Why Are Most H2 Owners So Ridiculously Defensive?

[Playdrv4me]

Alright, let's get this out of the way now.

The H2 is a TERRIBLE choice for SERIOUS rock crawling or any competitive hobby 4x4-ing for that matter. Being on a Tahoe platform is *NOT* the reason why however. In fact, the H2 is truly a hybrid (ha ha) of a few different platforms. The Tahoe platform is technically T820, while the trucks are T800. The H2 has a GM *2500* BASED FRONT end. In other words, the front half is all HEAVY DUTY GM truck platform (in addition to Suburban and Avalanche 2500). The rear, while still a standard 1500 based design, is beefed up handle the 8,600LB GVWR of this massive beast. This truck also features a different 4WD setup with locking differentials and special underbody plating. Trust me, the H2 needn't make ANY apologies for it's HARDWARE.

The PROBLEM with taking the H2 seriously is it's sheer BULK and GIRTH. A Range Rover, Wrangler, or Grand Cherokee would tear the H2 a new arsehole IMMEDIATELY on ANY kind of trail that required even SEMI precision to get across. It is the truest automotive definition of BULL IN A CHINA SHOP. The thing is too big to get out of it's OWN way, let alone boulders and crevaces.

What alot of people don't realize by the way, is that when the H2 debuted it was the RARE bang for the buck in the full-size off-road capable category. The Range Rover, LX470 and G500 were all at least 20,000.00 more, and the H2's starting MSRP was only around 48k. I also don't believe GM ever intended for the truck to compete in the luxury full-size market, as it would have (and does) take market share from the Escalade sold right alongside it in most markets.

Pretty much what you're left with is towing, OPEN off-road trails, beach combing or light mudding as the most diverse things you can use it for. Make no mistake however, the H2 packs serious hardware, it just can't do much with it.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

Alright, let's get this out of the way now.

The H2 is a TERRIBLE choice for SERIOUS rock crawling or any competitive hobby 4x4-ing for that matter. Being on a Tahoe platform is *NOT* the reason why however. In fact, the H2 is truly a hybrid (ha ha) of a few different platforms. The Tahoe platform is technically T820, while the trucks are T800. The H2 has a GM *2500* BASED FRONT end. In other words, the front half is all HEAVY DUTY GM truck platform (in addition to Suburban and Avalanche 2500). The rear, while still a standard 1500 based design, is beefed up handle the 8,600LB GVWR of this massive beast. This truck also features a different 4WD setup with locking differentials and special underbody plating. Trust me, the H2 needn't make ANY apologies for it's HARDWARE.

The PROBLEM with taking the H2 seriously is it's sheer BULK and GIRTH. A Range Rover, Wrangler, or Grand Cherokee would tear the H2 a new arsehole IMMEDIATELY on ANY kind of trail that required even SEMI precision to get across. It is the truest automotive definition of BULL IN A CHINA SHOP. The thing is too big to get out of it's OWN way, let alone boulders and crevaces.

What alot of people don't realize by the way, is that when the H2 debuted it was the RARE bang for the buck in the full-size off-road capable category. The Range Rover, LX470 and G500 were all at least 20,000.00 more, and the H2's starting MSRP was only around 48k. I also don't believe GM ever intended for the truck to compete in the luxury full-size market, as it would have (and does) take market share from the Escalade sold right alongside it in most markets.

Pretty much what you're left with is towing, OPEN off-road trails, beach combing or light mudding as the most diverse things you can use it for. Make no mistake however, the H2 packs serious hardware, it just can't do much with it.

The very largest share of the off-road mud trucks spend the major share of their life doing the equivilant of cruising up and down Sunset Boulevard.

[Jesda]

Originally Posted by eldorado99

This thread is so ******* funny it makes me want to MERGE without LOOKING!!

FAMILY GUY ROCKS!

[AMGoff]

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

Alright, let's get this out of the way now.

The H2 is a TERRIBLE choice for SERIOUS rock crawling or any competitive hobby 4x4-ing for that matter. Being on a Tahoe platform is *NOT* the reason why however. In fact, the H2 is truly a hybrid (ha ha) of a few different platforms. The Tahoe platform is technically T820, while the trucks are T800. The H2 has a GM *2500* BASED FRONT end. In other words, the front half is all HEAVY DUTY GM truck platform (in addition to Suburban and Avalanche 2500). The rear, while still a standard 1500 based design, is beefed up handle the 8,600LB GVWR of this massive beast. This truck also features a different 4WD setup with locking differentials and special underbody plating. Trust me, the H2 needn't make ANY apologies for it's HARDWARE.

The PROBLEM with taking the H2 seriously is it's sheer BULK and GIRTH. A Range Rover, Wrangler, or Grand Cherokee would tear the H2 a new arsehole IMMEDIATELY on ANY kind of trail that required even SEMI precision to get across. It is the truest automotive definition of BULL IN A CHINA SHOP. The thing is too big to get out of it's OWN way, let alone boulders and crevaces.

What alot of people don't realize by the way, is that when the H2 debuted it was the RARE bang for the buck in the full-size off-road capable category. The Range Rover, LX470 and G500 were all at least 20,000.00 more, and the H2's starting MSRP was only around 48k. I also don't believe GM ever intended for the truck to compete in the luxury full-size market, as it would have (and does) take market share from the Escalade sold right alongside it in most markets.

Pretty much what you're left with is towing, OPEN off-road trails, beach combing or light mudding as the most diverse things you can use it for. Make no mistake however, the H2 packs serious hardware, it just can't do much with it.

So then... what you're saying, is basically what I said... right? lol... So that means I'm really not missing anything here... it rides on a modified Tahoe platform with all of it's modifications coming straight from the parts bin, ie - nothing special. It's also too big and entirely too heavy to be taken seriously as a true off-roader.

That's just about the gist of it all, right?

[Jesda]

You guys should start dating and write technical manuals together for a living. I guess dating isn't really necessary, but you might as well.

[Playdrv4me]

Originally Posted by AMGoff

So then... what you're saying, is basically what I said... right? lol... So that means I'm really not missing anything here... it rides on a modified Tahoe platform with all of it's modifications coming straight from the parts bin, ie - nothing special. It's also too big and entirely too heavy to be taken seriously as a true off-roader.

That's just about the gist of it all, right?

I wasn't necessarily refuting or confirming your original point, which was entirely valid. What I was trying to dis-spell was the myth that its *just* a Tahoe with big wheels and tires, which is what seems to be the consensus here, and it's simply not the case. As per usual, there is more than meets the eye there.

[Playdrv4me]

Originally Posted by dkozloski

I never drove a Jeep that didn't steer like it'd been wrecked. They're the only vehicles I ever drove that I had to unwind the steering coming out of a corner. There's not enough caster or something similar wrong with the front end geometry.

Alot of modern Jeeps have that problem, they got it pretty well resolved with the WJ Grand Cherokee, but the ZJs were notorious for steering slop and complete numbness on-center.

The T800s arent much better though, I've yet to meet one that drives straight.

[slk230mb]

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

I wasn't necessarily refuting or confirming your original point, which was entirely valid. What I was trying to dis-spell was the myth that its *just* a Tahoe with big wheels and tires, which is what seems to be the consensus here, and it's simply not the case. As per usual, there is more than meets the eye there.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

If it wasn't for the hip-hop/MTV crowd, the H2 wouldn't exist.

The Escalade even moreso

[dkozloski]

Escalade= gussied-up Suburban.