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Buyer's Regret?

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
Has anyone ever regretted buying their Hmmwv? Just curious, I see tons for sale on Facebook, cars.com, eBay and craigslist. My assumption is some are speculators that bought off GP and then are just reselling but I was just curious.

I am looking at one in GA and I’d just be curious if there are any members that might actually prefer something else or if everyone is quite happy with their purchase.

Thanks
 

DREDnot

Well-known member
717
430
63
Location
Phoenix, AZ
If you take your time to get a good unit from the auction its really a fun vehicle to putz around in.
Just add 15 minutes to any trip because someone will stop and want to talk to you about it.
If you need it to be able to travel on the freeway, spend the extra money to get one with the overdrive trans. That's my only regret.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
If you take your time to get a good unit from the auction its really a fun vehicle to putz around in.
Just add 15 minutes to any trip because someone will stop and want to talk to you about it.
If you need it to be able to travel on the freeway, spend the extra money to get one with the overdrive trans. That's my only regret.
You mean the 4 speed? Are there multiple versions? I see 3 speeds everywhere. I think the one I’m looking at has a 3 speed th400(?).
 

tobyS

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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IN
01Grander....what is your joy? Do you like to work on things a lot.....you have the right hobby. Is riding around and everyone waving your joy? Parades? Car shows? Impressing the zoning people?

If they manage to force major inflation, they will maybe one day seem like a good investment for a "relatively" small amount of money. HMMWV's seem high priced to me.

My choice is to go the deuce route. I like them as a 4x4..... many people "bob" them. They are slower on the highway than a HMMWV, but have some advantages....like an A3 has dual circuit brakes 50/50, Caterpillar 3116 TD and Allison auto (a curse and blessing). And a bed (M105 size).
 

TOBASH

Father, Surgeon, Cantankerous Grouch
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Brooklyn, NY
If you take your time to get a good unit from the auction its really a fun vehicle to putz around in.
Just add 15 minutes to any trip because someone will stop and want to talk to you about it.
If you need it to be able to travel on the freeway, spend the extra money to get one with the overdrive trans. That's my only regret.

If you know what you're getting you should be OK. This is a high maintenance toy.

I love when people say these were built to be reliable and strong and that's why they want one.

If you do your repairs and maintenance, you will still be driving a used car. Expect some hiccups and enjoy your HMMWV for what it is.

If you want a highway vehicle, get a 4 speed. If you want a reliable vehicle, buy a Ford F150, Dodge Ram, or GMC
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
01Grander....what is your joy? Do you like to work on things a lot.....you have the right hobby. Is riding around and everyone waving your joy? Parades? Car shows? Impressing the zoning people?

If they manage to force major inflation, they will maybe one day seem like a good investment for a "relatively" small amount of money.

My choice is to go the deuce route. I like them as a 4x4..... many people "bob" them. They are slower on the highway than a HMMWV, but have some advantages....like an A3 has dual circuit brakes 50/50, Caterpillar 3116 TD and Allison auto (a curse and blessing).
I think a deuce would be a little but much for me. I mainly just love riding around town with no doors with wranglers, I know I’ll have to make some mods to make the Hmmwv enjoyable but it seems like a reasonable option.

Mainly just wondering if someone thought buying a Hmmwv was a great idea and then ended up regretting it.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
If you know what you're getting you should be OK. This is a high maintenance toy.

I love when people say these were built to be reliable and strong and that's why they want one.

If you do your repairs and maintenance, you will still be driving a used car. Expect some hiccups and enjoy your HMMWV for what it is.

If you want a highway vehicle, get a 4 speed. If you want a reliable vehicle, buy a Ford F150, Dodge Ram, or GMC
I mainly just want an around town cruising suv and something to take off-road occasionally.
 

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,567
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Location
Mayo, MD
I was kind of skeptical and nervous at first. Once I did some maintenance and learned more about the vehicle, it wasn't as intimidating. My wife and I really enjoy it.
 

tobyS

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
IN
You seem to have a certain one that you are looking at. Some of the guys here are expert on HMMWV, so they could give you information like years, models, engine and tranny like or not. I do think it's worth spending some time researching.

I noticed there are a lot on the auction near you....42 on GP in Georgia. Good luck
 

Bill Nutting

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
569
1,267
93
Location
Chesterfield, Mi.
In Michigan we are having problems with titles. For whatever reason, our genius legislators and Secretary of State view the HMMWV differently than other HMVs. I worry that they will start applying the same irrational restrictions on all HMVs.
As it stands, HMMWVS are titled for off road use only. It’s hard to talk sense to an uninformed politician. They say the HMMWV is not safe on our highways. Then they allow people to drive old cars they call classics anywhere folks want to drive them. On that point I agree. A law abiding citizen ought to be able to drive anything he or she wants to as long as the vehicle doesn’t create a safety risk for other drivers. Now ask these politicians what they would rather be rear ended in, a HMMWV or a 67 Ford Falcon. I know how I would vote.
Like Tobash said, these are used vehicles. If you are looking for something you don’t have to work on from time to time, this my not be the hobby for you. On the other hand if you want drive something that will put you in close contact with veteran hero’s and some of the most sharing folks you will ever meet, buy that thing and welcome to the sickness.... I mean hobby, that’ Right it’s a hobby. I keep forgetting.😜
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
You seem to have a certain one that you are looking at. Some of the guys here are expert on HMMWV, so they could give you information like years, models, engine and tranny like or not. I do think it's worth spending some time researching.

