I have thought about trading up to an Alpha but I'm happy with the I-5. The mileage difference does not seem to be a factor because they're about the same. I guess one BIG perk would be the Alpha with it's heavy weight will qualify you for the tax break you get with BIG heavy vehicles.

 

I don’t know..... I test drove the H3 Alpha and I noticeda big difference in the HP at your feet... right off the bat and on the highway was the most noticeable.

 

finally someone talks the TRUTH! Lets be real we would all go with the Alpha if it was the same price!

 

It seems 50-50 on how people feel about the difference in the Alpha and the I-5. Sure I would consider the Alpha, I havent drove one yet, but the reports make me feel content with my I-5.

 

I'd go for an Alpha if I could get a 5-speed stick!

 

I would do the V-8 if the costs were the same, no brainer. CCMDoc and a couple others who have had both: is there any significant insurance cost difference when moving to the Alpha?

The other item missing from this thread is weight gain. The press releases want you to believe (ya right???) that the Alpha is a mere 151 lbs heavier than the I5 H3. [:'(] Supposedly 100 #s attributable to the engine and appx. 50# attributable to the iron front differential????? The Alpha is listed as 4851 lbs. The I5 H3 4700 lbs.

I don't have an Alpha and don't know what it really weighs? I do know what my H3 Adventure weighs with a little more than half a tank of fuel, front GM splash guards, factory trailer hitch, stock wheels w/ 33s andmy regular stuff in it (fire extingusher, flash light, some CDs, a rag, rear cargo mat, and Husky liners front and rear, etc...) 4,840. I got no brush guard, no nerf bars or rock rails, no roof rack or rails, no under belly protection pkg., nothin.....? How are they arriving at the official GM curb weight??????? Bone dry, and emtpy? B.S.[8D]

So, the Alpha may have 58 more HP and 78 more Torque, but it has more weight too. Both vehicles have a 6001 # GVWR. I'm ready to go to the track and match up with an Alpha here in south east MI, lets crunch some real numbers! Yeah these ain't no dragsters, but it would be big fun to look at 60 ft times/speedas well as1/8 and 1/4 mile rips/speed. Not to mention the pics we could post. Anybody up for it??? I need an Alpha guy/gal round here to volunteer to belittle my I5, if ya can.

 

My H3 set up like it is, weighed at the truck scale is "got to find that", with me in it and Im not over 180! I weighed on several different scales at different times and it always come close on certified scales. The mods I have done all combined relieved me of the feeling it was low on power on the road and towing. That bump to the 3.7 was nice but not much, but add all I have done to that and it gets even better. They called me to drive the first Alpha here. We played in that and then they drove mine. There was some shoulder shrugging and grinning. I have never felt under powered off road with the gearing used properly. I do feel the V8 should have more torque to use for mountains and towing. I did not get to try that. I did tow my boat, it's not big,with the one I bought at the dealer before I bought it. They wanted to try that too. The PCM programmed for positive shifts and hanging on to the gears more makes the difference in me being happy or disappointed. First road trip towing in cruise it would shift down and wind out and drove me nuts everytime a hit a long but not steep incline on the Interstate headed South to Ms. not many hills! Now its fine. I even tow my work trailer which weighs right at 3500 lbs. H3 at 5400 and boat is 2020 and some weight is transferred to H3 was 7420.

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If they were the same price then yes I would go for the alpha...If I could hit a hard slider I would also be in MLB...it doesn't work that way.

 

Anyone have a comparison of the I5 with 5sp and the Alpha? I had a loner with an automatic the other day and could tell a significant difference between it and the manual off the line, and with the manual you have that one extra gear there in the middle that's just right for merging on the freeway.

 

personally. i like them all! im very happy theres honest alpha owners. the ones ive met so far are so cocky. they like to talk bad about the regular ones now. its not cool! lol