[eatcpa]

I just turned over 40,000 miles on my 21 sport. As you mentioned it would be nice if it had blind spot monitoring, and I'll add heated mirrors. After hearing about the "better trim models" problems, I didn't even check them out. I don't care for a sunroof, that could leak, nor a phone charger that doesn't work, or a cheesy radio that's as outdated as mine is. Most of the so-called safety features don't do a great job, with auto high beams being top of the list. I have no rattles or squeaks at all, and no problems with mine as of yet. I love the engine and drivetrain; plus the decent amount of room this truck has. Mileage isn't bad, but it should be a touch better, I average 25MPG in mine.

I concur with you on most of the upgrades (?). I did read somewhere though, that the Sport doesn't have the same sound deadening front windshield that all the upgrades have. True? And, if so, has anyone experienced both and have an opinion on whether the upgraded glass makes a noticeable difference?

 

[Hondo23]

Nice job, very helpful. We rarely get an overall look at the good/bad/ugly. Nice truck, by the way. The only thing that surprised me is that you owned a Silverado, and yet wouldn't consider an F150 because of quality issues. I am not a big fan of either, but if forced to, would take the Ford over the Chevy...wouldn't be happy with either.

The Ford vs Chevy thing comes down to personal preference and experience. Both brands have certain models and years that are good and bad. I've owned several Chevy trucks and cars and had pretty good luck with them, never had any major issues. I've never owned a ford but have driven them and worked on several. There are a few Fords that I liked but not enough to buy one. I didn't care for working on the Fords, they seemed overly complicated in some respects and more difficult to service vs the GM vehicles. My lack of familiarity could be a factor. I have several friends that have bought new Ford trucks and had a lot of issues, that alone was enough for me not to consider a Ford. I've always liked small trucks so I like the concept of the Maverick but they have had a bunch of recalls and well documented quality issues.

 

[CNC1]

I concur with you on most of the upgrades (?). I did read somewhere though, that the Sport doesn't have the same sound deadening front windshield that all the upgrades have. True? And, if so, has anyone experienced both and have an opinion on whether the upgraded glass makes a noticeable difference?

I seriously doubt if the "premium" windshield quiets down the truck much at all. Mine is already very quiet with no noise at all. I did have some with the crossbars on my roof rack though, but they are now gone.

 

[Thopper]

I traded in a 2019 RAM Hemi for a 2023 RL RTLE. The RAM had many issue-rear diff-endless misfire codes etc. The safety package worked flawlessly....Blind spot, adaptable speed, auto beams, cameras, parking etc. The ridgeline does not have fron cameras , one of my biggest complaints. The RL rides great and has the most comfortable seats I have ever had in a vehicle. The saftey features and infotanment system meet my expectation.

What I am concerned about is the low RPM piston/slap low end/ possibly transmisssion noise that has been mentioned many times on the honda forums that us this engine. Still not sure if I should be concerned or not.

 

[longboat]

I traded in a 2019 RAM Hemi for a 2023 RL RTLE. The RAM had many issue-rear diff-endless misfire codes etc. The safety package worked flawlessly....Blind spot, adaptable speed, auto beams, cameras, parking etc. The ridgeline does not have fron cameras , one of my biggest complaints. The RL rides great and has the most comfortable seats I have ever had in a vehicle. The saftey features and infotanment system meet my expectation.

What I am concerned about is the low RPM piston/slap low end/ possibly transmisssion noise that has been mentioned many times on the honda forums that us this engine. Still not sure if I should be concerned or not.

I wouldn't worry about the engine. Honda generally makes very good engines, outside of a couple lemons*. I'd rate their engines above most other automakers.

Keep in mind that this engine, as used in marine applications, can run for hours at a time above 5000rpm, and accumulate 10,000 hours doing so. That being said, low rpms and lugging an engine are harder on it than running higher rpms, but higher rpms tends to burn more fuel.

* 1) Honda had an issue with early versions of VCM, particularly from 2008-2012. There is no evidence of any issues with the current VCM.

2) Honda had an issue with their 1.5T four-cylinder making oil - this was due to owners making short runs with the engine and the engine never fully warming up. Associated problems are carbon build-up and spark plug issues. Most problems occurred early in the current version run, starting in 2015 and not so much over the last few years. If you have one of these engines, the best thing you can do is drive it like you stole it, run it to redline once or twice on every trip, get that engine hot and it will reward you with a long life. Baby it and it will give up the ghost quickly.

 

[jskicet]

Piston slap or an incorrect from main bearing. Mine does it too.

