H3 VS new Rubicon Wrangler......

[yzergod]

Well, I do own both (TJ & H3) and I can tell you that the Jeep is a lot more utilitarian. But, it also is a lot more fun to run around in with the top & doors off. The H3 seems too confined, but more refined. I am still learning about it's idiosyncracies such as having to open the door to adjust the seat. Also, for me, the windows are too high to rest your arm on while driving and the rest on the door too low. But... I love its looks and the fact that I am one of the few around here who has one (less than 6 in this area). I can run around town in my cookie cutter truck that gets 13 mpg and nobody pays me any attention, but if I'm in the H3, the hippies go ape and yell obscenities at me blaming me for Iraq.

But, consider this: my closest Hummer dealer is 200+ miles away, my closest Jeep dealer is 5. I have stacks of Jeep parts catalogs and there are dozens of online places to buy accessories. I haven't found a H3 specific catalog yet, they are lumped in the back of H2 stuff. Same-same online. Also, if you remove all the bling for sale and the over priced roof racks, there really is only a dozen or so items for the H3. Similar items such as nerf steps cost almost double for the Hummers as they do for the Jeeps. Why? Are they made of twice the material? I don't think so, the manufacturers are capitalizing on a more afluent market.

There are numerous comanies such as AEV that will build you a Jeep with a Hemi in it, or a Chevy 350, or Ford 5.0, or a diesel, but nobody that I've seen does for the H3 (yet). I know Bully Dog was working on stuffing a diesel in an H3 for SEMA, but have yet to hear if that has gone through or not. I asked my source at Quadratec why they don't carry H3 accessories and he said, "...from the inside news....GM is going down and going down hard. They lose money on every car...the trucks are the only thing keeping the money afloat and many of our vendors are not investing money in GM products due to a fear that they will not be around much longer. Toyota is on the verge of buying out the Chevrolet brand (GM is going to be spun off like AMC did to AM General)....and the Hummer line is not doing that well either. From the numbers we have the Liberty is still out pacing it. (The Commander is tanking big time though.....) I like the H3 though....more than the KJ." If this is the case, then it would explain why companies like Hypertech are dragging their heels on a power programmer for the H3, yet have one for the Commander. And the lack of performance mods.

I guess my point is if you want an offroad TOY that you can bolt up a ton of aftermarket items and thrash it around on the trail without worry, then buy the Jeep. If you want a more luxurious and refined vehicle then the H3 is for you. There will be people who thrash their H3's offroad and Rubi owners that never leave the mall parking lot. It is all in the eye (and wallet) of the beholder.

The perfect offroad vehicle for me would have to bee a 2003-2006 Unilimited Rubicon. Longer wheelbase and add a long arm lift, some 35" or 37" tires and a winch and you are done. IMHO.