Congrats on your upgrade! Don't waste any mental energy on wondering "what if bought the Tacoma". It's a good truck and the next best choice for a compact half-ton pick-up truck. It's also great for off-roading. However, The Ridgeline is both a capable truck and an all-around lifestyle vehicle. Virtually every time I drive my Ridgeline, I get to enjoy one or more things about it that would be diminished if I were driving a Tacoma. The ride, handling, space, storage options and drive system are just so much better.
One thing that confuses me is why Toyota has a full-time 4WD option for the 4Runner, but not the Tacoma. I used to own a 4Runner with part-time 4WD and, while it's modestly entertaining to manually engage it at intersections in winter, it gets old to have to do that in varying conditions when you can't just leave it in 4WD (plus, there's understeer). Then there is the need to anticipate slippery conditions by sight when the real requirement is to do it by feel, because some bad patches are invisible. The Ridgeline's drive system makes these issues disappear.
The contrast was easy to see for me because I switched to the Ridgeline while there was already snow on the ground. What a difference! It's much, much more confidence inspiring. Actually, my biggest issue when starting to drive the Ridgeline was controlling my speed, because of the far superior handling and traction. It's less a matter of overconfidence than simply not being aware that you could be going that fast in conditions that bumps and roll would scare you into slowing down in a traditional RWD, solid-axle vehicle.
Enjoy!
One thing that confuses me is why Toyota has a full-time 4WD option for the 4Runner, but not the Tacoma. I used to own a 4Runner with part-time 4WD and, while it's modestly entertaining to manually engage it at intersections in winter, it gets old to have to do that in varying conditions when you can't just leave it in 4WD (plus, there's understeer). Then there is the need to anticipate slippery conditions by sight when the real requirement is to do it by feel, because some bad patches are invisible. The Ridgeline's drive system makes these issues disappear.
The contrast was easy to see for me because I switched to the Ridgeline while there was already snow on the ground. What a difference! It's much, much more confidence inspiring. Actually, my biggest issue when starting to drive the Ridgeline was controlling my speed, because of the far superior handling and traction. It's less a matter of overconfidence than simply not being aware that you could be going that fast in conditions that bumps and roll would scare you into slowing down in a traditional RWD, solid-axle vehicle.
Enjoy!