 

[Hondo23]

Update
I thought I would update this thread now that I've had the truck over a year and about 15k miles. I'm still overall happy with it, I've had no issues at all. I have one rattle in the passenger side rear seat area that occasionally bothers me but other than that I have no complaints. I took it on a trip 12 hour trip and I think it's the most comfortable vehicle I've ever had, definitely experienced less fatigue and body aches compared to other vehicles that I've driven on similar length trips. The ride and comfort is what sets this truck apart from the others.

I can still say that the ridgeline fits my needs very well. I've hauled some tree limbs, car parts, and tool boxes and it's done the job very well. I don't go off-road, pull a trailer or haul anything super heavy so for me this truck checks all the boxes. The trunk is great for carrying a tool bag, straps and other miscellaneous items.

Modifications
Nothing wrong with it but I found the start/stop feature to be annoying. I normally would hit the button to disable it every time I started the truck but I would occasionally forget and have that split second "what happened?" thought going through my head when the truck would stop running while waiting at a stop light. So I installed an idle stopper. It seems expensive for what it is but I think it was worth it to not be bothered again by it.

I had the front Windows tinted 35% (legal limit where I live) and had a 5% brow installed on the top of the windshield. The factory tint on the rear windows is slightly darker around 20%. I think it looks best to have the front and rear window tint match but I wanted to stay legal and now that I'm getting older about 30-35% tint is about the darkest I can go before I feel like I can't see as well at night.

After a lot of reading about many different tonneau covers I bought a Truxedo Pro X15 and installed it myself. Installation isn't too bad, it probably took a couple of hours. I like that the Pro X15 rolls up and you keep full use of the bed. I don't normally keep anything valuable or travel in areas of high crime so the lower security of a roll up cover doesn't bother me. I also like the look of the matte black fabric(similar to a convertible top material). It's mostly water proof but a little water will seep in around corners in a heavy rain...I don't keep anything back there that I need to keep dry so that isn't a concern for me.

Conclusion
I like the Ridgeline enough that I will probably keep it for a long while. My wife had a 23 HRV and we weren't happy with it, making the Ridgeline the preferred vehicle for trips. The HRV is great for driving around town but not great for trips especially if you travel to where there are mountains, the lack of power becomes very evident. It also had a steering box issue, intermittently working rear hatch and window buttons (way too many issues for a new vehicle). I briefly considered trading my 23 Sport for a Black edition to get the extra features(great for trips) but ultimately decided it wasn't worth the cost difference. We ended up trading the HRV in because we were concerned about the longevity with the issues we were experiencing and got a Buick Envision, so far it's been a much better vehicle and it is comfortable for trips too.

 

[ETCSW7494]

View attachment 438829
Now that I've had the truck about 10 weeks and 2500 miles I thought I would post my thoughts on owning my first Ridgeline as well as some comparisons to other vehicles that I've owned or driven. I'm hoping my thoughts maybe useful to others who may be looking into buying one. Sorry if it's a little long.

Background
My last vehicle was a 2014 Z71 Silverado with a 5.3 engine. I bought it new and had about 92k miles on it when I sold it. Overall I think it was a good vehicle but 2014 wasn't the best year for the Silverado(first year of a new design). 2014's are known for electrical problems, bad AC compressors, and transmission failures. I had none of those issues but did experience a cracked radiator at about 50k miles and the exhaust manifolds started leaking about about 90k miles(another common issue with GM trucks). A friend with the same year Silverado just replaced the transmission in his at 120k miles. I was concerned about some expensive repairs in the near future so I started to look at new trucks.

New Truck Selection
I didn't want or need another full size truck. I had asperations of buying a car trailer and hauling a race car when I bought the Silverado. I never bought the trailer and sold the race car. I do own a house and work on cars for a hobby so I do occasionally haul a lawnmower, furniture, wood or an engine so I thought a midsize truck would be a good option. I looked at the Tacoma, and the new Colorado/Canyon. I'm not sold on the long reliability of the new 4 cylinder turbo engine in the Colorado/Canyon but I do think they look great. I like the Tacoma, my dad has one that I have driven and ridden in a lot. I think they are very reliable but a little dated and over priced. Dealers in my area had none in stock and wanted over MSRP. If I hadn't got a Ridgeline I most likely would have gotten a Tacoma. I test drove a 23 Ridgeline RTL and was surprised by how much I liked it. The Ridgeline has a smoother ride and better handling than any of the other options I looked at so I decided on a Ridgeline. Maybe I'm biased but I don't much care for Fords or Nissans...too many quality/reliability issues(in my opinion) so I never seriously considered a Ranger, Maverick, or Frontier.

