It's time to say goodbye to my 2017 Ridgeline. I needed to spend $1000 to do the timing belt, but I just couldn't justify investing the money in a truck that had been rode hard during my ownership. It survived multiple trips towing cross country in extreme temperatures for thousands of miles. It had been very solid with only a few warranty issues (hood, transmission fluid). It was starting to show it's age though... lots of random squeaks and groans. The engine had also started doing some weird "engine braking" thing that was related to the VCM. I was also starting to outgrow it's small towing capacity; while I towed a lot with this truck, it was never a very confident towing truck. It'd do what you wanted, but complain the whole way. I wouldn't have hesitated to buy another Honda if they made a more capable towing truck. Here's the truck right after I got it... nice memories!
![400997]( "400997")
After 102,000 miles...
SavannahRidgeline
21 - 26 of 26 Posts
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914 Posts
I'll try to list them all, but I'm sure I'll forget a few:
- 1979 Plymouth Horizion
- 1985 Mazda RX-7
- 1990 VW Corrado
- 1993 Honda Accord
- 1995 Mazda Miata
- 1992 Nissan Sentra (wife's car)
- 1997 Mazda Millenia
- 1995 Honda Civic (wife's car)
- 1999 Ford Contour SVT
- 2002 Ford F-150
- 1996 Ford Explorer
- Can't recall the year, but we had a Chrysler LHS that was a "cash car"...sold it after a week because it broke down twice
- 1999 Mercury Cougar (wife's car)
- 2004 Audi A4
- 2004 GMC Sonoma
- 2005 Ford Explorer
- 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser (sadly this WASN'T my wife's car...total POS!)
- 2002 Subaru Outback (wife's car)
- 2005 Honda Odyssey (wife's car)
- 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
- 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
- 2008 Ford Explorer
- 2010 VW Jetta TDI
- 2010 VW Tiguan
- 2012 Nissan Rogue (wife's car)
- 2015 Ford Fiesta (wife's car)
- 2013 Ford F-150
- 2014 Ford Fusion
- 2016 Ford Escape
- 2016 Ford Escape (wife's car...still own it)
- 2019 Honda Ridgeline (my current vehicle)
- 2008 Kymco Agility 125
- 2009 Aprilia Dorsoduro 750
- 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 1000
- 2009 Kawasaki Versys
- 2009 Buell 1125CR
- 2006 Buell XB12X Ulysses
- 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600
- 2006 Honda GL1800 Goldwing
- 2004 Yamaha FJR 1300 ABS
- 2002 Kawasaki KLR 650
- 2002 BMW 1150GS
- 2002 BMW 1150RT
- 2001 Kawasaki ZR-7S
- 1995 Ducati Monster 900
- 1974 BMW R60/6
- 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
You do realize leasing is by far the most expensive way to operate a vehicle, right?
You end up paying for all of the depreciation of a brand new car, but you never end up actually owning it, or benefiting from the low levels of depreciation as it gets older.
Plus, you pay transaction costs every 3 years (taxes, dealer fees, doc fees, tags, ect), which makes it even more expensive.
I put 26k miles on my 2019 the first year I owned it. Working from home during Covid will reduce the 2020 mileage significantly. I have no issue with driving this truck for 200k miles, but I am pulling a trailer frequently like the OP. I think a full size truck for that much towing is wise.
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50 Posts
I pay only for the part that I use and have the vehicle during the best period of its life. Depreciation means nothing to someone who doesn't own something. Neither should it mean anything to someone who plans to keep their vehicle for 20 years. Depreciation is only a number on a piece of paper until it's time to sell or trade.
I don't care to own a vehicle unless it is, like I said, a weekend toy. I'll pay the premium to enjoy the freshness of a new vehicle and the bumper-to-bumper warranty for my daily driving needs. Purchasing a vehicle is for those who plan on keeping it for 10+ years, and that just ain't me.
But the primary component of your monthly lease payment IS depreciation.
It might not mean anything to you, but depreciation is the majority of what your payment is going towards.
And since depreciation is biggest during the first 3 years, you are always taking the biggest depreciation hit.
We agree here. If you are someone who needs to have a new vehicle every few years, then leasing is definitely the best approach.
Joined
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143 Posts
We share a couple of cars 1985 RX-7, loved it, 1993 Accord, still have it, 2019 Ridgeline
21 - 26 of 26 Posts
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