[Mercu136]

I was considering selling/trading my 2019 RTL for a Chevy Colorado LT or Z71. Nothing wrong with my truck, it's been a great vehicle for me. As I tow my motorcycles on an open bed trailer, I was planning on moving to an enclosed trailer, hence the search for the Colorado with the greater towing capacity. I considered the Ranger, but it looked way too small for me. The Colorado seemed to have more interior room, so I took one out for a test drive today. It was a 2024 LT with the Convenience Package along with some other options.

Holy crap! My 5 year old RTL with 60k miles was quieter and rode smoother then a brand new Colorado. Looks like I am keeping my truck and trailer for a few more years. I will admit my surprise at how bouncy and truck like the Colorado was and how refined the Ridgeline is. I understand the Colorado is a body on frame but I thought it would be smoother.

The sad part about the Honda Ridgeline is other than a facelift and a 9 (10?) speed transmission, Honda has not done much to improve the truck. Maybe next year.

 

[eurban]

I was considering selling/trading my 2019 RTL for a Chevy Colorado LT or Z71. Nothing wrong with my truck, it's been a great vehicle for me. As I tow my motorcycles on an open bed trailer, I was planning on moving to an enclosed trailer, hence the search for the Colorado with the greater towing capacity. I considered the Ranger, but it looked way too small for me. The Colorado seemed to have more interior room, so I took one out for a test drive today. It was a 2024 LT with the Convenience Package along with some other options.

Holy crap! My 5 year old RTL with 60k miles was quieter and rode smoother then a brand new Colorado. Looks like I am keeping my truck and trailer for a few more years. I will admit my surprise at how bouncy and truck like the Colorado was and how refined the Ridgeline is. I understand the Colorado is a body on frame but I thought it would be smoother.

The sad part about the Honda Ridgeline is other than a facelift and a 9 (10?) speed transmission, Honda has not done much to improve the truck. Maybe next year.

The 9 speed is perhaps a bigger improvement than you might think . . .

https://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/threads/list-of-6-speed-transmission-failures.222887/#replies

42 pages and counting.

 

[CNC1]

Very true, even though my 23 feels a little dated electronic -wise. I have yet to find anything better. I do have the 9 speed though.

 

[Mercu136]

The 9 speed is perhaps a bigger improvement than you might think . . .

https://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/threads/list-of-6-speed-transmission-failures.222887/#replies

42 pages and counting.

My comment stands. They did a face lift of the front grille and hood, and changed the transmission. Other than that, the Ridgeline has been ignored by Honda.

 

[CNC1]

You forgot the "me too" embossed tailgate. Just like Hyundai, Ford, Toyota, Nissan and all the others, a step back IMO.

 

[eurban]

My comment stands. They did a face lift of the front grille and hood, and changed the transmission. Other than that, the Ridgeline has been ignored by Honda.

Yes but the point of my comment is more to the idea that it actually might be wise to trade in for a 9 sp model while your current one is behaving properly.

 

[ATL RL]

@Mercu136
You are in an awkward situation.
You own a truck that has a known issue and it is "young" regarding the mileage.
You are coming up on the possible failure window for your 6 speed.
If it starts to act up, it will radically disrupt the normalcy of your present transportation situation.
If failure occurs, you will also be subjected to a huge financial hit in some form or fashion.
Luckily you seem to have a bit of time on your side to sort things out.

 

[Jelly donut]

All vehicles have a practical end of life, but anytime before that I tend to think the best vehicle is the one I already own.

As long as my employer does not make any changes to the car reimbursement plan, I'll be driving my 2020 Ridgeline until I have to lash a mule team to the front of it. Perhaps longer. I'm an animal lover.

 

[silkiechicken]

All vehicles have a practical end of life, but anytime before that I tend to think the best vehicle is the one I already own.

As long as my employer does not make any changes to the car reimbursement plan, I'll be driving my 2020 Ridgeline until I have to lash a mule team to the front of it. Perhaps longer. I'm an animal lover.

I'm with you on how I tend to think the best vehicle is the one I already own. I plan on driving my 2017 until it loses it's second transmission or the engine self destructs. At that point I may consider something else if the break even point is weighted heavily toward replace vs repair. Then again... I did spend the last year with my first car (of 13 years), pouring in a quart of oil and gallon of coolant every 1000 miles... lol

 

[OneFish]

All vehicles have a practical end of life, but anytime before that I tend to think the best vehicle is the one I already own.

As long as my employer does not make any changes to the car reimbursement plan, I'll be driving my 2020 Ridgeline until I have to lash a mule team to the front of it. Perhaps longer. I'm an animal lover.

I’m not sure the front tow point is mule-rated, but please take pictures of the rig. 😀
It should make for some interesting dash-cam video too.

 

[silkiechicken]

I’m not sure the front tow point is mule-rated, but please take pictures of the rig. 😀
It should make for some interesting dash-cam video too.

I would attach the mule team to the back and drive them from the bed. Could then somehow just use the backup camera as a "dash" cam.

 

[jimmyridged]

My comment stands. They did a face lift of the front grille and hood, and changed the transmission. Other than that, the Ridgeline has been ignored by Honda.

