scottIN
10-18-2005, 07:52 AM
...first time poster!
Well, think I've finally decided on a Ridgeline. Can't believe I'm saying that-I'm just not a 'truck' kinda guy!:) But I guess I'm attracted to it because of the versatility-that's what impressed me the most when I first started looking at them-so many options that seem to be well thought out-from the in-bed trunk to how the rear seats fold up.
My current car is a 2002 Mercedes C230 Coupe, and I bought it for the same reasons-lots of versatility for a sports car. I've put the back seats down and hauled 400 lb. of top soil in it, but can still go around a cloverleaf with all four wheels howling and come out of the chute @ over 100 mph (not with the topsoil load of course!). The RL will be a little different in the performance area, but I'll get use to it.
In reading through the threads here, it looks like the RL will be cheaper to modify than my MB. :) We have such a hard time getting performance parts for the Coupe because it's such a low-production car-and now discontinued in the US. There isn't a whole lot on my car that I haven't modded-Brembo brakes, upgraded sways, custom leather, etc., except for the engine. If anyone ever wants to know what happens when you replace a dampered crank pulley with a larger, undampered crank pulley, just let me know-I can show you what it costs to extract a woodruff key from your timing chains. :) But it was fast for a few days...
Anyway...
Just trying to get all the numbers together for my trade and purchase-there has been a lot of good info on here on dealer costs and such. Being in sales myself, I'm not trying to steal it, but I'm not going to leave too much on the table either. Oh, and I think I've decided on the Olive RTL base. The only dealer option I'm looking at is the bed cover-I've seen the roll up ones on here but I still think I like the OEM one the best. Probably a couple other little things like the Z-Mats (probably should order them now!) and some carpet floormats (probably from LLoyd's vs. the OEM).
So thanks to everyone for all the information on here-I found the MB forums after I bought it (1400+ posts on two forums now), so this is my first time buying a vehicle where I know more about it than the dealer. :)
Well, think I've finally decided on a Ridgeline. Can't believe I'm saying that-I'm just not a 'truck' kinda guy!:) But I guess I'm attracted to it because of the versatility-that's what impressed me the most when I first started looking at them-so many options that seem to be well thought out-from the in-bed trunk to how the rear seats fold up.
My current car is a 2002 Mercedes C230 Coupe, and I bought it for the same reasons-lots of versatility for a sports car. I've put the back seats down and hauled 400 lb. of top soil in it, but can still go around a cloverleaf with all four wheels howling and come out of the chute @ over 100 mph (not with the topsoil load of course!). The RL will be a little different in the performance area, but I'll get use to it.
In reading through the threads here, it looks like the RL will be cheaper to modify than my MB. :) We have such a hard time getting performance parts for the Coupe because it's such a low-production car-and now discontinued in the US. There isn't a whole lot on my car that I haven't modded-Brembo brakes, upgraded sways, custom leather, etc., except for the engine. If anyone ever wants to know what happens when you replace a dampered crank pulley with a larger, undampered crank pulley, just let me know-I can show you what it costs to extract a woodruff key from your timing chains. :) But it was fast for a few days...
Anyway...
Just trying to get all the numbers together for my trade and purchase-there has been a lot of good info on here on dealer costs and such. Being in sales myself, I'm not trying to steal it, but I'm not going to leave too much on the table either. Oh, and I think I've decided on the Olive RTL base. The only dealer option I'm looking at is the bed cover-I've seen the roll up ones on here but I still think I like the OEM one the best. Probably a couple other little things like the Z-Mats (probably should order them now!) and some carpet floormats (probably from LLoyd's vs. the OEM).
So thanks to everyone for all the information on here-I found the MB forums after I bought it (1400+ posts on two forums now), so this is my first time buying a vehicle where I know more about it than the dealer. :)