Overall, I don't like to think of myself as a hater...let people drive what suits them best. But the other day as I was driving around I saw yet another Hummer H2, it occurred to me perhaps the H2 is the MINI's biggest nemesis. It represents everything opposite of the MINI (ie. big, slow, bad gas mileage, ***hole drivers, excessive mass and consumption of the American consumer, etc, etc...). I absolutely despise the H2 , so its been refreshing to be the proud new owner of a MINI. And if the MINI were to have an enemy (which its hard to believe), I believe it would be Hummer H2s.

P.S. If you've never checked out fuh2.com, its a great site for all H2 haters...

 

I had a H2 a few months back...it never molested my Mini while sharing the driveway...

 

Must be tough living in a binary universe. Gotta have enemies? What for? What do you care what other people drive? How does someone else's Hummer threaten you?

 

I disagree the MINI has no enemies. However I did see a recent H2 commercial where someone cut in front of a woman and her child on the playground and so she bought an H3. It still don't get the logic behind it but it comes across as just about anything is the enemy of a Hummer (maybe because they killed off their function product).

The MINI doesn't change depend upon how other feel, the Hummer is automotive equivalent of a bully that just doesn't understand life unless they belittle others. So different yes, enemies no. IMO

 

I think our enemies are teens in souped-up Hondas, Mazdas or other heaps that are more about bling, graphics and excessive exhaust noise than, oh, HANDLING actually. Seems like every time I pull up next to one at a light, they take my mere presence as a challenge (must be the agressive color). In less than three months of ownership I've seen two cars practically drive off freeway ramps trying to blast past me (sending up clouds of gravel and crap as they drift out of line) and one car that almost hit a parked Jeep trying to sneak past me on the right on a one-lane road. On the RIGHT! Thank God I was watching my mirrors and hit the brakes, or all three of us would have been toast.

H2's aren't a problem - before they even think about accelerating, I'm already gone, and most of the time the drivers seem to busy loading up a DVD on the installed Home Theater system to notice me.

 

I actually test-drove an H2 before ordering my MINI. I don't necessarily have anything against them; it was really nice, drove really well considering how massive it is. But in the end, a MINI was a more practical purchase for me (not to mention the love I felt for MINIs and the lukewarm feelings I had for H2s, at best). I think it's to each their own.

 

Do you feel better now?

Get it out of your system?


Now guess who the H2 owners hate? Well actually, they probably don't hate, MINIs probably don't even register to them as even existing.

 

I actually worry about this a LOT more... One of those things could probably roll right over me without spilling a beverage...

 

The solution to H2's is forthcoming.

$4/gal gasoline.

 

You are SO wrong. For all the SUV haters, Bashers, etc. Think real hard about this.

While they drive in their $50 - 60K SUVs, do you really thing $5 gas or $8 gas is going to stop them. Think again.

For many, thats just supper money. while the little car whiners cried over $3 gas and most likely $4 gas.

Seriously, think hard about disposable income for those ppl vice average Joe.

 

Actually H2 has a solution...baby H4...Hot! Jeep size...

 

I'm with chowsie on this one.

There aren't too many SUV owners that are worried about gas prices. If they were, the would have though about that when they bought it.

Why do you think it has the estimated anual fuel cost on the sticker?

 

Most of the H2 drivers I see are leasing. Trying to keep up with the Joneses....facing a balloon payment on their McMansion...decent income but still one paycheck away from bankruptcy.

 

Even if they are leasing, they are making huge payments much more than any MINI payments would be.

I am not making this up. I have talking to many owners of those huge FORD thingies that keep getting big as dump trucks. Now maybe its the part of the country but the answer is always the same. .... They don't care. Another $30 a week is, literally supper money for two. Another $60/week is supper money for one night for four (without booze).

Do you really think another $60 a week is going to kill them. Your dreaming. Meanwhile, Average Joe who might go out to dinner once a month for an occasion may be hurting so think twice about these kinds of things. Money follows money.

 

That may be true for some, but overall, the decline in SUV sales in the U.S. over the past year has been drastic. While higher gas prices have not affect or changed the driving habits of many affluent SUV owners, remember, it wasn't just the rich driving full-size SUVs. This accounts for many of the financial struggles of companies like Ford and GM who put all their efforts into making SUVs while failing to build good smaller cars. Now many consumers are going to Honda and Toyota who are having a heyday while Ford and GM are suffering.

And yes, someone else's Hummer does threaten me when its tailgating me and driving wrecklessly in such a large vehicle that many average large SUV drivers don't know how to properly handle. From my experience, large SUVs are for the most part, excessive and unnecessary. Thats not to say that some people don't need them, but for most, probably not...

