Dear Honda,

I am a 42 year-old, Southern, American male who has never owned a "foreign" car - and never thought I would. However, that is likely to change with the Ridgeline. While I would highly desire to purchase a Ridgeline today, other financial considerations mean it will most likely be 6 months to a year before I am in a position to do so. Here is why I am considering the Ridgeline as my first "Hell must be freezing over" purchase of a non-"American" truck (I say that tongue-in-cheek as the sticker on the truck I test drove said 90% American, 10% foreign):

1) I have a wife and 3 children, so I require a 4-door, large cab. The Ridgeline, even though it is technically a mid-size, has enough interior room compared to the full size domestic trucks as to be a non-factor in comparison. The car-like ride of the Ridgeline will mean it will be used more often as a family vehicle than would a traditional "real truck". I like the Ford Sport-Trac and the Chevy Colorado, but each fell short on cabin room, so they are eliminated from consideration.

2) I do NOT - repeat DO NOT - want a V8 engine nor do I need one. Other than the obvious gas mileage issue, I have no travel trailer to haul, no massive loads to carry on a regular basis and do not drive off-road. The Nissan Titan and Chevy Silverado were at the top of my list until I did some more browsing and ran across the Ridgeline Owner's Club on the internet and read what others had to say about the Ridgeline. I test drove a Ridgeline several weeks ago. While I loved the interior room of the Titan, it came with a "price tag" of a large V8 engine from which I would rarely, if ever, need the power. Ditto for the Silverado - the cabin met my size requirements, but the V8 came along with it.

My hauling needs are:
a) several loads of mulch a year, possibly towing a trailer in order to get more in one trip (I just recently put down 6 yards of mulch)
b) I hunt, so I need to haul various accessories and the most convenient way to do that is via a truck bed. This does not require 300+ horsepower to get the job done. I can also confirm that a 1996 Ford Windstar is rather less than ideal for hauling a deer carcass to the processor. I believe the Ridgeline much more suitable for such tasks.
c) occasional needs of hauling appliances, moving things to storage or taking a riding lawn mower to the shop for maintenance. This also does not require a V8 with 5 more horsepower than the other guy or 10 foot-lbs more torque than "the nearest competitor". :rolleyes:

So if having a V6 instead of "industry-leading V8 horsepower" means that I might be inconvenienced a handful of times a year by less-than-V8 horsepower or torque, but get half-way decent gas mileage the rest of the time, then I'll gladly take the Ridgeline's V6 without thinking twice.


3) I really like the idea of the Ridgeline's AWD system. In normal driving, it's front-wheel drive, but automatically diverts power to the rear wheels if necessary. No need to worry about the back end fishtailing in wet conditions because there is little weight over the drive axle.

4) Of course, the trunk. There will be no need to buy some storage contraption to take up room in the bed to store various items that I might want to normally carry in the truck (jumper cables, various tools, etc.). These items won't have to take up room in the cab. I also play golf and it will be nice not to worry about always having to keep them in the back of the cab or just leave them in plain sight in the bed of the truck.

There are other minor points that I like about the Ridgeline - the shifter mounted on the steering column, the large storage space in the console, the fold up read seats with storage space beneath them, the two-way tailgate - but those are just all the more reason to me to get the Ridgeline.

So while Honda may have had current Honda owners in mind when building the Ridgeline, there are others of us who don't own a Honda, but want a truck and are finding it to be just what we need. :D

Just buy it!!!! You'll love it!!! Extremely versatile

Ditto for me, xd9x19. All the reasons you mention were my motivation to buy my first "foreign" auto. Not to mention, that I gotten tired of taking the depreciation bath.

Just remember, the longer you wait the more time you'll miss out on driving what I think is the best riding and driving truck I've ever been in.

After leasing a Ford Ranger for two years and returning it with no regret I test drove the Ridgeline and bought it on the same day.

Ditto for me, xd9x19. All the reasons you mention were my motivation to buy my first "foreign" auto. Not to mention, that I gotten tired of taking the depreciation bath.

