H3 Alpha Advice

[AFMike]

Looking for some advice on trading up to an H3 Alpha. Picked up a plain-Jane (cloth, no sunroof, no rear diff lock), low mileage 2008 H3 about a year ago. Luckily it came with a 1 year warranty because the pinion gear started squalling about 6 months later and they replaced it (not rebuilt - replaced with another used one). Other minor stuff including leaking front axle shaft, thermostat stuck open, etc. It sits today with about 67k miles on it. I have an opportunity to trade for 2008 H3 Alpha with all the bells and whistles and rear diff lock. Downside is it has 96k miles. So I'm basically trading 30k miles for an Alpha with rear diff lock.

For those of you with higher mileage Alphas, any problems/issues you've run in to that would push you away from a 100k mile Alpha? My use is 90% daily driver with no heavy rock crawling (more interested in overlanding). I'd consider a more expensive, lower mile Alpha but my wife has a new 2014 JKU Altitude so financing more than what I already have financed in my current H3 is not really an option.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[ABNTROOP]

My alpha is sitting at 80k and no probs (knock on wood)

 

[Ghostbuster]

Well it sounds like you can either save up some more money and put it towards a lower mileage alpha... or use that money on repairs on the higher mileage alpha...

 

[Ghostbuster]

best price on a low miles alpha with adventure pkg... may need some new tires soon.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...mmt=[AMGEN[H3[]][]]&listingId=365659910&Log=0

And it's just a drive to Houston for you.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I have 112k on mine, bought it with 86k - the entire front suspension minus the lower ball joints have been replaced (rack was done by the dealer before I bought it). That's what I'd suggest looking at, those parts wear out at 100k - but even so, I might have $500 in parts and labor replacing it all... so it wasn't terribly expensive. I also updated to the scorp works brace, and this thing handles better than the 5 cyl. one I bought brand new.

and you won't avoid the issue with your I5 so, I don't understand what you're waiting for... honestly, the alpha is so much more rig than the other hummers

 

[Bigunit]

Nice!

 

[alrock]

I think SuperBuick's post is right on target. 100K is right when much of the front end may need rebuilding from wear and tear on any H3

 

[ABNTROOP]

not looking forward to that.

 

[High Five H2]

mine's at 110K or so, and I have had no problems with it in the year that I've had it. I'm pretty sure it needs either front diff bushing or the steering rack fix, but other than that it's been one of the most reliable vehicles I've ever owned.

 

[Bigunit]

not looking forward to that.

It ain't so bad...only 1/7th the cost of a facelift, tummy tuck or boob job for your better half! Rather spend my money rejuvenating my rig! Money well spent in my book. It's all about perspective and priorities!

 

[ABNTROOP]

It ain't so bad...only 1/7th the cost of a facelift, tummy tuck or boob job for your better half! Rather spend my money rejuvenating my rig! Money well spent in my book. It's all about perspective and priorities!

Yeah, I just haven't ever done that kind of work before. It's the learn as you go routine that I don't look forward to.

 

[Bigunit]

Bring it down to AZ and we will get it all done for you!

 

[Panzer07]

Hahaha lmfao someone give this man a beer !

 

[ABNTROOP]

Sure would be a nice excuse to work my way home. (Grew up in Tucson) I'll bring some NW beer

 

[Bigunit]

Absolutely, time for you to make a trip back home!

 

[Zach]

Bring it down to AZ and we will get it all done for you!

What's this we you speak of?

 

[Bigunit]

What's this we you speak of?

When I say "we" I mean "he"!

 

[Zach]

[emoji15]. Would have gotten my rig out there. But now back with my main tech that worked on my rig. Win win for me

 

[3Hummers]

108K on our 2008 H3Alpha. Nothing more than normal wear.

 

[2010H3TAlpha]

Go with the Alpha for sure. After coming from the insane Jeep Grand Cherokee world where they put V8's in everything I cannot imagine driving something slower than the Alpha.

 

[Best4x4]

My Alpha has 122K and you'd never know it. The 5.3L is a proven workhorse! My dad had several Tahoe's with over 200K on the original engine/transmission and besides a few oil leaks, 02 sensors and plugs he did nothing to them.

96K on a rig in TX is nothing. In my experience with 4x4's all the low mileage ones I had weren't nearly as reliable as the higher mileage rigs. I know that sounds stupid, but the higher mileage rigs were actually driven vs the low mileage rigs just sitting slowly rotting out.

I say go for it, or let me know where the Alpha is haha

 

[Ghostbuster]

Mike, did you see the alpha that I found? $21,900 with 56k miles. If that is out of your budget I'd either save up a little more and get that or be prepared to replace front end parts on the higher mileage alpha.

 

[AFMike]

Thanks all for the inputs. I'll take a look at it this weekend and see if I'm blown away enough by the Alpha to gain all those extra miles.

Ghostbuster - I did see that one and actually tried to work with them since it seemed like a good deal. Really hard to get anything from them and walked away pretty sure they were going to low-ball the hell out of me. Not worth a 6 hour round trip without some confidence we could get a reasonable deal done.

Thanks again.
Mike