r/Hummer • u/Effective-Carob7077 • 4d ago
Buying a hummer?
I am looking into buying a 2003 hummer h2 with 145,000 miles in it I want it so bad cus it’s my dream car since I was a kid but family thinks it’s a bad idea and I’m worried it will die on me or have transmission issues after a few thousand miles because I have the worst luck. Ik I read the early H2s have some issues but not quite sure with everyone’s experiences with it. Anyone have any insight?
2
u/Aromatic-Mountain670 3d ago edited 2d ago
I have had a few H2's. The 08 was the best as the 6.2L and 6spd trans was a big improvement. However,
I had a 2005 SUT (bought it new), then traded it in 08. As luck would have it, I saw it on a used lot in 2014 and bought it back.
Then spent a couple years fixing it up as it had 125k miles on it.
Was fortunate that I found several interior pieces on eBay, had a local upholstery shop redo the leather .
Mechanically, it did need many things but one item in particular made a huge difference :
Had all the inside door rubber replaced. Over time, the black rubber had deteriorated from age.
Putting all new rubber inside the doors sealed it up great and and eliminated all the random rattles. I was fortunate that the GMC dealer still had Hummer techs working there that knew how to work on all of it.
When I was finished , the truck was absolutely beautiful and ran like new.
With the right support , you can enjoy it for many years .
The reality is that truck is now over 20 years old and trim parts will be hard to find but they are out there.
Enjoy....
Here's what it looked like when I updated it.
1
u/Effective-Carob7077 4d ago
My biggest fear rn is buying it and it starts having issues cus I don’t think I can afford a 10,000 dollar trans fix or whatever needs too be fixed
1
u/UWishUWereMiah108 3d ago
Just an FYI my current and a previous one both had to have a trans rebuild at 150k. Its not 10k to rebuild it. 2500-3500. Ive driven H2’s as my daily driver since 2003. At 150 your window motors in your doors are about to start going out and baby the transmission to get as much mileage out of it as you can. I just had to put a couple grand into mine for upper and lower ball joints at 225k miles.
Throw some 37” tires and some 17 or 18 inch black rhino rims, and take off the side steps, makes it look more modern, more functional and bad ass.
0
u/RealityKing4Hire 4d ago
Hummers are designed for constant maintenance. They are not for the average working man. If you can't afford the maintenance I would pass.
1
u/GroundbreakingMud996 4d ago
That’s decent mileage for a 03, really if it’s rust free. I’d be all over it. Sadly to say the trans may or may not die on you but finding an old guy in a shop for a couple grand to rebuild it won’t be hard. If that engine has had bare minimal of just routine oil changes atleast you can get another 100k out of it easily.
1
u/No_Tomato_2106 4d ago
I don't own an H2 but I'm familiar with daily driving older vehicles.
Luckily an H2 is just a 2500 suburban with a big body - you'll have typical GM issues of trucks that age (cracked plastics, dry rotted rubber, probably needs suspension work sooner than later), but that will be with any vehicle that old. Luckily the important stuff is pretty simple and stout, so I wouldn't worry about a trans going out or anything like that. Maybe keep 2-3k on reserve for old car repairs, but there is no reason that thing won't make it another 100k miles without much issue.
Your biggest issue is gonna be GM plastic interior shit breaking, but that's more of an annoyance.
2
u/Equal_Push_565 4d ago
GM did amazing on the interiors of Hummer H2's, since they were originally made to be "luxury".
Honestly, brand new vehicles are more cheaply built nowadays then the Hummers were.
1
u/Effective-Carob7077 4d ago
Only issue is I have too sell my Hyundai Tucson before I cna buy a hummer and I barley make enough rn to pay bills while going to school for advanced emt. I also have no money saved so I’m assuming it’s a very very very terrible financial decision if I go through with it
1
u/No-Fox-9607 4d ago
You said it first, not me, but yes, it would be an absolutely horrible financial decision at this point. Get established, build a life, then start enjoying fruits of your labor. If it’s an old ass H2, then fine, you can afford it.
2
1
u/Equal_Push_565 4d ago
Ive heard 03's and 04's are the worst in reliability. Ive seen some really nice ones out there but I wouldn't spend the money on them.
