H3 VS new Rubicon Wrangler......

[XM DUDE]

This is a tough choice as they both look good, Wrangler soft and hard top options.
Would be temped?

No. Two very different rigs.

S.

[XM DUDE]

How different are they really?

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by XM DUDE

How different are they really?

Not that I have but try driving both for a month each as a DD and then see if you have to ask that question

[J6Niner]

Originally Posted by HummerNewbie

Not that I have but try driving both for a month each as a DD and then see if you have to ask that question

X2... I had a 94 Soft-Top Wrangler Sport and a 2002 Hard-top Wrangler Sport. Wrangler was great offroad but IMO the H3 is FAR better. Everyday driving the Wrangler will beat the H3LL out of you (even with a soft-top). And traveling in the Wrangler, forget it! No luggage or passenger room.

These trucks are no where near comparable (except for maybe gas mileage and acceleration)...

[XM DUDE]

Yese, but the new redesigened Wrangler will have a better ride.

[lance-n]

A friend here in Cabo bought a totally loaded rubicon last year. It is really nice, with insane suspension all the bells and whistles, but on a short trip down the highway towards an off road trail, I could barely keep from wearing my cup of coffee. That wheel base is so short I could only imagine how it would feel sitting in the back seat! They are very nice rigs and off-road capable, not to mention that they do come with more ground clearance that a stock hummer. Not sure how they compare on approach angles, but would guess they are similar. As it was said earlier in this thread, these two vehicles are not really comparable, since the jeep is not really that practical on-road.
That's my .02

[XM DUDE]

Well it will be interisting to see how well the new one rides.

[Michael1]

I test drove the '06 Wrangler Unlimited, and all I can say is, that was pehaps the worst riding vehicle I have ever ridden in. It shook so hard, it was hard to see. The new '07s are suppose to ride better, but we'll see.

Michael

[yzergod]

Originally Posted by XM DUDE

This is a tough choice as they both look good, Wrangler soft and hard top options.
Would be temped?

Although new to this forum, here is my take...

I have owned a Jeep for quite a while ('97) and came close to buying a new Rubi. But... although my Jeep has run some serious trails, I am still not wanting to leave the top off and have the interior get all crappy. I still have the carpet, nice seat covers, and love to run it with the top off. However, here in the Colorado Mountains we get an afternoon shower almost daily and I HATE coming home from work with wet seats. Also, even though the top is a convertible, it is a pain in the ass to put up and down. It isn't anywhere nears as easy as say a one button electrical top on a Mustang. So, I end up leaving it covered or top up.

The H3 is by far a better riding, quieter, more luxurious vehicle. I love taking my Jeep offroad, but I don't enjoy the drive to and from work unless the top is off and tunes are loud enough to mask the rattles/squeaks/clanks and noise of the tires. The ride is harsher and it wanders more and is a lot squirrelly in the turns. And for my money, I'd buy a 3 again before a Rubi. If you are serious about playing offroad, your money would be better spent on a Currie built Jeep rather than a Rubi. Or, put your money into a H3 for lift/tires/winch if you can stomach taking a brand new rig off-road.

Or, do what I did and buy the H3 for most of your driving and trail running and get a cheap Jeep you can thrash on the harder trails.

HTH!

[yzergod]

Originally Posted by lance-n

They are very nice rigs and off-road capable, not to mention that they do come with more ground clearance that a stock hummer. Not sure how they compare on approach angles, but would guess they are similar.

Stock, I like the H3 better. But lifted, the Jeep gets the nod for angles and articulation! Here's my Jeep on Tip Over Challenge/Hell's Revenge in Moab...

[Desert Dan]

I think the 2007 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited with be a great vehicle with all the goodies like 4:1 low range, front and rear lockers, and an eletronically dissconnecting front sway bar.

Even with the hard top it is still a Jeep.

It is slightly wider than the 2006 model and has a better suspension.

The H3 will still be a better all around vehicle. The Rubicon will excel off road.

[XM DUDE]

That is one thing my wife dislikes about Jeeps is the ride.

Don't think the typical H3 buyer will be cross shopping the Wrangler, but the minority of H3 buyers that are more than occasional wheelers might. The new H4 might be a different story...

The H3 is more like an affordable LR3, a premium SUV with real offroad capabilities. Hummer was very careful to include the luxury features and appropriate interior.

S.

[usetosellhummer]

Overall the Hummer wins, everyone has great points here. i almost bought a Jeep and did not fit let alone the ride was way too hard.

[DWPC]

The Rubi's ride is brutal, the noise is horrible, the step-over awkward, its cramped, its an big job to lower or raise the top. Great on the trail, but just too crude and primitive for daily driving. I just can't imagine driving a Rubicon 500 miles. The Rubi is essentially a 2wd rig on the pavement except for those well-versed in using "old-fashioned" 4wd (and busted axles). From what I've read, I don't see much in the new 07 that will correct these things. Better, but still a dinosaur.

For those who do hit the trails, very very few H3s or Rubicons will ever see a trail that requires a front locker or the Rubi's nominal edge in articulation. The H3 drives like a very nice sedan in town, is extremely comfortable for long trips, and offers lots of space. The H3 has all the benefits of 2006 engineering and safety while the Rubi is stuck in a 70s time warp; its FINALLY getting ABS in 07. And the the Rubi is way (IMO) overpriced; almost double a basic Wrangler (06 was $18K vs 33K)!

I was shopping a Rubi last September, but the Jeep dealer pissed me off so bad I walked out...and discovered the Hummer dealer was just around the corner. I figured what the hell, and got a test drive an H3. Thank God that Jeep salesman was an moron.

[XM DUDE]

I agree the H3 scores highly in confort, and considering most of my driving would be on pavement, without haven driven the new Wrangler, I would right now choose Hummer.I will admit the new Jeep is worth checking out just to see how far it has progressed.