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View Full Version : Driving an H3 for a couple of days


KenP
06-05-2007, 07:26 PM
I've got a rental H3 I'll be sporting around for a couple of days and thought I'd post my impressions. Just remember that this is a base, base, base model rental.

My first impression getting in the truck was positive. I like the substantial sterring wheel and gear shifter. They feel very sturdy and solid. I'm happy so far.

The truck is smaller than what I'm used to, but it's not tiny in anyway. Sort of a Mama Bear size, not Papa or Baby bear. Maybe it's just right and I certainly could get used to it.

I don't know why people complain about the power. It's fine for around town driving. Maybe it isn't so good on hills and whatnot, but it's flat as a pancake here, so power isn't that big a deal.

Visibility was what I expected, limited just like the 2.

The ride was nice. It soaked up the potholes fine and didn't jar my teeth out, so that's all good. Those combined make for a nice truck that would be great on long trips. However...

I do have a couple of things I don't care for, two of which have been discussed here at length, so they're nothing new. The damn window switches. WTF??? You have to be a contortionist to get to them. GM is changing them, right?

The other thing is the location of the foot pedals. A size 13 foot wrapped in Croc's doesn't fit between the brake and the trans tunnel. I had to nearly lay my foot on it's side to use the heel-toe-brake-gas method. I could never get used to that.

The truck's seats are supportive, so the problems with the seats are unique to this truck and my experience. It has cloth seats and I haven't had cloth seats since '87. Also, the seats aren't powered so I couldn't get the seat adjusted to my liking. I'm 6'4" and 220lbs so my size didn't help things either. No up and down, no lumbar support. Combine that with the funky leg position and I had problems getting comfortable.

Basically, it really gets down to me having just one problem with H3's in general, the damn brake pedal location. I could get used to the switches, and power seats would fix my comfort problem. Again, this was a rental and frankly, they suck. I mean hell, I had to manually adjust the mirrors! WTF!?!?

GM, FIX THE PEDAL LOCATION!

ChiHummer3
06-05-2007, 07:33 PM
:iagree: Sounds like a very accurate evaluation!

Steve - SanJose
06-05-2007, 07:35 PM
Good evaluation from an H2 perspective.

usetosellhummer
06-05-2007, 07:39 PM
yup the pedals are cramped

fourfourto
06-05-2007, 07:53 PM
Quote: no lumbar support

The big manual knob is for lumbar,I like the cloth :iagree: it would be nice if it was powered though.

Vettster
06-05-2007, 08:19 PM
I just got out of a rental H3 also.
I thought the power was sufficient.
One comment regarding the power seat controls:
I couldn't fit my hand between the door and the seat to adjust the controls.
That, and the visibility seemed worse to me than my H2 (SUT).

All in all though, I Liked it.
I wouldn't mind adding one to the stable. :beerchug:

KenP
06-07-2007, 01:05 AM
Haha!!! I returned it today and on the way I found the mirror controls.:o :giggling: :o

Sewie
06-07-2007, 01:28 AM
People complained about the pedals when they first came out. And then GM went and moved them even closer together!! WTF?!?! :rant:

It doesn't really bother me in mine, but when I get a newer H3 as a loaner it bugs the crap outta me. :mad:

Huck BB62
06-07-2007, 07:49 AM
People complained about the pedals when they first came out. And then GM went and moved them even closer together!! WTF?!?! :rant:

It doesn't really bother me in mine, but when I get a newer H3 as a loaner it bugs the crap outta me. :mad:

I'm not gonna say anything bad about our H3s, someone will get their feeling hurt and get mad at me.

BUT I do get to beetch about crocs!!! My wife wears those frickn' things. I call 'em spongebobsquareshoes. I hate 'em soooooo bad! If it's rainin', they suck up a quart of water each and it gets squished out in the house. You can follow her in the the rain and SEE the dry foot prints where she walks and they pick up the water and mud! Then it gets put into the cars and truck! :rant: They pick up anything that's stepped on, heck someday I'll probably see a child imbedded in the bottom of those things. It's a moot argument. She loves 'em and that's that.

HummerHippy
06-07-2007, 03:07 PM
Haha!!! I returned it today and on the way I found the mirror controls.:o :giggling: :o
I was going to say! Mine has power mirrors. :giggling:

Vettster
06-07-2007, 04:01 PM
BUT I do get to beetch about crocs!!! My wife wears those frickn' things. I call 'em spongebobsquareshoes. I hate 'em soooooo bad! If it's rainin', they suck up a quart of water each and it gets squished out in the house. You can follow her in the the rain and SEE the dry foot prints where she walks and they pick up the water and mud! Then it gets put into the cars and truck! :rant: They pick up anything that's stepped on, heck someday I'll probably see a child imbedded in the bottom of those things. It's a moot argument. She loves 'em and that's that.

Thanks for the insight. I was on the fence about getting a pair. Now, I've made up my mind.:giggling:

Steve - SanJose
06-07-2007, 05:24 PM
croc review too http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

Agriv8r
06-08-2007, 02:42 PM
nice review ken...3 days to find the mirror controls??":giggling:

DennisAJC
06-08-2007, 02:50 PM
They offered my an H3 loaner when I had to bring my 2 in for servicing.

I said, "Like hell you are! I'd rather drive that Aztek.":clapping:

ChiHummer3
06-08-2007, 02:51 PM
They offered my an H3 loaner when I had to bring my 2 in for servicing.

I said, "Like hell you are! I'd rather drive that Aztek.":clapping:

:lame: :fdance: :fdance: :fdance: :D

DennisAJC
06-08-2007, 03:03 PM
:lame: :fdance: :fdance: :fdance: :D

:jump: :p

ChiHummer3
06-08-2007, 03:04 PM
:beerchug:

tomp
06-08-2007, 03:30 PM
Power? Maybe you were driving an '07 where they increased power some?

There is a little more on the 07s...

GreateWhite
06-08-2007, 03:55 PM
Overall your impressions are reflective of what many people find. The newest models do have the windows switches in a new location, making them much easier to use if you have longer arms (I have short arms, so the old switches are perfect for me). Also, the newer models have different spacings for the brake and gas pedals, and a rest for your left foot.

3Hummer
06-08-2007, 04:15 PM
Ya they changed the window buttons, and there is a lumbar support on the cloth its a giant turny thing, i dont care for lumbar myself though. And if you get the lux package you get leather which has automatic seats, that do infact move up and down, and as for the pedals, you're absolutly right.

fourfourto
06-08-2007, 04:37 PM
the newer models have different spacings for the brake and gas pedals, and a rest for your left foot.

:popcorn: my early 06 has a spot to rest your left foot.http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/images/icons/icon5.gif