Just remember, the longer you wait the more time you'll miss out on driving what I think is the best riding and driving truck I've ever been in.

Ditto jsant01.
Thanks for your post xd9x19. It is a "real" feeling for many of us new rice burner owners you have portrayed here.
:p

Hello and welcome xd. I wanted to repost your points because they are excellent ones! In fact, they are the ones that Honda found in their R&D surveys about 85% (or 95%) of all truck owners. That's why they made the Ridgeline like it is!

Good luck with your patience!!

Here is why I am considering the Ridgeline:

1) I have a wife and 3 children, so I require a 4-door, large cab. The Ridgeline, even though it is technically a mid-size, has enough interior room compared to the full size domestic trucks as to be a non-factor in comparison. The car-like ride of the Ridgeline will mean it will be used more often as a family vehicle than would a traditional "real truck". I like the Ford Sport-Trac and the Chevy Colorado, but each fell short on cabin room, so they are eliminated from consideration.

2) I do NOT - repeat DO NOT - want a V8 engine nor do I need one. Other than the obvious gas mileage issue, I have no travel trailer to haul, no massive loads to carry on a regular basis and do not drive off-road. The Nissan Titan and Chevy Silverado were at the top of my list until I did some more browsing and ran across the Ridgeline Owner's Club on the internet and read what others had to say about the Ridgeline. I test drove a Ridgeline several weeks ago. While I loved the interior room of the Titan, it came with a "price tag" of a large V8 engine from which I would rarely, if ever, need the power. Ditto for the Silverado - the cabin met my size requirements, but the V8 came along with it.

My hauling needs are:
a) several loads of mulch a year, possibly towing a trailer in order to get more in one trip (I just recently put down 6 yards of mulch)
b) I hunt, so I need to haul various accessories and the most convenient way to do that is via a truck bed. This does not require 300+ horsepower to get the job done. I can also confirm that a 1996 Ford Windstar is rather less than ideal for hauling a deer carcass to the processor. I believe the Ridgeline much more suitable for such tasks.
c) occasional needs of hauling appliances, moving things to storage or taking a riding lawn mower to the shop for maintenance. This also does not require a V8 with 5 more horsepower than the other guy or 10 foot-lbs more torque than "the nearest competitor". :rolleyes:

So if having a V6 instead of "industry-leading V8 horsepower" means that I might be inconvenienced a handful of times a year by less-than-V8 horsepower or torque, but get half-way decent gas mileage the rest of the time, then I'll gladly take the Ridgeline's V6 without thinking twice.


3) I really like the idea of the Ridgeline's AWD system. In normal driving, it's front-wheel drive, but automatically diverts power to the rear wheels if necessary. No need to worry about the back end fishtailing in wet conditions because there is little weight over the drive axle.

4) Of course, the trunk. There will be no need to buy some storage contraption to take up room in the bed to store various items that I might want to normally carry in the truck (jumper cables, various tools, etc.). These items won't have to take up room in the cab. I also play golf and it will be nice not to worry about always having to keep them in the back of the cab or just leave them in plain sight in the bed of the truck.

There are other minor points that I like about the Ridgeline - the shifter mounted on the steering column, the large storage space in the console, the fold up read seats with storage space beneath them, the two-way tailgate - but those are just all the more reason to me to get the Ridgeline.

So while Honda may have had current Honda owners in mind when building the Ridgeline, there are others of us who don't own a Honda, but want a truck and are finding it to be just what we need. :D

Welcome XD 9x19 - former Ford driver myself and LOVE my new "foreign" baby. Just picked her up last night after months of shopping. The quality and features are amazing and she's just plain pretty to look at!