 

I've seen two of these commercials. Both imply the same thing if you feel stressed on abused buy an H2. Feel empowered to go crush someone. I rather like the feel good about myself and drive a car that's fun, not a weapon.

 

It all generally comes down to the drivers attitude. A MINI driver could be obnoxious and create enemies by chalenging drivers at a red light for example (*cough* which is highley unlikely ). A car doesn't necessairly define who you are (you can't judge a book by its cover). You can only be enemies with specific people and you can't show that "hate" towards others just because they drive the same kind of vehicle as the person who was obnoxious.

I have to agree that the H3 advertisement does send out a bad message though.

 

I never really saw the H2 as part of the same continuum as the MINI. They are in their own hermetically sealed universe and I don't speak the language.

I AM really bothered by the new H2 television advertisements, though. There are two out now - the first was the woman with the baby stroller who has someone cut her out of line, she gets mad and buys a hummer (grabbing the keys out of the sales person's hands) and hits the road in a righteous funk, finally "getting her girl on" (as I think the copy read). Unspoken is whether she cuts down some pedestrians out of spite or just stalks the person who wronged her so that she can crush her beneath her new vehicle....

There is another one with a guy on a sporting field - but I didn't have the chance to see the whole thing yet.

Both commercials share a basic message - you are too nice; come and buy a Hummer so that you can be an ***hole just like all the people who are doing you wrong. Nice is lonely; the ***hole club is very large and we all drive Hummers.

Well, maybe that's just my interpretation of the commercial....

Bill

 

I think your way off base for two reason ...

1. GM is betting the house on Tahoes and related SUVs to bring them out of debt. Maybe GM "dont get it" but thats their game plan

2. Take a look at ALL the new SUVs out there and just come out. Some example ...SUVs going away ...

CROSSOVERS is where the money is. Softroaders, not hardcore 4 x 4s. While the Xterras and FJs and Jeeps have their place if you lived out west in the Red Rock country, people finally understand the need for crossovers built on car chasis like the Hondas and Toyotas. Not clear GM or Ford gets that yet. Minivans have had it ... there time has come and gone ... there is no point in NOT getting 4 wheel drive and still have the space to haul ppl.

If these profitable car makers didn't think they could make money on selling SUVs, you can take it to the bank they wouldnt be introducting new ones.

 

I agree
I agree with chow...If you buy a 50k plus vehichle gas is still a small percent of your income, Shoot it better be a small percent of your income period if you are driving around a brand new car that is depreciating like a rock.....How far beyond thier means they are trying to live is just as applicible to MINI owners as SUV owners. Most people who have new cars regardless of cost really cant afford them to begin with.

I think the real problem lies more with people who think that a car is an extension of thier image and are image obsessed. These are the people who feel threatened by the image of a Hummer and "hate" SUV's and there seems to be a vocal minority in the MINI community....These people need to grow out of that High school mentality of "you are what you drive"

 

Wow ... reverse phsychology .... I love it

And I think you got it right. I think the MINI owners who dislike SUV drivers (not the SUV owners who use them as intended ... go offroad, haul crap) but the soccer moms in the H2s who never see wet snow ... its an image thing. Soccer Mom can afford it ... is there some jeolousy thing going on here?

BTW, I cannot afford a Hummer and would never buy one anyway but a FJ sure looks sweet.

 

Agreed ImagoX - same thing almost happened to me last night. I've had more people seem to be "challenged" by my car and try to race it, then have had any problem with specific models or makes to direct rage towards. The second day I had BuzzB I almost had a woman in a Yukon Denali go right over the back of me, as she was so engaged in a cell phone conversation. Again, she probably could have run over me and not even spilled a drop of her Starbucks!

 

I can't stand that commercial.

 

It's also my interpretation, Bill. I don't understand car companies promoting vengefulness. We are all moving along in potential weapons of mass destruction...why try to make that seem cool?

To me, the ones to be most concerned about are bad drivers, whatever they are driving. The ones not totally focused on driving, but multi-tasking as they drive, are serious road hazards to us all. :impatient

 

I've frankly never understood the "holier than thou" attitude of so many MINI owners! What difference to you does it make WHAT someone else chooses to drive? HOW they drive can impact your life and you may have room to complain there, but, idiots can drive like idiots in either one!

Take me for example. My daily driver is a Chevy K1500 Z71 Extended Cab pickup. My fun car is a JCW MCS. Am I an idiot in the truck and an angel in the MINI? I'll leave that for others to decide, but, its more likely to be the reverse!