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Rigeline Compromises

19K views 90 replies 51 participants last post by  TommyDeVito  
#1 ·
A bit disappointed with the new Ridgeline. Although some things are better, some things were compromised:
1. No sliding rear window on base model.
2. Center console not as good.
3. Headlights not programmable for door open when on auto.
4. Dash lighting and displays lacking.
5. VCM on a V6, give me a break.
6. No roof and mirror ridges for aerodynamics, reduced sound and strength.
7. The cup holders absolutely suck.
 
#3 ·
A bit disappointed with the new Ridgeline. Although some things are better, some things were compromised:
1. No sliding rear window on base model.
Had a G1 for 9 years; don’t think I opened the rear window 9 times, and was checking whether it still worked 5 of those times.

And what’s wrong with reserving features for higher trim levels to entice people to purchase them?

2. Center console not as good.
Still better than most if not all.

3. Headlights not programmable for door open when on auto.That’s a thing?

4. Dash lighting and displays lacking.
5. VCM on a V6, give me a break.
Helps boost the mpg - a competitive point.

6. No roof and mirror ridges for aerodynamics, reduced sound and strength.
And yet it’s very quiet.

is the roof weak?

7. The cup holders absolutely suck.
 
#4 ·
Trade it in on a Tacoma, you come up with a list twice as long then.
 
#9 · (Edited)
So, we can assume you haven't / aren't buying one? You've found something that has compromises better suited to your wants?

Or please, tell us what you've found that has zero compromises for you … 'Enquiring minds want to know!' :LOL:
 
#15 ·
I liked the prev Ridge and like this one too. Could have gotten a Ram 4x4 with v8 for close same price but liked the gen1 ridge so much that got the gen2 ridge - think storage. Oh and the Ram might not have fit in garage. Just a few things I feel they compromised on the next gen Ridge for auto start (which I like) etc..
 

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#17 ·
Not to criticize the OP but having been on many message boards of all the cars I have owned I have learned that people are too picky about automobile. Compared to 70's and 80's automobiles cars today are for the most part perfect. The best part of owing an automobile are the imperfections, to me they make each unique. When I have nostalgia about my first car (1985 Buick Skylark) it's about the problems it had and how it got me stranded and what I did not try and fix it. My grandfather had a K car that would spray him on the neck every time he took it to the automatic car wash. We laugh today when ever we talk about it. I agree with Top Gear when they claim new cars today are too perfect. Quirks are why i'm a petrol head. To get back to my RL it's imperfections are small fuel tank, traction control cannot be completely turned off (no overseer), no turn signals on the wing mirrors, and VCM but it's much smoother than my wife's 2011 Odyssey. I like my RL and the only way I would give it up is if it got totaled in a crash and the new ones get the ZF 9 speed, my TLX had one and it's a very hateful gearbox. Learn to love the imperfections.
 
#19 ·
...I like my RL and the only way I would give it up is if it got totaled in a crash and the new ones get the ZF 9 speed, my TLX had one and it's a very hateful gearbox...
Puzzling to read this. Just seems so strange that Honda would put sales of Pilot, Passport and RL at great risk with the same 9-sp AT. My test drive of a 2019 Pilot with the 9AT was not at all unpleasant. There must be something more to all these unfavorable reviews...maybe something that gets worse over time?
 
#23 · (Edited)
Pics show the aero roof indents (not sure what called). See under roof rack and in back of sun roof. Gen1 had them and Gen2 does not. There were some underneath the mirrors too and read somewhere where they reduced noise etc.. Anyone know more about them and why they deleted on the Gen2 ?
I am confused, here is a 2019?


I would almost be willing to bet the farm that they are there to stiffen up the roof structure, whatcha other folks think? :rolleyes: Duh?

I too now am having my doubts that this guy actually does own a Ridgeline, I believe that somebody mentioned troll? :cautious:

Bill
 
#28 ·
Even if the ZF9 were reliable (and it isn't https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a28323843/jeep-cherokee-2014-zf-nine-speed-transmission-recall/ ), it is almost universally panned for horrible shift quality and any 're-programming' fix via software is just the manufacturer trying to get around its inherent design problems. I can only imagine Honda has some sort of contract that keeps them using it, or the 1-2 mpg EPA difference helps them meet a fleet average.

There is no way I would buy any car or truck using it. ZF makes an excellent 8-speed though.

I still don't understand the OPs beef about roof and mirror indents. My G2 has them on both. Magazine reviews have compared the RL quietness to the S-Class and Honda needs to max out MPGs, why do you think they don't know what doing when designing a roof and mirrors?
 
#31 ·
Why did you buy it? Had 2008 and sold it after 300,000 miles. 2019 gets better gas mileage, rides better, steers better, and looks better. Deal with it. As we use to say in the Army, life is stuff and then you die. Or as Churchill said: "As you go through life, don't stop and throw rocks at every dog that barks at you!"
 
