Honda Ridgeline Owners Club Forums banner

I love the Ridge...but

13K views 44 replies 31 participants last post by  Silver 3.5  
#1 ·
Don't get me wrong, this is my 4th Honda, and the Ridge is my girl.:) I've had her for 3 or 4 months now, almost 5000kms.... so last night on the way home late, I thought.... it's time to put the hammer down and see if this rig will make 120mph or 160km.... :cool: from cruising speed to 100 mph not too bad.... but once the gear shift at 100mph.... to get another 10 mph you would need a runway 10 miles long, and preferably downhill with a tailwind... it's bad! You could raise a family in that time.

I know, I know, it's a truck.... or it reports itself to be :eek:
I didn't buy it to be a speedster, but it would have been good to know it could've
 
#2 ·
It's electronically limited to 112mph.
 
#5 ·
Of what practical use is any speed over 100 mph? Guys pay huge money for cars that will do 150 or 200 mph off the showroom floor, then drive them around in LA or NY traffic. Lot of money for nothing but eye-candy to impress other people.

The Ridge doesn't need to do 100 nor does it have any practical use. No big deal.
 
#6 ·
Good for you in trying our your Ridgeline for all it's worth. Now you can see if it's the vehicle you wanted. If it's not, now you can see why you don't want it. You'll hear from lots of folks who have no idea why you'd want a truck that can travel over 100 mph. But hey, if that's what YOU want, more power to you. Seems to me that you might want to look into the Porsche Cayenne. It has a top speed of more than 150 mph. But then, you'll be able to buy about three Ridgelines for the price of a Cayenne. But if what you want is a good, dependable truck, I think the Ridgeline will be just fine. BTW, I had no idea the RL was limited to 112 mph. But then, about 70 is all I'll ever go. So I'll keep reading Motor Trend and Car & Driver about all those trucks and SUVs that will go much faster, and I'll just rest comfortably with my Ridgeline....at a top speed of 70 mph.
 
#8 ·
I knew I would get an ear full.... :rolleyes: especially from the older crowd:mad: . I love the ridge, I was just checking for my own perverse desire.

I had a four cylinder element that got there, my wife's 4 banger Subaru gets there and then some... it was just for interest sake...it was 0200 clear full moon, large highway with no one around.... you would've tried as well.:p

I had no idea there was a limiter... certainly a good thing, it gets a little loose at the top end.

If I'd wanted the sports car version that can tow a boat I'd have sold a kidney for the Audi Q7.... I love the Ridge...my only complaint is gas milage and gas prices
 
#9 ·
I knew I would get an ear full.... :rolleyes: especially from the older crowd:mad: . I love the ridge, I was just checking for my own perverse desire.
Boonzer, don't feel alone here, I've had 21 cars since I was 17 and there wasn't one that I didnt check out the top speed (the RL is still too new but its time is coming) ... like you said "perverse desire".
 
#11 ·
wow, you know what.......my RL is the 1st vehicle I have ever owned that I have not taken up to max velocity!!!!

could this mean I am finally growing up??? :confused:


......I have taken it to 100 though :cool:
 
#12 ·
The truck will hit 100mph with no problem, from there to about 112-113 good luck. I've gotten over 112mph GPS'ed, but I have over sized tires. When the truck hits the governor at 112-113 I'm really doing 115-116. But that doesn't happen very often as you stated it gets squirrly after 100.
 
#15 ·
So what I'm hearing is that there is a forced shift to 5th gear at 100mph that makes it hard to get to the speed limited 112mph? Not that I'm planning on going that fast, but it's good to know, especially since there is no 5th gear lockout. I'm still trying to figure out why you can have "D" with 5 gears or "OD off" with 3 gears. Why not make a 4th gear hold as well? Just a small gripe...

Yes, mine is still too new to verify the 100 mph shift. I think I've only been up to maybe 90... felt fine.
 
#17 ·
I've only had mine running flat out once on I-40 to Memphis right a couple weeks after I first bought it at 41,000 miles. Though there seems to be a real sweet spot at 95. The Ridge reminds me of a thoroughbred horse that is just itching to run. Yesterday, I got put it through a monthly run on winding country roads and then 20 miles on a dirt/gravel road used by loggers. Except for the dirt road, I had it wound up on the curvy roads with the tachometer bouncing between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM on the black top. I went through a tank of gas in no time at about 13 MPG. I need at least one fun monthly recreational run with the Ridge to take it to its limits on a winding road. I don't expect any mileage in those conditions. Overall, I am very happy with the Ridge’s highway mileage when I’m using cruise and holding it under 65.

BTW - a state trooper on the Memphis run did stop me. The trooper said that he liked my game and fish supporter license plate and that he was just going to give me a warning ticket. With no tickets on my record, I said Thank You Very Much because that could have been one expensive ordeal. So I have toned it down considerably on my interstate travels.
 
#18 ·
Well. It's obvious to me that you guys don't live in Atlanta. There can be a definite need for a vehicle that can do 112+. I've gotten mine up over 100, and it felt like was doing 80. The Ridge handles speed quite nicely.
I just put in a Beltronics STi-R, and a Beltronics Laser Shifter (Jammer). They work quite nicely and are almost completely hidden. I took detailed pics during the install and will post shortly.
 
