Does the stock stereo bump pretty good in the H3? Also, am I really goin gto get 21 mpg on the highway driving at 65 ish all the time? I would really be interested in dropping a 4.10 FD in instead of the 4.56 because that is low enough for me. I don't rock crawl and 4.10 is pretty damn low.

Any thought would be appreciated.

RIZNOSS

 

You can do whatever you want, but GM built the 3 with that gearing for a reason....................it is a heavy brick and needs all the help it can with the I5 to move it along. No you wont be getting 21mpgs stock. You'd be very fortunate to get 18, but you have the right idea about the driving speed. I never cruise faster than 75 on the E ways.

 

Depends on what you want about the stereo, it does plenty for me, and I like to turn it up on the good songs. You won't win any stereo competitions with it, but it will do the job.

I just drove from Cincinnati back to the Columbus area on Sunday, I kept the cruise control on 75 the whole way and I got 17 MPG. Not great, but I've seen worse.

 

I learned the H3 offers two stereos. The stock base model and an upgraded one used in the H3X. When you get the NAV unit you get the base radio and that sucks. I'd love to have a NAV but don't want to give up the upgraded Monsoon radio system.

 

There have been a lot of raves here on the optional (or standard on H3X) Monsoon system. Not so many raves about the stock system, except for those that admit they don't really care about the stereo.

Why mess with the ratios? You'll void a warranty quick on that one. If you can't live with the mileage or performance then it's not the right vehicle for you. If you need the performance go Alpha. If you need the mpg - well, you ain't gonna get it in an H3. Suzuki makes a nice 2WD suv for that purpose [8D]
[/align]

 

The bass is decent, but in terms of Sound QUality... [:'(]

 

the monsoon system also comes on the non x i have a 06 adv, lux and it has the monsoon system, sounds great to me, not awsome , but great, wish it had bulit in ipod control, i added one, and it doesnt work that great.

also i avg 17 mpg 47,000 miles now

 

I have the Monsoon and the Nav in my H3X and it does sounds pretty good. Much more than I was expecting from a factory sound. About the MPG, Not a chance. I was averaging 17 with stock 32's, but when I moved up to 33's I am getting around 15, and that is including the ratio for the tire size. I have been shocked how much 1 inch upgrade in size of tire could effect the MPG.

 

I'm upgrading my factory system with Valor 660 head unit a pair of amps and JBL speakers

 

I have the Moonsoon w/XM and I LOVE IT! I was not planning on it but it came on the H3 I wanted, and so far it has been my favorite option. As far as MPG about 15.5 but as I am pushing 5,000 mi they say it will improve. If you read the fine print the 20 is on a manual trans, under optimal driving conditions.