Sombody talk me out of buying a Honda Ridgeline....

[ucb]

dude its not a truck, trucks have ladder frames not unibodies

 

[lumpia]

I'm probably going to buy a Ridgeline sooner or later. Has a really spacious interior for the family, has a bed to haul my bike to the track or my fishing gear, can tow 5k lbs for my 18ft runabout, has a really useful trunk that I'll probably use more often than not, and the tailgate swings 2 ways. Seems like Honda actually put some thought into how people would realistically use it instead of giving us more of the same.

Unless you need a serious off-roader, I say do it. It would make a decent one-car-to-do-it-all.

BTW, the Ridgeline is a half-ton.

 

[lumpia]

I think it's pretty sick:


*pics from ridgelineownersclub.com*

 

[nweaver]

I like Honda cars. But if you want a usable TRUCK, you don't want the Ridgeline.

A ridgeline is an impressive design, but its really a poseur-truck: it doesn't have the bed space or the weight capacity to be a real truck: You can't close the tailgate and haul a sportbike, or even many dirtbikes, as the bed is just too short.

Rather, a Ridgeline has a nice passanger cabin and the comfort and drivability of a minivan.

It also really can't haul much more than a 4-banger Tacoma:

Tacoma (4x2, 4-banger, manual): 73" long bed, 1370lbs max payload, $15K MSRP new
Ridgeline (min spec): 60" long bed, 1540lbs max payload, $28K MSRP new.

Yes, in terms of TRUCK utility, a vastly cheaper and more efficient 4-banger Toyota can carry bigger things, and can carry things almost as heavy.

And do the math: If you use a truck less than 5 weeks out of the year or so, just drive a nice car and call Enterprise when you need a truck.

 

[planegray]

what is the world coming to ? Honda makes a "truck" ?? next thing you know dogs and cats will be f*cking


(get it, try it, if you don't like it...ditch it)

 

[afm199]

yeah..but you can get the big trucks for like 10k off msrp...tough to pass up those deals. KBB for lightly used trucks is higher than buying new

But will you be able to afford to put gas in it? The reason the big trucks are so cheap is very simple. Nobody wants to own them except guys who think owning a big gnarly truck is the thing to do.

I sold my 11 mpg transporter for a Ranger pickup that gets 20-27 mpg. I can only fit one bike in it, but it does not cost me $100 to go to Thill any more, only $50. As I go to Thill at least 10 times a year and often closer to 20, that comes up to $500-$1000 a year. That is not chump change.

O yeah, I found a ten year old Ranger with 59k miles for $3k.... Instead of a $20k van. It is also much more comfortable, the AC actually cools the cab, better sound system, easier to drive, etc etc. Of course I can't take a backup bike. I will get by.

Before you go into debt $20k for a track toy, remember:THE ECONOMY SUCKS AND WILL BE LIKE THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. YOU MAY NOT HAVE A JOB IN A YEAR. IF YOU ARE UNDER 40 YOU HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS. DON'T PISS YOU MONEY AWAY ON TOYS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OFF FOR FIVE YEARS. YOU WILL NEED THE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TRACK DAYS NEXT YEAR, MUCH LESS THE TRUCK.

 

[J-Rod]

I own a Ridgeline and love it. I've owned several other trucks from small Nissan Frontiers to lifted F-350s, and some in betweeen. My reason for buying the honda was efficiency. It's a great family call, and serves all of the truck functions. Even with all wheel drive, gas milege is better than the Tacoma, and others in it's class.

It fits two bikes easily, even sport bikes. The truck has great power, the interior is more roomy in the back seat than even Chevy Tahoes and every other mid size truck. Killer trunk in the bed for my chemicals and spare parts (which by the way can be opened with bikes in the back). Storage everywhere.

It is pretty plain and basic. Nothing flashy about the truck at all, but it does everything great. I even pull a Mastercraft X-star occassionally and the Honda handles it. Even has a diffferential locker for when things get nasty. Sad that american truck makers haven't thought of some of these cool things.

 

[Archimedes]

it will fit 2 sportbikes for sure

the tailgate and the bed trunk (which IIRC can double as a cooler for refreshments) are nice features as well.

interior is decent and doesn't feel cheap like the competition (aka the avalanche).

That's hilarious. Have you seen the interior of the new top of the line Avalanche? It's way nicer than the cheesy interior in a Ridgeline, or the Tacoma/Tundra for that matter. And has a butter smooth ride, much more comfortable than either of those vehicles. The only downside of the Avi is it's size. It is a very big truck with a huge interior. The bed, while smaller than a full size pickup, is bigger than the Ridgelines, so if you can get 2 sport bikes in a Ridgeline, then you can do it in an Avi.

 

[Archimedes]

But will you be able to afford to put gas in it? The reason the big trucks are so cheap is very simple. Nobody wants to own them except guys who think owning a big gnarly truck is the thing to do.

Or people who actually need the functionality of a large truck...

 

[afm199]

Or people who actually need the functionality of a large truck...

Which is about 5% of the population. I lived in the remote Big Sur wilderness for years and used my VW to get in and out and carry supplies. The Power Wagon and Jeep did not cut it in the mud.