Once I decided on a Ridgeline I looked at the RTL and Sport. For the money the Sport offered the features I cared most about. I view my daily driver truck as basic transportation, I don't really want or need a lot of tech gadgets. I'm mostly concerned with reliability and being practical for how I use it. I prefer the wheels and black trim on the Sport vs the chrome trim and grey wheels on the RTL. If money wasn't a factor a Black Edition would be nice(all the gadgets and black trim). The one thing I wish the sport had is the blind spot monitoring but it's not a big deal to me.

No local dealers had any Sports in stock. I found a sport for $2650 below MSRP with no dealer add-ons at a dealership a couple hours away. They initially wanted to charge for locking lug nuts, mud flaps, all weather floor mats but I declined. They left the locking lug nuts and mud flaps on at no extra cost. I sold my Silverado to Carvana for $4k more than any dealer was offering. I feel like I did well selling my old truck and got the new one at a good price which made my decision to buy easier.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - The Good
I'm happy with the purchase so I'll start with the good. I love the tailgate and trunk, both of those features are outstanding and give you more options for hauling or storing. The ride is smooth and quiet, by far the best riding truck I've ever driven. I think the seats and driving position are comfortable. The rear seats are comfortable for my 16yo daughter and it's nice having the separate rear temperature controls. I like how the rear seats fold up too, it's simple and easy. I like how the seatbelts are attached to a rod to keep them from getting stuck in or under the seat when folding/unfolding them (that is an issue in my Dad's Tacoma).

I'm happy with the performance, I don't consider the Ridgeline fast but it has enough get up and go. It feels a little sluggish compared to the Silverado at low RPM but I think the Ridgeline is probably quicker overall once you get into the upper RPM range. The VCM system seems to work well, I can very rarely tell when it switches between 6 and 3 cylinders. I may try a S-VCM controller at some point. I hated the DOD system on my Silverado and deleted that feature via HP Tuners..it wasn't very smooth when switching between 4 and 8 cylinders.

I've read that some people don't like the 9 speed or feel like it's hunting for gears. I can't say that I have experienced that, it feels very solid to me.

The all wheel drive system works great, I've been impressed with it. It's nice to not have to switch between 2WD and 4WD modes. It will be interesting to try it in the snow later this year.

I've averaged 23.0 mpg so far with a mix of city and highway driving, I'm happy with that. I'm anxious to take a trip on the highway to see if I can get 25+mpg.

I like the Lunar Silver Metallic color. It's just a personal preference but it looks great and hides dirt much better than most other colors. White was my 2nd color choice.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Just Ok
I would prefer the arm rest was bigger, I think it would be more comfortable that way, but it's no deal breaker for me. I'm not a big person but I can see where a larger person could find the arm rest uncomfortable.

I feel like the parking brake is in a strange location, I occasionally bump into it with my foot when getting in or out.

I don't use the Auto Start/Stop system. I find it annoying that it defaults back to on each time you start the truck. Once in a while I forget to turn it off then get surprised when it turns off when waiting at a stop light. I will eventually get an idle stopper so I won't have to deal with it anymore.

The auto high beams work well under certain conditions but not others. It can be frustratingly inconsistent. I may turn off the auto high beams.

As with most new vehicles I feel like the paint quality isn't very good. It has some orange peel and there is some inconsistency in the metallic in the paint. Not enough that most people would notice but I can see it when looking closely at it in certain lighting conditions. The Silverado factory paint was much better. The Tacoma paint is about the same quality as the Ridgeline.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Not so Good
My biggest complaint is that the doors on my truck rattle, mainly the driver door. They don't always rattle but on county roads with a rougher pavement and cracks it was pretty frequent. On other types of roads it wasn't too bad. I adjusted the door stops out a little which seemed to help a lot but I was still getting some noise. I read on another forum that sometimes it helps to apply silicone grease or some type of dressing to the door seals to eliminate noise. I applied some Chemical Guys VRP to the door seals and now the door rattle/squeak noise is almost non existent surprisingly. I think I got this issue resolved but I feel like you shouldn't have to do anything to a brand new vehicle.

It gets mentioned all the time but the infotainment system is a little clunky and dated. It gets the job done but that's about it. I've only had it lock up once when using a map program through my phone so I haven't had any major issues.