#19 ·
I agree, Drove a dodge nitro yesterday (guy from work)
He asked if I wanted to race I had to say no
very slow and heavy 1250lbs heavier then a nitro and yes a
little slow a new civic I'm sure can kick the crap out of the rl on a straight away
and guy from from work has a Yukon Denali 2002 6.0L
the ridgeline is only 800lbs lighter hello VTEC or not Honda needs to get some HORSE POWER and lets look at oh I don't know whats the word I'm looking for ohhh got it.....torque you now the stuff you need to pull a garden trailer full of plants and down shifting at every grade or a strong front wind give me a break very disappointed 1 year and trading it Nissian at least makes a torque engine and hey less expensive. If I wanted a mini van I would have bought an Odessy oh yeah same stupid 3.5l engine LOL.....what a Joke:mad:
 
#20 ·
well good luck herman thank u 4 all of ur valuable contributions 2 this forum
 
#22 ·
Jammers drive me CRAZY.
 
#23 ·
I'm sure i'm going to get a bunch of "liar" and "you're a moron" replies, but I have an '06 ridgeline that i have personally taken above the supposed 112 mph limit. I have gotten it to atleast 128mph. Yes, it took me a while to get there, but i got there (and it was on flat pavement). It has no modifications, and the speedometer works just fine. Did the '06 rl just not have a limit on it or...
 
#24 · (Edited)
I have gotten it to atleast 128mph. Yes, it took me a while to get there, but i got there (and it was on flat pavement). It has no modifications, and the speedometer works just fine. Did the '06 rl just not have a limit on it or...
Your Ridge may have impeached the governor. :D :D

I think it starts to get kinda freaky at/over 110. :D

Are you in the desert?
 
#26 ·
I'm sure the engineers at Honda designed this rig to perform its best over 100mph just for guys such as yourself...Keep rollin in your Ridge at those speeds and you won't be raising nothing but daisies...Unbelieveable you would complain about the top end of a vehicle of this type.
 
#28 · (Edited)
You so drama queen - the fact is the ridgeline was wind tunnel tested at speeds far in excess of the 112 mph and you know what it didnt automatically flip over and kill a busload of school children and single handily bring about the return of satan

sorry

And I wonder where people get there idea of what stable is at 110 - I've corned mine on track a few times near that speed and never felt unsafe, then again I've had mine in a 4wd drift a bit over 90 once and just kept on trucking (which was so my bad I saw dirt and lifted mid corner but put the hammer down and corrected)
 
#29 ·
The governed top speed of a RL is 177 KPH which translates to 109.98 mph. Anything more than this equates to either speedometer error or surpassing this speed due acceleration inertia. This information comes directly from Honda engineers.

Governing of the top speed is by computer. You cannot truly surpass the top speed without a reflash of the ECU which is not available.

I cannot speak to the stability of the truck at 110 mph since I have never had it up that fast but it felt fine at 100 mph. I have driven many other cars at 100 mph that did not fair as well as the RL.

128 mph... Got Pics?
 
#30 ·
I cruise at 80 on the highway...limit is 65 in NY. Think They should change it to 75 though.

They should also enforce the "keep right except to pass" law.
 
#32 ·
"The overall safety record of autobahns is comparable to other European motorways and motorways are safer than other road types. A 2005 study by the Federal Minister of the Interior indicated there were an equal number of accidents per mile on the autobahn in sections without any speed limits."

dont let yourself get brainwashed by the american cry "what if"
 
#33 ·
"The overall safety record of autobahns is comparable to other European motorways and motorways are safer than other road types. A 2005 study by the Federal Minister of the Interior indicated there were an equal number of accidents per mile on the autobahn in sections without any speed limits."

dont let yourself get brainwashed by the american cry "what if"
I've driven thousands of miles on European motorways including the German and Swiss autobahns (autobahnen is probably the correct term). I really enjoy driving them... not just for the speed, but that they are generally constructed better than US Interstate highways, and the drivers are far superior to US drivers. These factors make it impossible to compare to US statistics.

Yes, there are bad drivers everywhere, but a "good" US driver would be a "poor" European driver at best. In the US we don't teach people how to drive. The requirements in many states are nothing more than a few multiple choice questions and a check drive.
 
#34 ·
Obviously Germans are in every way superior - look at the autobahn yes the asphalt these use is 2x as much money but it lasts 3x as long = a frick load less costs not to mention inflation during those periods on top of that or the congestion (oops my bad less congestion = less tax dollars)

but my point is in an area where they have both restricted and unrestricted zones the accident rates are the same.
 
#35 ·
To hit 110 from 60 I found simple enough . I did not have to exceed to realize a governor would
stop the fun ( it's for our own good ) on public roads .
For speeds of maneuvering On / Off ramps passing keeping a tight path at 90 MPH on switchback country road
the RL offers all your need . The truck delivers .
If there was no governor 130 MPH as was just waking up at 110 . I am happy there is a governor
The RL is a mature truck doing All things well , most importantly to keep us alive .
 
#37 ·
I have not is fuel cut yet Most cars have them . You know the car's on a roll smooth RPM's climbing
cars in a Zone & fun's over MMMMMMAAAA-------MMMMAAA------MMAA---- NO MO SPEED
wile Ive seen it occure on some of my Fords & others
never took my RL up over .
I really love this truck not gonna find out