Hello all!

I hope I'm asking this in the correct area. I am looking into buying an 07 H3 with the adventure package. I have never owned a vehicle like this before. I have been a speed demon all my life with previous cars such as GTOs cobras and SRT8s. This is a total new world to me and I'm looking for guidance regarding if the H3 would be a good decision.

My first question is regarding reliability. How reliable are the H3s? I know buying one is basically ensuring I'm buying a hard driven vehicle. What's everyones experiences with them?

Secondly, what is the H3s realistic offroad ability? I live in Oklahoma and part of the reason I want one is to tear up some kid roads after storms. Can the H3 handle these such tasks?

I hope you will forgive me for my ignorance, and I appreciate any and all input and guidance! Thanks!

 

Well I'm in OK, and I think the H3 does just fine year-round here. If you are worried about condition, the basics of used car buying still apply. In addition, look for one with those big ghetto rimz and you are increasing the chances it never was beat up offroad. Make sure the transfer case and lockers work, check for suspension wear and any coolant leaks from the top of the radiator and for head/valve issues on 06's. Other than that, you might want to look at the Alpha's as you are coming from a performance background. H3's aren't fast but having 8 cylinders helps a lot.

 

I drive an 07 Adventure and have taken it offroad extensively although not engaged in any rock crawling. It has performed very well offroad, especially after I replaced the marginal (for offroad purposes) OEM tires with Goodyear Duratracs. I have about 125K miles and so far my maintenance issues have been very limited. I find that I need to clean the Mass Airflow Sensor and throttle body every few months to keep the idle smooth. I now have to replace the A/C condenser because it has a hole - could have happened to any vehicle.

Since you are looking at an Adventure it is possible that it has had more offroad exposure than other H3's. A careful pre-purchase inspection is definitely in order. I would plan to pay a mechanic you trust to go over it before you buy, but I'd do that for any used vehicle.

 

Off road ability? Since you say you never have had a vehicle like this.... which I guess means a dedicated purpose built off road platform... it is capable of doing much more than your present driving ability when off the pavement. Add AT or MT tires, learn how it works, and none of your pickup truck driving buddies will be able to do what you do.


In other words, they suck off road.

 

Thanks for the responses guys!

The only reason I ask about the off road ability is because I have people telling me I will be stuck all the time. Granted they are jeep owners. I am more familiar with stroker motors and supercharges so I just wanted to get some insight! I'm pretty well set on the H3. And given the massive chrome wheels I doubt it's seen as many off road paths as most have! Thanks again everyone! More input very much welcome!

 

To the comments about being stuck all the time-
1) good tires will get you in farther than you ever imagined
2) good driving skills will get you around problems in the first place and bring out of those situations
3) Jeep guys like to talk out the side of their neck. A stock Jeep aint all that anyway.

 

Very true. Only people I know that own jeeps are women.

Jeep guys like to take pics of hummers.hmmm, jealous?


Hummer hunting - JeepForum.com

 

most jeep guys know jeeps and that's about it, and think hummers are only good for big wheels at te mall due to a vast majority of H2 owners having done just that, which even a lot of h2 owners will bash an h3 because it isnt as big, nevermind the offroad advantage. I've owned a 94 jeep yj lifted on 33s and an 05 jeep tj lifted on 35s, both were great fun vehicles but when you buy a wrangle you buy a drivetrain surrounded by the cheapest body and interior. The main reason I got rid of my last jeep was because I got used to having things like leather, good stereo, power mirrors/locks/windows, heat, etc and I wanted something with some breathing space. Now with the new jeep that is bigger (made to compete with the H3 originally, there are more jeep posers out there than hummers, you probably cannot drive 10 miles without seeing a new jeep on 20" wheels and 33 or 35 inch tires that will never even see a dirt road.

Most jeep guys trash talk hummers because they cannot afford to have one, and most would trade their old jeep for a hummer or fj cruising if they could. I have no regret trading my jeep in on the hummer, the only thing I miss is no doors or top in the summer. eventually I'll have another jeep, but it'll be a rebuilt cj that I'll tow home with my hummer.

 

My idle could be a little smoother.... How do you clean the mass airflow sensor and throttle body? Is that an issue that came with higher mileage, off roading, or is just symptomatic of the 3.7?

 

I live in OKC and I own two of them. send me a message with any information. I would be more than happy to look one over for you. If you want to see the capability of an H3, I am going to be headed to Disney on the 8th of February.