Worth it? 2017 Honda Ridgeline 200k, $11k

[HawkeyeScott]

Been considering a Ridgeline and there is one advertised locally with just over 200k. One owner. Appears to have been driven up and down the highway, perhaps to the tune of 35,000 miles in the last year (based on preliminary CarFax numbers). Probably could get it for about $11k. It’s a 2017 so it has the 6 speed tranny.

Others with under 100k miles are going to run around $25k. At less than half that price, I’d have the budget to potentially rebuild transmission when/if that is needed. Same for engine, but if the oil has been changed and they’ve been highway miles, that engine could hold up for a long time. I would do the timing kit right away, and also think about doing the starter, fuel pump and potentially alternator with OEM equipment.

I don’t have to spend this little. If I wait 10 months or so, the budget could comfortably be $30k. But, just because I have that money to spend, I’m not sure I want to.

I think it comes down to how much repair and updating I want to mess with and how much more I’d be willing to spend to take what is the easier route.

Would love to know your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[UncleDave]

Been considering a Ridgeline and there is one advertised locally with just over 200k. One owner. Appears to have been driven up and down the highway, perhaps to the tune of 35,000 miles in the last year (based on preliminary CarFax numbers). Probably could get it for about $11k. It’s a 2017 so it has the 6 speed tranny.

Others with under 100k miles are going to run around $25k. At less than half that price, I’d have the budget to potentially rebuild transmission when/if that is needed. Same for engine, but if the oil has been changed and they’ve been highway miles, that engine could hold up for a long time. I would do the timing kit right away, and also think about doing the starter, fuel pump and potentially alternator with OEM equipment.

I don’t have to spend this little. If I wait 10 months or so, the budget could comfortably be $30k. But, just because I have that money to spend, I’m not sure I want to.

I think it comes down to how much repair and updating I want to mess with and how much more I’d be willing to spend to take what is the easier route.

Would love to know your thoughts. Thanks.

Which Model?

Needs a belt pump job or no - you say you'll do it, Im curious where it is?

Valve adjustments - this is big.

Maintenance log or no? (important for 6 speed and AWD as rear diff fluid doubles as hydraulic fluid and has a heavy duty cycle)

If the guy cant provide this data then Id need a leak down and to price these in.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I don't know much about this model, but highway miles are easy miles.

If they have service records and the cosmetic appearance is good (how people treat the inside matches how they treat under the hood, is my experience) then I would be OK with 200K miles.

 

[meep]

If it’s in decent shape, this could be the deal of the year for someone not afraid of DIY. Compression check, or at least smelling the oil for heavy blow-by, is not a bad thing. Or even just pulling a spark plug and assessing the condition that way.

Good comment on the AWD above. If it’s their electronic AWD, thats a light duty unit with a longer service interval. If it’s the dual-pump system like the CRVs get, that oil gets beat pretty hard. If memory serves, I believe it’s the electric unit. Either way, they are rear wheel assist vehicles, not critical driveline for getting to publix.

I like these for being solid, heavy vehicles. They ride well. Good chassis. While the mpg isnt preferable, I like the look of the square bodies better.

Rear AC motor has an electronic controller which can overheat and burn up. Not a deal breaker at all at that cost, and it’s not too hard to swap. If you are a go-getter, struts and suspension bushings are probably due, but in no way critical.

Timing belt and water pump need to be done, and I’d wager plugs, and I’d want to check valve lash if I bought it and be ready to adjust it if they are out (plenty of these never get checked, but some do have issues with it - I checked two of our Hondas at 100k and they were factory spec).

 

[HawkeyeScott]

This is an RTL-E. I haven’t paid for the CarFax but it shows 81 entries. Trying to figure out how serious I am before I spend that $45.

Truck came from a dealer trade in Utah. On a local lot now. Seller says the belt/pump history isn’t clear so he understands why I would want to do it right away. He is willing to build that cost into the final price.

 

[andrew_j]

That’s a ton of miles , may be great if you get service history.

Is $11k a big deal in money to you? A bit of risk with 200k mile vehicle no matter what brand. Eg do you have $20k but this looks decent I would not hesitate as you have the spare change to fix it.

 

[JavierH19]

It could be a good deal. 11k with possibly lots of highway miles isn't bad. Better test drive it good by giving it wot pulls to check the trans. Make sure everything including the ac compressor works.

 

[ctechbob]

That’s a ton of miles , may be great if you get service history.

Is $11k a big deal in money to you? A bit of risk with 200k mile vehicle no matter what brand. Eg do you have $20k but this looks decent I would not hesitate as you have the spare change to fix it.

Before I bought my new Ranger I was seriously looking at used Ridgelines. People that buy them tend to love and and drive the wheels off them. Every one that was in my price range at the time had a pile of miles on them, and ones with less miles ended up holding their value extremely well. They were in a crazy market at that time, probably still are.

 

[HawkeyeScott]

That’s a ton of miles , may be great if you get service history.

Is $11k a big deal in money to you? A bit of risk with 200k mile vehicle no matter what brand. Eg do you have $20k but this looks decent I would not hesitate as you have the spare change to fix it.

I think I will far from ever be in a position to poo-poo $11k, but I guess part of the reason that I’m entertaining it is that if $11k turned into $20k over the next few years, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. (Especially if I had a largely refreshed truck that I liked and was ready go a long ways down the road.)