Well put xd9x919. I had my heart set on a Chevy Avelanche since they came out in 02. Was ready to buy when the RL made the scene. I also try & buy American products. When I found out that the Avy was assembled in Mexico with 61% Domestic parts verses the RL with 75% (RL assembled in Canada) I felt the avy was hiding behind The made in America Chevy badge. The whole thing is getting a bit muddled anyhow, you buy a chrysler/dodge & the profits go to Germany! Ahh the global economy. Anyway after comparing the two, The RL fit my needs perfectly. I don't need a big V8 (14-18 mpg) nor do I off road. I think you will be pleased with the Ridge......

Hats off to you Xd for looking and thinking outside the box - by considering your needs first. I never grew up in a totally 'buy American' household, but my wife has (family in MI and TN working for GM and Ford). Fortunately my wife thinks for herself as well.

You will enjoy the RL based on your described needs. The safety factor is also something that one should consider with family as the primary 'load'. There are stories on here of side impacts with everyone walking away just fine.

Good luck and by the time you are ready to buy, you can report on how you like your '07! :D

Wow

Pretty close to the exact reasons I wanted the Ridgeline. I have had mine for over a year now. It is a great ride. You won't regret getting the best pickup out there!

Gary P.

Dear Honda,

I am a 42 year-old, Southern, American male who has never owned a "foreign" car - and never thought I would. However, that is likely to change with the Ridgeline. While I would highly desire to purchase a Ridgeline today, other financial considerations mean it will most likely be 6 months to a year before I am in a position to do so. Here is why I am considering the Ridgeline as my first "Hell must be freezing over" purchase of a non-"American" truck (I say that tongue-in-cheek as the sticker on the truck I test drove said 90% American, 10% foreign):

1) I have a wife and 3 children, so I require a 4-door, large cab. The Ridgeline, even though it is technically a mid-size, has enough interior room compared to the full size domestic trucks as to be a non-factor in comparison. The car-like ride of the Ridgeline will mean it will be used more often as a family vehicle than would a traditional "real truck". I like the Ford Sport-Trac and the Chevy Colorado, but each fell short on cabin room, so they are eliminated from consideration.

2) I do NOT - repeat DO NOT - want a V8 engine nor do I need one. Other than the obvious gas mileage issue, I have no travel trailer to haul, no massive loads to carry on a regular basis and do not drive off-road. The Nissan Titan and Chevy Silverado were at the top of my list until I did some more browsing and ran across the Ridgeline Owner's Club on the internet and read what others had to say about the Ridgeline. I test drove a Ridgeline several weeks ago. While I loved the interior room of the Titan, it came with a "price tag" of a large V8 engine from which I would rarely, if ever, need the power. Ditto for the Silverado - the cabin met my size requirements, but the V8 came along with it.

My hauling needs are:
a) several loads of mulch a year, possibly towing a trailer in order to get more in one trip (I just recently put down 6 yards of mulch)
b) I hunt, so I need to haul various accessories and the most convenient way to do that is via a truck bed. This does not require 300+ horsepower to get the job done. I can also confirm that a 1996 Ford Windstar is rather less than ideal for hauling a deer carcass to the processor. I believe the Ridgeline much more suitable for such tasks.
c) occasional needs of hauling appliances, moving things to storage or taking a riding lawn mower to the shop for maintenance. This also does not require a V8 with 5 more horsepower than the other guy or 10 foot-lbs more torque than "the nearest competitor". :rolleyes:

So if having a V6 instead of "industry-leading V8 horsepower" means that I might be inconvenienced a handful of times a year by less-than-V8 horsepower or torque, but get half-way decent gas mileage the rest of the time, then I'll gladly take the Ridgeline's V6 without thinking twice.


3) I really like the idea of the Ridgeline's AWD system. In normal driving, it's front-wheel drive, but automatically diverts power to the rear wheels if necessary. No need to worry about the back end fishtailing in wet conditions because there is little weight over the drive axle.

4) Of course, the trunk. There will be no need to buy some storage contraption to take up room in the bed to store various items that I might want to normally carry in the truck (jumper cables, various tools, etc.). These items won't have to take up room in the cab. I also play golf and it will be nice not to worry about always having to keep them in the back of the cab or just leave them in plain sight in the bed of the truck.

