At a crossroads with the Hummer...need everyone's advice.

[Hans3T]

Hey all,

I had typed a big long spiel but I'm deciding to keep it simple here:

My H3T (30k miles) for a '12 Wrangler Sahara similarly equipped, 10k miles, hard top, not a Rubicon. I leave with the Wrangler, some cash, and a valid factory extended warranty.

Let me be perfectly clear, I don't really want to get rid of my truck. I feel like Hummer is a huge part of my identity as a person. It's just a very tempting deal, especially based on what 5 other dealerships offered for my truck (painful numbers). Let's just say that H3 Alphas didn't follow the price trend of the H1 Alpha... :wink:

I know I would miss my truck and I would never find an Alpha T like mine ever again. I hope you all don't think I'm a traitor for considering this. I'm sort of getting the itch for a blank canvas and that bottomless Jeep aftermarket is so damned tempting.

Please, somebody talk some sense at me, good or bad.

Hans3T

 

[Bigunit]

Snap out of it Hans! ...for a Rubicon maybe but not for a freakin Sahara...on second thought, not even for a Rubicon. You only have 30k miles on your T...plenty more to go and even more time to decide what to get. We all know our HUMMERS aren't going to run forever but who knows what other rigs will come out in the next few years. IMHO, It's too soon to pull the plug on the T. You own a rare piece of American auto history and your T will always have $ value, in addition to the value it has to you as your first auto. Trust me, you will regret getting rid of it for that reason alone. I wish I had held on to my first auto.



Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapataint

 

[f5moab]

Got to do what YOU feel is right. I agree, you will always remember your first car (mine was a 67 Plymouth Valiant Convertable:giggle: ) But you are right, you will never find another T alpha like yours. (By the way congrats.)

 

[TAPDH3T]

I have to agree... Hans, not only do u own a piece of American Histroy but jeeps are a dime a dozen.. To make ur jeep look any different from every other jeep we see over and over and over and over and over again u will have to go deep in them pockets!! When u have something original that no one has ever seen.. I mean that literally I have never seen a T like urs ever...

Needless to say I think u need to stick with the T...

 

[twinmill28]

I test drove multiple Rubicons prior to buying our H3 back in '06 when the new 4 door Rubicons were just starting to be released. Granted, this was before they started putting leather in them and offered an engine with decent power versus the anemic version first available when the 4 doors came out. Regardless, they were "meh" at best. There just wasn't that "zing" that comes with driving THE vehicle for you. We played with the removable hardtop, took several out for good long drives and just didn't feel the Jeep Rubicon was "it".
But you better damn well believe I remember my first test drive with what became OUR H3, the dealer let me take it out without a salesman, told me to take it for the afternoon and see what I thought. It was underpowered (06 H3, 'nuff said), but man, it was THE vehicle! I remember heading home to see what the wife thought, then I saw our van in the grocery store parking lot, my wife was hunting groceries. I parked right in front of the van and waited. And enjoyed this strange new "HUMMER" with it's gun port windows and LOADS of bad-ass attitude! It was just cool---and I was driving it! My wife and daughter came out of the store and didn't really think anything about the H3 parked in front of the van, until my daughter noticed I was sitting behind the wheel and pointed me out to Mommy. I saw my wife roll her eyes, knowing I was on the hunt and thinking I'd just traded our brand new Chrysler 300C (no slouch in it's own rights). We went home, dropped off the groceries and really took the 3 out for a test drive---right on up a nasty winding dirt road going up Farmington Canyon. It was a blast--so much so that my wife called it off 'cause I scared the crap out of her and she thought I was going to drive off the side of the mountain. I tried to reassure her that this was THE MOST confident vehicle I'd ever driven and I also had TONS of mountain driving experience. That didn't do anything to help. I felt like Rod Hall running the Baja!
I still remember her being concerned about how dirty I was getting it--I reassured her that they'd get it all cleaned again for us once we signed all the papers, I knew it was going to be ours in a short amount of time.
We went back to the dealer and sealed the deal on a trade for the 300, accepting we'd just traded off 325 horsepower for about 65 horsepower, but man IT WAS COOL!!
I could go on about how we ended up with the H2--but I think you get the idea. HUMMER really is LIKE NOTHING ELSE!

I can guarantee you will never be satisfied with trading off your T

 

[twinmill28]

Ok, my short version is---wouldn't it be super cool to be THAT 70 year old guy at the car shows or where ever else saying "it's not for sale, I bought this brand new back in ought nine"

 

[3Hummers]

Hard to say Hans, you have to do what makes you happy. That said I have sold a number of vehicles in my life that I wish I had never sold. I have been a Jeep owner and I have never thought twice about moving on from a Jeep.

