Hummer, H3 Adventure

[steven101]

I got a friend who had been considering getting one of these, Anyone had one, any thoughts people?

[grimbo]

they aren't available in Australia till later n the year so you wont get any first hand knowledge from any Aussie owners.

[Gwagensteve]

As they haven't been released yet it might be hard to get much opinion.

I spent some time at the 4WD show talking to a Holden engineer about them.

I kinda like them, they make me laugh, in a nice way.

Like most modern designs they don't make much sense as a 4WD as they are pretty hard to see out of, but at least the flares are plastic and should take some abuse, they do have proper revovery points , and the ribber mat int he rear of the one that was at the 4WD show (october '06) was cool.

I doubt they are any stronger than a rodeo (the architecture is pretty much rodeo) but they are cooler.

They have some nice design touches but the opinion from the US is that the 3.7 5 cylinder is unperpowered. We won't be seeing the diesel to (apparently) late 2008/early 2009, Holden don't even know what diesel they are going to use yet.

Personally. I would buy a JK wrangler. Much cheaper, more versatile and make more sense as a 4WD. (and a rubicon would spank a H3 offroad)

Just my 2C

Steve.

[grimbo]

but the 2008 models in the US are being offered with a V8. I'd probably get one if I had the money as I like them, good capability off the factory floor, I like the look but now that the Jeep 4 door is out I'd spend my imaginary money on one of those instead

[kirragc]

ahhh what I wouldnt buy with my imaginary money

[steven101]

but the 2008 models in the US are being offered with a V8. I'd probably get one if I had the money as I like them, good capability off the factory floor, I like the look but now that the Jeep 4 door is out I'd spend my imaginary money on one of those instead

Yeah I realy like the look of the Hummer but yeah think me mate wants to wait till a Diesel model comes out somthing a bit more "Fuel Efficent"

[grimbo]

but the 2008 models in the US are being offered with a V8. I'd probably get one if I had the money as I like them, good capability off the factory floor, I like the look but now that the Jeep 4 door is out I'd spend my imaginary money on one of those instead

Yeah I realy like the look of the Hummer but yeah think me mate wants to wait till a Diesel model comes out somthing a bit more "Fuel Efficent"

well he'll have a long wait as they don't make them in diesel and don't seem to be in the future

[sierrajim]

....... they don't make them in diesel and don't seem to be in the future

Are you "really sure about that?

[Gwagensteve]

Apparently GMH are still keen for the diesel but it will be at least 18months away.

Problem is that UK and Australia are the only real markets for RHD diesel in any numbers, and there won't much volume to justify the development cost.

If the petrol RHD sells well enough, there might be a case. If there is no interest in the petrol, don't hold out for the diesel.

I think the V8 is a bit pointless - its the 5.3 which is the smallest gen3 variant. about 40hp more than the current engine sounds good, but it's really only about a 20% increase.

Steve.

[grimbo]

....... they don't make them in diesel and don't seem to be in the future

Are you "really sure about that?

insert near before future then to make it more accurate

General Motors has big plans for the smallest truck in its Hummer lineup.

GM intends to offer V-8 and diesel versions of the mid-sized H3 SUV.

Two sources inside GM say the automaker is in the early stages of preparing to offer an H3 with a 5.3-liter V-8.

"It's another couple of years out," said one source at GM, who asked to not be named.

Hummer will add a diesel engine to the H3 later, the source said.

The SUV comes with GM's Vortec 3500 3.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine, which delivers 220 hp. The automaker also will build a special-edition H2.

At the Dealer Business Conference in Las Vegas last week, GM executives told Hummer dealers that 150 special editions of the full-sized H2 will be built in the first quarter of next year. Those vehicles will offer more "bling" factor than the regular H2s, said Jacques Moore, of Moore Cadillac-Hummer-Saab-Subaru in Richmond, Va.


The special editions will feature at least two new colors: Pacific Blue and Fusion Orange, Moore said.

He said Hummer also vowed to remedy blind spots in the H2 by installing rear-view cameras in the special-edition models.

[sierrajim]

Apparently GMH are still keen for the diesel but it will be at least 18months away.

Problem is that UK and Australia are the only real markets for RHD diesel in any numbers, and there won't much volume to justify the development cost.

If the petrol RHD sells well enough, there might be a case. If there is no interest in the petrol, don't hold out for the diesel.

I think the V8 is a bit pointless - its the 5.3 which is the smallest gen3 variant. about 40hp more than the current engine sounds good, but it's really only about a 20% increase.

Steve.

I think you'd find that the 5.3 would make the H3 quite dravable.

[bogged]

I would say as long as he doesnt wanna do hard offroading... everything I've heard makes them sound like a fullsized softroader.

[Gwagensteve]

I wouldn't use any information based on US production of a diesel to apply to us.

A)I think the V8 H3 is a hint that the US diesel H3 will use a V6 diesel engine designed to work in 1500 series chevy pickups (which also run Gen3's currently). If you are going to engineer an 8 into a H3 it makes sense to also use a diesel you are planning for the same application in another car.

B) US diesel emssions have gone from being very lax to the strictest anywhere. Even DaimlerChrysler couldn't afford the development costs alone to build a passenger car/SUV diesel to meet these standards by themselves, so the "Bluetec" technology they have to use has been developed amongst a number of european manufacturers. there is no need to apply this very expensive technology outside of the US.

I will vote that for the "rest of the world" market, we will see a less sophisticated diesel than is required for th US market.

The "rumor" from the GMH engineer I spoke to waas a 6 cylinder VM/detroit engine. I would vote about 3.0 litres. This will be a European specification engine and will be applied to UK/South africa/Aus/NZ and possibly Japanese market from production on South Africa.

[grimbo]

As I said the diesel will not be offered in the Australian versions in the near future.

[Ben]

Like the look of them, but unfortunately I think they're going to sell so many to wanna-be bling blingers and footballers that I'd feel like an absolute tosser driving one.

[sierrajim]

.....I'd feel like an absolute tosser driving one.

Doesn't your sig say you drive a Jeep?

[Gwagensteve]

I typed the same thing and then thought better of it, but knew someone would take the bait

Not just any Jeep though.... a Jeep with "some stickers"

I bet one of them is "it's a jeep thing, you wouldn't understand" Cool

Steve.

[grimbo]

just like Laurel & Hardy or Hale & Pace, the wise cracks keep a comin

[Gwagensteve]

*cutting edge marketing update*

I saw a Jeep branded wheelbarrow in Bunnings the other day, heavily reduced. I have no idea what that says about jeep owners, but I am sure there are some witty quips to be had.

[Ben]

We need wheelbarrows to carry all the shit jokes you wanna-bes keep throwing at us?

[sierrajim]

*cutting edge marketing update*

I saw a Jeep branded wheelbarrow in Bunnings the other day, heavily reduced. I have no idea what that says about jeep owners, but I am sure there are some witty quips to be had.

They're just to carry your stuff home.

[Ben]

I'll pay that!

[kirragc]

I saw Jeep brand prams for kids.



............is that cause Jeep owners have continence problems?

[steven101]

After talking to him I think hes been thinking now about Getting a Diesel jeep for 35 grand, Didnt like idea of having to spend 57 grand+

[Gwagensteve]

Yeah - I saw a H3 before I sawa KJ, and liked the H3, but the JK is better product IMHO and will always have better aftermarket part support and availability.

Steve.

[Ben]

I saw Jeep brand prams for kids.



............is that cause Jeep owners have continence problems?

No it's because we actually get to have sex rather than just talk about it.