Overall Impressions
Overall I'm very happy with the purchase especially now that I've got the door noise issue resolved. I like the looks of the latest Ridgelines and it meets my needs perfectly. It can haul anything that I would need, is super comfortable, rides great and gets reasonably good gas mileage. The ride, handling, trunk, and tailgate set the Ridgeline apart from the others for me. The Ridgeline isn't perfect but it's good points out weigh the negative by a lot. It's truly a pleasure to drive and much more enjoyable than expected.

I just bought the RTL HPD 2 weeks ago. The RTL trim was right in my price range. The HPD was only because I got the best deal on it and it had upgraded leather seats. I just returned from a 500 mile road trip from fl to ga 90 % of the drive was I-75
And the truck had no issues and going about 80 mph I still averaged 23.5 mpg

 

[NS406]

I agree with your assessment of long distance comfort. There’s just something about it… it’s amazing at long distance comfort!

 

[ETCSW7494]

View attachment 438829
Now that I've had the truck about 10 weeks and 2500 miles I thought I would post my thoughts on owning my first Ridgeline as well as some comparisons to other vehicles that I've owned or driven. I'm hoping my thoughts maybe useful to others who may be looking into buying one. Sorry if it's a little long.

Background
My last vehicle was a 2014 Z71 Silverado with a 5.3 engine. I bought it new and had about 92k miles on it when I sold it. Overall I think it was a good vehicle but 2014 wasn't the best year for the Silverado(first year of a new design). 2014's are known for electrical problems, bad AC compressors, and transmission failures. I had none of those issues but did experience a cracked radiator at about 50k miles and the exhaust manifolds started leaking about about 90k miles(another common issue with GM trucks). A friend with the same year Silverado just replaced the transmission in his at 120k miles. I was concerned about some expensive repairs in the near future so I started to look at new trucks.

New Truck Selection
I didn't want or need another full size truck. I had asperations of buying a car trailer and hauling a race car when I bought the Silverado. I never bought the trailer and sold the race car. I do own a house and work on cars for a hobby so I do occasionally haul a lawnmower, furniture, wood or an engine so I thought a midsize truck would be a good option. I looked at the Tacoma, and the new Colorado/Canyon. I'm not sold on the long reliability of the new 4 cylinder turbo engine in the Colorado/Canyon but I do think they look great. I like the Tacoma, my dad has one that I have driven and ridden in a lot. I think they are very reliable but a little dated and over priced. Dealers in my area had none in stock and wanted over MSRP. If I hadn't got a Ridgeline I most likely would have gotten a Tacoma. I test drove a 23 Ridgeline RTL and was surprised by how much I liked it. The Ridgeline has a smoother ride and better handling than any of the other options I looked at so I decided on a Ridgeline. Maybe I'm biased but I don't much care for Fords or Nissans...too many quality/reliability issues(in my opinion) so I never seriously considered a Ranger, Maverick, or Frontier.

Once I decided on a Ridgeline I looked at the RTL and Sport. For the money the Sport offered the features I cared most about. I view my daily driver truck as basic transportation, I don't really want or need a lot of tech gadgets. I'm mostly concerned with reliability and being practical for how I use it. I prefer the wheels and black trim on the Sport vs the chrome trim and grey wheels on the RTL. If money wasn't a factor a Black Edition would be nice(all the gadgets and black trim). The one thing I wish the sport had is the blind spot monitoring but it's not a big deal to me.

No local dealers had any Sports in stock. I found a sport for $2650 below MSRP with no dealer add-ons at a dealership a couple hours away. They initially wanted to charge for locking lug nuts, mud flaps, all weather floor mats but I declined. They left the locking lug nuts and mud flaps on at no extra cost. I sold my Silverado to Carvana for $4k more than any dealer was offering. I feel like I did well selling my old truck and got the new one at a good price which made my decision to buy easier.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - The Good
I'm happy with the purchase so I'll start with the good. I love the tailgate and trunk, both of those features are outstanding and give you more options for hauling or storing. The ride is smooth and quiet, by far the best riding truck I've ever driven. I think the seats and driving position are comfortable. The rear seats are comfortable for my 16yo daughter and it's nice having the separate rear temperature controls. I like how the rear seats fold up too, it's simple and easy. I like how the seatbelts are attached to a rod to keep them from getting stuck in or under the seat when folding/unfolding them (that is an issue in my Dad's Tacoma).