There are other minor points that I like about the Ridgeline - the shifter mounted on the steering column, the large storage space in the console, the fold up read seats with storage space beneath them, the two-way tailgate - but those are just all the more reason to me to get the Ridgeline.

So while Honda may have had current Honda owners in mind when building the Ridgeline, there are others of us who don't own a Honda, but want a truck and are finding it to be just what we need. :D

Very, Very Well said!

This should be a sticky for potential buyers!!!!

Nice job XD!

I'll also add that vehicles costing what they do, I am one who keeps one as long as possible before getting a new one. I've actually only bought 1 new car. The other 5 vehicles the wife and I have owned were used cars. So when I buy my Ridgeline, 'resale value' doesn't even come into play. I want a truck I know I can easily get 200,000 miles out of before I even have to think about another one.

From what I know about Honda, I probably won't have to worry about replacement until well beyond that mileage range. I may cruise right on into most of my retirement driving my Ridge. :D

Dear Honda, I bought my white RTL w/moonroof on Memorial Day. Look forward to many years of great driving.

Thanks for coming up with such a great idea for a vehicle for those of us who want a great riding vehicle, but also have a need for the bed space of a truck on occasion.

:D :D :D


P.S. My original "financial considerations" changed with a combination of unexpected money coming our way and the $2000 factory-to-dealer incentive through May. Yee-haa!

Good thing you do not live in the snow belt....January, we had about 9 inches of snow one day and I watched the neighbor (works at a Honda dealer) with his new (dealer plated Manufacturer's plate) Ridgeline try to get it un-stuck from a small snow bank. After watching him for about 15min spin his alternate tires in vain I went outside to help. He said "I can't believe I got a 4 wheel drive stuck..." I said, "it's AWD, not 4WD."

To make a long story short -- I pulled him out with my GMC Sierra 4x4...and I didn't even need to put it in 4WD. He was in disbelief.

The relevance here is:
Wife wants a Ridgeline, but I told her to look for something with real 4WD for the times she needs to take the kids to the doc in the winter and it snows. May only happen about 6 times a winter, but nice to know she and the kids are safe. This means Trailblazer, Explorer, Suburban, Tahoe, Durango, or Expedition for her. If the RL was 4WD, maybe I would consider....maybe.

Good thing you do not live in the snow belt....January, we had about 9 inches of snow one day and I watched the neighbor (works at a Honda dealer) with his new (dealer plated Manufacturer's plate) Ridgeline try to get it un-stuck from a small snow bank. After watching him for about 15min spin his alternate tires in vain I went outside to help. He said "I can't believe I got a 4 wheel drive stuck..." I said, "it's AWD, not 4WD."

To make a long story short -- I pulled him out with my GMC Sierra 4x4...and I didn't even need to put it in 4WD. He was in disbelief.

The relevance here is:
Wife wants a Ridgeline, but I told her to look for something with real 4WD for the times she needs to take the kids to the doc in the winter and it snows. May only happen about 6 times a winter, but nice to know she and the kids are safe. This means Trailblazer, Explorer, Suburban, Tahoe, Durango, or Expedition for her. If the RL was 4WD, maybe I would consider....maybe.

The relevance here is BS. I live in Minnesota and drive in a fair amount of snow last winter, including the fact that my driveway is steep and has a 180 degree turn at the top and have not yet gotten even close to stuck. In fact, the Ridgeline beat the snot out of my four wheel drive Chevy. I had to put it in low a few times to get it up the top of my drive.

I smell a troll :eek:

I agree with Kellcut. I too live in a snowbelt. It's called Canada . . . you know - 10 months winter and 2 months of poor skiing. Anyways, I have never driven a more capable vehicle in the snow than the RL and I've owned two 4x4s. (S10 Blazer and an F250). You can get any vehicle stuck in a snowbank, 4x4 or not.

Yes, methinks I also smell a troll.

Me thinks Sierra Joe's neighbor didn't know how to lock the wheels to get unstuck. It does pay to read the user's manual.