If the 3rd gen looks anything like the new Passport it might still be a marginal change for some. It would have a new exterior look (superficial??), add one gear to the transmission, add a camshaft while dropping vtec, overall not much real world difference in horsepower or efficiency but better emissions. If Honda adds 360 cameras that will be a welcome addition, but on some level a truck is a truck, especially one with "Ridgeline" features. The driver's assist features may improve on the margins, but I am not one to get excited about the tech, as I might wish there was less of it on modern vehicles.

 

[fdeno]

Haven't dealt into it but if there is some preventive way to keep the 6 speed going reliably and avoid the SMOD, I would do that and rock on with the current ride.

"Nothing keeps the middle class IN the middle class, like a new car payment"

I keep cars 10 years usually, much longer in some cases. The downside is that I have "technology shock" when I move up, more tech, more computers and I'm older and dumber.

 

[eurban]

Haven't dealt into it but if there is some preventive way to keep the 6 speed going reliably and avoid the SMOD, I would do that and rock on with the current ride.

"Nothing keeps the middle class IN the middle class, like a new car payment"

I keep cars 10 years usually, much longer in some cases. The downside is that I have "technology shock" when I move up, more tech, more computers and I'm older and dumber.

SMOD has nothing to do with the issues with the 6sp in the GenII. SMOD was a GenI issue which had the 5 spd transmission and it really wasn't directly a transmission problem but rather a radiator problem that could contaminate the transmission fluid with coolant.

 

[HappyOldFart]

The sad part about the Honda Ridgeline is other than a facelift and a 9 (10?) speed transmission, Honda has not done much to improve the truck. Maybe next year.

Several years ago representatives of my company were allowed to review industrial control systems in a couple Japanese factories. The expectation was that they would find superior technology, the reality was that they found outdated technology, when compared to what was in operation at my company, used very effectively. I always that that was interesting.

 

[longboat]

Several years ago representatives of my company were allowed to review industrial control systems in a couple Japanese factories. The expectation was that they would find superior technology, the reality was that they found outdated technology, when compared to what was in operation at my company, used very effectively. I always that that was interesting.

Technology usually isn't what it's cracked up to be. A little talent can overcome a lot of tech.

 

[silkiechicken]

Technology usually isn't what it's cracked up to be. A little talent can overcome a lot of tech.

Seriously. Doesn't matter how much technology you have if the person using it can't figure it out.

 

[markk53]

I was considering selling/trading my 2019 RTL for a Chevy Colorado LT or Z71. Nothing wrong with my truck, it's been a great vehicle for me. As I tow my motorcycles on an open bed trailer, I was planning on moving to an enclosed trailer, hence the search for the Colorado with the greater towing capacity. I considered the Ranger, but it looked way too small for me. The Colorado seemed to have more interior room, so I took one out for a test drive today. It was a 2024 LT with the Convenience Package along with some other options.

Holy crap! My 5 year old RTL with 60k miles was quieter and rode smoother then a brand new Colorado. Looks like I am keeping my truck and trailer for a few more years. I will admit my surprise at how bouncy and truck like the Colorado was and how refined the Ridgeline is. I understand the Colorado is a body on frame but I thought it would be smoother.

The sad part about the Honda Ridgeline is other than a facelift and a 9 (10?) speed transmission, Honda has not done much to improve the truck. Maybe next year.

Unless you're talking a seriously big twin axle trailer, the Ridgeline will do fine. I tow an enclosed 5x10' trailer full of my wife's crafts product and display equipment. It is full. Not sure of weight, but will say no problem towing. I also do an open utility trailer for my motorcycles, the wife took over the enclosed one.

Plus I will say my brother traded in his Colorado for a 2023 Ridgeline too.

As for an upgrade in design, from what I understand, it's another couple years before that. But with a proven V-6 and 9 speed automatic, it's hard to complain about the design. Better than having the first year recalls and all. It's a bit foolish to "fix what ain't broke" unless it is going hybrid. Having a 9 speed that is proven over the years is hard to beat for now. But the 10 speed has been in the Pilots for a few years now. Not sure what one extra gear will gain.

I need to bug my source a bit to see if anything new is cooking, but at this point nothing mentioned, other than Honda's placing efforts into more hybrids and (again) EVs . That might be a possible area of change , a hybrid Ridgeline, but nothing said about it yet. Wouldn't surprise me to see changes in the infotainment area, but I'd rather see driver eyes on the road instead.

By the way, bouncy may just be part of the body-on-frame character. The Ridgeline put my other trucks to shame on the ride and comfort.

 

[markk53]

You forgot the "me too" embossed tailgate. Just like Hyundai, Ford, Toyota, Nissan and all the others, a step back IMO.

Yep, one of the nice things on the pre-24s, smooth tail gates. I liked that about my '96 Ranger Splash, a smooth tail gate with the blue oval in the lower right corner.

Not sure how much the 10 speed will add, considering probably most of the time the Ridgelines aren't hitting 9th.

 

[poohbill]

Yep, one of the nice things on the pre-24s, smooth tail gates. I liked that about my '96 Ranger Splash, a smooth tail gate with the blue oval in the lower right corner.

Not sure how much the 10 speed will add, considering probably most of the time the Ridgelines aren't hitting 9th.

What is driving the trend upwards in gear count?