[BlackTaro808]

First Ridge - Which one to pick?

Hello all,

I've been looking at ridgelines for some time and I figured now is the best time to try and make one my own since my ride is at the end of its lifespan. These are the 3 available on the island at the moment (I live in Hawaii), all sitting in different used car dealerships. Because we're on an island, mileage is typically pretty low on cars.

1. 2013 Sport, 42k miles for $27k
2. 2009 RTL, 40k miles for $24k
3. 2012 RTL, 46k miles for $30k

They're all pretty standard in terms of blue book pricing. None of them have accident reports, but the 2012 has some minor dings and scrapes on the outside. The goal here is to make a purchase that will last me another 10+ years or another 100k miles. Any thoughts? Should I play the waiting game a little longer? Your expert advice will be much appreciated!

 

[AG87BlkLX]

If you like leather go with the 09. If you like the looks of the Sport buy it. One thing to consider is the cloth seats stain externally easy, like a drop of water will leave a stain.

Some have mentioned the quality of the newer RL's aren't as good as the earlier RL's.

Good luck in your decision. You should get many years of issue free problems with any of them.

 

[MrNewEngland]

What island are you on?

I have a sport so I am obviously a big fan of the looks of them. I'm not sure when the RL added the backup camera but my '13 has one that appears in the rearview mirror when I put the truck in "R". It's unbelievably helpful.

I know that I'm in the minority here but I'm really not a fan of leather. Too hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Plus when it cracks it looks awful.

 

[Carsmak]

The RTL's if they have Navi they will have a backup camera, but the Navi technology & radio head unit from all years of Ridgeline will be tech from 2004-05. There were no updates in tech or navi processor speed or screen resolution

Backup Camera's became standard for Honda with 2013 MY

 

[Heli ATP]

All else being equal I would base my decision on the options the RTL has over the Sport. I'm sure you don't need seat heaters, is a sun roof something you can't live without? I would go with the Sport and add some upgrades to make it your own. The stereo/Nav/Bluetooth system in the RL is old technology so don't base your decision on that alone. The $3K you save with the Sport will get you some nice add-on's.
Pics of the RL's in question would help.
Good Luck!

http://automobiles.honda.com/certified-pre-owned/ridgeline/2014/specifications.aspx

 

[rollinhonda]

Mileage on the 12 and 13 seem a little high to me..but more importantly would be maintenance. Pick the one with the best service records if they are available.
Second to that would be your preference with regards to features. No rear cam in the 09 but I don't think that is a dealer-breaker unless all other factors were equal.

Have you driven all 3? How they handle, noises, ease of starting, lack of any hesitation when accelerating, how well they brake, etc. Some vehicles just feel better (or worse). That's not a small thing.

 

[jonesbb630]

I would go with the 09 and add the Sport grill if that's the look you're going for for an exta $250.

 

[aceshigh73]

A vote for the 2013 sport for me! For the extra 3k I like the 4 model year move up.

 

[speedlever]

Check the door sticker and see where the 2009 was built. If in Canada, I'd likely take that one, all else being equal.

If you tow, the RTLs will have the full tow package from the factory. The Sport lacks the wiring harness and will have to be added, if the PO did not already do that. Assuming you have towing in mind.

Any maintenance records for any of them? If I were choosing between otherwise equivalent models, maintenance records would likely sway my decision. I'm amazed at how little value the sales folks put in something like that.

 

[cccbock]

All else being equal I would base my decision on the options the RTL has over the Sport. I'm sure you don't need seat heaters, is a sun roof something you can't live without? I would go with the Sport and add some upgrades to make it your own. The stereo/Nav/Bluetooth system in the RL is old technology so don't base your decision on that alone. The $3K you save with the Sport will get you some nice add-on's.
Pics of the RL's in question would help.
Good Luck!

http://automobiles.honda.com/certified-pre-owned/ridgeline/2014/specifications.aspx

Agree with Rollin. Drive them all. One may stand out. See if any of them have service records (although many dealers purposely remove this info on a used car). Routine service is the #1 requirement for longevity in my opinion. Also, Hawaii being a "salt" environment, get up underneath and look for rust. I have found a quick tell on the RL for routine service is if the engine air filter is dirty. It is a wee bit difficult to change so a lot of people dont do it enough.

If none of these stand out to you based on the above, I would go with 2009. Cheaper upfront, and you get the least depreciation on it when the new ones come out next year.

