$29,988 for RTL w/ Navi (Bay Area, CA)

[palo-alto]

hi,

i continue to talk to various dealers looking for a good deal - it seems to be bottoming out around $29,988 (plus sales tax at 8.25% and DMV fee around $300) for RTL (Silver) with Navi and no accessories. Comments appreciated from other bay area buyers. i found useful info on craigslist.org and this seems to be a good price.

now my question is that the dealer has a 150 mile returned Ridgeline (RTL, Navi) which was returned to dealer in 2 days after the buyer bought it, is spotless, no issues and has been on the lot for 100+ days now. the dealer will go another $1500 lower for that one. the VIN # is 2H***165X6H519532 on this truck.

Is this one of the VINs that had some early production issues? should i be worried at all about buying this truck vs. a brand new one with less than 5 miles on the odometer?

ALL replies greatly appreciated since I am (finally) buying this week.

With our ridgeline, my wife and i are going to be travelling across the US, CAnada and Mexico. Should I go for snow-tires in Canada and a block heater once I am up there? Edmontonians? I will be in Alberta and BC in Nov and Ontario in late Nov/Dec.

Of course, the reader's suggestions on nice drives are welcome as well - especially those that will use the ridgeline's plus points nicely (offroading in Death Valley for example) and allow us to go where our cars cant necessarily take us.

Thanks.

[Tex's Ridge]

Do you know what is vin for the new one? It might be in the same group. Mine has a vin of 3200. I don't have any of the problems seen here on this forum, except maybe the windshield noise, and thats another story. At any rate that is a very good deal. good luck

[palo-alto]

the new one which has only been on the lot for 3 weeks has VIN #
2HJYK16506H54323

seems similar to the "returned" truck

[RidgeInTheVille]

Got this from the checklist.

1. Wind noise - starts at 40mph coming from the windshield. Most likely upper molding. Any RL with a VIN # ending with 16000 or higher should have this fixed.

The Ridgeline I took for an overnight test drive had the wind noise. I told the salesman so they could fix it before the next customer drove it. I doubt if they do it.

Hope that helps.

RidgeInTheVille

[Tux]

I'd say ask the dealer if it was returned due to a wind noise problem as stated above. If so, just make sure they replaced the windshield and if not, either tell him to fix it before you buy or tell em you'll test drive it (so you can see/hear for yourself) and if it has the wind noise tell the dealer you want it fixed before you purchase. At that price it's a steal. I thought getting it at invoice was a steal but I was also picky on color and mileage and have had mine for five months now. I got mine with 5 miles, right off the truck, but at the time, through craigslist I could have gotten another thousand off if I was flexible on the color. Call me picky, I paid for it and I wouldn't give it up. No regrets. This is my first vehicle with navi and though I don't use it all the time it has come in handy.

[RTL44]

Originally Posted by Tux

I'd say ask the dealer if it was returned due to a wind noise problem as stated above. If so, just make sure they replaced the windshield and if not, either tell him to fix it before you buy or tell em you'll test drive it (so you can see/hear for yourself) and if it has the wind noise tell the dealer you want it fixed before you purchase. At that price it's a steal. I thought getting it at invoice was a steal but I was also picky on color and mileage and have had mine for five months now. I got mine with 5 miles, right off the truck, but at the time, through craigslist I could have gotten another thousand off if I was flexible on the color. Call me picky, I paid for it and I wouldn't give it up. No regrets. This is my first vehicle with navi and though I don't use it all the time it has come in handy.

Shoot...$29,988 is a steal. I wouldn't even hesitate to pay that for a new one. The Nav system is really nice - not just for the nav, but for the voice command for the stereo and temp, etc. I am VERY glad I opted for it.

[5S Dude]

That is a pretty good price at the moment providing they fix the problem areas.

[palo-alto]

final price came in at 29,750 even plus tax/dmv.

and now for the road-trip - suggestions (on roads/tours) welcome for the states of:
Nevada, Utah, NM, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, IL, NY, Maine, Vermont, Quebec, Ontario,
and Mexico

[captmiddy]

Well if you are going to be in Maine go to Acadia National Park, it is lovely. There are also a few forts up in Maine if you are interested in that sort of things, and plenty of back wood drives you can take if you don't mind getting the truck dirty. Baxter State Park is also nice, not coastal but a nice set of mountains to climb and look at. Really depends on the time of year you are talking about being in the area.

[palo-alto]

we will be on the road beginning next week and through dec/jan so no fall foliage for us (we assume it is already too late though we can dash up to Maine in about 5-6 days if colors are still around).

First impressions after picking up the truck last evening -- the "old" style headlamps are not as good as they should be - Honda should have put on the bi xenon headlamps. the light from the RL lights is noticeably 'yellow'

anyone know any aftermarket headlamps for RL?

no wind noise or other issues just yet.