Truck Trend's glowing review!

[Huck BB62]

Well, after the rediculously car biased Car and Driver comparo, the Truck Trend's review is a real winner for the H3. Sounds like they've got some guys that get it.



Truck Trend's 4x4 shootout.

[Huck BB62]

Well, after the rediculously car biased Car and Driver comparo, the Truck Trend's review is a real winner for the H3. Sounds like they've got some guys that get it.



Truck Trend's 4x4 shootout.

[fourfourto]

I have the magazine , sept / oct 2005 Everyone should buy one before there gone.I leave it in the behind the seat storage.

[Ipedog]

I looked for the magazine but could never find it, so I'm glad that the article came out on the web.

I love how the H3 is the least expensive of the bunch and the winner, the LR3, is somthing like 20K more expensive!

[DWPC]

I guess the word "ultimate" in the title justified their giving 1st Place to the LR3, who's only real advantage was highway performance and luxury. Oddly, if you read the whole article, the LR3 actually had many more negative comments than the H3. Considering the near <span class="ev_code_RED">60%</span> price differential between the 2nd place H3 and winning LR3, the real results are very clear.

[Sewie]

Pretty good article. Interesting how the Xterra (the SUV ofthe Year) wasn't even included in this roundup.

[f5fstop]

I'll add some controversy, anyone want to comment about the H3 making it to the top of the hill with an auto? Or, climb easier over the rocks?

My opinion from driving both autos and manuals off-road....YES, and with no chance of burning out a clutch due to having to ride it to keep up.

[Sewie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
I'll add some controversy, anyone want to comment about the H3 making it to the top of the hill with an auto? Or, climb easier over the rocks?

My opinion from driving both autos and manuals off-road....YES, and with no chance of burning out a clutch due to having to ride it to keep up. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was a little surprised that they tested it with a manual. It was the only one in the group.

I haven't driven a manual H3 but have seen some in action. I'd probably have to agree with you.

[f5fstop]

I'm just in a sh** stirring mood.

[evldave]

ok, I'll bite. An auto is all good and fine, and probably would have been much better on the hill climb, but rocks? I say NO.

Why? Starter crawl - my Cherokee has the interlocks removed and I can crawl around rocks using just the starter. Add a hand throttle control so you don't have to f with 2feet3pedals and I'd vote manual. And maybe everyone elses's experience differs, but on downhills I like a nicely locked up 1st gear with a clutch over a slipping torque converter, even with a monster crawl ratio.

your experiences may vary. Really, off-road capability is based more on ability than technology...

[Huck BB62]

Rick Russell, a guy that's wheeled more than any other 5 people alive, switched to auto. That's all I need to know. I wheeled, and pretty seriously, for years with a stick. I had a hand throttle too. Don't care. Two footin' it's no big deal, last time I checked, using a CLUTCH is two footin' it! The reason I had the hand throttle was because I was tired of heel/toein' it. Yes, so far, I slightly miss the slightly better hookup of the engine braking on descents. That one sniggle doesn't come close to overuling the comfort and control of an auto.

[evldave]

My problem is I've never been able to heel-n-toe anything. I even had my cousin (who ownes a sprint car speed shop in Cali and races sprint cars so he probably knows how to use a clutch) try and show me and I can't get it right. So hand throttle was my solution, which really SUCKS when you bump something, your hand accidently squeezes the throttle and your foot slips off the clutch. I needed a new bumper and front quarter panel anyways, I know the brakes work now...

And I bought an auto for my H3 because I don't plan on beeting it up like my jeep (which I still have) so the benefits of a stick won't apply to the stuff I do with it (and I tow stuff now, which is a PIA with a stick).

[f5fstop]

Reasons I switched to an auto from a manual:
On-road
Don't feel like shifting constantly in rush and go traffice.
When on the highway, no need to downshift, I let the auto do it all by itself.
Off-Road
Ascending a hill, stop and see how much better an auto is versus a manual.
Rocks, you have to ride a clutch to go over rocks and boulders, with an auto, no problem.
Sand...do something dumb like I have done and stop in dry quicksand. Then proceed to fry a clutch to try and get out by rocking the vehicle. With an auto, it is so much easier to rock a vehicle. Winch was worthless since the nearest solid object was about a mile away. So, ended up using a hi-lift to raise and bounce the vehicle to one side.

I have had my share of manuals, and autos, and for all driving, other than a sport scar, I will have to stay with the auto.

As for descending, with the crawl ratio of the H3, with the off-road package, I still won't have to hit the brakes that much, if at all. Remember, an auto can be shifted into low gear just like a manual.