Should Eleanor be in the Registry?

[bmalone]

There should NOT be any limit on the number of toys a man can have--that is just flat wrong. Me thinks you have some coaching to do at your house, Evan.

[REAL 1]

Jamo: You had to mention the H2. Thats all I here about from her. Probably will be the next tow vehicle. You might see it towing the trailer at the Fling. Can you get them equiped with a gun turret?

Keith: I was also amazed at the traffic down there now. Its actually worse then around here.

It sure was a great place to grow up as a kid. Memories.

[KeithBrown]

Originally posted by bmalone


There should NOT be any limit on the number of toys a man can have--that is just flat wrong. Me thinks you have some coaching to do at your house, Evan.

Evan - after you successfully negotiate with your wife, please come on over and work the same magic on my wife.

Keith

[agro1]

Evan - the H2 looks pretty cool...But for the extra $$ I would get a Yukon Denali XL, have the delaership put a supercharger on it (covered under warranty) and have a great tow vehicle with 450hp...H2 is great if you do allot of offroading and will actually put all that it has to use, but when I see people driving them on the freeway loaded up with groceries it makes me wanna puke...Wasted $$ on status if you ask me...

My reg Yukon with a supercharger pulls my SPF like there is nothing there...And I have about $20k leftover for race gas

[Jamo]

agro1
The Denali is nice. Heck my wife wants a new Expedition or Navigator--all because of the damn electric rear seat--don't know why she grumbles about lifting the 80lb rear seat in and out.

But a black, or dark gun metal H2...pulling a Cobra on an open trailor...oh yeah. Better yet, a Land Rover Defender 110.

[Chaplin]

I might start a different post about this, but since you guys are talking about here, I might as well see what your thoughts are.

I want to get a vehicle to tow the ERA (already started working on the wife), but I don't need anything over the top. I might tow a couple times of year- and maybe a boat on occasion (working on the wife for that too). The other rub is that I just bought a new car last year and really can't justify buying an expensive tow vehicle at this time (wife says why do you need to tow the cobra, won't it drive- Can you believe her logic )

Anyway, the question is what's the most economical tow vehicle that I could get that would do the job and also serve as a decent daily driver, grocery getter, etc.? I was looking at Explorers, but am open to other suggestions.

Thanks

[agro1]

Chaplin - I don't know about you, but I will never buy another car that has anything less then a V-8 in it, especially an SUV...I know you can get a V-8 in the Explorer, but it has been my experience that they are not made for crap and start to fall apart, develop squeeks, rattles etc...And I'm sure those things would start to happen much soon under the stress of towing.

I would suggest getting a used GMC Yukon if you really want to save some $$$. I lease mine, beat the living crap out if it and turn it in and toss them then keys and get another...I don't need the added hassle of owning something I beat on, the Cobra takes up all my time already...

[REAL 1]

Argo: You are right. The H2 is a status thing. No doubt. Most owners are probably scared to death to get a scratch in it. But they are neat.

My only concern with the H2 in the towing department is the wheelbase. Is it long enough to tow an 8' x 20' trailer?

I can't get my wife a supercharged Denali. I don't want her having a car that faster than mine.


Chaplin: We have a Suburban 2500 with the 8 liter engine. Great all around vehicle. I would definitely say you need at a minimum a Suburban or Expedition. Something in that range to tow a car trailer. But I'm not an expert on this subject.

Jamo: The Land Rover is cool. I have a new Land Rover Discovery Kalahari edition. Very nice truck. I love it. Built like a rock. Sold the Wrangler which I really liked also to buy the LR. The Jeep really was not practical for hockey and everyday use.

[Pete C]

Chaplin,

Well, let me tell you how it worked, or failed to work, for me. I knew I was going to buy a race prepared ‘66 Mustang coupe for the track. So, as a preemptive strike, I bought my wife diamond ear ring$ for Christmas. Then about a week later I bought the track car, with her blessing. About a week after that, she told me she was sick of her Rav 4 and was thinking of a Toyota 4 Runner. I tried to talk her out of it especially when it was clear that leather $eats were part of the bargain. However, with a 65 GT 350 clone as a daily driver, an ERA S/C in the garage (engine rebuilt over the holiday$) and a new track car (purchased over the holiday$), it was impossible to take the high ground in any discussion of practicality. At that point I figured it was time to increase my losses and went for the 4 Runner $port with V8 and tow package. Having done that, I began to reevaluate retirement plans. The final crippling straw was that the $hake roof began to leak and the roof will be replaced later this month. I now have neat track cars, a cool tow vehicle, rebuilt Cobra engine, soon a new roof, plans to work at least another 10 years and no money for entry fees this summer. I see bake sales in my future!

Cheers, Pete C

[agro1]

Evan - Status, yes...Are they bad a$$, yes indeed. Our family used to have one at our "farm" in the Ozarks - Original one that was a "utility" vehicle, snorkle and all, for crossing small rivers/streams on the property, pulling stumps, towing rocks, wood, debris, etc...We tried our damdest to break that thing and couldn't - and my 4 brothers and I can break a lead hammer...

[REAL 1]

Do you think the H2 is as durable as the H1? You had an H1 right?

