Critics slam McDonald's Hummer toys

When General Motors introduced the 3-ton, 11-miles-to-the-gallon Hummer H2 four years ago, it redefined American extravagance. But with gas hovering at $3 a gallon and threatening to go higher, sales of Hummers are declining as Americans become increasingly conscious of gas mileage.

McDonald's, however, appears not to have gotten the message. This week, the restaurant chain started putting toy Hummers in children's Happy Meal boxes, calling it the "Hummer of a Summer" promotion. Television and radio ads, which started running this week, feature a family riding in a Hummer on the way to McDonald's.

With enough visits to McDonald's, kids will be able to collect eight different Hummers in a variety of colors, including two versions of the H1, the original and most monstrous member of the Hummer family, which General Motors stopped making in June.

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phantom330 - 8/10/2006 11:34:20 AM

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Makes sense, with all the fat people eating there, they need the room a Hummer provides.

chewy - 8/10/2006 12:30:23 PM

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While I am not a fan of SUVs/Hummers for the reason that they guzzle gas without paying their share

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#guzzler

But this is redicilous, what should we do next, ban all toys because they use up oil to make them.

I also read the part about the H2s engine being very fuel efficient, well, we can't know that as teh EPA doesn't even bother to test the H2, for all we know it might be getting 8 miles in the city and 15 in the higway. That is the same milage as tge Bugatti Veyron, get this the EPA bothers to test the Bugatti Veyron, a car that will probably sell at a rate of a dozen a year, but the giant SUV H2 that sells thousands a year shold not be tested. Brilliant.

phaetonmeister - 8/10/2006 12:58:18 PM

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We need a national fat tax.....if your 20% over you pay 20% tax.....if your 100% over you don't get paid until you lose the weight.....1 out of every 5 people in America will eat their next meal at McDonalds......sad, very sad! And oh ya HUMMER SUCKS!

audiSean - 8/10/2006 1:16:30 PM

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News flash... this is meaningless

Jay7 - 8/10/2006 1:25:55 PM

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I love the Hummer. I wouldn't buy one now b/c of the gas prices.

It's rediculous that these so called critics are upset with McDonalds. Its not like these kids are going to break open their penny banks and go out and purchase a Hummer. Furthermore, the so fake critics should put their energy in other areas. How are criticizing these politicians, Oil and gas committees in Washington?

PM34231 - 8/10/2006 3:48:36 PM

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My 4yr old son got one of these meals today. He was elated with the orange H3 that he discovered inside the box. The toy is a nice replication of the vehicle, has adjustable steering and a tire mounted on the back doubles at the winder to propel the vehicle. The meal he cared less for. The critics may have a gripe with the food, but leave the toys alone.

polkbkk - 8/10/2006 4:11:24 PM

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autobahmeister - perhaps you should do a little research into healthy body fat percentages, especially for women. Although I don't think a fat tax is a terrible idea, the 20% mark is low for women. Should women have to pay a tax just because they have natural fatty parts of their body?

Back to the article... I see things like this and it makes me cringe inside that I am still a registered democrat. Its a stinking toy! I assume the eco-expert didn't read the article posted here a while ago showing how the Prius and other hybrids cost much more money and are much more taxing on the environment to decommision. If someone is dumb enough to buy a H2 or H3, they have the oppurtunity to pay for it with poor fuel economy and a vehicle made by GM which will need numerous repairs.

Rupert - 8/10/2006 4:27:16 PM

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fat tax is a good idea, what with 40% of americans being clinically obese.
you do have to be pretty dumb to buy a hummer.
and they're so small inside! only width, no head room, leg room...well i suppose fat people only need width.
pm34231, you gave your 4 year old mcdonalds! give him taste, make your own burgers, it's so easy. and lots healthier.

cktoo - 8/10/2006 5:10:34 PM

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Well, no shit, they ask for a comment from someone at the Sierra Club, what do they think they're gonna say? Stupid story, must be a slow summer for Detnews. Oh wait, just saw that it was a NY Times story. Makes perfect sense coming from that rag.

...Now off to "Mickey D's" to buy my whole family a happy meal as we cruise on over to pick up our new H2.

krzykarl - 8/10/2006 6:47:09 PM

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phantom330 - 8/10/2006 11:34:20 AM
Makes sense, with all the fat people eating there, they need the room a Hummer provides.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH!!!!! Thats too funny!!!

PM34231 - 8/10/2006 11:38:29 PM

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rupert- thanks for the tip. I guess burgers are the only thing you can get outside of N. America at McD's eh? you ignorant ass.

Rupert - 8/11/2006 10:07:16 AM

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huh????

SteveL - 8/11/2006 1:12:57 PM

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OK, let’s start talking about toys and move on to fat content and fat people. That’s so smart. IDIOTS!
This story is a big joke and of coarse it’s from the New York Times. I would bet money that they called the Sahara Club and asked “Hey what do you think of McDonalds putting gas gusling Hummers in the kids meal. And of coarse Sahara Club from cluelessvile said “hey that’s a terrible thing I bet next week every one of those kids will go buy a Hummer”. Again IDIOTS!
There toys. Get a life. This is just the New York Times creating a story of insignificants meanwhile there are literally millions of other stories that are way more important that the Times could care less about.
I can’t believe how stupid some people are. It’s a good thing that most of the Autospies readers are smart.

phaetonmeister - 8/11/2006 4:49:31 PM

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It was meant to be tounge and cheek sally's...:)

scottcampbell10 - 8/11/2006 11:05:58 PM

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I don't think Europeans should comment on things like the Hummer. They obviously don't understand the concept of lots of land and money. Hummer's are not stupid, they're legitimite off-roaders that make a statement. And a fat tax is stupid...remember this is the land of the free...

Rupert - 8/12/2006 7:17:21 AM

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but hummers are cheap, like 50000 dollars?
they're crap anyway, never mind the fuel economy.
if hummers aren't stupid, then what's intelligent about them?

SteveL - 8/14/2006 12:38:20 PM

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Tongue and cheek. Got it. Sorry for the lack in wit. Sometimes to pasionate. Sometimes not enough.