My Alpha Test Drive Results

[BACKNBLACK]

Drove the Alpha Flame Red Color (SLightly Orange).

Details:

Acceleration: On a Scale from 0-10 it was a 7 (For a 5000lb truck it was a 10)

PAssing POwer: 35 to 55mph: 8 on the scale

Braking: was as usual (HUmmer has great Braking Systems)10 out of 10.

Engine Compartment was Clean and Mean. The Engine was not as PACKED in as I thought it would be.

Interior in my opinion could have been a bit more "HUmmer" more like the H2 is what I expected. The Badging was really the only changes.

All in all its a great truck and if you tow its even better now 6k cap. Great Truck but for the cost (NICELY EQUIPPED) you may as well get an H2 IMHO.

[NEOCON1]

cool

Wow, sounds nice. But it wasn't worth the extra money?

[BACKNBLACK]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

Wow, sounds nice. But it wasn't worth the extra money?

Not for me. Like I said with the options I wanted. SR/NAV/DVD/TIRES/ROCKERS/MARKER LAMPS/REM SIDE STEPS/UC PROT etc.... The cost would of been well into the $50's. At that cost I would of gone back to another H2. Great Truck if you want the smaller SUV with a ton of power and bad gas mph .

Originally Posted by BACKNBLACK

Not for me. Like I said with the options I wanted. SR/NAV/DVD/TIRES/ROCKERS/MARKER LAMPS/REM SIDE STEPS/UC PROT etc.... The cost would of been well into the $50's. At that cost I would of gone back to another H2. Great Truck if you want the smaller SUV with a ton of power and bad gas mph .

Yea, wait til we hear the complaints about the bad mileage, the temptation to put your foot into the V8 will be too much to resist.

[usetosellhummer]

I drove one yesterday, the dealer had 2 fresh in. On the test track it was more torquey and the giddy up was great. it felt heavy and at 13/16 and 6000lbs I could buy a used 05 H2 loaded for the same money. Nice but late.

[wannabeH3]

sounds like the alpha is what the original should have been.

[Dave92270]

I wonder how much Alpha is going to sell for down here once they get them...my local dealer currently sells H3X's for what that Alpha on eBay was offered. While waiting at the dealership yesterday I saw orange H3X with sticker price around $43k.. it had "Navigation" feature at some $1700 (GPS?), 5-speed manual, few chromes here and there, stock tires.. with tax and fees it's something like $47000 out of the pocket. I think very base Alpha will have sticker around $45k+ and one with few extra options (as long as there are any left to add?) some $55k - they seem to be very skillful here in adding "value" to the vehicles in dealer installed options...

[BuzzH3]

I just drove one at my dealer last night. I wasn't real impressed. The acceleration from stopped and from 50MPH was only slightly better than my 06 (45,000 mi, stock intake and exhaust). I was considering a trade-in, but after driving it there was no compelling reason to do so. I personally love V8's, but there was absolutely no WOW factor with that engine in either the power or the sound. I had to turn the AC off and open a window before I could hear the engine. I know most buyers don't want a loud engine, but if I have a V8 I at least want it to sound that way. At least a little growl. The one I drove didn't have many options besides the sunroof, side steps, and rear view camera (displayed through the rear view mirror) and the sticker was 41,750. I would at least want the off-road package.
Anyway, that's just my opinion and some of you will probably disagree.

[FutureBeachBum]

At this point I'm used to the 5 cyl. More power would be nice, but not worth the price!

[Huck BB62]

Love the orange red look, more than I thought I would. The seats seem like they have thicker leather. I love the danged Alpha. Darned shame we just spent everything on the new RV. I would love to have the Alpha, I think it's an awsome machine. Ain't happening for awhile.

[BuzzH3]

Originally Posted by lotus4s

The problem is not the 5000 lb curb weight, it's GM and Hummer (as well as the rest of the big 3). Look at what Toyota has done with the new Tundra. With a curb weight of slightly more than the H3 and a 5.7L V8 they are getting 0-60 times in the 6 second range, 380 hp and 400 lb.ft of torque, a 6 speed auto tranny and EPA mpg numbers better than the Alpha. I test drove a couple of them recently and was extremely impressed.

I was 90% sure I was getting a new Alpha until I test drove it and came away very disappointed. Not worth the extra money IMHO...

I would have to agree with you. I was very disappointed with GM. They could have done so much more with the Alpha. Don't get me wrong. I think it's a great vehicle, but there is absolutely no compelling reason for current owners to upgrade. I realize that is not their target audience, but even for potential new owners, the decision is hard. I felt that there was little difference between my 3.5 and the V8, so the difference between the 3.7 and the V8 has to be even closer. If I was a new customer and test drove the Alpha and the 3.7, then looked at the sticker price and the MPG, I think I would go for the 3.7. IMHO, I think the Alpha, which designates a top level version of the model, should have at least 350HP or probably more.

[subunix]

Originally Posted by BACKNBLACK

Drove the Alpha Flame Red Color (SLightly Orange).

Details:

Acceleration: On a Scale from 0-10 it was a 7 (For a 5000lb truck it was a 10)

PAssing POwer: 35 to 55mph: 8 on the scale

Braking: was as usual (HUmmer has great Braking Systems)10 out of 10.

Engine Compartment was Clean and Mean. The Engine was not as PACKED in as I thought it would be.

Interior in my opinion could have been a bit more "HUmmer" more like the H2 is what I expected. The Badging was really the only changes.

All in all its a great truck and if you tow its even better now 6k cap. Great Truck but for the cost (NICELY EQUIPPED) you may as well get an H2 IMHO.

INFERNO ORANGE is the color, lol

[Texas Red]

I just finished day 4 in my new 2008 H3 Lux. The 3.7L will do quite nicely for me. I haven't been off-road yet, but the power and giddyup seem OK to me. I'm glad I passed on the Alpha.

I'm waiting to check the mpg on my first tank.

[LesC.]

Geez you guys crack me up.... I drive 143 miles a day round trip to and from work. I get 17.5 mpg observed in my 08 Alpha and I drove over 1200 miles during my first week of ownership. The day I bought it i drove it directly across the street from the dealership to a construction area and tried to get it stuck in a mud bog. This thing is a HUMMER, it's not a bmw or range rover. I never drove the I5 before i bought the Alpha but I'm an old guy who will always prefer V8 power over all others when he has the choice.