[Andrew Diamond]

I'm thrilled that I got my G2 Ridgeline. It has all the "E stuff" plus all weather mats, roof rails and crossbars, body side molding, side step with lights, towing package and splash guards. I am planning on getting a bed cover and a hitch mount bike carrier soon along with some other odds and ends.

I had to go 300 miles from home to get it. Since October there have been no RTL-E available in North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia. So I went to Parkersburg, WV to get it. It drove the trip home amazingly well, with a really smooth ride and 25 mpg with spirited driving through the mountains. The LKAS and ACC are not quite up to Tesla Autopilot level though. Still, it's an excellent vehicle.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Got my BE from Flow Honda in Winston Salem and the last time I was there they had a BE and a couple RTL-E


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was using cars.com, autotrader.com and looking at the each dealer site within about 25 miles of here. I may have missed that. It would have saved me several hundred miles, but I have to say that I am super happy with the service, accessory installation and deal I got at Larry Simmons Honda.

Larry Simmons Honda is a Honda dealer selling new and used cars in Parkersburg, WV.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

That is the hugest garage ever! Truck looks nice and cozy in there. Congrats. The Forest Mist is growing on me for sure.

That is actually the dealer's vehicle prep area. Kind of an old time, small town dealership. I really liked it. Reminded me of the downtown car dealers that were around when I was a kid.

I don't have a garage now, but am building one early next year.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

I got my Forest Mist November 15th. Did a 1,200 mile round trip for Thanksgiving, everything works and looks perfect. Added the Leer XL Shell.

I was going to get a tonneau cover, but this might be better. Where did you get it?

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Very nice!

It seems to me like the best RTL-E pickings are in places where one might think the local population would make fun of the Ridgeline as a "truck". For you, it was WV, for me, it was out in the more western part of PA. My VIN was lower than expected for an early November purchase as well.

The finance guy at the dealer said they sell base model RLs pretty well, so my sense is the economy there is fairly depressed and the market tends to be more price sensitive than some other USA vehicle markets.

My VIN was 17xxx. I don't know where that puts me on production.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

My RTL-E was built in mid November. It's VIN is 20xxx. That might give you an approximate idea of your build date. :smile:

I am seeing some 22xxx on the lots now, so it appears they are at an approx 1000 unit a week build rate....so I would guess mine to be mid October then.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

August is when I started looking. I originally was planning on getting a good/cheap/used Nissan Frontier. When I saw how expensive used trucks were, even with high mileage, and that I could justify buying it in one of my businesses, that shifted the search to new. Once I got into looking at Frontier, Tacoma, Canyon and Ridgeline, the decision made itself.

It also helps that the AWD version of the Ridgeline has a GVWR above 6000 lbs, since that also helps with business tax deductability of a vehicle. The Ridgeline is all around goodness. Even the IRS approves....LOL.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Hey Andrew, does the loan have to be in the business name to write it off. The ridgeline barely pass 6000 grvw at 6019. That's awesome

I am not 100% sure, but I did do the loan at the bank in the business name, the RL is registered in the business and I have commercial vehicle insurance instead of it being added to my personal policy. The bank loan terms were fine (2.39% for 60 months - pretty close to a personal rate) but the insurance added about $40 a month over just putting it on my personal policy.

I did have to get the AWD version to do that - and get over the 6000 pound GVWR, but that's what I wanted anyways.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

That's a beauty. And the Tesla. 2 nice rides. Been thinking about the Tesla, but closest dealer to Ft. Myers is 100 miles.

I wouldn't let 100 miles stand in the way of doing a Tesla test drive. Just be forewarned, once you drive one you will probably feel compelled to buy one. It can become the most expensive free test drive you have ever taken.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Re: 2017 RTL-E picked up yesterday 12/3/2016

Is there a reason why you didn't buy a bed cover? I still want to know if it helps bump that MPG even more or not.

