If You Still Own a Hummer H2, Hang Onto It
GMC brought back the excitement of the Hummer but in a whole new light. The GMC Hummer EV is a massive electric vehicle that takes away what’s most hated about the original Hummer models. Derived from the military’s Humvee, the Hummer brand created the H1, H2, and H3 before it was shut down. The new craze around the all-electric Hummer signals a change in the market, and existing Hummer H2 owners would be wise to hold onto their massive military-style SUVs.
Why should Hummer H2 owners keep their gas-guzzling SUVs?
The recent return of the Hummer name brings higher value estimates for the Hummer H2. Recently, low-mileage examples have gone for more than $70,000 on auction sites like Bring a Trailer. That’s much more than the H2 cost when it was new.
What makes this Hummer SUV popular and valuable?
The Hummer H2’s popularity comes from its smaller size than the H1. The smaller footprint, along with its off-road capabilities, gives some owners a taste of the boxy military Humvees U.S. soldiers drove in the Middle East. This military-style SUV has increased in value not only because of its cult following but also because there will never be another SUV like it.
Although the Hummer H2’s gas mileage never crept too high into the double digits, the popularity of the new GMC Hummer EV truck and SUV models has boosted early Hummer vehicles’ values.
Why were Hummer SUVs all the rage?
The H1 and H2 were unabashedly American bravado at their best. These massive beasts screamed, “Look at me! I’m huge, and I love it!” or something like that. Most off-road SUVs require the addition of lift kits, larger tires, and bigger wheels to create more ground clearance, but not the H2.
The Hummer H2 came with stock 35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, 12 inches of ground clearance, a 42-degree approach angle, and a 37-degree departure angle. This SUV could go from the factory to the roughest trails and tackle them easily.
Is the H2 reliable?
Some consider this version of the Hummer SUV among the worst vehicles ever made, but it was never considered unreliable. Indeed, for ruggedness and go-anywhere attitude, it’s hard to beat. That said, the annual maintenance and repair costs cost some owners as much as $745 per year. Still, if this SUV is becoming more valuable, that investment could be worth it in the end.
Why did this SUV fail?
The Hummer H2’s failure was a simple formula of bad economics. Thanks to skyrocketing gas prices in 2007, followed by the global automotive recession of 2008, Hummer was doomed. Eventually, General Motors shut down the brand in 2010.
What is the worst Hummer H2 ever?
Although most of these military-derived brutes were basically the same, some owners modified their Hummer SUVs to stand out in a crowd of H2s (as if there were such a thing). The Drive found an owner who added extra lights, a massive body kit, and additional decals. One decal looks strange because “Hummer H2” is mirrored from the other side, causing it to read backward as “2H REMMUH,” which is just odd. It could be the worst H2 on the planet.
Could the Hummer H2 cross the stage at some of the most prestigious car auctions? Anything is possible.