I'm happy with the performance, I don't consider the Ridgeline fast but it has enough get up and go. It feels a little sluggish compared to the Silverado at low RPM but I think the Ridgeline is probably quicker overall once you get into the upper RPM range. The VCM system seems to work well, I can very rarely tell when it switches between 6 and 3 cylinders. I may try a S-VCM controller at some point. I hated the DOD system on my Silverado and deleted that feature via HP Tuners..it wasn't very smooth when switching between 4 and 8 cylinders.

I've read that some people don't like the 9 speed or feel like it's hunting for gears. I can't say that I have experienced that, it feels very solid to me.

The all wheel drive system works great, I've been impressed with it. It's nice to not have to switch between 2WD and 4WD modes. It will be interesting to try it in the snow later this year.

I've averaged 23.0 mpg so far with a mix of city and highway driving, I'm happy with that. I'm anxious to take a trip on the highway to see if I can get 25+mpg.

I like the Lunar Silver Metallic color. It's just a personal preference but it looks great and hides dirt much better than most other colors. White was my 2nd color choice.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Just Ok
I would prefer the arm rest was bigger, I think it would be more comfortable that way, but it's no deal breaker for me. I'm not a big person but I can see where a larger person could find the arm rest uncomfortable.

I feel like the parking brake is in a strange location, I occasionally bump into it with my foot when getting in or out.

I don't use the Auto Start/Stop system. I find it annoying that it defaults back to on each time you start the truck. Once in a while I forget to turn it off then get surprised when it turns off when waiting at a stop light. I will eventually get an idle stopper so I won't have to deal with it anymore.

The auto high beams work well under certain conditions but not others. It can be frustratingly inconsistent. I may turn off the auto high beams.

As with most new vehicles I feel like the paint quality isn't very good. It has some orange peel and there is some inconsistency in the metallic in the paint. Not enough that most people would notice but I can see it when looking closely at it in certain lighting conditions. The Silverado factory paint was much better. The Tacoma paint is about the same quality as the Ridgeline.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Not so Good
My biggest complaint is that the doors on my truck rattle, mainly the driver door. They don't always rattle but on county roads with a rougher pavement and cracks it was pretty frequent. On other types of roads it wasn't too bad. I adjusted the door stops out a little which seemed to help a lot but I was still getting some noise. I read on another forum that sometimes it helps to apply silicone grease or some type of dressing to the door seals to eliminate noise. I applied some Chemical Guys VRP to the door seals and now the door rattle/squeak noise is almost non existent surprisingly. I think I got this issue resolved but I feel like you shouldn't have to do anything to a brand new vehicle.

It gets mentioned all the time but the infotainment system is a little clunky and dated. It gets the job done but that's about it. I've only had it lock up once when using a map program through my phone so I haven't had any major issues.

Overall Impressions
Overall I'm very happy with the purchase especially now that I've got the door noise issue resolved. I like the looks of the latest Ridgelines and it meets my needs perfectly. It can haul anything that I would need, is super comfortable, rides great and gets reasonably good gas mileage. The ride, handling, trunk, and tailgate set the Ridgeline apart from the others for me. The Ridgeline isn't perfect but it's good points out weigh the negative by a lot. It's truly a pleasure to drive and much more enjoyable than expected.

I guess I was lucky I have had no leaks, no door noises, no issues at all. I found some small black and yellow top bins in lowes 3 fit perfectly under back seat for storage and only $9 a piece

 

[Hondo23]

I just bought the RTL HPD 2 weeks ago. The RTL trim was right in my price range. The HPD was only because I got the best deal on it and it had upgraded leather seats. I just returned from a 500 mile road trip from fl to ga 90 % of the drive was I-75
And the truck had no issues and going about 80 mph I still averaged 23.5 mpg

I'm not sure why but on the 12 hour trip I took my truck averaged about 25mpg on the way there but about 23 on the way back home.

 

[Hondo23]

I guess I was lucky I have had no leaks, no door noises, no issues at all. I found some small black and yellow top bins in lowes 3 fit perfectly under back seat for storage and only $9 a piece

I got some of those bins too, they are great for holding bungy straps and ratcheting straps. Before I got the bins I had the straps in the trunk area. One day I forgot and loaded stuff in the bed of the truck then realized the straps were in the trunk lol The bins under the rear seats are a much better place for straps!

 

[BonnieBlue/Sue]

View attachment 438829
Now that I've had the truck about 10 weeks and 2500 miles I thought I would post my thoughts on owning my first Ridgeline as well as some comparisons to other vehicles that I've owned or driven. I'm hoping my thoughts maybe useful to others who may be looking into buying one. Sorry if it's a little long.

