Hello All,

I am about to become the proud owner of an H3. I am moving to the Colorado Rockies, and will be living at altitude and doing some volunteering with mountain rescue. I have a choice between two H3s and can't decide. One is an 06 with the adventure package - very well maintained with 79K miles on it. Body is excellent - looks new - and undercarriage is decent for a Midwest vehicle. Rusty in the usual places - transfer case, etc. It has the brush guard and roof spot lights. I can get this for $13K.

The second is an 07 H3X. It has what you would expect from an X - chrome leather and other touches. It only has 14K miles on it, but is a bit scratched up and has some eccentric touches like the owner has sprayed red paint under the wheel arches, has added some ugly transfer decals and scratched it a bit. Also lowered the running boards so that they almost touch the ground. All fixable for a few of hundred bucks. It also has the original tires that will need changing before winter. It has some rust underneath in the usual places - transfer case and the like. I can get this for $18 K.

I can't decide and would welcome any advice or insights. Thanks so much in advance

 

Hold out for another 3.7L or Alpha. The 06 sounds like the better of the two but I can guarantee you will want more power on the hwy. That 07 was probably used hard.

 

Tough choice, but I'm with rsc on this one, wait for an '07+ Adventure. If you can swing it, hold out for an Alpha w/offroad package.

 

In that price range an 07-08 I5 Adventure will do you well. If you wish to have the leather, chrome etc. Look for an Adventure/LUX.

If I HAD to choose between the 2, it would be hands down the 06.

 

Thank you for the great advice. I appreciate it. I know what to look for now.

 

One thing that got my attention on the 07 was the super low miles 14K. It had a decent carfax, but the little dings, scratches and marks suggested to me that it was owned by someone who took it out for a couple of miles a day and had trouble parking and driving it. I know low miles are good, but something concerned me. I think some low miles cars can have issues. Is that true in your experience?

 

My wife and I almost bought an H2SUT with average to low miles that had been given back to the factory at 5-600 miles under a lemon law. No problems on the carfax since then, but you never know. We joke that some guy brought it home and the wife gave him hell until he got rid of it and the lemon law for radio problems was how he got it done.

 

I would pay the extra for LOW MILES. GL

 

I would as well, and wouldn't really care so much about cosmetics (scratches and wheel well paint), lowered running boards (that I'd immediately replace with sliders), or worn out stock tires (which I'd replace with 35" Duratracs). However, he's volunteering with mountain rescue in the Rockies - in which case I'd put the Adventure package (or offroad package for an Alpha) as a requirement.

 

I don't know what kind of weight you are looking at hauling in it, but I would also look at an Alpha/offroad. It will give you more power having the v8