I noticed there are a lot on the auction near you....42 on GP in Georgia. Good luck
Yeah, I have two that I’m looking at right now. They’re older ones but seem solid and pretty cheap at around $12k and relatively solid....going to see if they’ll do a little less and hope I don’t piss them off. Considering the swap options, I think I’d be comfortable swapping it myself eventually and save a few thousand right now when I don’t plan on using it a lot, especially not on the highway. I have to wonder if I can get a duramax eventually at Copart from a crashed truck.

I do like the newer Hmmwv face but I’m still apprehensive about going through the title process.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
In Michigan we are having problems with titles. For whatever reason, our genius legislators and Secretary of State view the HMMWV differently than other HMVs. I worry that they will start applying the same irrational restrictions on all HMVs.
As it stands, HMMWVS are titled for off road use only. It’s hard to talk sense to an uninformed politician. They say the HMMWV is not safe on our highways. Then they allow people to drive old cars they call classics anywhere folks want to drive them. On that point I agree. A law abiding citizen ought to be able to drive anything he or she wants to as long as the vehicle doesn’t create a safety risk for other drivers. Now ask these politicians what they would rather be rear ended in, a HMMWV or a 67 Ford Falcon. I know how I would vote.
Like Tobash said, these are used vehicles. If you are looking for something you don’t have to work on from time to time, this my not be the hobby for you. On the other hand if you want drive something that will put you in close contact with veteran hero’s and some of the most sharing folks you will ever meet, buy that thing and welcome to the sickness.... I mean hobby, that’ Right it’s a hobby. I keep forgetting.😜
I honestly love working on cars IF there is decent clearance to work on things. I’ve had cars that you’d have to disassemble half the engine just to work on something simple, that’s not enjoyable to me.

Yeah MI doesn’t make sense, I’m from Detroit myself but I live in Alabama.
 

Bill Nutting

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
569
1,267
93
Location
Chesterfield, Mi.
If you like to work on vehicles, you will find a wealth of knowledge here on this site. There are experts here on almost any military vehicle... I’m not one of them. So I read a lot of posts and try to learn as much as I can from these folks. This really is a great place to hang out!
 

papakb

Well-known member
2,288
1,185
113
Location
San Jose, Ca
I love Tobash's comment about reliable and strong. That must be the reasoning behind the government needing 100 and buying 1000. Although I guess they can be reliable when you have an unlimited number of mechanics maintaining them and the US taxpayers paying for the parts. LOL Kind of like the unlimited number of monkeys and the unlimited number of typewriters and one of them rewriting Shakespear. At some point your bound to get a reliable truck but until then it's a vehicle auto mechanics absolutely love. Job security at the highest level! No, honestly if you love tinkering on vehicles the HMMWV is your best friend. If your a Prius or Tesla driver run away now. I get the creeper out at least once a month and spend a lovely quiet afternoon rolling around under mine touching and wiping and inspecting. They draw more approving looks on the freeway that a Ferrari and they're definitely NOT cop magnets. If you ever get pulled over it's usually because the LEO wants to know where he can get one.

But seriously, do your homework first. Download the FREE manuals available online and use them for more than you do the Sears catalog. And they're readable with all the light that makes its way through the little cresent window...................
 

tobyS

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
IN
So is there any title issues in Alabama on HWWMV. That would make a difference to me if I lived there. I suggested they go for "assembled" since they only seem to sell part of it at the auction.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
So is there any title issues in Alabama on HWWMV. That would make a difference to me if I lived there. I suggested they go for "assembled" since they only seem to sell part of it at the auction.
My DMV said no problem transferring one that’s titled in Al or another state. Someone provided a map on another thread that said it’s possible to title in AL but I don’t have any actual info on it and the dmv didn’t really know, they said I’d have to contact the state for that. I may still call, there are some beauties at GP right now.
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
I love Tobash's comment about reliable and strong. That must be the reasoning behind the government needing 100 and buying 1000. Although I guess they can be reliable when you have an unlimited number of mechanics maintaining them and the US taxpayers paying for the parts. LOL Kind of like the unlimited number of monkeys and the unlimited number of typewriters and one of them rewriting Shakespear. At some point your bound to get a reliable truck but until then it's a vehicle auto mechanics absolutely love. Job security at the highest level! No, honestly if you love tinkering on vehicles the HMMWV is your best friend. If your a Prius or Tesla driver run away now. I get the creeper out at least once a month and spend a lovely quiet afternoon rolling around under mine touching and wiping and inspecting. They draw more approving looks on the freeway that a Ferrari and they're definitely NOT cop magnets. If you ever get pulled over it's usually because the LEO wants to know where he can get one.

But seriously, do your homework first. Download the FREE manuals available online and use them for more than you do the Sears catalog. And they're readable with all the light that makes its way through the little cresent window...................
Haha, I actually commute and have a Prius for that purpose but my last main car was a very nice S2000 that was a cop magnet. Haha
 

tobyS

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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IN
there are some beauties at GP right now."

I thought so too. You spend enough can probably get one that runs.

Have you ever looked at bobbed deuce's? They are considerably different than a 6x6
 

01GRANDER

Active member
147
54
28
Location
Alabama
there are some beauties at GP right now."

I thought so too. You spend enough can probably get one that runs.

Have you ever looked at bobbed deuce's?
Yes I did, I think I like the Hmmwv more. I do like them, they look pretty sweet but I don’t think I’d enjoy running it around town, I’d get one in a heartbeat if I owned any significant land or was out west.
 
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