Background
My last vehicle was a 2014 Z71 Silverado with a 5.3 engine. I bought it new and had about 92k miles on it when I sold it. Overall I think it was a good vehicle but 2014 wasn't the best year for the Silverado(first year of a new design). 2014's are known for electrical problems, bad AC compressors, and transmission failures. I had none of those issues but did experience a cracked radiator at about 50k miles and the exhaust manifolds started leaking about about 90k miles(another common issue with GM trucks). A friend with the same year Silverado just replaced the transmission in his at 120k miles. I was concerned about some expensive repairs in the near future so I started to look at new trucks.

New Truck Selection
I didn't want or need another full size truck. I had asperations of buying a car trailer and hauling a race car when I bought the Silverado. I never bought the trailer and sold the race car. I do own a house and work on cars for a hobby so I do occasionally haul a lawnmower, furniture, wood or an engine so I thought a midsize truck would be a good option. I looked at the Tacoma, and the new Colorado/Canyon. I'm not sold on the long reliability of the new 4 cylinder turbo engine in the Colorado/Canyon but I do think they look great. I like the Tacoma, my dad has one that I have driven and ridden in a lot. I think they are very reliable but a little dated and over priced. Dealers in my area had none in stock and wanted over MSRP. If I hadn't got a Ridgeline I most likely would have gotten a Tacoma. I test drove a 23 Ridgeline RTL and was surprised by how much I liked it. The Ridgeline has a smoother ride and better handling than any of the other options I looked at so I decided on a Ridgeline. Maybe I'm biased but I don't much care for Fords or Nissans...too many quality/reliability issues(in my opinion) so I never seriously considered a Ranger, Maverick, or Frontier.

Once I decided on a Ridgeline I looked at the RTL and Sport. For the money the Sport offered the features I cared most about. I view my daily driver truck as basic transportation, I don't really want or need a lot of tech gadgets. I'm mostly concerned with reliability and being practical for how I use it. I prefer the wheels and black trim on the Sport vs the chrome trim and grey wheels on the RTL. If money wasn't a factor a Black Edition would be nice(all the gadgets and black trim). The one thing I wish the sport had is the blind spot monitoring but it's not a big deal to me.

No local dealers had any Sports in stock. I found a sport for $2650 below MSRP with no dealer add-ons at a dealership a couple hours away. They initially wanted to charge for locking lug nuts, mud flaps, all weather floor mats but I declined. They left the locking lug nuts and mud flaps on at no extra cost. I sold my Silverado to Carvana for $4k more than any dealer was offering. I feel like I did well selling my old truck and got the new one at a good price which made my decision to buy easier.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - The Good
I'm happy with the purchase so I'll start with the good. I love the tailgate and trunk, both of those features are outstanding and give you more options for hauling or storing. The ride is smooth and quiet, by far the best riding truck I've ever driven. I think the seats and driving position are comfortable. The rear seats are comfortable for my 16yo daughter and it's nice having the separate rear temperature controls. I like how the rear seats fold up too, it's simple and easy. I like how the seatbelts are attached to a rod to keep them from getting stuck in or under the seat when folding/unfolding them (that is an issue in my Dad's Tacoma).

I'm happy with the performance, I don't consider the Ridgeline fast but it has enough get up and go. It feels a little sluggish compared to the Silverado at low RPM but I think the Ridgeline is probably quicker overall once you get into the upper RPM range. The VCM system seems to work well, I can very rarely tell when it switches between 6 and 3 cylinders. I may try a S-VCM controller at some point. I hated the DOD system on my Silverado and deleted that feature via HP Tuners..it wasn't very smooth when switching between 4 and 8 cylinders.

I've read that some people don't like the 9 speed or feel like it's hunting for gears. I can't say that I have experienced that, it feels very solid to me.

The all wheel drive system works great, I've been impressed with it. It's nice to not have to switch between 2WD and 4WD modes. It will be interesting to try it in the snow later this year.

I've averaged 23.0 mpg so far with a mix of city and highway driving, I'm happy with that. I'm anxious to take a trip on the highway to see if I can get 25+mpg.

I like the Lunar Silver Metallic color. It's just a personal preference but it looks great and hides dirt much better than most other colors. White was my 2nd color choice.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Just Ok
I would prefer the arm rest was bigger, I think it would be more comfortable that way, but it's no deal breaker for me. I'm not a big person but I can see where a larger person could find the arm rest uncomfortable.

I feel like the parking brake is in a strange location, I occasionally bump into it with my foot when getting in or out.

