What do you picture when you think of the Hummer H1? Probably Arnold Schwarzenegger, the U.S. military, or this chase scene.
You might also envision a vehicle with a massive, powerful engine and dimensions the size of an office building.
Humorist and automotive writer Doug DeMuro will correct your eyesight. He bought a Hummer H1 and was kind enough to upload an informative video about it.
It turns out the box on wheels he purchased came with a 350 cubic-inch gas V8 under its enormous hood and produces less horsepower (190) than a Chevy Malibu. Ouch.
Double ouch for the fact that the H1 has surprisingly narrow rear seats with little leg room and a cramped front passenger foot well. (At least that ridiculously wide center tunnel is broad enough a platform for board games.) Once DeMuro points out that the H1 is narrower than today’s full-size pickups (with mirrors included in the measurements), that lack of space makes a little more sense. Just a little.
On the other hand, the rear storage area is spacious. Parallel parking the H1 is a cinch, too, thanks to an overall length that’s shorter than that of a Toyota Camry. You have to see it to believe it. Get an eyeful in the video below.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
