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Bottom line - be patient and do not pay sticker price for this vehicle. The amount of money you'll save by buying from a dealership that honors GMID is staggering. You'll save so much money that you could even get a one-way plane ticket to wherever you're buying from and drive the car back yourself. I could have done the same but how could I pass up free delivery of my vehicle? Plus the mileage didn't count against my lease allowance anyway.
I was getting impatient and almost paid full price, but I'm so glad I waited. I got the exact color combination I wanted (black on ebony/morocco leather) and I'm totally thrilled with my purchase. Not that this even matters, but you wouldn't believe the number of compliments I've gotten on this car in the 1+ weeks I've had it. I think I've already gotten more compliments on this car than any other car I've ever owned. It's not perfect, but what car is?
I wish I knew that James Hummer accepted GMID - I would have bought from them. I actually contacted them about 2 cars they had in stock that I was interested in and they never got back to me. I guess I should have contacted them again, but Hummer of Columbus was so nice and accommodating that I really wanted to buy from them. I agree about the lease rates being ridiculous though - 7.75% interest is very steep but the high residual (64%) kind of offset that for me.
Anyway, about the car itself - I'm actually pleasantly surprised with the gas mileage and the engine power. I used to have a Yukon Denali and the mileage on the H3 is definitely better, although the Denali did have more power. After the Denali I got an FX35 so I expected to be disappointed with the power of the H3, but it's more than adequate for me. It's obviously nowhere near as nimble as my FX, but it has a much smoother ride and I'm sure it's going to be a beast in the snow. Also, the gas mileage is pretty close to my FX (16/19 vs. 16/22). Most of my driving is city driving anyway, so that's basically a wash. The other good thing is that I don't have to use premium gas with the H3 - I use 87 whereas with the FX I had to use 93. That will save me a few bucks at the pump over the next 3 years.
To each his (or her) own I guess. I'm very satisfied with my purchase so far - I just hope the H3 doesn't suffer from 1st-year problems like so many other cars do.
http://gmtv.feedroom.com/iframeset.jsp?ord=334733
Enjoy
The San Antonio dealer also told me no discount. A Dallas dealer also told me no discount.
Have you checked with Hewlett Hummer in Georgetown, TX (wherever that is). Sometimes an out-of-the-way dealer is more motivated to deal.
Don't know who will take GMID certificate.
I am not affiliated with any of these dealers and I know we are not allowed to post salesman's name, etc.
Anyone have any updated information on the turbo availability?
Thank you very much.
I am contacting them.
hope I can get a better deal.
also, is it possible that you post what kind of price you are getting from them?
thanks
Jun
If you have not already done so, get the GMID certificate. There are posts in this forum about it. If you can find a Hummer dealer that will accept the certificate on an H3, then there's no haggling over price. Keep checking until you find a dealer that will accept the certificate. That's the way to go.
Not to get off the topic but are you considering other vehicles as well?? Do you have a trade-in?? Based on what I have seen online, trade-in values for GM vehicles have come down in the last 3 weeks.
and now H3 seems affordable.
so, if I don't buy H3, H2, then I don't think I will buy other vehicles. I do need a SUV though.
also I have a car to trade in, a 1999, Ford Escort ZX2, that dealer said they can take it as 1.5k, but I think I can sell it locally for more, maybe about 3k, at least 2-2.5k
...and if you know...... is there any downside to getting the larger wheel/tire combination -ie. does gas mileage or ride (on road) quality suffer..?
Thanks,
-mike-
The dealer told me that they've been doing them on more than a few H3's because you get a more aggressive look and a not as stiff suspension.
Up until 6/30/05, there was an extra $1,000 GM Card bonus on certain vehicles. H3 was not included. Had I wanted to buy an eligible vehicle, I would have gotten the employee price plus my GM Card earnings plus $1,000 off of all that. So, that would have been $1,000 below actual dealer cost less my actual GM Card earnings. I verified with the dealer that that was the case. That's some discount!!! No wonder GM is in trouble, unfortunately.
To answer another post, GMID is discussed in earlier posts in this forum. All you have to do is send an email to the ID listed and you will get the GMID certificate good for special pricing. However, from what I have read here, not all dealers are honoring the certificate on the H3.
Obviously, the H3 is powered by the 5-cyl. so that it will get decent gas mileage.
How much info do we need to provide to the employee to be able to get a certficate in the mail?
Steve, Host
All you need to do is provide the last 4 #'s of your social, your date of birth and your email address. That will register the certificate to you for 6 months (it also will help you get another certificate in the event that you lose the original email).
Also, I believe you are correct in that GM employees pass them out to family and friends. There is a surplus of certificates right now because the current Employee Pricing program gets you a better price than GMID - therefore, the employees have no need to give out certificates right now; however, we all know the H3 doesn't qualify for the Employee Pricing program since it's an '06 model.
GMID was a huge score for me and it saved me a ton of aggravation (and money) since I didn't have to haggle over price.
thank you so much.
9mgp for H2 is a big problem
that's why H3 is so hot now.
I am sending emails out to those dealers, see what kind of deals I can get.
that one in San Antonio is too pricy. 38K...
btw: which is better? leasing or purchasing?
Thanks
Jun
If you try to make your own deal without the certificate, you're not gonna' get diddly off on the vehicle. Do yourself a big favor...get the certificate before you do anything else.
Another suggestion...before you buy the H3, take a thorough test drive. Check out the controls and the visibility, especially the visibility to the rear. There have been several posts about the small windows and one from a member who backed his new H3 into a pole because he couldn't see out the back of the vehicle. Also, make sure the seats are comfortable. I have read good things about the comfort but, from what I have read, the seat controls are very hard to reach when the door are closed. Make sure you are satisfied with the performance of the 5-cylinder engine. If not, pass it and hope for a turbocharged version.