Sierra J', If I was going to trust the safety of my wife and kids to any vehicle, it would be my Ridge'. You see, I live in the snowbelt that exists in the lee of the Great Lakes. We measure snowfall in feet generally speaking and visibility is often near zero. I've chugged on by more trailblazers,excursions,explorers,durangos,cheroke es,silverados,you name it, in the ditch or median than I've got fingers and toes to count. I work nights and the lads that plow the parking lot think they'll be wisea____s and plow up around me. I just get in and drive through, leaving them a nice pile in the middle. Frequently the side streets as I leave the city are not plowed, but I cruise right through and never spin a wheel (heck I've even tried to and can't get it to break loose).

What will my next truck be? With no doubt at all.....a RIDGELINE.

The reason you don't see many Ridgelines stuck in the snow is because:

o Honda hasn't nearly met the sales forcast for this vehicle (according to neighbor who works at the Troy, MI Honda Dealer)

o people don't drive these vehicles in the bad stuff.


Trust me, there is no way a Ridgeline can be "as safe" as a Crew Cab GMC, Ford, or Dodge. I'm sure that it is a safe vehicle, I'm just saying that the more sheet metal around you and the heavier your vehicle is, the better. I'll take a 6000lb vehicle over a 4200lb vehicle any day.

The reason you don't see many Ridgelines stuck in the snow is because:

o Honda hasn't nearly met the sales forcast for this vehicle (according to neighbor who works at the Troy, MI Honda Dealer)

o people don't drive these vehicles in the bad stuff.


Trust me, there is no way a Ridgeline can be "as safe" as a Crew Cab GMC, Ford, or Dodge. I'm sure that it is a safe vehicle, I'm just saying that the more sheet metal around you and the heavier your vehicle is, the better. I'll take a 6000lb vehicle over a 4200lb vehicle any day.

BS, SJ. BS. I drive in Minnesota. There are several members on here who drive in Canada. Don't tell me I don't drive in teh "bad stuff".

Not only that, the sales quota was more than met by Honda.

Don't be a hater.

siera joe - I'll take a 6000lb vehicle over a 4200lb vehicle any day.


Nice to hear your leaving this forum!!

And Yes I did get my Ridgeline stuck last winter!! Even your big ole Chevy 4 X 4 would not help me out, he wouldn't even dare to take his truck where I took mine!! :eek:

And yes I did get it unstuck very easily.

Is there snow in Wisconsin??
I think so!! While your fishtailing trying to get going... I'll be waving bye bye as I go by you!!

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but I believe Honda set a goal of 57,000 (may have been 50 or 55,000) Ridgelines in the first year. Last related post I saw was they had sold 66,000 since introduction, about 14 1/2 months from mid-March '05 to May 2006. Sales were slow at first, but have really picked up recently.

@#$%....we really shouldn't be feeding the troll.

The reason you don't see many Ridgelines stuck in the snow is because:

o Honda hasn't nearly met the sales forcast for this vehicle (according to neighbor who works at the Troy, MI Honda Dealer)

o people don't drive these vehicles in the bad stuff.

Your neighbor is only half right. Honda had estimated they would sell 50,000 Ridgelines but by September of 2005 they had sold 25,787 which was a little off the mark. So they cut production by 3,000 units. However, shortly after September the Ridgeline started winning awards and sales picked up. This year in March 5,344 Ridgelines were sold. The total for the year 2006 as of May so far was 22,950 and if they keep that up they will sell 55,000 which is more than their first estimate. Sales for May 2006 were up 35.5 percent from last year.

It certainly is true that since there are fewer Ridgelines on the road than many other vehicles the ODDs of seeing one in the snow would be much less all other things being equal. I think Ford sold more trucks in one month than Honda sold Ridgelines in 6 months.

Your second point that people don't drive Ridgelines in bad stuff is certainly not true for me. I would much rather drive my Ridgeline in snow than any of my previous vehicles.

I've never driven a truck in the snow that is as solid as the Ridgeline.

