Looking at one of these for the GF, daily driver, might see some gentle moab or CO mining roads but that's about it.

What's in it for a rear end? same as the 3.7 rear? I may tow the racer once in a while or a smaller boat.

I'd like to get the offroad package, but that will likely mean compromise in color or going over 1000 miles to get it.

Definitely get the Off Road/ Adventure Package. The Alpha will come with front and rear Eaton E-lockers. The V-8 Alpha has 4:10 gear ratio, and AAM 860 10 bolt rear, and an AAM 760 Cast Iron Front.

Totally worthy and worth it. No real weaknesses, you just have to remember to drive it like it's full time 4 wheel drive because it is.

2009/2010 are the years you want.

Thanks.... what's "less" in the 2008's? I mean if I can save serious coin I'll just put an ARB in the back. I'm not going to wheel it hard and it's kinda fun wheeling with a more "challenged" vehicle.... not slamming the H3 but i get spoiled in the racer with stickies etc:)

2006-2008 came with only the rear locker.

You can slap a set of 35's with no mods, might want to hit the torsions bars a couple of turns.

You will love Moab in it - they were made for Moab :D

perfect, I can live with only a rear locker. 10 bolt is about an 8.5 ring gear? should live as long as I keep towing minimal. For that matter, it makes the offroad package less of a deal breaker, nice to have, but i can live without the 4/1 and install a locker when i feel like it.

yea, CG, width and WB would be about right for moab.

perfect, I can live with only a rear locker. 10 bolt is about an 8.5 ring gear? should live as long as I keep towing minimal. For that matter, it makes the offroad package less of a deal breaker, nice to have, but i can live without the 4/1 and install a locker when i feel like it.

yea, CG, width and WB would be about right for moab.

Ring gear is 8.6, about the same size as a D44.

I've owned a:

2006 H3 base model
2007 H3 Adventure model
2008 Alpha Adventure/Lux model (in my garage now)

We have wheeled all three, pretty hard. We ran 35"s on all three. I towed my 4,200lb TJ 4,400 miles round trip to Moab and back with the '07 5 cylinder.

The Alpha is probably the best all around vehicle I have ever owned. Tows great great. Off-roads great. Daily Drives great.

BIGGEST negative- on the 35"s, I average about 11mpg city/highway.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, we took them through tons of trails in Colorado, Moab, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky.

Like REDLYNER I have owned both the I-5 ('06) and now an Alpha ('09) and to me the Alpha is a great all around vehicle that was worth every penny. I never had an issue with the '06 or it's power other than towing capacity but the Alpha is a whole other animal power wise and I love it.

BIGGEST negative- on the 35"s, I average about 11mpg city/highway.



Did you have the speedo corrected?

No, I didn't think you could. I track it with a GPS and it's only off by roughly 2 mph at 65.

I could correct mine with the Flashpaq but just never done it.

test driving one.... has a harmonic buzz/drone north of 70 from the pass side dash, that and poor/surging idle when you come to a stop.... otherwise, the 3.7 is stronger than expected:)

test driving one.... has a harmonic buzz/drone north of 70 from the pass side dash, that and poor/surging idle when you come to a stop.... otherwise, the 3.7 is stronger than expected:)

LOL, push the onstar button in the rear view mirror and see if they can pull some codes for you.

Check CV's for any boot leaks.

.... otherwise, the 3.7 is stronger than expected:)
They got better from '06-'08. The 3.5 in the '06 definitely had the lowest power and there was a noticeable difference when they went to the 3.7 in '07. In '08 the made some programming changes and there was yet another jump in performance. Of course none of them are going to be like a sports car but they get the job done. Not sure if there were any updates in the '09 or '10 3.7.

I spoke with a long time GM/Hummer tech last night, he owns an 09 H3 himself. Their is a bulletin to reflash for better idle characteristics.

That said, he thought it would be a dirty TB. I know that was the case in my 3.8SC in the racer. I'll let the seller fix it.... seller is a chevy dealer.