Regarding leasing vs. purchase, I can't speak to that since I have never leased a vehicle.
I'll get off my soapbox now. I hope I have been helpful to you.
GMS = Employee Pricing, ~5% below invoice, Usually available to GM employees and their family members, eligible for 6 purchases a year
GMID = GM in the Driveway, ~1% below invoice, Available to customers not affiliated with GM in any shape or form. Employee is eligible to issue 2 certificates per month until Jan '06. Purchaser supplies birthdate and last 4 digits of their SSN to allow the employee to issue a certificate number.
SUPPLIER = Supplier discount, Same as the GMID program but this certificate number is issued by the company [Affiliated with GM because they are a supplier] to it's respective employee.
The GMS and GMID/Supplier price are printed on the Dealer Invoice. The price is set when the deal involves the GMS or GMID/supplier pricing structure. Present the Certificate number to the dealership [Dealers are not required to accept any of the programs, but that is rare except for certain models ie Corvette] and essentially the deal is done. One stop pricing, In the door, Hassle free deal, Out the door.
I hope this explains the GM discount programs.
Presently, GM is offering GMS pricing on all 05 models except for the Vette and GTO. Therefore you do not need the GMID certificate for the 05 models. The 06 models will use the GMID certificates unless GM applies the GMS pricing to them and that is unlikely at this point.
actually, I did ask Richard about a GMID, and he said he will send one to me at the first week in Augest.
also, I tested H3, and very happy about it, the only thing is the power, the accelerate, but I think I can live with it.
so if I can get a good deal with GMID, I think I will buy one.
thanks
Jun
(Lstephens - check out post 315).
Steve, Host
SEND EMAIL TO: richard.ott@gm.com
INCLUDE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR SSN AND YOUR DATE OF BIRTH.
CERTIFICATE IS GOOD FOR 6 MONTHS.
REMEMBER, GMID PRICE IS HIGHER THAN EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT PRICE. SO YOU DON'T NEED GMID CERTIFICATE IF VEHICLE IS ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT. EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT ENDS 8/1/05 UNLESS EXTENDED. SOME DEALERS ARE HONORING GMID ON H3, SOME ARE NOT.
I'm no leasing expert but $650 a month is a lot. You can lease a Lexus RX400h hybrid for less than that but there is a down payment. What was the residual value on the H3 lease??
By the way, did you drive the H3?? What's your impression of the 5-cyl. engine??? Based on what the Hummer head honcho said in the report posted here, I don't see a turbo anytime soon. Perhaps an aftermarket turbo?? That might void your warranty. I know someone who had an H1. He had an aftermarket supercharger installed. Subsequently, the motor blew up and he had to pay for a new motor out of his pocket. Ouch!!
You must live close to me, because I also priced one out at Gold Coast. First of all, they told me they wouldn't honor GMID on the H3. Secondly, they quoted me a price of $699/month on a 3-year lease. I hate to say it, but they're crooks. I didn't bother to run the $699 figure through my lease calculator because I knew it wasn't right. These are the same guys that tacked a $2500 "adjusted market value" fee onto several H3's on their lot.
Are they telling you that they'll honor GMID on the H3? If so, the pricing is set already so they can't just make up a lease price - it is what it is. There's no way $650/month is right if they're honoring GMID. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere (maybe James Hummer Outlet). If not, contact Hummer of Columbus in Ohio. They were awesome to deal with.
The Price before discount was 36,300. After discount it was like a shade under 33,000. I'm not sure on the residual value but I can get back to you on that. Funny thing you ask about the power. I currently am driving a C-class amg which has about 350 hp at 3500lbs so it does feel underpowered. But that's a good thing for me, i'm tired of slipping and sliding everytime it rains, never even thinking about taking the car out when it snows, and being pulled over ever five feet. On the other hand my mother drives a G500 SUV and she had the option of going for the AMG version. A good friend of mine just traded in his H1 Diesel and I liked the speed and feel of that truck as well. All in all i'm trying to say that for SUV's i prefer something that isn't too fast, i think the speed should be left to the sports cars and for the trucks it should be a less quick ride. That's my oppinion. And about your friend with the H1...sorry to hear it, wish him luck.
I'm not humv but I'm glad to post my numbers here. The sticker on my H3 was $38,060 and the GMID price was $34,755 - that's a huge difference. The residual on a 3-year, 12000mile/year lease is 64% and the interest rate is 7.75. I'm paying $534/month and that's with no money down. Pretty good deal if you ask me.
Again, I think the 5cyl is more than adequate for this car. You don't buy a Hummer to blow people off the line and you certainly won't in an H3; however, it's got ample pickup off the line and there's plenty of power in reserve for passing. I'm still able to beat a good majority of cars off the line and the H3 actually handles really well (great turning radius). Plus, how can you beat 16/19mpg in a Hummer?
I'm sure they'll come out with a more powerful engine eventually (maybe not this year but in a year or two), but I have no complaints about the 5cyl right now.
And don't forget - this thing is a major head-turner!!!
Lease: the manager at one of the dealers told me that the lease program for H3 was very bad in his opinion. He said you could lease an '05 H2 for just a few bucks more a month.
Luxury package, Chrome wheels, Chrome appearence, Chrome steps, sunroof, auto, Trailering hitch, XM,
MSRP: 38K
downpay: $2500
2-year lease.
$700 per month!
final balloon: 28K
is that insane?
what kind of price will be "fair" for above configurations?
thanks
Jun
Why not just go to the dealer, aren't they giving the real employee discount which is below dealer invoice?
The only other thing I want to mention is that there are some very good websites out there that explain the details of leases (taxes, money factors, residuals, etc.). I learned a lot but unfortunately forgot most of it.
I hope this helps.