2001 AM General Hummer H1...Continued

The Hummer was designed in 1979 by AM General to fit a specific set of military specs and first introduced as a civilian version in 1992. Since then, AM General has worked diligently to improve the creature comforts of the truck without compromising its off-road capabilities.

It's done a good job. The Hummer is classified as a heavy-duty truck, but it doesn't feel like you're driving a truck. Took it across town and never experienced an unpleasant bounce or anything.

This year, there's an improved Monsoon audio system with weather band, rear-seat audio and CD changer located in the back of the rear seat console, between the seats. It's perfect for the kids -- they can listen to their tunes and you can listen to yours.

The rearview mirror now has an auto-dimming feature and rear seat cup holders are available and removable for cleaning.

On the outside, rear windows have been tinted dark to improve air conditioning performance. Additional brake pad material has been added to the hydraulic anti-lock braking system, which doubles the life of the brakes.

There's even an optional Runflat Tire System that allows the Hummer to travel up to 20 miles on flat tires.

The Hummer has all the features familiar with city driving: Power steering, 4-speed automatic transmission, a unique suspension system that lets it maneuver more like a sports car than a truck, padded dash, energy-absorbing steering column, steel roof and steel doors with side impact beams.

And, you can't forget about the power side. Under the hood you'll find a General Motors 6.5-liter V8 turbo-diesel engine that provides an impressive 195 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque.

There are two fuel tanks on the Hummer: A 25-gallon primary tank and a 17-gallon auxiliary tank. You can switch between the two even when on the highway.

Oh -- almost forgot to tell you that the Hummer has a turning radius of an incredible 26.5 feet. That's significant because you can easily maneuver out of a tricky spot - including a tight parking space.

The Hummer is truly more of a passenger vehicle rather that what it truly is - a Class 3 truck. I'm so anxious to drive the H2 when it comes out next year.

One thing's certain, however. My sweet Francesca will be driving a Hummer the day she gets her license. Her loving parents will see to that.