Any Ridgeline owers out there

[ssmokn]

Any of you guys Honda Ridgeline owners? About six months ago I sold my F350 Powerstroke. I no longer have a need for a pickup truck but I miss having one.

I recently saw a Ridgeline and at first I didn't like the look but then it grew on me (sort of Avalanch like).

I went to the local dealer today and took one for a spin. In my opinion it was amazingly underpowered (has a 3.5L V6). It was hunting like mad on the highway (upshifting and down shifting constantly). I also didn't car for the interior trim (it was an RTL with sunroof)-- It had some sort of faux metal trim that was both ugly and it reflects sunlight which was causing a wicked glare.

There was a lot that I liked about the truck but I can't get over what a slug it was. Also a bit overpriced in my opinion.

It was one of the few times that I ever drove a new vehcile and in the back of my mind I liked the car I drove into the dealership in (an '02 Audi allroad) MUCH better than the new car I was driving.

Anyway, If anybody out there has a Ridgeline I'd be interested to hear what you like and what you don't. Thanks.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Member martyi is a Ridgeline owner.

 

[JAYCEE]

I thought the Ridgeline advertises a high horsepower V-6.

 

[Matt_S]

It has the 255 hp VVT V6, same as the Odyssey. It's a real peppy engine in the Odyssey. The vehicles are similar in weight, but the Ridgeline is AWD and probably geared differently. That engine is also OHC, so it would need to be wound out a little more to get it's best power.

edit to get my facts straight

 

[obbop]

Don't have to own a particular model to declare that buying a new model can be risky.

I would wait for a couple years so that known bugs have time to rear their ugly heads.

With the power of the Web we, the consumers, can easily communicate grievances/pleasures with various products.

I would wait at least 2 model years before buying a newly released vehicle model. Why be a "test bed" for a manufacturer?

 

[ssmokn]

It is the 3.5L V6. I'm just stating my opinion. I felt it was underpowered and shift happy BUT I still really like a lot about the vehicle.

I was reading one of the Ridgeline forums and most of those folks seem to think it is quite powerful.

I guess I'm spoiled driving a 6 speed allroad with the 2.7T every day.

 

[The Critic]

Yeah, martyi is a ridgeline owner, he should pop in in the next few days, I've sent him a PM.

MW

 

[Matt_S]

It seems to me that transmissions lately are downshifting a lot more easily than they used to. My new Buick minivan behaves this way. Personally, I like it because I can get the engine up into a good point in it's power band more easily, which makes for better acceleration. I believe it's easier on the drivetrain, too.

 

[martyi]

Thanks to Michael's email I can now respond (maybe twice as I can't find my original reply). I think the Ridgeline forums you mentioned are really the best place to ask all your questions as many members there have been owners from the initial model introduction. I have had my RTL for about two months and have been very, very pleased with it so far.

I do not use my trucks as trucks in the traditional sense as I don't carry payloads very often nor do I tow a trailer or boat any more. I just think trucks are neat! With that in mind, I find the Ridgeline has more than enough power for my needs. It is just now "broken-in" so I will try to find the redline just to see what she can do.

This vehicle is roomy and comfortable with safety features galore. In fact, the government testing has shown it to be the safest truck ever built. It rides like a sedan and has innovation and features that are state of the art. Hopefully, it will also carry on the Honda tradition of reliability and excellent engineering (not to mention great resale value - I hope!).

All is not perfect of course as nothing is. The looks, both inside and out are in the eye of the beholder - some like it some don't. The leather interior is hard to distinguish from the vinyl. Also, it is indeed lower torqued than similar VTEC engines because of the increase in the hauling requirements (5000 pounds).

If you want to haul a 12000 trailer look elsewhere; if you want 25 mpg, look elsewhere; if you are a rancher or construction worker, look elsewhere. But if you want all the safety and ride comforts of a car with the ability to load or tow what most, average folks do now and then, in my opinion, the Ridgeline is hard to beat.

 

[ssmokn]

The pros definitely outweight the cons. I picked bought a Ridgeline RTL S/R with Nav today for a great price.

The unit I bought doesn't exhibit nearly as much hunting for gears. I wonder if the other truck had some "issue". The other truck was a demo with a few K miles on it.

I'm like you. I know longer have a need (I used to) for a real truck and I don't need to tow anything (or if I do it isn't much).

For me the Ridgeline is a nice blend of car and pickup. The styling has grown on me. I had to laugh because I read a review recently where the writer said the Ridgeline was "ground breaking styling". I laughed and said to myself gee did this guy ever see an Avalanche! I guess some people just have to spew nice comments about anything that says Honda on it.

Anyway, I do like my Ridge!

 

[martyi]

Welcome to the club ssmokn!! Like I said, nothing is perfect but, like you, I tallied the pros and cons and the pros won out by a considerable margin. Be sure to join up at the Ridgeline forum (google will give several but the best is the Ridgeline Owner's Club).

Now, although I was the only Ridgeline owner here I still have learned a lot of valuable information applicable to my vehicle's lubrication needs. Michael Wan (the poster above) put me on the need to do ATF drains earlier than our manual suggested. I also got a tip from him on how good Schaffer oil works in these VTEC engines (but the two case minimum order hurts).

I also learned here that the oil life monitor we have is a pretty useful tool as to OCIs - much better than some arbitrary mileage or time figure. Of course, much depends on your driving conditions and habits and if you put it to a lot of severe use but, for my kind of driving and for as long as I intend to keep the truck, I plan on using the monitor as my guide.

Use a good, quality oil like Havoline or Motorcraft 5w20 and follow the monitor (change oil at 15% rather than 0%); use the Filtech Honda filter (not Fram/Honeywell); keep the air filter clean and this engine should prove to be bullet proof.

 

[ssmokn]

Marty,

Good advice. Thanks. I'm a maintenance fanatic so none of this is a problem