And the weight thing...spare me. Weight has nothing to do with the safety of a vehicle. That is such a misconception it is not even funny. Safety comes from properly designed crumple zones and side impact areas. You drive a tank, but if there is nothing there to absorb the impact, it puts it all into the cab, you will get hurt more than a lighter vehicle that is designed to absorb the impact.----Obvioulsy, the word "tank" is a reference to weight and not an actual tank. :D

There are very few vehicles out there that are not safe any longer. The public is too into that stuff for manufacturer's to cut corners in these area's...but Honda's track record for safety speaks for itself!!!!

Obviously that guy was just trolling for passionate responses, so I'll oblige! :)

The same night I picked up my Ridge, we had a pretty good snowstorm. On the way home from work in the middle of that night, I had occasion to stop at a stop light. There was no traffic, so I felt it was safe to "play". When it turned green, I stomped on it to the floor. None of the wheels spun... I had instant (and controlled) acceleration in about 3 to four inches of snow. Later, where the road was wide enough and devoid of potential obstacles, I did some rockin' of the steering wheel to see if the truck even felt like breaking loose. It didn't. Obviously, for safety's sake I didn't crank it right over to the point where ANY vehicle would lose control, but I was satisfied with my experiment that I will have no problem driving in the snow. Nor will I be white-knuckling it wondering if I'm on the verge of being out of control. The Ridge give me confidence that I will make it home in one piece and will be able to handle what Vermont winters throw at me.

The reason you don't see many Ridgelines stuck in the snow is because:

o Honda hasn't nearly met the sales forcast for this vehicle (according to neighbor who works at the Troy, MI Honda Dealer)

o people don't drive these vehicles in the bad stuff.


Trust me, there is no way a Ridgeline can be "as safe" as a Crew Cab GMC, Ford, or Dodge. I'm sure that it is a safe vehicle, I'm just saying that the more sheet metal around you and the heavier your vehicle is, the better. I'll take a 6000lb vehicle over a 4200lb vehicle any day.

BWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! You are funny there, SJ. You should be a friggin' comedian! My ribs hurt.....whew....that was one good laugh!

The reason you don't see many RL's stuck in the snow is because it's damn hard to get one stuck in the snow....that's why! I have owned/driven full sized 4x4 pickups, small 4x4 pickups, and several AWD vehicles (AWD Pacifica and a Subaru Legacy) and none of them even comes close to the RL when it comes to handling in the "bad stuff".

Last winter, I was coming home one night after we got something like 8-10 inches of snow and there were at least 6 vehicles in the ditch.....3 of them were AWD vehicles and one was a club cab 4x4 Silverado....which happened to be on it's roof in the ditch. Never once, in the 75 miles I drove that night, did the tires spin or did I feel like I was outta control in my RL. Granted, I was taking it easy, because I know how to drive in snow (I grew up in the UP of MI. The last winter I spent up there in the Ishpeming MI area, we had 285 inches of snow that year...so, yeah, I know how to drive in the snow). With that being said, I would say the RL is THE most solid vehicle I have ever driven in the snow. No doubt in my mind.

I think SDTS went a little far when he said that weight has "absolutely nothing to do with safety", because weight does mean something. But, if you want to talk safety, you know that the RL is the safest pickup on the road, right? It has the highest safety rating of any pickup made today. It is the first-ever 4-door pickup to receive NHTSA's 5-star safety rating, the highest safety rating possible, for both frontal and side impact crash test performance. It comes with STANDARD head curtain airbags. The 2006 Honda Ridgeline earned the best-ever rollover rating for a pickup....THE BEST EVER!! And don't even get me started on the RL's VSA and traction control.

So, SJ...nice try trying to rile up us RL owners. We know what we bought. The best handling, best riding, most innovative, and safest pickup on the road today. So, you just go and be happy with your full sized whatever-the-hell your driving...and keep making up stories about RL's being stuck in snowbanks, if that makes you happy. Just go do it somewheres else.

Thank You!