 

[alrock]

I guess I don't understand the point of the trade - warranty and cash? You're trading down HUGE for warranty and cash. There may be a time for you to sell the H3T but I don't think this is the deal. The deal should be something compelling - if you have to ask us here, it's probably not the right deal.

 

[06 H3]

I have a JK in the family, I dont drive one daily but work on it as my brother isnt that mechanically inclined and then drive it every once in a while.

First off your not a traitor you do what you wanna do...

the pros of a JK, you can ditch the roof, the doors of a 3T come off just like a JK but a JK comes off a bit easier.

A 2012 has the new motor but a Sahara sucks balls. TRUST ME, if your gonna wheel at all go with a rubicon. My brother started with an X package and has already upgraded to the D44 front and with the amount of time, effort and money skip all that crap and go to a rubicon from the get go.

The new motor will help, avoid the 3.8, they are SLOW! My heavy ass H3 with the 3.5L beats him off the line, your coming from an alpha so you will feel a big loss in power. To make up for the power you can regear but thats 1,000 bucks right there.

Lifts: dont go cheap, trust me they will ride way worse then your T as it is lifted. A quality lifted is recommended. Jeep: Just Empty Every Pocket. I know, my brother pours money into that thing and his isnt as built up as mine. We each have a one locker about the same lift and the same tires and I can follow him all day. Surprisingly I have done some obstacles recently he couldnt do.


I dont wheel with you or live by you but from what I gather since you lifted it you havent enjoyed it as much since the ride sucks donkey balls, I know you got a smoking deal on that lift kit but sometimes going cheap on stuff can hurt the vehicles performance in one way or another. Your cranked to the equilvant of 24+ on a stock truck that will kill ride quality, the tuff country kit isnt as good as rancho and it shows, upgrade the tuff country **** to rancho and ditch the deavers, There stiff and before I sold em to you I let you know that but you just wanted to get rid of the double add a leaf which was even worse. For a race truck there perfect for high speed, trust me I jumped my truck a few times with them and they kick ass for the high speed stuff.

I like the way my truck drives, kyle drove in mine and wants the quality of his ride to be like mine and I know I can improve it too. I have blown shocks and worn out springs. You gotta pay to play though and thats my opinion not matter what direction you go. Dont buy a jeep and throw some POS lift on it because they will drive terrible. I gotta love the jeepers recommendations they give on the forums, whenever some guy posts up complaining on ride quality they tell them to lower the pressure in the tires. Dont be one of those guys! Who wants to drive around with 25 psi...the tires will wear quickly.

 

[LagunaH1]

Like others have said: At the end of the day, do what's right for you. For me, the H1 is still the right truck. *every* time I look at it or drive it, I get that "YES!!!!!" feeling despite the usual H1-isms the truck has. If something is causing you to not feel that way about your truck, if you have come to associate it with "blech" or "ugh" then maybe it's time to make a change. If nothing else, take time to make sure that whatever choice you make is right for you.

 

[Gunner_45]

Get off that damn crack pipe Hans.

Before you make any sort of decision, I want you to do the following:

1. Go to all of the forums you have ever posted on and re-read all of your posts regarding your "Dream of owning a HUMMER".

2. Think of what you did to get this truck and what your Dad did to ensure you got your "reward".

Sometimes, a truck is more than a truck.

Just sayin'.

Like everyone else stated, it is your deed to do.......Just make sure you are not acting on some fickle whim of the moment.

Plus, when you heard that old adage about men saying good bye to hummers once they get married...I hope you understood the difference between hummer and HUMMER.

:wink:

 

[06 H3]

Yea that too...your dad would probably be upset.

I know my dad would always support me in every decision I make in life but seeing the 3 was his first and seeing how it transformed makes him happy to see how much I have enjoyed it and trust me he's the furtherest thing from a car nut.

 

[06 H3]

One more thing don't sell it to a dealer. **** those guys...they will sell it to some tool that will put 28s on it like this ass hat.

With 5600 Ts around we need offroad Ts not mall crawlers

 

[Neo]

beat yourself on the head with a jack handle until you stop thinking this way...

 

[Sethmark]

The JK is a fine car. I owned a 2008 unlimited for 3 years. But it's really a basic off road vehicle highly upgraded. The h3 is more of a luxury vehicle suitable for off road use.

The 5.3l motor can't be touched by either the minivan motor in the older JKs or the new Pentastar. Both are woefully inadequate.

The jeep has excellent resale value, tons of aftermarket support and is everywhere. Nothing interesting or unusual about one.