[HIQ]

Evan,
H2 is built on the Suburban 2500 platform. It is a nice car, but not "Military Grade". The H1 is as tough as you can get. GM is in the process of turning the Hummer name into a complete franchise. A new smaller (H3?) is on the way soon.

[agro1]

Yes - It was an H1. We got it from an Army auction at Ft. Leonardwood military base which our property borders in Missouri.
Anyway - it was pretty much bare of any amenities, especially compared to today's H2, but it was absolutly bulletproof - literally. I have the shell casings and bullet marks to prove it .
As far as the durability of the H2 compares to the H1, I would think drivetrain and suspension are just as durable if not moreso comparing the 2 civilian models. I have been under both and they are very very stout. 90% of them will never be used the way they are supposed to, but they can really take a beating without ever flinching. I do not think the new H2 can take the amount of abuse the H1's did though...there are just too many creature comforts built into them nowdays that can break, but it is still one tuff bastard...But then again, you haveto take into account who they're marketing the new H2's for...I know I could break that thing less than an hour. But I TRY to break things that are built to be "tuff"...It's all relative.



Ditto to what HIQ said...the new ones are by no means "Military grade"...The H1 that we have, you can hit a tree 12' in diameter going 50 mph and snap it off at the base, and never know you hit anything...They are made for that...and ours has the gun turret if anyone knows where I can pick up a 50 cal.

[REAL 1]

Thanks for the info.

[TerrysSPF]

Evan - Go for the H2, they are sweet! The dealer near me can't keep them in stock! I drove one when they first came in and haven't seen one there since.
Another nice SUV, especially for those looking for a tow vehicle, is the Toyota Sequoia. My parents just got one and they are awsome / well built, and tow ANYTHING you can throw at it. My father-in-law just bought a Tahoe w/ all the trimmings. I don't think it's as nice as the Sequoia though.
I just have a Jeep Cherokee that I putz around in. I was hoping I could get away with using it as a tow vehicle (especially for a light weight Cobra) but I'm not sure. Only has a 4.0 six and 200HP / 225 lbs tq. My wife had a Range Rover that she loved, but I traded it in on her 540I Sport (that she doesn't complain about). She has mentioned she "sort of" misses being "up high" in the truck, so I may work her over and try and get her back into a SUV (for HER......not for my towing purposes, of course!). Would love an H2 but she thinks they're ugly! She likes the Infinity QX4, but thats another 6 banger (although 240HP). BMW makes a nice truck with the same engine we have in our 540I. In fact they make one thats 4.6 (vs. 4.4) which is a de-tuned M5 engine with about 350HP! That things flies, but I'm not sure if it would make a nice tow vehicle.
After looking around for quite sometime now, I hate to say it but, the Import vehicles kick American vehicles/ SUV's butts! Especially in the interrior trim department - no contest! U.S cars / trucks are just too cheaply / plastic crap made. Every time I touch a knob I'm afraid it's gonna break!

[agro1]

Terry SPF - Get into an accident in some Jap SUV piece of crap and see how nicely the quality steel frame they use bends like their bamboo...Then tell me how useful those fancy interior trim pieces were...There is no replacement for good'ol American steel. And furthermore, I think in an SUV, what one should really be concerned about is the suspension, drivetrain and powerplant...Show me an import SUV thas has more towing capacity than then new Dodge Hemi super duty with leather, burled walnut, heated seats, auto climate control, CD changer, etc, etc , etc...Sounds to me like you need a regular old passanger car if those are what really concern you...

I do agree with you though about the BMW X5 4.6is - it is bad a$$, but it's also about $80,000 - and German...There is no way in hell that X5 is twice the car that a GMC Yukon is.

[Excaliber]

I think the H2 makes a helluva statement, kinda like a Cobra makes one. Other cars might be faster, handle better, whatever, it's the Cobra people want to check out and love to see.

Against the H2,,,anything esle, better or not, is still "just another SUV". Or like the Cobra, anything else is "just another sports car".

Ernie

[agro1]

Ernie - Well said...

[REAL 1]

TerrySPF: We have a Suburban 2500 with the big 8 liter engine. We love it. It is built solid as a rock ( sounds like the commercial I know) and gobs of power and it tows great. Beautiful interior, leather, rides great, can go out with the family, shopping, hockey, towing, lumber supplies, gardening. It does it all and reliably and without a whimper.

Up until recently when the Japs started making bigger SUVs the American trucks had no competition in my view. The Seqouia is nice. So is the big Lexus.

The Japs build a great car now. But in the truck department I'll stick with a Ford, Chevy or GMC. No one builds trucks like the good ol' USA.

The H2 is probably next in the driveway. Probably will be selling the Suburban. Will miss it. Great truck.

The main problem with the Jeep Cherokee is not so much the power its the wheelbase. This is my only concern with the H2. Its wheelbase seems shorter than the Suburban. A long wheelbase gives you more stability when towing.

[agro1]

Even - The H2 is built on a Suburban platform - same wheelbase...It just looks smaller cause fo the sheer mass of the huge body on the H2...The H2 even has the exact motor that comes in the Yukon Denali, Vortec 6.0L. It ain't no 454 like you got in the 'Burb though man...