Not the best passing at highway speeds if you are not a patient fellow. You will have to pick your opportunities more carefully. Otherwise no regrets. Off the line acceleration was fine though IMHO.

And don't forget, we are trying to move 5800 pounds.....LOL

Another aspect: Go drive a TJ and an H3 down a twisty road, it's a no contest thing on the handling.

About the power, I just drove up to Oakhurst, CA yesterday in the H3. Passing lanes and tons of cars. The H3 will pass, not quickly, but it will. Over 5000rpms on the tack, 2nd gear, it'll do it's job. It's no 'Vette. I'd love for it to have more power. Do I need it? Maybe. It'll do.

Lastly, nobody looks at a Jeep like they do an H3, ain't that part of the fun?

I came from a V8 SUV and I am getting used to the difference in power. It was a concern for me as well when they first came out but I think it does great. Drove the other SUV this weekend and it felt like a rocket but I don't miss it. I have a loaner today with 10K miles and it definitely seems quicker to me. Others have said they have noticed the MPG and power go up as it breaks in.

ive heard the same ....gonna go to the dealer on thursday should have it by saturday let u all know what happens

In Portland, OR there is a secion of Hwy 26 which heads up hill at roughly +6.5 grade (I only know this from the warning at the top coming down). Anyway, I used to own a little Izuzu tropper II with the 4 cyl. (more an econo-car than anything else) I had to keep down shifting to make it up that hill and got passed by just about everything! The ZJ would go up it with little effort. My current 4x4 doesn't even notice the hill is even there. I am not trying to beat people from light to light... I don't want to become a traffic hazzard either.

Seems like most of the H3 owners are pretty gun-shy when it comes to talking about their 4x4. Probably one too many verbal attacks from the tree-hugging, nyu-n-berry munching, Holier-than-thou, anti-established religion PC crowd that's polluting the area.

Power, power... WHERE is the H3's power?

Well, what is your definition of power?
Is it being able to do 0-60 in 5 seconds, or is it the power to tackle 24 inches of water or climb steep inclines?

For me, it's both! I traded a Supercharged Xterra for my H3. The Xterra blew the H3 away in the passing lane and leaving a light. The H3 blows the Xterra away off road. I wanted the H3 for off road to get to photo spots and to haul my kiddos around.

The H3 really does have enough power IMO where it counts.
That being said, if I want to go screamin down the highway at a blur, thats what the power in my vette is for.
One type of power I didnt mention is the unmistakeable power to whip peoples heads around to stare and I get more of that in the H3 than I do in the Vette.

You will love the H3!! Go for it!!

x2

you guys are a riot the H3 is an offroad machine . passing lane , racin lights WTF ,these trucks are not for you if you want all that. just put it in 4 low and shut up .

if you need speed go to the race track thats what i do heres my FRC

Well with the price of gas being what it is. It's more important that the H-3 do what it will do off-road than what it's 0-60 time is. The real test though is how fast will one go up the Georgetown Hill, west of Denver on I-70. Someone who lives there should try that. My old Mercedes would go well over a 100, while the economy cars struggle to reach 50. I bet that the H-3 will do 70. It's the steepest grade on I-70 at around 9000 ft. The ultimate test on how fast a car really is.

Follow me over Tehachapi Pass.......

H3 is 4700 pounds

I had my H3 pulling 70mph up the Georgetown hill about a month and a half ago. Kept it right around 4500rpm if I remember correctly.

Wasnt a big deal at all. Now, if someone causes you to lose your speed, that kind of sucks but all in all it did fine.
I've driven vehicles up I-70 that fared far worse.....

Thanks. This is the sort of review I was looking for.

As for the weight (mentioned a post or two above) that depends on if the H3 is empty or loaded with people and gear...

im waiting for the hybrid

Nice Car NeoCon! A C5, yes?



Isnt red sweet?!

i'm sorry but i think you guys are missing my point...if i need to go fast i have my super charged impala ss .....what i was saying was the h3 lacked power as in off the line and also in passing , haven't taken it off road i'm sure it's great but i'm not off road all day i do have to go to work and need it as a daily driver thats all i'm saying personally i think they could have given it abit more balls being 4700 pounds my 2 cents

They will probably come out with bigger engines in the future. But I'm getting around 20mpg on the highway.

If and when gas gets to be $5 a gallon the H-3 will be still around. For those of us that use it off road it's a good thing. The US will quit making SUV's that get less. There was a post somewhere on this board from Germany and there being sold there. So they are getting popular in a place where you rarely see anything bigger than a Jeep Cherokee.

Well funny you should mention I-70. I live in Summit County, Breckenridge, and get down to Denver and back a couple times per month. As a matter of fact we went down there Sunday to pick up the Yakima Box, needed a new one since my old rocket box would have covered part of the sunroof.

Anyway, My review is prefaced by the fact that we picked up the 5 speed for exactly the reason you mention. Living in the mountains and driving around the west a lot I wanted a vehicle that would get someones attention to notice my logos but also get decent FMPG.

First of all going east from Silverthorne up to the tunnel I usually have no problem maintaining 70 mph in a 65 mph zome. I do tend to downshift into 3rd gear for extended periods but it shouldn't really hurt the motor as far as I know. I mean I can go 75mph in 3rd and still only be at 4500-5000+ rpm's. Altohuogh it sounds a little rough like that at times.

Going up Floyd Hill near Evergreen going east I again will downshift into third and have no problem keep up and even passing the mini vans and BubbaUrbans.

Coming back West I do have to keep it in third alot climbing from Golden to Floy Hill and again from Georgetown to the tunnel but once I have the momentum and put it in 4th or 5th it keep speed pretty well. I just need to be on my toes for bad drivers who get in the fast lane....regaining momentum does take longer than my old Cherokee V8.

The hill between Silverthorne and Frisco is another slog that I drive nearly daily. If I have the momentum I can go up that hill pretty well in 3rd and 4th since they do have the third slow lane on the side...there is often room to manuever.

However, I do want to do what I can to gain HP. I have heard the cool air intake or the KN air filter will add good HP I am not sure which is better...plus the dual exhaust. I have also seen other gimmicks on other sites but I doubt they do much.

I am still intrigued by the super charger and if a Super Chip is ever programmed I would be interested. Anyone know of the Super chip????

Look I am not looking for a sportscar. I have had several 4WD's and love my H3.....I really mean I am love with the it. However I live at 9300 ft and do drive at altitudes of 8000' - 12000' more often than I am below 6000'. A little more thrust would not hurt throughout the west. all I want to do is give it more air and power so I can at least stay at highway speeds on my way out to the deserts of Utah and the mountains of Colorado. Going across the midwest on generally flat terrain and lower altitude I get good power with the 5 speed.

I will be going to Moab in two weeks for a long weekend and will rpeort back again besides the fact that I drive over Vail pass a lot over rthe next few weeks as well.

As I told my wife. witht eh five speed, Do not be afraid to down shift to third. The set up allows for high rpms.

thanks K9 and nice C4 looks like you have set it up for fun you like my little C5 hardtop its a 2k fixed roof coupe with HUD and magnesiums 1 of 136 built in torch red i have added corsa indy pace-edition exhaust . how about the new zo6 = AWSOME check out our club

http://www.redlinecorvettes.com/

Packer take lots of pix in MOAB