New Honda Ridgeline...sort of

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
To large to be a compact truck and to light duty to do anything a half ton can do.


Which is exactly why I wouldn't trade mine for either one of them.

They have the interior room of a larger truck without driving like one. Perfect for my wants and needs.

 

[mrsilv04]

Where is Honda going to be building these? Marysville? Somewhere else in the US?

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
To large to be a compact truck and to light duty to do anything a half ton can do.


Which is exactly why I wouldn't trade mine for either one of them.

They have the interior room of a larger truck without driving like one. Perfect for my wants and needs.


I judge a truck solely by how much money it makes, so I guess as a boss truck the Honda could be good for some uses.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
To large to be a compact truck and to light duty to do anything a half ton can do.


Which is exactly why I wouldn't trade mine for either one of them.

They have the interior room of a larger truck without driving like one. Perfect for my wants and needs.


I make no secret of the fact that I love my Ridgeline...and I've owned two full size f150's before.
It's also perfect for my needs as well. It's exceeded every task without a hiccup. It's honestly one of the best vehicles I've ever owned.
I hope this new one sells well....or Honda will probably just get out of the truck market. I really think they missed the mark a bit here.

 

[Nate1979]

Snore. Looks 10 years old already.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Where is Honda going to be building these? Marysville? Somewhere else in the US?


I would guess Lincoln, AL, which is where it's been made since 2009. Before that, it was Alliston, ON, I think (which is where our MDX was made).

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: andrewg

All I see is this:

I've thought about buying either a used Ridgline or Tundra DC if/when I need a larger vehicle. Both seem solid.

Not a fan of the new front end on the Ridgeline or the fact that it looks like a standard truck now. Seems to have lost the thing that separated it from trucks (at least in looks).

 

[SwampSurvivor]

But if it looks like a standard truck, it will probably sell like one!

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Snore. Looks 10 years old already.


I really don't think you would like the Ridgeline unless it was a carbon copy of one of the big three American trucks. But then you'd just be touting the "buy American" mantra and complaining it was just a "ricer copy".

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
But if it looks like a standard truck, it will probably sell like one!


It's starting to grow on me the more I look at the black one. Still, not the greatest looks....but not as dull as I'd first thought.

 

[cptbarkey]

1. useless bed stereo system? check
2. ugly as sin? check
3. will sell tens of thousands to 'smart' honda buyers? check

Australia has sold these for decades, i suppose the profit margins are good enough to continue selling this non-truck to americans.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
1. useless bed stereo system? check
2. ugly as sin? check
3. will sell tens of thousands to 'smart' honda buyers? check

Australia has sold these for decades, i suppose the profit margins are good enough to continue selling this non-truck to americans.


1. Guy that comes into a thread with the full intent on behaving like a high school kid....CHECK.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
1. Guy that comes into a thread with the full intent on behaving like a high school kid....CHECK.


Just ignore it. You give value to the post by replying to it.

 

[IndyIan]

Looks like a Honda pickup truck. Nothing flashy or polarizing.
I was reading the press release and it says its the only midsize that has 48" between the wheel well? I find that amazing that the others don't but I guess that the price you pay for big tires on a solid rear axle...

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: andrewg
1. Guy that comes into a thread with the full intent on behaving like a high school kid....CHECK.


Just ignore it. You give value to the post by replying to it.


I know...I really ned to do that. When I was a kid I had two bullies that used to really make me fight back...one was my older brother...the other was my own father.
I've always been one to have difficulty ignoring people that push buttons. It's my main character flaw.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Snore. Looks 10 years old already.


I really don't think you would like the Ridgeline unless it was a carbon copy of one of the big three American trucks. But then you'd just be touting the "buy American" mantra and complaining it was just a "ricer copy".



The design looks old and it doesn't bring anything that the others in the mid-size market or even current 1/2 ton already provide. It just looks like a 10 year old truck design, like someone posted the old body Tundra. In the interviews they also state it will have class leading mpg. Really? What class is that? 1/2 ton, mid size? Is it going to beat the GM mid size of 31 mpg highway?

They basically introduced a new truck touting it as all new and yet it doesn't differentiate from anything.

This is a good looking truck mid-size truck (GMC Canyon):

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Originally Posted By: andrewg
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Snore. Looks 10 years old already.