No one has mentioned this, but you may find the price more negotiable on on the more expensive units. Never hurts to ask. You may find they will sell you a newer one at the 2009 price point.

 

[MrNewEngland]

Drive them all. One may stand out.

Best advice in the thread.

 

[BlackTaro808]

Thanks for the responses all.

Took a look at the Sport yesterday, and the only real feature I liked was the backup cam. Youre right AG87BlkLX - all the seats were totally stained in a 2-3 year old car. Also, the sport didnt start when I turned the ignition - the salesman had to jump the battery. Not the best sign. A 4 year age boost for 3k sounds good, but Im just not feeling good on the '13. Plus the salesman had all the charm of Paulie from Rocky.

Test drove the other two. Muffler/exaust was aftermarket on the '12, so it sounded nice and felt a nice rumble on the gas. The '09 felt smooth and accelerated nicely. There was some heavy condensation coming out of the driver side air vent, looked like a very small trickle of water. I haven't seen that in a car before. I will be sure to check for rust in the underside before making any purchases. Im sure I can find the answer in another thread - the canadian manufacturer can be identified by the VIN?

Do these prices sound fair for a used dealership? Really appreciating the help guys!

 

[speedlever]

Place of mfg will be on the sticker.

 

[rollinhonda]

Can't they pull up 'any' dealer service on the computer (Honda dealer) ?

 

[aceshigh73]

Thanks for the responses all.

, the sport didnt start when I turned the ignition - the salesman had to jump the battery. Not the best sign. A 4 year age boost for 3k sounds good, but Im just not feeling good on the '13. !

Thats not surprising, especially as it gets cooler out. I've had to have plenty of new and used cars jumped. It all depends on how long they've been sitting on the lot. They usually dont get much time to recharge even after a jump, so its quick to die again.

 

[speedlever]

Methinks cooler is Hawaii is a bit different than cooler in the northern USA.

 

[IanRTL]

I wouldn't let the cheesy salesman deter you from pursuing the 2013 Sport. If you can live without the extra features that come on the RTL (leather, moonroof, auto climate control, "upgraded" audio system, steering wheel audio controls, power seats), then the newest vehicle is the one you want to go with. Being that it has 42k miles on it, it was likely driven about 12-15k miles a year depending on when it was originally put into service. That's normal driving for the continental US, but a little more for island travel. Nonetheless, miles shouldn't scare you at all. It just means the truck was driven on a daily basis - which is good. All three trucks are right at or slightly past the mileage where the first fluid changes on the transmission, rear diff (VTM-4) and brake fluid. If you were to buy any of them, you'd want to have these done or DIY. As long as oil changes have been done regularly since they were new, you're ok.

There are certainly pros and cons to each. If you decide you want the features of the RTL, $30k for a 2012 RTL with that many miles and the dings and scratches is a little high. I'm certain there is room to move with that. Use the imperfections in the body to your advantage. If they don't bother you all that much, you can negotiate a better price. If they do, you can negotiate to have them fixed before you take delivery. If the 2009 was built in Canada (long shot), then that's the one you want to go with. There were build quality issues for the first year or two when the RL moved to Alabama. A 2009 built in Canada is sort of the holy grail of RL's, but they are very rare.

 

[Carsmak]

And to determine where it was built it will be low on the drivers door frame.

 

[henni]

Been unloading locally via Craigslist 2012 and 2013 RTL with Navi for $29.5 with less than 8,000 miles, all garage kept without a single spot or ding so your dealer price 2012 RTL, 46k miles for $30k is definitely too high

 

[IanRTL]

Been unloading locally via Craigslist 2012 and 2013 RTL with Navi for $29.5 with less than 8,000 miles, all garage kept without a single spot or ding so your dealer price 2012 RTL, 46k miles for $30k is definitely too high

With all due respect, vehicle prices to vary from area to area. For instance, those same '12 and '13 RTL's in a 300 mile radius of my location are listed at $32k - $36k and most of those do NOT have the nav system. Ones with anywhere from 35k to 50k miles on them have a greater variance in price ranging from $27k to $32k or so. I know these are just list prices and not actual sale prices, but I think the OP could expect to reasonably pay $27,000-28,000 for the ones he's listed. After all, being that there are only three RL's on the island of Hawaii for sale right now, his choices are limited and the dealers have the upper hand.