car's merits. And for now, the merits stack up cuz the essence of the company's still intact and the products are better (even if they look rather mainstream now). So now, let's see if the Jag-buying folks care whether the Chinese are pulling the strings. That's what matters in the sales game. My vote is, yes, Chinese ownership will kill the brand, cuz Chinese are still associated with making junk.

[wpageabc]

Its going to be interesting to see it unfold...

Or fold.