I really don't think you would like the Ridgeline unless it was a carbon copy of one of the big three American trucks. But then you'd just be touting the "buy American" mantra and complaining it was just a "ricer copy".



The design looks old and it doesn't bring anything that the others in the mid-size market or even current 1/2 ton already provide. It just looks like a 10 year old truck design, like someone posted the old body Tundra. In the interviews they also state it will have class leading mpg. Really? What class is that? 1/2 ton, mid size? Is it going to beat the GM mid size of 31 mpg highway?

They basically introduced a new truck touting it as all new and yet it doesn't differentiate from anything.

This is a good looking truck mid-size truck (GMC Canyon):

Of course, you and I would agree that looks are subjective in that one persons beauty is another ones dog?

I honestly think the Honda is a bit sedate looking...but I don't see it as a ten year old design. It's front end especially has originality to it while still not being out of place with current designs. It looks modern and rather....simple in it's lines. It's growing on me.

The GMC you show is a very unattractive truck in my opinion. The rear wheel hump/flare is obnoxious looking to me. The curve and back-side window tie-in just doesn't flow either. But that means nothing as it's just my taste and not a fact or anything.

We don't know the stats yet on the new Ridge. I'm sure it will be competitive. They have known all along they needed to improve MPG's and some of the load/towing capacities of the older model. Mine has plenty of capacity for me and the mpg's are ok given it's shape and that it's a pickup after all.

Many folks will never even give a Ridgeline a chance anyway being that for some reason, they either feel threatened by it....or they can't stand the idea of a unibody design for a pickup. Personally...I don't care about the hows or whys of any vehicle...or if it's made in japan or the U.S. What I care about is if it's reliable and does what I need it to do without worries. My current Ridge has excelled at that.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I was reading the press release and it says its the only midsize that has 48" between the wheel well? I find that amazing that the others don't but I guess that the price you pay for big tires on a solid rear axle...


The Ridgeline has actually always offered 48" of space between the wheel wells. It can carry 1500 pounds of 4x8 plywood flat on the bed floor. I don't think any other mid-sizers offer that functionality.

I remember the Dodge Dakota used to have a "half lowered" setting for the tailgate, so it could help prop up 4x8s resting on the wheel wells.

They say the new Ridgeline's bed is completely separate from the cab. They're apparently going with more of a Jeep Commanche arrangement, where a frame sticks out the back of the body. I'm not sure I care for that too much, but I guess I'll have to see how they execute it. One thing that just drives me crazy about separate beds is bed shake -- I've not driven a single full frame pickup that doesn't experience bed shake. This is one of the things that appeals to me most about the Ridgeline. There is no bed shake because the bed and cab are one piece. It's tremendously rigid, and very well-poised over bumpy pavement or transitional maneuvers.

The more they make it like a traditional truck, the less interested in it I'll be...but I'll try to keep an open mind!

 

[AirgunSavant]

Notice the mention of the Honda snob customers not
wanting anything to do with GM scum. Sorry....... LOL

I have had so many Honda-Acura's that I'm done for a long while.
You talk about snobs- I purchased a Acura in 1986- first year for them. I was a commoner then before I got rich

The parts dept. lady said they had a conversation about me and how could I afford one. I made more money then than now..... LOL

Honda wish they could grab GM's acoustic engineers and suspension engineers and I'm no fan of GM either. Honda still hasn't figured out noise isolation or how to build a car suspension for the American roads. Crazy stupid!

 

[cptbarkey]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
1. useless bed stereo system? check
2. ugly as sin? check
3. will sell tens of thousands to 'smart' honda buyers? check

Australia has sold these for decades, i suppose the profit margins are good enough to continue selling this non-truck to americans.


1. Guy that comes into a thread with the full intent on behaving like a high school kid....CHECK.


Listen man, i get that you bought a Ridgeline and will defending it until the biblical times.

How can you defend a truck bed with a stereo system? I can only imagine the speaker placement requires the listener to be square in the middle of the truck bed for a full on stereo experience, otherwise that paltry 200 some odd watts will sound like a tin cup in a gymnasium.

Let alone the designers basically just took a sawzall to the Honda Pilot (now minivan), and they FORGOT to remove the speakers. That is why there is a stereo system in the truck bed.

The Pontiac Aztek group-think that dominated the marketing team echo chamber is frightening.

Or you are just a car salesman.