ain't that the truth doc!!!

 

Sounds like you need to be the poster child for GM getting off their butts and packing a cast iron differential under the front.

 

Ain't that the truth!

If it wasn't so much i'd have them switch it out, but I don't have the money for that. They were supposed to make the iron ones standard on all '08 models, but I think they only have them on the Alpha's right now.

 

So... you're 20k miles over the lease... about how many would you say are from test drives and trips to the dealer??

 

Honestly, at LEAST 1000, and that's a VERY modest guess. Realistically, I would bet more like 1500 to 2000. I always planned on buying the least after the 4 years anyway. Things change obviously and I learned my lesson that leases aren't right for me. I just like to drive too much to be limited to it. If you buy the lease out after 4 years, they obviously don't penalize you for mileage, and that was the plan and still is as of today.

You do have a great point though.

 

I know... my dealer is over 100 miles away.... so you figure $50+ in gas and $10 in tolls.... I knew you couldn't be far off from me...

 

Well think about it. You don't live all that far from me. I live right off of I-80 and I-55. I drive from there, to Merrilville Indiana, but when I drop it off, I am coming from downtown, so it's not AS bad. Still, you can imagine the distance I have to drive to get back home the times I do have to do it, not to mention I have to drive to work every single day because at any time they can tell me I have to pick it up, or pay another day's rental. But in the grand scheme of things, what can ya do? I just suck it up and deal with it. This forum is my way of dealing with the bitching part of it

 

Just forthe heck of it...I'd figure up all of my trips, which the dealer has record of, from my house to the dealer and back and draft a formal letter to the lease agent, the dealer president /owner and CC to whoever will need to hear, that due to no part or fault of your own you have had to bring this vehilcle back to the dealer X amount of miles and you EXPECT to be credited for those miles. See what they say :-)

 

That's a great idea, but you know what they will say?

"Why didn't you take it to the dealer that is 15 miles away and not the one that is 60 miles away?" And I'll say, "because it takes me 90 minutes to drive those 15 miles of rediculously congested traffic on the sidestreets and they have ONE service rep for the entire dealership and I have to pick it up before 6." They'll probably BS me and tell me that's no excuse. You see where it will all go from there [&o]

 

So, my friend is finding out how much it would cost for the cast-iron differential, and if it can be swapped out on my '06 H3 from the aluminum one. In theory, it can be done. Since they have to take it off the truck anyway, it may be worth getting it replaced. This may solve some of my problems and make me less-paranoid about taking it off-roading again.

As soon as I found it I'll let you guys know.