#32 ·
I’m going to assume you haven’t or are not going to drop 40k+ on a RTL-E or BE so you’re obviously going to have compromises but hey, money makes the world go ‘round.

The only thing that I will agree with is the bad cup holders. My Honda Civic had little spring loaded tits that squeezed the cup. Ridgeline just has a literal hole for holding cups. Otherwise go buy a Colorado or Tacoma AKA LOG WAGONS!
 
#33 ·
It's OK to point out disappointments with the new design. It doesn't mean the new Ridgeline is bad, it's just different and some of those differences are less desirable to the OP. I love my 2006 and am getting ready to move to a G2. I actually prefer the look of the G1 to the G2. My biggest disappointment with the G2 is that the shifter moves to the center console so you lose the pass-through on the floor between driver and passenger. I use that space heavily and will miss it when I make the move. It's nice to have that space for my camera bag or other small items without using passenger seat space. That said, I look forward to the new features and improvements I will gain when I make the purchase.
 
#39 ·
I had a 2007 (selling it to daughter & SIL, cheap) and loved it, but it was time to refresh that vehicle (per my wife, woohoo!) due to age, some rust, general grunginess, and mostly personal timing.

Have never understood the advantage of a floor shifter (except w/manual trans) and was worried about missing that space, as my wife's purse, my camera, hat, etc., often sat there. However, after about a month with the G2 I've gotten over that...in part because there's room on top of the storage bin on this one. Not the same, but also useful.

Always liked the way my G1 handled/felt, and while the G2 is different, it handles extremely well. Also, my wife never liked driving the G1 - said she couldn't see well, I think because of the big squared-off hood - but when we test-drove a G2 she immediately commented "I could drive this one, no problem"....and she does, which I'm happy about, especially because we were racking up miles on our SUV too fast, as it had become her exclusive ride and "our" exclusive too. You can see forward better due to the hood sloping down pretty sharply. Plus it's relatively plush inside, and we just have the middle trim - RTL AWD.

I don't commute, and am not overly concerned about gas mileage, but the G2 is definitely better there too. Drove 200+ miles Sunday 70-80mph over hilly terrain and recorded 26.4mpg.

Summary - definite differences, but both great so far.
 
#53 ·
I don’t get the cup holder problem?
I think that in general that Honda is cupholder-challenged. Since the advent of the cupholder (a questionable auto feature), Honda has failed to come up with a winner.

The Honda Element was really terrible! The Honda Fit was arguably good placement but too small. The Ridgeline is better but either too small or too large. And what's with that fore/aft placement?

I propose that the cupholder be standardized to a Nalgene one-liter bottle with inserts to help size for smaller cups. I hope with the shifter moved to the steering wheel that the Ridgeline cupholder design is improved.

My solution for my 2019 Ridgeline is a .6L Camelbak Eddy adult pacifiers insulated bottles with a two-inch fuzzy side Velcro wrapped around the bottle where it contacts the cup holder. The velcro prevents rattle and snugs up the fit.
 
#41 ·
We have a 2018 and love our truck!
Easy to solve the no rear slider. Get the RTLE or BE. In the 8 years of ownership of my Tacoma, I used the rear slider twice. Both times were to bring home base molding that I didn't want to cut in half. With that in mind, I realize I could have done without the slider. Center console for us is nothing short of fantastic and a reason for us to buy. Makes a great take out food table on long trips or picnics in cold weather down at the waterfront and besides it holds lotso stuff. Dash lighting and display is just fine by my account. Roof ridges would look weird on this truck. Cup holders for us are great, just need two more for long trips and not those tiny ones in the door. This truck is a serious improvement from our last one, a 2010 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner which had more usable cup holders up front. If the cup holders seem to large for water bottles, I would suggest making reducer rings out of after market cup holders. I saw that somewhere on this forum before we bought our RTLE. After getting used to these, I decided to just leave them as is.
 
#42 ·
Compromises and regrets....hmm...NONE! :cool:

I had a big truck and a crv...i needed a new truck but loved the size and comfort of the crv.
Ridgeline is the perfect mix...comfortable...but i can get things done.

I bought a RT base model, because:
-I dont go offroad (thats what my 4 wheeler is for)
-I live in the south (no snow)
-I HATE sunroofs...(in 14years ive never opened the sunroof or sunscreen)
-I dont need a computer to tell me there are cars around me...i turn my head! haha
-Never been a fan of leather...so clothe seats are fine with me.
-Other than all the electronics...I got the same truck and save a ton of $.
-The radio in the base model truck is actually pretty impressive to be the basic setup.
7 speakers with a sub. Sounds fine to me...i loaded all my music on a 64gig usb drive,
thats all i need...
-The RT model comes with the fancy trunk...and there is just less stuff to break!