Hello fellow Hummer enthusiast. I aspire to join the Hummer cult soon. I test drove a 2006 H3 base model with 116,227 miles yesterday along with a two other regular suvs. The two other suvs I drove were an 06' Honda Pilot and an 07' BMW X3. Of the three I felt the H3 being the odd one, due to no prior experience with one. Is it normal for the gas pedal to be pushed in 1/4th of the way in before there is any acceleration? I read the dealers's info/price sheet on the H3's passenger window and noticed that the dealership had replaced the engine. With further questioning, the sales rep stated that the engine was replaced upon the previous owner trading in the H3, with a re-manufactured 3.5L I5. During the test drive I noticed the check engine light was on. I also was not able to give the H3 a full throttle/off road test because the sales rep tagged along for the test drive. A couple of things I noticed that I believe should bring the $13,995 asking price down significantly were that the spare tire was mounted on a rusted and later painted steel wheel meanwhile the original factory wheels were mounted. All of the accessories and scissor jack compartment panels were missing along with all of the storage nets behind the driver and passenger seats. There was a fair amount of rust on the undercarriage of the H3, being that it has been used for 4 of its 10 years up here in Northern Maine where they use calcium chloride to melt the snow and ice off the public roads. The CarFax came back clear with no accidents reported and 10 previous owners.

Bottom line: Engine replaced at 116, 277 miles, fair amount of rust in undercarriage, missing accessories panels in cargo area, missing factory wheel for the spare tire and replaced with rusted and later painted steel wheel, 10 previous owners with no accidents reported.

Am I potentially purchasing a ticking time bomb and would a General Motors extended service contract (Extended warranty) be worth the money. I plan to drive this vehicle till the wheels fall off. I've read mixed reports about valve heads blowing/leaking at about 20,000 to 30,000 miles after being replaced. Any expertise is greatly appreciated.

 

Walk away! Take a look at the Austin Texas Craigslist for a bunch of rust free H3's. An example: 07' H3X (listing # 5484935417 ) for $11900.00 . It would appear that the owner probably doesn't know what it is. You might save enough money to pay for a trip or shipping and end up with a really nice rig. Best of luck whatever you do.

 

Don't put any credence in the CarFax; My CarFax was extremely clean; one owner, no accidents, no major repairs...nothing other than routine maint over the life of the vehicle. I have since discovered evidence of significant body damage and some significant mechanical repairs, none of which showed up on the CarFax.

I agree with Ordieh, walk away. It sounds like a bomb waiting to explode. Amazing that a dealer would even show a car with the check engine light on.

 

Come on, use the thing on top of your shoulders. 10 owners in 10 years tells the story right there. New motor with a check engine light on! $13,000+, keep looking it's not the H3 for you.

They are great rigs but without proper maintenance any 10+ year old vehicle will be a piece of krap.

 

And don't get an 06. No offense to anyone who already has one, like me, but they have engine issues. Some people will tell you they have an 06 with no issues. All I know is my dad always told me never buy a first year anything. just my 2 cents. Good luck!

 

A quick look on ebay will show you that you need to be looking elsewhere. I would look for 2007 or newer and something with less miles. They are out there. Be patient.

 

Hello fellow Hummer enthusiast. I aspire to join the Hummer cult soon. I test drove a 2006 H3 base model with 116,227 miles yesterday
Awesome! Nothing wrong with that. 100,000 miles on a well cared for 2006 car - and especially a well cared for Hummer H3 - these days is like a 25,000 mile used car in 1980. X3s are nice, but no fun to repair/work on. Your local independant shop, who you will use to replace your catelytic converter, altenator and emegency brake cables etc...will charge you less for fixing the H3 since it is so much easier to work on and get parts for. I speak from experience, my mom drives an '06 X3 with 100,000 miles and I drive an '06 H3 with 152,000 miles on it.

Is it normal for the gas pedal to be pushed in 1/4th of the way in before there is any acceleration?
No. Big red flag.

I read the dealers's info/price sheet on the H3's passenger window.
Problem number two: You trusted what the dealer wrote. Never do this.

The dealership had replaced the engine
Ibid, see above. I mean it.

The sales rep stated
How do you know when a car salesman is lying? When his lips are moving.

During the test drive I noticed the check engine light was on.
Do not buy that truck for even one dollar. Worst case, the engine and tranny could both explode on the way home but so what, you've got a complete H3 for a buck....but do you really want to own the very real possibility of a multi-thousand dollar project? No, you want an awesome 2006 H3 right now!

I also was not able to give the H3 a full throttle/off road test because the sales rep tagged along for the test drive.
That makes no sense, unless you are seventeen years old, sporting a mullett, a ripped T-shirt that says Mudder 4 Life on the front and Truck Yeah! on the back and you're holding a freshly opened Bud tall boy in you hand. if I'm buying a lawn mover the mower dealer is expected to let me mow grass with it while he is standing next to me. Huge red flag.

A couple of things I noticed that I believe should bring the $13,995 asking price down significantly were that the spare tire was mounted on a rusted and later painted steel wheel meanwhile the original factory wheels were mounted. All of the accessories and scissor jack compartment panels were missing along with all of the storage nets behind the driver and passenger seats.
This is not unusual, you should expect this with a 100,000 mile car from a used car lot. Sad, but not unusual.

There was a fair amount of rust on the undercarriage of the H3, being that it has been used for 4 of its 10 years up here in Northern Maine where they use calcium chloride to melt the snow and ice off the public roads.
No big deal.

The CarFax came back clear with no accidents reported and 10 previous owners.
What Tainter and 650Hawk said. I wouldn't buy ANYTHING that had ten previous owners except my 200 year old house or vintage car that looks and drives commensurate with its price. TEN PREVIOUS? Run.

The H3, even the 2006 H3 is an excellent, reliable, cost-effective vehicle. I would recommend taking the VIN off the internet and find a friendly GM dealer that will run a complete service history for you. This may tell you that the engine or head (not an unusual occorance) was replaced by a GM dealer under warranty at 36,000 miles - nothing to be afraid of and in fact - welcome news.

Keep looking.

 

Have to agree with everyone else. Run don't walk. That price is way too high. It should be mint with low miles for that price. Keep looking.