I don't use the Auto Start/Stop system. I find it annoying that it defaults back to on each time you start the truck. Once in a while I forget to turn it off then get surprised when it turns off when waiting at a stop light. I will eventually get an idle stopper so I won't have to deal with it anymore.

The auto high beams work well under certain conditions but not others. It can be frustratingly inconsistent. I may turn off the auto high beams.

As with most new vehicles I feel like the paint quality isn't very good. It has some orange peel and there is some inconsistency in the metallic in the paint. Not enough that most people would notice but I can see it when looking closely at it in certain lighting conditions. The Silverado factory paint was much better. The Tacoma paint is about the same quality as the Ridgeline.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Not so Good
My biggest complaint is that the doors on my truck rattle, mainly the driver door. They don't always rattle but on county roads with a rougher pavement and cracks it was pretty frequent. On other types of roads it wasn't too bad. I adjusted the door stops out a little which seemed to help a lot but I was still getting some noise. I read on another forum that sometimes it helps to apply silicone grease or some type of dressing to the door seals to eliminate noise. I applied some Chemical Guys VRP to the door seals and now the door rattle/squeak noise is almost non existent surprisingly. I think I got this issue resolved but I feel like you shouldn't have to do anything to a brand new vehicle.

It gets mentioned all the time but the infotainment system is a little clunky and dated. It gets the job done but that's about it. I've only had it lock up once when using a map program through my phone so I haven't had any major issues.

Overall Impressions
Overall I'm very happy with the purchase especially now that I've got the door noise issue resolved. I like the looks of the latest Ridgelines and it meets my needs perfectly. It can haul anything that I would need, is super comfortable, rides great and gets reasonably good gas mileage. The ride, handling, trunk, and tailgate set the Ridgeline apart from the others for me. The Ridgeline isn't perfect but it's good points out weigh the negative by a lot. It's truly a pleasure to drive and much more enjoyable than expected.

Appreciate the details you put into your right up.
And how you addressed the issues.
The only reason I am interested in purchasing a truck is for transporting 1/2 yards of loam, compost, mulch, sand, etc. Have you ever used your Ridgeline for this purpose. I know a 1/2 yard of product can be heavy when wet.

 

[JerBwn02]

View attachment 438829
Now that I've had the truck about 10 weeks and 2500 miles I thought I would post my thoughts on owning my first Ridgeline as well as some comparisons to other vehicles that I've owned or driven. I'm hoping my thoughts maybe useful to others who may be looking into buying one. Sorry if it's a little long.

Background
My last vehicle was a 2014 Z71 Silverado with a 5.3 engine. I bought it new and had about 92k miles on it when I sold it. Overall I think it was a good vehicle but 2014 wasn't the best year for the Silverado(first year of a new design). 2014's are known for electrical problems, bad AC compressors, and transmission failures. I had none of those issues but did experience a cracked radiator at about 50k miles and the exhaust manifolds started leaking about about 90k miles(another common issue with GM trucks). A friend with the same year Silverado just replaced the transmission in his at 120k miles. I was concerned about some expensive repairs in the near future so I started to look at new trucks.

New Truck Selection
I didn't want or need another full size truck. I had asperations of buying a car trailer and hauling a race car when I bought the Silverado. I never bought the trailer and sold the race car. I do own a house and work on cars for a hobby so I do occasionally haul a lawnmower, furniture, wood or an engine so I thought a midsize truck would be a good option. I looked at the Tacoma, and the new Colorado/Canyon. I'm not sold on the long reliability of the new 4 cylinder turbo engine in the Colorado/Canyon but I do think they look great. I like the Tacoma, my dad has one that I have driven and ridden in a lot. I think they are very reliable but a little dated and over priced. Dealers in my area had none in stock and wanted over MSRP. If I hadn't got a Ridgeline I most likely would have gotten a Tacoma. I test drove a 23 Ridgeline RTL and was surprised by how much I liked it. The Ridgeline has a smoother ride and better handling than any of the other options I looked at so I decided on a Ridgeline. Maybe I'm biased but I don't much care for Fords or Nissans...too many quality/reliability issues(in my opinion) so I never seriously considered a Ranger, Maverick, or Frontier.

Once I decided on a Ridgeline I looked at the RTL and Sport. For the money the Sport offered the features I cared most about. I view my daily driver truck as basic transportation, I don't really want or need a lot of tech gadgets. I'm mostly concerned with reliability and being practical for how I use it. I prefer the wheels and black trim on the Sport vs the chrome trim and grey wheels on the RTL. If money wasn't a factor a Black Edition would be nice(all the gadgets and black trim). The one thing I wish the sport had is the blind spot monitoring but it's not a big deal to me.

