Re: How many will be trading in their 5 cylinder H3's for an Alpha?
Oh, I forgot, I will have one.
Reasons:
1. I tow. I tow alot. The V8 makes this a no brainer. I sold my Dmax and bought an extra trailer so the H3 gets used all the time for towing. The extra 1500lb capacity is no small thing.
2. We have a Denali. If we didn't, simply driving the H3 with the I-5 would be no big deal. It's almost dangerous to drive the H3 after a week in the Denali. It takes a huge mental reset. Where you could pass, you can't. Where you could charge up an onramp in front of a semi, you can't. Where I could pass someone safely with room to spare in the mountains, I can't. It gets tiresome.
3. The mileage is no big hit. I took a 2mpg hit going from the worn down factory tires to the ATs. Some say they don't, I'm saying that it was a definite and drastic reduction in mileage. I can feel the hp it cost. I did NOT take off new factory tires though, they were down to the wear bars. I gotta think that the V8 won't be so sensitive to a tire change like that. We went from a 5.3 in our last Yukon, an SLT, to the Denali with the 6.0. The Denali gets BETTER mileage than our 5.3 did.
4. I gotta think that they're going to put the tow/haul mode on the 5.3 and the cylinder deactivation. I think the cylinder deactivation will be on it simply to aid in the mileage. With today's global Warming dead head pressure and the EPA, it's a probability to me.
5. Snow. The 5.3 will do better in deep snow. I live with this all winter long. With chains on, and deep snow, I've had the I5 pinned to the wall simply to keep forward motion.
6. Fun. So I'm a hot rodder. I like my machines to have grunt. While the I5 is perfectly capable, that's where it ends. There's no joy, no grin factor when it's flogged. The 5.3 Hummer won't ever be featured on Pinks but it will most certainly be more enjoyable than the I5. I never bothered with an aftermarket exhaust on the I5, I didn't see the point. I don't like loud exhaust, but I certainly enjoy one with authority and that muscle car heart. It's going into my buddy's custom exhaust shop the first month I own it. A nice, quiet, 3" Dynomax is going in. Great for low speed torque and gets out of the way on high rpm.
7. The front axle. The bane of the H3 if you get serious. No one knows for sure but it'll probably be front locker compatible. No one for sure knows about the steering components, but one would think that that may be addressed as well (GM, are you reading this?) No matter though, I'll upgrade it anyway.
I'd like to add though, that the UCP should be on the Alpha as a matter of fact. It should also have the shock and spring mount skids. Is that over their heads or something?
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