So me and my cousin both took our H3's (my '07 X and his Alpha) offroading yesterday. Of course we both went i and we both came out, but alot of times goin up over the backs out of a creek or going up a muddy slope mine did it with ease while his spun out, slid to the side, basically it took more effort. I was just curious why this is because i thought since he had the V-8 it would fly through it. He's just a lil jealous. Bottom line we both made it out without a problem, i was just curious about that part! Can some give an explanation?

 

Alot might be because of driving experience and skills.

 

Leicajh may have a point. Trade vehicles and go again.

But on the other hand, I'm not surprised the I5 did well.

 

Same tires????? I am a firm believer that people seriously under estimate the power of the LLR 3.7 I5. Think about it this way just for a perspective.

The LLR 3.7L I5makes 242 HP/TQ...........that is 65.405 HP and TQ/Liter
The Alpha 5.3L makes 300HP/320TQ.....that is 56.603 HP/Liter and 60.377 TQ/Liter

The I5 is lighter, so.................who has the *****? Yes they make the power and TQ in different RPM curves, but the I5 can do everthing the V8 can do.
Once you mod the little bugger a bit with a PCM tune, Cat back and intake, it grows somebig *****.

I am a big block muscle car junkie, but the little I5 never ceases to amaze me.

 

The added weight of the Alpha with the cast iron diff and V8 makes a difference.

 

When I was shopping for the H3, I looked at the weight to power ratio.

H3 w/ I-5 weighs 4700 lbs.242 hp thats 19.42 lbs per hp
242 tq thats 19.42 lbs per tq

H3 w/V-8 weighs 4851 lbs.300 hp thats 16.17 lbs per hp
320 tq thats 15.16 lbs per tq

These figures were taking from hummer.com. Weight varies from vehicle to vehicle, but using the advertised curb weight the Alpha has a slight advantage. I've never drove one with the I-5, so I can't compare thedifferences in the real world.

 

I had a thread a whil back asking people to post the actual weight of their 3. I scaled mine at the track and a landscape supply, I know what mine weighs, and I thinh Hummer is full of chit on the weight of the Alpha. Ain't no way a cast iron diff is just 50# more, and the V8 is 100# more. Weigh it up brud, weigh it up.

From a previous post of mine:
The other item missing from this thread is weight gain. The press releases want you to believe (ya right???) that the Alpha is a mere 151 lbs heavier than the I5 H3. [:'(] Supposedly 100 #s attributable to the engine and appx. 50# attributable to the iron front differential????? The Alpha is listed as 4851 lbs. The I5 H3 4700 lbs.

I don't have an Alpha and don't know what it really weighs? I do know what my H3 Adventure weighs with a little more than half a tank of fuel, front GM splash guards, factory trailer hitch, stock wheels w/ 33s andmy regular stuff in it (fire extingusher, flash light, some CDs, a rag, rear cargo mat, and Husky liners front and rear, etc...) 4,840. I got no brush guard, no nerf bars or rock rails, no roof rack or rails, no under belly protection pkg., nothin.....? How are they arriving at the official GM curb weight??????? Bone dry, and emtpy? B.S.[8D]

So, the Alpha may have 58 more HP and 78 more Torque, but it has more weight too. Both vehicles have a 6001 # GVWR. I'm ready to go to the track and match up with an Alpha here in south east MI, lets crunch some real numbers! Yeah these ain't no dragsters, but it would be big fun to look at 60 ft times/speedas well as1/8 and 1/4 mile rips/speed. Not to mention the pics we could post. Anybody up for it??? I need an Alpha guy/gal round here to volunteer to belittle my I5, if ya can.


The track offer stands!

 

I dont mind my I5... the auto trans is another story though.

 

absolutely doc.....I think the alpha is selling so damn well just because people like saying "I have an ALPHA" The power difference is there but not enough to justify that kind of money difference. My I-5 pushing 35's was not that much slower than the alpha I test drove a few weeks back.

 

highway acceleration was the biggest reason I switched to an Alpha, I'm no automotive guru like many of you so I don't have time/patience/know-how to put on an exhaust system, performance kit, etc. to make better the performance of the 3.5L/3.7L