A hopeful owner needing a lil more convincing....

hi guys,

im in the market for a new vehicle and i am fairly certain that id like either a Ridgeline or a Civic. Im leaning towards the Ridgeline but i have a few concerns that i assumed you experts (owners) could help me with. First is, of course, fuel economy. i currently own a Ford Ranger and im pretty sick of the filling up every few days. I drive 40 miles to and from work each day so im in need of a more economic vehicle. I compared the trucks and the Ranger has slightly better numbers than the Ridgline, but that doesnt really give me the input from people that actually drive the truck. Because of my traveling needs i look at the Civic (hmmm....maybe an S200 now that i think about it, hehe) but i also require versatility. I need the spacious interior that both the Civic and the Ridgline provide. But whats sends me to the Ridgeline is the ability to carry large loads and people, the enigine power, and the overall presence that the vehicle carries. Not to mention all the cool buttons and gizmos that i can play with:D .....

Essentially what im asking is for you guys to sway me in either direction. I am certain i want a Honda, just [I]which[I] Honda should it be. Thanks for any help....

Warren

There are many, many threads on mileage already. Look around and you'll find the answer you're looking for.

I drive about 58 mile round trip per day to work, 40 of which are interstate, and I get around 18 mpg. Some get better mileage and some get worse. Hope this helps.

Welcome to ROC! Here are a couple links from within the forum about gas mileage... lots of info there
My 2 cents as someone who never had a car/truck longer than 6 to 12 months... the RL is here to stay unless Accura happens to come up with an upgraded version. Is the only truck that has car handling... snow, hands down best performance on the road! the list goes on!

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2645

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3745

First off welcome aboard.

If you are looking for a great commuter car that gets really good gas milage then you should probably look at the Civic Hybrid. I commute in my RL 20 miles round trip and I probably average 16 - 17 mpg. I didn't buy my truck for gas milage though. I bought it for versatility, safety, and ride plus its pretty darn cool. If those are the things you need in a vehicle then the RL should be what you lean toward.

BTW - 20+ MPG on the Highway

You will still need to fill up every 4-5 days with a Ridgeline and your commute. And if your issue is just going to the station then you will still be filling up the little 13 gallon tank often in a Civic but you will get double the mileage over a Ridgeline.

So it sounds like the question for you is going to the gas station vs cost of gas vs size and functionality of the vehicle.

Safety, comfort and the versatility of this truck is why I bought it. Not overly concerned with gas mileage as evidenced by our second vehicle the gas gulping Ford Expedition. In comparison, the Ridge gets fantastic gas mileage! :)

well i just finish reading a few of the previous fuel posts, and i see a few things i could work on. Namely my lead foot:rolleyes: ! ive test driven the hybrid and well......ick. It just didnt feel like i was in a CAR. You know what i mean? And the more i look at this site....well, i guess you guys can guess what i may do sooner than i thought. I also test drove the Ridge yesterday and i was very impressed. Before August i was always 'anti-import'. "Hondas are just oversized lawnmowers" and "Hmm, look at the Matchbox car" are the things i use to say. Pretty sure i was a jackass. Fortunatly i saw the new civic commercial and was infected so i had to go see for myself exactly how poorly Honda did on the vaunted 'Motor Trend Car of the Year'. Poorly Indeed. With a turn of the key i swas shown my errors.

I do need to find a new Honda dealership. The welcome i recieved at Carey Paul Honda was..... suprising. I wont go there for my vehicle.

Thanks for all the help, im almost sure ive been swayed.

Warren

Make sure you check out the Buying tips people have posted, if you haven't done so already. There is a ton of good info on this site.

well i just finish reading a few of the previous fuel posts, and i see a few things i could work on. Namely my lead foot:rolleyes: ! ive test driven the hybrid and well......ick. It just didnt feel like i was in a CAR. You know what i mean? And the more i look at this site....well, i guess you guys can guess what i may do sooner than i thought. I also test drove the Ridge yesterday and i was very impressed. Before August i was always 'anti-import'. "Hondas are just oversized lawnmowers" and "Hmm, look at the Matchbox car" are the things i use to say. Pretty sure i was a jackass. Fortunatly i saw the new civic commercial and was infected so i had to go see for myself exactly how poorly Honda did on the vaunted 'Motor Trend Car of the Year'. Poorly Indeed. With a turn of the key i swas shown my errors.

I do need to find a new Honda dealership. The welcome i recieved at Carey Paul Honda was..... suprising. I wont go there for my vehicle.

