Hummer H2 2006 Overview
Hmmmmmeeeer. Where is it.
The Hummer, a civilian vehicle based on the military Humvee, is one big bad boy.
This is the car that became as famous for the Gulf War as California Governor Arnie Schwarzenegger, who has a collection of them.
As we learned while testing the H2 Hummer at Darlington Park Raceway, on the northern tip of the Gold Coast, this is a big boy toy.
From a cult standpoint, the Hummer is almost as close to the iconic Harley as you get on four wheels. We test the car on and off the track with Corvette Queensland, which converts cars to right hand drive and also sells them in Queensland.
Three Gold Coaster racers took a dip in $142,000 worth of cars. The luxury package will set you back $15,000 more.
Keep a supply of fuel: 6.0-liter Vortec GM Gen 237 V111 engine with 8kW output of about 20 liters per 100 km. This is because it is pushing about three tons of a vehicle.
It's unlikely that a person buying a Hummer will pay too much attention to fuel prices, so refilling a tank for about $150 is unlikely to raise blood pressure too much.
In 1992, Big Arnie saw the potential of a private buyer for a car and asked the US authorities to sell him one.
Those who follow in the footsteps of Arnie will receive a car that enjoys well-deserved respect on the roads. And, despite its size, it manages well.
There's a fair amount of body roll in corners, and you need to tighten up a bit.
The V8 is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with a shifter that resembles the power regulator on an airplane.
It has a large interior with bucket seats up front, three seats in the second row, and an optional single seat in the third row. The front seats are electrically adjustable in eight directions.
Surprisingly, the H2 is easy to handle and not intimidating at all. The turning circle is small for a car of this size at 13.5m and maneuvering is easy, though you have to watch out for the car's width, which is 2063mm excluding mirrors.
People accustomed to driving a LandCruiser or Patrol will immediately feel comfortable.
While it may not be able to jump over tall buildings in one leap, it certainly does, can traverse more than half a meter of water, climb 406mm steps and can easily reach 140km/h on the main straight at Darlington Park. .
Off-road it is a beast, but with some drawbacks. The sheer size means it is sometimes difficult to see the caterpillar directly in front of the vehicle. Engine braking on steep descents is below average at best, even at low rpm with first gear locked. Ground clearance, approach and exit angles and the ramp are huge.
Both on and off the track, the trim of the car groans like a sailboat in inclement weather. But there's something about the Hummer that makes you want more... more time behind the wheel.
