H3: Hot or Not?

What do you guys think of the Hummer H3? Did GM drop the ball by putting the weak 3.5L 5-cylinder in it? Do you think the 3.7 is any better? Or should they have offered the 5.3 Vortec from day one? Do you think it's in the same league as the Wrangler Unlimited, or is it a totally different animal?  

they should have never built them in the first place.  
RuggedRocksOffRoad.com

GM totally dropped the ball on the H3. A V-8 or diesel option might be able to redeem it, but the 3.5 I-5 is definitely not enough engine for it. 3.7 is a little better, but still not enough.

I don't know if they're ever going to have the authenticity of the Jeep Wrangler or FJ Cruiser. For better or worse, they've cemented their reputation as kind of a "poser" off-roader, despite their capability on the trail. If they ever do an H4 Wrangler-type vehicle that REALLY has the hardware like the Wrangler or FJ, then that might turn it around in the minds of off-road enthusiasts.  

I'm going to be differant. The Hummer H3 is one of the BEST off-road vehicles on the market today.

Why you ask?

Which other vehicles come standard with a 4:1 trasfercase? Standard rock rails, standard heavy-duty tow hooks front and rear, standard rear locker, standard skids/underbelly protection? Your right, Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ. It is right there with both of these.

The interior is very nice, real plush. Its plain nice riding trails in the H3 in nice leather seats, Satalite radio playing, AC cranking.

BUT.. you are right. The engine is WEAK! Even teh 3.7 I-5 is a plain JOKE! It is so so slow, the 5 speed gear box is so wide you really need a 3.5 gear for the highway and a 2.5 gear for the dirt. Slap a V8 or a nice little Diesel in it and it will be one heck of a machine.

Of course your milage may vary, this is just my opinion!  
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As soon as they offer a Ranger with a Diesel in America, I'll be the idiot camping out in front of the Ford Dealer!

So why do you think off-roaders tend to not like the H3 and Hummers in general? Because the hip-hop superstars slapped the big rims on them and then everyone associated them with that market? Or do you think most off-roaders realize the H3 is a decent trail vehicle?  

Offroaders don't like them because they are so *** expensive. Everybody realizes their capabilites, but who wants to pay 100,000 for an H1, 60,000 for an H2, or 30,000 for an H3 just to take offroad and thrash?

This is why they have a bad name in the offroad commnunity, because the people that buy them don't use them for what they were built for, and who can blame them?!  
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As soon as they offer a Ranger with a Diesel in America, I'll be the idiot camping out in front of the Ford Dealer!

So should Hummer build a Wrangler-like H4 model?  

esanchez:
So should Hummer build a Wrangler-like H4 model?

If I have to see GM roll out an H4, I'm gonna hurl. The H3 is as close to the Wrangler as you should get with out being sued for some type of copy write infringment over the look. I'd love to see the price come down on these vehicles but when you have the general behind you, you have to pay for his name.  
If you don't want it BROKE, DON'T let me drive it.

Yeah, I think the H3 and Hummers in general are a little over-priced for what you get. But Jeep really needs to give the JK Wrangler a little more power. That 3.8L minivan engine is just embarrassing. GM's got to pay for all those bums playing cards in the Job Bank one way or another.    

If the buick century and the Pontiac bonniville can have a supercharger, why can't they put one in the JK? Even by today's standards the JK v-6 is a turd. yeah, the performance numbers are up but in a head to head test the TJ is hands down my favorite as far as real performance goes. The vehicles are different in weight and handling their power. My 2000 TJ with the I-6 and an auto spanks the JK out of the box. BUT, since this is the Hummer forum I'll give props to GM for making a superb wanna be cool machine for the Trendies. Even my wife thinks they look cute. (go buy a puppy honey)  
If you don't want it BROKE, DON'T let me drive it.

Has anyone here driven one? Not too inspirational a drive but I must say it made me feel like a letter trapped in a mailbox. The windows are just tiny slits open unto the world and gave me a seriously claustrophobic feeling. Nice plastics for a GM though. Needs a V8 to be competitive, though. My 1991 Toyota 4runner V6 with 155 horses felt faster than that five cylinder.  

Well, if I were in the market for this type of vehicle, I don't think it would be an H3. Probably an Xterra or a 4-door Wrangler, even with the weak-sauce minivan engine.  

The 3.7 isn't that bad.  It is not a speed machine and it is enough to get you around town at a decent pace.  I think the pricing is right on.  A Rubicon Unlimited now cost 30G's.  I am an avid Jeep fan, but my family is growing bigger and the wrangler got the boot and momma now drives the H3.  It is civilized enough for daily driving while the Jeep is still a Jeep.  Noisy, underpowered as well, and rough riding.  It's got a locker in the rear, 4 to 1 transfer case, and it rides great down the road and does really well offroad.  Does it perform as well offroad as my Jeep.  No!  It doesn't have a solid front axle, and anytime you take a vehicle into the rocks, a solid front axle will always outperform ifs.  Period.  But is it a more livable vehicle that I can tote the family around in and still take it on some decently hardcore trails.  It is best alternative for a family wheeler other than the Rubi Unlimited which isn't as civilized.  I choose civility over my wife saying lets get something else that rides better, like a lexus, uhh no fun!  

"Has anyone here driven one?"

Have you driven one off-road?

Sure on the highway the thing is scary passing trucks, and I'm pretty convinced it needs another gear, somewhere between 2nd and 3rd (on the manual), but in the dirt it really shines. I spent a week with one last year wheeling in the CA desert and there is not much it doesn't do well. Wide open trails, tight crevices, rock garden, nothing really stopped it. It was as fun to drive as my friend Cherokee. So I still can't say much bad about the H3...  
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As soon as they offer a Ranger with a Diesel in America, I'll be the idiot camping out in front of the Ford Dealer!