Thanks for all the help, im almost sure ive been swayed.

Warren
White seems to get better mileage:D

White seems to get better mileage:D
And so the the color war begins :D

Warren - that will be the hardest part of your decision to buy a Ridgeline. Do I go with the color that matches my eyes or the one that accessorizes the house best while in the driveway? ;)

I do need to find a new Honda dealership. The welcome i recieved at Carey Paul Honda was..... suprising. I wont go there for my vehicle.

Warren there is a Carey Paul dealer in Georgia, are you located in GA? I can help you with some info since I have bought two RLs this year.

I drive about 200 miles per week, and I got 18.1mpg on my first fill-up which included a 30 mile trip home from the dealer. My average trip is about 5 miles. Since I work so close to home, I'm not extremely concerned about gas mileage because it amounts to very little extra per year.

And so the the color war begins :D

I, for one won't try to sway your color choice I'm sure when you're REaDy you'll choose the best color for you.

For your mileage question, I can say that I REaDily average between 18 to 20 mpg if you've REaD the other posts this is pretty close to the norm. And, I'm sure that after you've REaD everyone's comments on the RL you'll be REaDy to join the club!

But color really is a personal preference ;) :D

I went from an Element to the Ridge, which I think is in the same range, mileage wise, as the Ranger. It's not as good but you can work on that. I like the ability to actually carry people AND stuff.(that was my only complaint w/ the Element I have friends who would kill for the mpg I get in my truck, but I can't pull a bulldozer on a trailor behind mine...but that's what their trucks are for:D

You pick any color you want, as long as it's Steele Blue:cool:

Go with the Civic..... they are really nice. Si, of course. Or is it SiR in the US.

Can't beat the power, agility, features, and fuel economy...... plus the 2006 models are really, really nice looking. I bought the Ridgeline because I couldn't wait for the new Civics to come out. Not that I'm unhappy with the RL, but the gas is killing me.

I drive a 1984 Accord that was given to me for free, so I drive that 80% of the time to save on gas. I reserve the RL for special days. There's nothing like getting off a long day at work and getting into a nice comfy vehicle like the Ridge.

i live right down the street from the carey paul honda dealership in GA. im only 21 so they kinda discriminated against me due to that. my impression was that they could have cared less if i had the $$$ for the truck or not. i was treated poorly. oh well, its cool though. ill be getting my Ridge in Athens then.

and for the color war, ive already decided on white. sorry guys. as for the Civic SiR, i am still considering that one but the main thing that attracts me to the Ridgeline is safety and the room a truck gives you. Im intending for this truck to last me a while so if (a BIG if) i have kids in 100s of years or so i wont have to rip out half the backseat putting the carseat it. and the little fact of Police attention. a Civic has a big neon sign on it that says 'IM DOING SOMETHING WRONG! GET ME!'

thanks for the advice and suggestions guys.

Warren

I, for one won't try to sway your color choice I'm sure when you're REaDy you'll choose the best color for you.

For your mileage question, I can say that I REaDily average between 18 to 20 mpg if you've REaD the other posts this is pretty close to the norm. And, I'm sure that after you've REaD everyone's comments on the RL you'll be REaDy to join the club!

But color really is a personal preference ;) :D
Nicely done. LOL Nicely done. :)

The Civic and the Ridgeline are such diametrically opposite vehicles, I have to ask you, do you know what you really want?

The Civic is a sedan. The Ridgeline is a truck. Do you want something for the next 3-4 years or longer? Do you own a house, or something else that requires hauling a lot of stuff around? Because if you're buying the Ridgeline mainly to haul people around, the Pilot is a much better fit.

If I was 21 again, and DAMN! I wish I was :) , it would be the Civic Si hands down.

[QUOTE=Warren]hi guys,

im in the market for a new vehicle and i am fairly certain that id like either a Ridgeline or a Civic. Im leaning towards the Ridgeline but i have a few concerns that i assumed you experts (owners) could help me with. First is, of course, fuel economy. i currently own a Ford Ranger and im pretty sick of the filling up every few days. I drive 40 miles to and from work each day so im in need of a more economic vehicle. I compared the trucks and the Ranger has slightly better numbers than the Ridgline, but that doesnt really give me the input from people that actually drive the truck. Because of my traveling needs i look at the Civic (hmmm....maybe an S200 now that i think about it, hehe) but i also require versatility. I need the spacious interior that both the Civic and the Ridgline provide. But whats sends me to the Ridgeline is the ability to carry large loads and people, the enigine power, and the overall presence that the vehicle carries. Not to mention all the cool buttons and gizmos that i can play with:D .....

