DDDDave

Hey, does anybody have any first hand info on the new Ridgeline?

My 2002 GMC Envoy has 85K and I probably need to get something else soon. (An Americam SUV with over 100K is next to impossible to trade. Not saying it is not a good vehicle, but the incremental value drops precipitously at 100K. Mostly perception probably. But as they say, Perception is reality)

Anywho, the Ridgeline is an interesting concept. Actually they call it an SUT. Sport Utility Truck. It has a Honda interior. Drives like a car. Has a great stereo. The trunk in the rear bed is probably the most unique feature. Not like the little 'storage compartment' in an SUV. This thing is waterproof, locked/unlocked by your key fob, and can hold three sets of golf clubs. It also has a two way tailgate so you don't have to reach over the tailgate to reach into the trunk.

I have had a Honda in my garage for the past 20 years and obviously can attest to their dependability. My last three vehicles have all been American made and I have had no serious complaints re: build quality or reliability. I looked hard at the Avalanche/Escalade EXT when I bought my Envoy but just couldn't get my arms around the concept. I really think this new Honda may have hit it right.

Thoughts ????



P.S. Maybe I should just tune-up my ElCamino and start using it as my DD.

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GetRdone

i think its cool, it took honda long enuff to come out with an actual pick up truck. I guess well see how it fairs againts toyota in the import truck market.

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IanSturgill

I think it was a good idea, but the sloped bedrails look like hell, and are impractical

irseg

Every other Japanese car maker has produced undersized pickup trucks with small engines and tried to sell them on the basis that they're more car-like and can accomodate sheets of plywood (barely). And they've all failed. I'm not quite sure how doing the exact same thing except making it look incredibly awkward will help Honda succeed.

I predict that suburbanites on the coasts will snap this thing up. Otherwise it'll be a flop and Honda will either leave the pickup truck market, or come up with a larger more conventional V8 truck, like everyone else.

Scorps

Go with the El Camino.....classic will always be better

RallyEX

While my Honda Civic was in for recall service, the dealership was kind enough to let me tool around town to get lunch/visit with wife/etc. in a new Honda Ridgeline.

Bear in mind that I've done no research whatsoever on the vehicle, I'm just reviewing it here as I drove it. I have no real intentions on purchasing a Ridgeline or any other new Sport Utility any time soon, so this is about as unbiased as it can get. (Although I am a honda fan, so that may bias things just a bit.. )

I didn't look at the pricetag (intentionally) until I returned to the dealership.

I drove the ridgeline on a 60MPH highway, several city streets from recently paved to pothole infested, and on a few gravel parking lots that were in less-than-desirable condition.

On the highway, the truck is not nervous and doesn't feel tipsy. The ride is smooth and consistent, and the interior accomodations are adequate. I'm a fan of honda's thing of putting storage cubbys everywhere, and I instantly fell in love with the center console (neeato sliding storage setup) and the locking trunk underneath the bed.

It handled itself well on all conditions and generally felt like a rigid truck, just as much as any other SUV/Truck around. The ridgeline seemed generally more nimble and easy to control in 4WD mode than many others that I have owned/driven. I have no clue how capable this thing will be in true off road conditions, but it feels like it would do well on first impression.

The truck had leather, satellite radio, and all the other accomodations.. appeared to be fully loaded. Sticker price was $33,000 (and change). On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a 7 on first impression.

On a personal note, 33k could be much better spent if you are on a budget. HOWEVER, if I had to pick between the ridgeline and the ford explorer sport-trac, I'd go with the Ridgeline... no doubt about it.

Personally, I think that Nissan's Frontier/XTerra line of trucks and SUV's are probably more off-road capable, and a better bang for your buck. I spotted a 2005 xterra loaded with a 6 speed manual at the same dealership for just over 23k brand new! Just seems like a better value to me, but I've spent a lot more time riding and driving nissan frontiers/xterras than the Ridgeline.. so that may be a personal bias.

Ramega

Honda rarely screws up, and I imagine the Ridgeline is no exception. A friend at work just turned in his old Acura TL for one (he's late 30s, married, two kids) and LOVES it. The engine is no slouch, it's the 250hp V6 they put in the Odyssey and Pilot (and Saturn VUE for that matter). Honda excels at letting the American markets screw it up first (Avalanche, etc.) and then coming along and doing it right. Not that the Avalanche is a POS or anything, but they watch and learn first. When's the last time that Honda released a cutting edge car? Were you going to say the S2000? Because while that is a nice car, it was well on the heels of the 2-seater movement that had already been tackled by Mazda, Chevy, Toyota, and others.

The one thing I find odd about it is that the tailgate is not the same height as the siderails, but the in-bed locking storage is GREAT for golf clubs, etc. And you'll know it will run forever.