[longboat]

While Jones' top 3 Honda screw-ups are potential fall-downs, VCM seems to be a given for the next gen RL. That 1-2 mpg VCM bump in hwy mpg with is too precious for Honda to relinquish.

OTOH, their 10-spd might make up for lack of VCM. Besides, Joe mentioned that the sales figures are too low to affect CAFE, so they'd only be doing it for bragging rights.

 

[longboat]

I may be thick but I don't exactly understand the importance of a tailgate lock. Unless one has a hard tonneau cover or cap, isn't it like locking the doors on a convertible? Senseless if you leave the top down, and if a soft top, easy to "get into" with a knife......

OTOH a locking trunk makes sense.

The main reason most truck manufacturers offer it is because of the high incidence of stolen tailgates. Most of the Big3's trucks have tailgates that can be removed quickly and easily - this made them a hot commodity for amateur thieves.

In the case of the Ridgeline, the lock would be primarily used in combination with a tonneau cover.

 

[longboat]

4-less than 300 lb-ft torque
5-no driver side grab handle on a-pillar

^^ fify ^^

 

[longboat]

I just use PAM on my snow blowers/shovels.