Essentially what im asking is for you guys to sway me in either direction. I am certain i want a Honda, just [I]which[I] Honda should it be. Thanks for any help....

Hi Warren, If you don't need to haul a half ton of stuff around and you want mega mileage go with the Civic. Either of which will serve you very well for a long long time. I just needed to haul raw bar stock and machine shop supplies so we went for the Ridgeline. I still love the Civic gas mileage though I can get around 19.5 with the truck while I'm on long trips and about 17-18 around town.

The Civic and the Ridgeline are such diametrically opposite vehicles, I have to ask you, do you know what you really want?

The Civic is a sedan. The Ridgeline is a truck. Do you want something for the next 3-4 years or longer? Do you own a house, or something else that requires hauling a lot of stuff around? Because if you're buying the Ridgeline mainly to haul people around, the Pilot is a much better fit.


I think the hauling question is the most important piece of the puzzle. You don't have to have a house to have things to haul, especially when you are younger. Let's see Mountain Bikes, Motorcycles, Jetski, and ATVs to name a few. I almost forgot the Kegs for the party at your buddy's house. Plus you can't put ice in the trunk of the Civic without a huge mess.

My Ranger was much more fuel efficient than my RL, so if that is important maybe you should go with the Civic.:rolleyes:

My Ridgeline gets better mileage than my Ranger did. So there :D

My RL gets better gas milage than my buddy's Ranger and another friend's Taco :p .

Tacos give me more gas than Ranger cookies, so bite me.:p

Tacos give me more gas
I was going to go there but I figured I wouldn't take it down that road. :)

I think the hauling question is the most important piece of the puzzle. You don't have to have a house to have things to haul, especially when you are younger. Let's see Mountain Bikes, Motorcycles, Jetski, and ATVs to name a few. I almost forgot the Kegs for the party at your buddy's house. Plus you can't put ice in the trunk of the Civic without a huge mess.
As a former truck guy who gave up a truck for a car (Toyota Matrix,) I now regret getting a car, gas mileage be damned. I can't count the number of times I wished I'd had a big open bed to toss things into, rather than having to figure out how to keep them in my car. As nice as the open space of a hatchback was, when I have passengers, it's not as useful as I'd thought. Now that I have a three-month old daughter that I ferry around every day, that hatch has grown very small and cramped. Between her stroller, diaper bag, toys, and other things like groceries that go on top of them, I run out of room real quick. With the RL, I can toss the stroller into the bed and put the groceries in the trunk with no worries that something's going to get crushed. The interior seems to be big enough to handle a rear-facing carseat much more comfortably than my Matrix, too, which is a concern - even at only 5'6", I'm having to move my seat uncomfortably close to the steering wheel when her car seat is in the base (which is in the center - it won't fit at all on either side.) These are things to consider, things I didn't think about when i got my Matrix two and a half years ago, but now really wish I had considered. The RL gives me everything I need - decent seating for adults, room for a car seat, a bed to throw things into, AND a trunk. Believe it or not, as much as I like the truck in general, without the trunk, I probably wouldn't be considering the RL, or any truck, at all, truthfully. The trunk really sealed the deal for me.

And I'll be going down to the dealership Saturday to pick a Ridgeline out!

Warren:
My husband 1993 Honda Prelude just blew it's oil gasket. He loved his compact car/stick shift...and purchased a Ridgeline. That car went over 200,002 miles with very minimal issues and it's original clutch.

To be honest with you, he is really having a hard time with the mileage the truck gets...compared to the compact car.

You just can't compare! He had that car for 12 years and it served him very well and got well over 28 MPG. If you want mileage/MPG...you really should go with the Civic.

The 'sticker shock' of 'filling up' is another issue he grapples with. When gas was high (over $2.45 a gallon), it cost him $45+ to get the tank full. He just about had a heart attack!

He loves the truck...and is in construction. He got away with the sportscar for a number of years just by placing tools and such on the front seat.

You have to figure out what your priority is for your vehicle. Do you need the truck to do your job? Have a big family to haul around? If they are small kids, a 4-door Civic would work; but not with teens.
Both are so different!
Good luck with whatever choice you make.

Warren:
My husband 1993 Honda Prelude just blew it's oil gasket. He loved his compact car/stick shift...and purchased a Ridgeline. That car went over 200,002 miles with very minimal issues and it's original clutch.

200,002 miles on the original clutch has to be a record even for a Honda product.