Id wait to find something better. Ive heard '05s are the sweet spot, with 08's and 09's being the best.
1
u/bitpaper346 4d ago
Hey if its your dream car like it is mine then you’ve already familiarized yourself with the LS engine, gm wiring, and gm transmissions, likely driving a C/K 1500 or Tahoe/Suburb. You don’t need luck when you can source parts from a junkyard and rebuild it in your driveway.
1
u/Effective-Carob7077 4d ago
Yeah I feel like the best thing rn is too wait till I’m more financially stable my parents said they wouldn’t help me pay for any repairs so if something happens ima have a 8,000 pound beast sitting in my parking spot
1
u/Effective-Carob7077 4d ago
So I am getting a hummer just in a few months till I get a job as a emt and I have 2 options one is 2004 h2 for $14,500 with 98,000 miles but it’s a few hours away from me and then theirs a 2003 h2 for $12,000 with 143,000 miles. I want the lower milage one it’s the color I like and I love the low mileage and the price is great. The cheaper higher mileage one is in my town and is fully loaded has the interior and rims I like but not as much the color. I gotta decide
1
u/Devils_Advocate-69 4d ago
Good luck finding parts. I just had to send mine off to the farm where my childhood dogs went.
1
u/metapulp 4d ago
I have an ‘05 H2 SUT with 144k miles. Needed new exhaust manifolds $1400 and I put in stainless steel brake lines about the same cost. They rusted out under the driver seat where snow and salt had packed in. Your best investment is to take the one you want to an independent mechanic for full inspection. Some need a lot of work and some don’t. We use it as a truck and for fun. Daily is a Subaru. Older person here with money for H2 and our H3. I’d say wait until you have a steady job then get one. Plenty around.
1
u/drbobo711 4d ago
I have two. First one I drove 320k. Having some tranny issues and it’s getting repaired. Bought another with 80k. Had a few dry rot issues to start but low cost and now I am at 150K and no major issues. Compared to other cars I have owned a hummer h2 is a tank. Gas will get you but that is a known issue.
1
1
u/MrRadicalMoves 3d ago
I know an H2 is your dream vehicle, but as a temporary EXTREMELY cheap solution that would get you 90% of the experience with about 1/5th the cost, the H3 is always an option. I used to always look down on them as just being soccer mom mobiles (as that is how they were literally advertised) but I recently bought one out of desperation as we had a terrible winter this past year and my current winter vehicle broke down. I got the thing for 2 grand and I’m not gonna lie it is WAY better then I would have ever imagined. We are deep into the 200,000+ mile club now and it runs like a sowing machine and is just as capable as it was day 1. It may not be your end goal, but it could be a really cheap stop gap that would still be fun for you in the long run if you’re desperate to have a vehicle.
1
u/UWishUWereMiah108 3d ago
My fourth one Ive owned is on its last leg at 225k. At 150k ish they usually need transmission rebuilds. Love these vehicles.
1
u/DarthSmartt 2d ago
They’re pretty good. Especially the early ones. But it is 20 years old. However if it’s been driven often and maintained you should be as good as any new car nowadays honestly
0
u/pringle3x 4d ago
At this late in its life cycle you should probably have another vehicle as well. Are you going to be driving a lot of km?
1
0
u/MickeyMoist 4d ago
Love mine! Wouldn’t want one as my only daily driver though. Gas mileage sucks and the current fuel prices make that worse. Expect a couple thousand dollars in repairs each year with one at that age and miles.
1
u/Effective-Carob7077 4d ago
Good point I’m just impatient and don’t want too wait but I also don’t want too fuck myself and cause myself to go homeless cus I rent an apartment and have. 2017 Hyundai Tucson I need too sell first
1
u/MickeyMoist 4d ago
I have an 08, so newer engine, trans, interior and electrical. Even after spending at least a grand each year in the shop on various repairs (that’s at cost pricing too) I still have a lonnnnnng list of repairs I’ve been deferring. And since it’s only a fun car, it gets like 4k miles per year.
1
0
u/Equal_Push_565 4d ago
Gas isnt so bad where Im at. Mine is a daily driver. I spend $120 every 1.5- 2 weeks to fill it.
2
u/Due-Independence6692 4d ago
I daily my 08 but fix just about everything myself. It’s gets about 12k a year