 

[Espionage101]

how much you sellin the taco for..crew cab?

if you already have a mans truck, instead of a psuedo second truck why not get an SUV?

Here, here!!

 

[myap]

THE ECONOMY SUCKS AND WILL BE LIKE THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. YOU MAY NOT HAVE A JOB IN A YEAR. IF YOU ARE UNDER 40 YOU HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS. DON'T PISS YOU MONEY AWAY ON TOYS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OFF FOR FIVE YEARS. YOU WILL NEED THE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TRACK DAYS NEXT YEAR, MUCH LESS THE TRUCK.

This is a good reality check for those of us who were too young to remember the last recession: thank you, sir!

 

[Go2Trackdays]

yes, beware of the debt you take on, it never sleeps, it's always over you.

Talk you out of it? How about the PRICE?! $35,000.00 for a new one, around 23,000.00 for a good used one. Ay caramba

 

[mikev]

Beau, for what you're likely doing with it, the Ridgeline is pretty much perfect.

Shop around, though. Trucks are selling dirt cheap now, so you can definitely bargain.

 

[afm199]

This is a good reality check for those of us who were too young to remember the last recession: thank you, sir!

Thanks Mike. The younger guys sometimes think they are invulnerable and will ALWAYS be in control and able to take care of themselves.... When a recession or depression hits, that is proven untrue.

Simple fact: During the great depression, over HALF of Americans had NO access to money. What that means is fairly simple. They had no income, there was no unemployment benefit, they had no welfare, they had NOTHING and depended on food programs and gardens to survive.

I hope that nobody on BARF thinks they are invulnerable and will always have a good paying job, because they have had one for a couple of years.

In 1973 I had to leave Monterey County because the economy was so bad.

 

[ucb]

Before you go into debt $20k for a track toy, remember:THE ECONOMY SUCKS AND WILL BE LIKE THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. YOU MAY NOT HAVE A JOB IN A YEAR. IF YOU ARE UNDER 40 YOU HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS. DON'T PISS YOU MONEY AWAY ON TOYS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OFF FOR FIVE YEARS. YOU WILL NEED THE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TRACK DAYS NEXT YEAR, MUCH LESS THE TRUCK.

Yeah..it seems like a good deal to go out and get a tundra or something for 22k, and I could potentially see some ultility out of it, but I think I'd be fine with a smaller truck. Common sense and reason are hard to come buy at the prospect of a big new shiny car for dirt cheap . As long as it can fit 2 bikes in the back I'd be happy. The prospect of hauling a trailer behind it ladden with bikes would be nice, but as long as me and a pitmate can get to the track then i'm good.

The only thing I also need for sure is 4wd and potentially a double cab, in the winters when track season is slow I'm up in tahoe on the hill. My commute is tame and I'm normally on the bike any way (15 miles daily), but yeah 10+ track trips and 10ish trips up the hill might add up quickly. It's not that I can't afford it, but I would rather spend it on other things (like track days, lift tickets, saving, etc etc)

So my options are a 4wd double cab tacoma/frontier or a 4wd smaller suv with a trailer option. SUV would be nicer for tahoe, but the trailer is a bit cumbersome and I'd need to find a place to store it

 

[nweaver]

Beau, for what you're likely doing with it, the Ridgeline is pretty much perfect.

Actually, for what he's likely to be doing, the Ridgeline is F-in awful. Its overpriced, you get really crappy mileage driving it around, and it can't actually haul that much shit!

If you do less than 5 trackdays a year, get a Honda Fit or Civic and rent a pickup for track hauling. You can haul an amazing amount of shit in a Fit, and it gets 35 MPG on the highway driven reasonably. The Civic can't haul as much, but you should be able to kiss 40 MPG if you drive reasonably.

If you do more than 5 trackdays a year where you need a truck, get a Honda Fit or Civic and buy a $5k beater 4-banger tacoma/etc and use that for when you have to haul shit.

As for ski-trips at Tahoe, yeah, AWD is nice, but actually unnecessary. You can get to the ski areas just fine on a FWD with chains. And if you find chains are a pain, get spider-spikes, or an Impreza wagon if you MUST have AWD.

 

[ucb]

Thanks Mike. The younger guys sometimes think they are invulnerable and will ALWAYS be in control and able to take care of themselves.... When a recession or depression hits, that is proven untrue.
.

Yeah, this is true, luckily I'm currently employed in the one industry that is actually still growing and getting investment dollars (solar power). I have a secure job for at least the next year (2-3 most likely), but after that who knows, the economy as well as our own performance as a company will decide our fate. So yeah, not trying to take on a payment, I'm currently debt/payment free so I'd like to keep it that way arty

 

[afm199]

Yeah, this is true, luckily I'm currently employed in the one industry that is actually still growing and getting investment dollars (solar power). I have a secure job for at least the next year (2-3 most likely), but after that who knows, the economy as well as our own performance as a company will decide our fate. So yeah, not trying to take on a payment, I'm currently debt/payment free so I'd like to keep it that way arty

Good thinking! I have been in the construction industry all my life, and have seen my income vary from FOUR FIGURES to SIX FIGURES in a five year period.

 

[insyder]

...And do the math: If you use a truck less than 5 weeks out of the year or so, just drive a nice car and call Enterprise when you need a truck.

Yep.