I had 175,000 on my Integra and 210,000 on an Accord but both were on their 2 clutches.

The 'sticker shock' of 'filling up' is another issue he grapples with. When gas was high (over $2.45 a gallon), it cost him $45+ to get the tank full. He just about had a heart attack!


I agree with the sticker shock of filling up the RL vs. the civic that I sold. Just a year or two ago, it was costing $10 or less to fill up the civic! So, to go from that to $50 a fill up is a shock. However, I've gotten used to the cost of driving the Ridgeline and focus more on the mileage it's getting at each fill up. Tracking mileage is a habit for me anyway. 18 mpg is a big difference from 40, but it's well worth it. If I ever got hit in that Civic, I'd be done! Then it wouldn't matter how much I saved on gas!

Warren you're in the south, Plus in God's country, man get the RL. But a true southerner would get a Blue one.
Seriously if you need a truck or really like a truck get the RL. But mileage get the Civic. :)

Nope, no house. And i realize that they are dramatically different. Thats why im asking for advice from people that actually own the Ridgeline. Ive owned 2 cars and 2 trucks and to be honest, i liked the trucks a hell of alot better than the cars. Just the overall presence a truck has..... and the fact that the Police around Atlanta dont pay much attention to trucks (save the SRT10) and i had my fill of attention when i had the Camaro. Thats the major thing thats driving me away from the Civic. I have a good job right now so $$$ isnt an issue. And insurance would be about the same on both for me. My main concern as a 21 bachelor is gas mileage, versatility and cabin space for hauling homies and honies to and from bars. not to mention the Ridges built in tailgating necessity (the trunk in the bed)! anyway, i decided today to hold off till after taxes come back to make the purchase. One way or another im getting a Honda. Come march or april.....ill be good.

unless i win the lottery.

My main concern as a 21 bachelor is gas mileage, versatility and cabin space for hauling homies and honies to and from bars. not to mention the Ridges built in tailgating necessity (the trunk in the bed)!
unless i win the lottery.
The Ridgeline matches versatility and cabin space, but the Civic has gas mileage. Sounds like you lean toward trucks anyway, so there you go. Better get those taxes filed early so you can get your new Ridgeline quicker! ;)

I'd still have bought the Ridgeline even if I'd won the lottery! :D

not to mention the Ridges built in tailgating necessity (the trunk in the bed)!

What Trunk?? It's a beer cooler!!

Black = Stealth Technology built in!!

Best Honda milage 14 yrs with an 87' Accord 287,000, Hoping the Ridge Breaks 300K!!
Good luck in whatever the decision is...
:)

I guess it really depends on what you are looking for.

If it is gas mileage, then there is no question the Civic is best.

If it is versatility, etc, then the Ridgeline is best.

Good luck in your decision :)

Black = Stealth Technology built in!!
:)

Ya know what CUinaRidge....
I'll CUinMarysville and we'll just see about this statement. :D

Nope, no house. And i realize that they are dramatically different. Thats why im asking for advice from people that actually own the Ridgeline. Ive owned 2 cars and 2 trucks and to be honest, i liked the trucks a hell of alot better than the cars. Just the overall presence a truck has..... and the fact that the Police around Atlanta dont pay much attention to trucks (save the SRT10) and i had my fill of attention when i had the Camaro. Thats the major thing thats driving me away from the Civic. I have a good job right now so $$$ isnt an issue. And insurance would be about the same on both for me. My main concern as a 21 bachelor is gas mileage, versatility and cabin space for hauling homies and honies to and from bars. not to mention the Ridges built in tailgating necessity (the trunk in the bed)! anyway, i decided today to hold off till after taxes come back to make the purchase. One way or another im getting a Honda. Come march or april.....ill be good.

unless i win the lottery.
Both Ridges and Civics have Honda sponsored 1.9% financing, supposedly slated to expire Jan 3 2009.
Of course, they may extend it depending on customer demand. I think the financing is more likely to be extended on the Ridgeline than the Civic due to lower demand. Something to consider, particularly if you change your mind and lean back towards a Civic.

Both Ridges and Civics have Honda sponsored 1.9% financing, supposedly slated to expire Jan 3 2009.
Of course, they may extend it depending on customer demand. I think the financing is more likely to be extended on the Ridgeline than the Civic due to lower demand. Something to consider, particularly if you change your mind and lean back towards a Civic.

Wow, I bet you didn't notice you dredged up a really old thread. I took a stroll down memory lane and enjoyed seeing who was posting way back then. Some of us are still around.