I ordered a Truxedo Lo Pro bed cover after taking delivery of the truck. I didn't want to get the cover and somehow not get the truck, you know. I should get it in about a week (12/15/2016 +/-)

I am getting it from Jason on this group. Link below.

Burtman Industries

 

[Andrew Diamond]

I hit the first onramp, pushed the pedal to the floor, and that car started accelerating as fast as one of my sportbikes, and they are all modded, and tuned. One of them is my baby, full Ohlins, full aftermarket exhaust, re-geared, mapped with autotune also to make small adjustments. I could buy a RTS for what I have in that bike, all in.

I have a 2013 Tesla P85. 0-60 in just under 4 seconds, brembo stoppers
I have a 2002 Ducati ST2. 0-60 in just under 4 seconds, brembo stoppers

Anything faster and I might hurt myself. I'm pretty much at the limits of my aging skills with these.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Congrats, to have the new RL and a S, you must be doing well. Sounds like you've earned it. Thumbs up.
I'm sure you know, but it's Model 3, SUV based off Model 3, then the Tesla Truck! Can't wait.

I'll get the Model Y (SUV based off the Model 3) for my wife, but I think we will need to keep one gas vehicle in the household just to be flexible - at least until the supercharger network is at least 2x or more what it is now. The Ridgeline will probably get only 5k miles a year on it, so I should be able to have it until it is time for me to stop driving.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

You do have a L2 charger home, yes? When I was on 110v with the Leaf, oh my. PITA, but after a proper L2 charger hard wired to the breaker panel, no big deal any longer.

I do hear you on having both for the time being.

Right now my house has a driveway with no garage (I live in a 110 year old neighborhood just outside of the center of Charlotte), and a L2 charger outside. I am building a 3 car garage in the spring/early summer 2017 that will have 2 L2 chargers and leaving up the outside one I already have for a total of 3.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Ballah! Sounds sweet.

Please don't tell me you are an investment guy. If I hear that one more time I'm going to go back to school and get my MBA :grin:

I run an IT group in a manufacturing company...but I have an MBA in Finance. Seriously - not making that up. :wink:

 

[Andrew Diamond]

100 miles to test drive, It does not bother me, but my lovely wife is not on the Tesla Bandwagon.... Otherwise, I believe she'd love it. She drives a 2016 Audi A6, so Tesla is similar style car....

There is a store in Sarasota and a new supercharger and I believe store as well coming in Naples next year.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

That's range anxiety.

I drove my family in the Model S from Charlotte NC to a Disney Cruise leaving out of Port Canaveral Florida. Downside, charging does turn a 9 hour trip into an 11 hour trip. Upside, you get to stop and have sit down meals along the way, and arrive much more refreshed and less "beat up" than driving a gas car. And you don't buy any fuel (minor these days).

Since my wife hates me rushing her through each stop, and likes to eat (or get tea), stretch and walk at each break about every 3 hours. Now she doesn't want to go anywhere with me WITHOUT the Tesla.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

Andrew,
Beautiful color.
But I don't think I could live with that light
of interiorigpen:!

Different Strokes.

My selection was Tan or Grey interior (no black interior) and ANY exterior color except black, white or red. Black exterior is too hard to keep clean and too hot in the summer, white reminds me of a refrigerator, and red is too racy for me - too much of a police magnet. Interestingly, I like OTHER people's black/white/red vehicles. Just not for me.

A black interior makes me feel like I am driving from inside a cave. I know a LOT of people like black, but not me.

Different Strokes.

 

[Andrew Diamond]

The S, with the rear hatch, and frunk, has so much room for cargo. That got ruined on the Model 3. It's just a damn sedan :|

My understanding was that it would be cheaper to build if it had a trunk - less roof cross structure needed due to the cross structure below the rear window, and thus easier for the robots to do most of the interior work before putting the roof on. All part of getting the cost down to make the Mode 3 affordable - but I get the disappointment.