 

[Tractordoll]

If you have a garage where you can keep the Hummer parked for the next 20 years then keep it. It will be valuable but only after it reaches full depreciation. If not and interest is waning, then sell it while it still has some value. I constantly read used car magazines and I can tell you that in less than a year a 2010 H3T will be under 20K. They won't last long at that price, but it's a discontinued brand and that's the breaks of owning a discontinued brand.

I have a fully loaded 2012 Wrangler Sahara. Just yesterday I took off the top and doors and drove through the mountains to Stockbridge MA. It's just so hard to beat a Jeep on a day like that. It wasn't offroading but it was still a blast. Plus there are millions of parts, literally, you can get for Jeeps. I have element doors, bikini top, smittybilt top for driving around with the Huskies. There is a dealer near my house that does the AEV Jeeps. They don't carry many, but they do carry some.

If you want apples to apples, then trade your H3T for a 2013 Moab edition Jeep. It has steel bumpers, rock rails and is set up from the factory for a winch. I believe that there is a winch option that can also be purchased as well. It comes with 33" mud tires as standard. It's more of an offroaders Jeep. The Sahara, the one I have, is more of a luxury Jeep.

The days of riding 2 hours in a jeep and needing a kidney transplant are over. The 2012 and the pentastar engine are literally equal to the Hummers.

I myself am waiting it out for the 2014 Grand Cherokee overland SUV with the 3.6l turbo diesel engine. I am hoping to be able to have it in the driveway by the fall and then I can put the muscle cars away for the winter

Here is the thing for me. I still ogle when I see another H3T. They are so rare most people don't even know what they are. I can still remember in the winter of 2010 having a 2 foot snow fall and driving the H3T on "unplowed" roads and the truck went through it like a hot knife in butter. Capability wise they are insanely capable. The problem is the brand is owned by a company that doesn't give a crap about the owners. That's why I got out while there was still value.

 

[amrg]

I have to agree that the Jeeps with the new engines are pretty quick, and honestly speaking, even better than the Alphas. (Talking about the 2 door version) I raced one here on a stretch offroad, both of us on 35s, I got him on acceleration but he just caught up with me the second I hit 3rd and overtook!
But, the seats are uncomfortable when you compare them with the H3 seats, and the in cabin noise is noticeably louder (wind/tires). Fuel economy is better and you get less side sway (ride is stiffer overall). Honestly speaking, a levelled H3 on 35s looks way cooler than a similar Jeep, you need alot of exterior mods to match the 3

 

[mkmcgreg]

I completely understand the feeling! Recently I was in the same situation only mine was a Pathfinder. Less miles more options and the dealer offered me money for the H3. I took a few days to think about it but finally went with the Pathfinder.

What got me was the recent issues I have been having with mine; new head, needed suspension work up front but the kicker was the terrible chain slapping noise on cold start up that I was told was "normal".

I do think you would regret it as you have a rare truck, I had a base 3 dime a dozen where I live, but you have to do what you feel is right and sometimes change is what you need. I do envy the jeeps on the nice days with the tops off. Maybe someday I can get one as a toy.

Personally I like the Pathfinder better for my needs right now but the H3 will always be one of my favorite vehicles I have owned

 

[06 H3]

If you sell the T I'd like to buy back my tomp plates there too valuable and rare. I'd sell them to a forum member rather then some clown at the dealership getting them especially because I doubt they would wheel

 

[twinmill28]

beat yourself on the head with a jack handle until you stop thinking this way...

If this seems like a difficult task, please ask one of us willing forum members! :hammer:

 

[UKHUMMERH3]

Will be a bad move dude

 

[Hans3T]

Lots of good opinions here everyone. I appreciate all of the feedback. At the end of the day, I had to go with what made the most sense to me.

Whoops, wrong pic... :wink:

I couldn't let go of it. I think I knew that from the git go. Guess I'm a Hummer-lifer.

Sent with Tapacrack

 

[Mr_Rich]

You had some thoughts that were teasing the practical side of your nature. I think most of us also have an emotional side to the ownership and enjoyment of our trucks. I appreciate the fact that there is still a demand in the market which protects the value of our vehicles. I like Jeeps and admire some of the mods I see owners make on their vehicles. I feel that a Hummer has much competence all-around in that is does daily driving chores and off-road better in the first category and at least equal in the second category.

 

[06 H3]

Start wheeling more and get some 35s that will help you bond lol

 

[LagunaH1]

Glad you decided to hang on to it. Next: Get to Moab and wheel it with us, and you will *never* let the 3T go