No local dealers had any Sports in stock. I found a sport for $2650 below MSRP with no dealer add-ons at a dealership a couple hours away. They initially wanted to charge for locking lug nuts, mud flaps, all weather floor mats but I declined. They left the locking lug nuts and mud flaps on at no extra cost. I sold my Silverado to Carvana for $4k more than any dealer was offering. I feel like I did well selling my old truck and got the new one at a good price which made my decision to buy easier.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - The Good
I'm happy with the purchase so I'll start with the good. I love the tailgate and trunk, both of those features are outstanding and give you more options for hauling or storing. The ride is smooth and quiet, by far the best riding truck I've ever driven. I think the seats and driving position are comfortable. The rear seats are comfortable for my 16yo daughter and it's nice having the separate rear temperature controls. I like how the rear seats fold up too, it's simple and easy. I like how the seatbelts are attached to a rod to keep them from getting stuck in or under the seat when folding/unfolding them (that is an issue in my Dad's Tacoma).

I'm happy with the performance, I don't consider the Ridgeline fast but it has enough get up and go. It feels a little sluggish compared to the Silverado at low RPM but I think the Ridgeline is probably quicker overall once you get into the upper RPM range. The VCM system seems to work well, I can very rarely tell when it switches between 6 and 3 cylinders. I may try a S-VCM controller at some point. I hated the DOD system on my Silverado and deleted that feature via HP Tuners..it wasn't very smooth when switching between 4 and 8 cylinders.

I've read that some people don't like the 9 speed or feel like it's hunting for gears. I can't say that I have experienced that, it feels very solid to me.

The all wheel drive system works great, I've been impressed with it. It's nice to not have to switch between 2WD and 4WD modes. It will be interesting to try it in the snow later this year.

I've averaged 23.0 mpg so far with a mix of city and highway driving, I'm happy with that. I'm anxious to take a trip on the highway to see if I can get 25+mpg.

I like the Lunar Silver Metallic color. It's just a personal preference but it looks great and hides dirt much better than most other colors. White was my 2nd color choice.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Just Ok
I would prefer the arm rest was bigger, I think it would be more comfortable that way, but it's no deal breaker for me. I'm not a big person but I can see where a larger person could find the arm rest uncomfortable.

I feel like the parking brake is in a strange location, I occasionally bump into it with my foot when getting in or out.

I don't use the Auto Start/Stop system. I find it annoying that it defaults back to on each time you start the truck. Once in a while I forget to turn it off then get surprised when it turns off when waiting at a stop light. I will eventually get an idle stopper so I won't have to deal with it anymore.

The auto high beams work well under certain conditions but not others. It can be frustratingly inconsistent. I may turn off the auto high beams.

As with most new vehicles I feel like the paint quality isn't very good. It has some orange peel and there is some inconsistency in the metallic in the paint. Not enough that most people would notice but I can see it when looking closely at it in certain lighting conditions. The Silverado factory paint was much better. The Tacoma paint is about the same quality as the Ridgeline.

My thoughts on the Ridgeline - Not so Good
My biggest complaint is that the doors on my truck rattle, mainly the driver door. They don't always rattle but on county roads with a rougher pavement and cracks it was pretty frequent. On other types of roads it wasn't too bad. I adjusted the door stops out a little which seemed to help a lot but I was still getting some noise. I read on another forum that sometimes it helps to apply silicone grease or some type of dressing to the door seals to eliminate noise. I applied some Chemical Guys VRP to the door seals and now the door rattle/squeak noise is almost non existent surprisingly. I think I got this issue resolved but I feel like you shouldn't have to do anything to a brand new vehicle.

It gets mentioned all the time but the infotainment system is a little clunky and dated. It gets the job done but that's about it. I've only had it lock up once when using a map program through my phone so I haven't had any major issues.

Overall Impressions
Overall I'm very happy with the purchase especially now that I've got the door noise issue resolved. I like the looks of the latest Ridgelines and it meets my needs perfectly. It can haul anything that I would need, is super comfortable, rides great and gets reasonably good gas mileage. The ride, handling, trunk, and tailgate set the Ridgeline apart from the others for me. The Ridgeline isn't perfect but it's good points out weigh the negative by a lot. It's truly a pleasure to drive and much more enjoyable than expected.

Do you still have the black wheels for sale?