Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Who could have thought, fixing an imbalance would be possible with speaker(s)? Doesn't sound too complicated to me.
On it's own, simplicity is a virtue only if it gets the job done. Honda may go V8 sometime in the near future. They are starting to build more vehicles that would require a bigger block. But they might go with a V10 or hybrid assist. Adding a hybrid drive or VCM may seem complicated, but both will provide results that a basic V8 cannot.
Nostalgia...
John
If you think that was something, you ought check out what Honda was building back in the late 1960s, for their Gran Prix motorcycles that Mike Hailwood and Brian Redman raced to many victories: A 6-cylinder 250cc bike, and a 5-cylinder 125cc bike, all with DOHCs and 4-valves per cylinder, and with roller bearings for the main bearings. The engine parts were Swiss-watch-like in size.
Bob
The link provided the information that there will be side and side curtain air bags. Sounds like Honda is going upscale with this vehicle. If it ends up being much more on the wrong side of $20k, I think there will be a fair amount of competition from the new Sport Trak and other pickup platforms. The Baja, if it gets rebuilt on the new Outback platform, will be a serious contender.
John
If a Montego does not work for me I will buy a pickup before another SUV/wagon. The upcoming Honda is the only pickup with an independent rear suspension, so I hope that it weighs less than the Odyssey, and rides smoothly, despite the over-done "tough truck" looks.
The non-traditional (eg this Honda, the Baja) has an integrated body (chassis is built into the body)with independent suspension (no solid axle) and the bed is part of the body (not bolted on). This latter configuration is what makes handling better, but at the penalty of weight carrying capacity. Note, the traditional SUVs like the Explorer are built on a pickup chassis, whereas the Honda CRV, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, etc. are built on the integrated body chassis platform.
HTH, John
The current Explorer Sport-Trac is a completely different vehicle, and it does have much in common with the Ranger pickup.
The Honda car-truck is interesting not because of the uni-body structure, but because of the independent rear suspension, a feature which no other pickup has, and the usable bed size. The exceptionally nice current Pilot interior also suggests that the Honda car-truck will be better than the new 2005 solid rear axle mid-sized pickups from Dodge, Nissan, and Toyota.
The Baja has an independent rear suspension, but its bed is so small that it is almost just a decoration.
Why do you think ladder frame and solid axle rear suspension have been a tradition? BTW, tradition is also about evolution.
If you look at many light trucks today, they are moving away from solid axle to independent rear suspension set up. Why? When Ford redesigned Explorer, IRS was included to "improve" ride quality, and potentially stability. Explorer Sport Trac has stayed put with solid axle rear suspension, but because it is still sharing platform with the Ranger. I wonder if it will also get IRS with redesign.
Ladder frame and solid axle etc. (the "traditional setup") has advantages, but only if they are meant to be harnessed (like heavy duty towing, serious off roading etc), not necessarily for medium duty pickup. So, why deal with all the disadvantages? A selection around this trade off is going to lead into tradition of emphasizing on ride quality.
Note, it wasn't until a couple years ago that the big SUVs were forced to go independent. Most of them have it now, but geez look at how expensive they are now. The cheaper pickups still use the ladder chassis because of load carrying capacity and flex issues.
John
John
This is not your everyday auto show...this is a huge one, and Lexus, Infinity, Toyota, Nissan, etc, were prominent and the buzz was there, as were all major US automakers. Honda and Acura - no shows.
Anyway - I will now have to re-assess my choices. Was specifically wanting to see this new Honda SUT, which I presumed was later than prototype, maybe early release, and would surely be on the floor that people could climb over and touch, and sit in, and then I wanted to see the Pilot and the Acura MDX in non-threatening non-dealer environment...so now I have no answers to my questions, and since there is no Acura dealer in my rural city, I don't have the time to drive 100 miles to the nearest Acura dealer. Honda missed out on several levels (w/ me) by not being at this auto show. I had a fairly-strong interest in being a PRE-ORDER for the SUT, and now I will definitely not do this without having seen the SUT. I am a current Chevy Avalanche owner and I consider myself a prime cross-over candidate for the SUT. Poor marketing decision IMO for Honda and Acura to skip this show. Very disappointed in Honda. If they (Honda and Acura) can't compete w/ Infinity, Nissan, Toyota, and Lexus, in these major marketing venues, then they will not be in contention for my dollars.
Or, they just don't have the vehicle's final version laid out yet. I too am impatient to sit in it. My guess is that it will get big exposure at the NY, LA, and Chicago shows.
John
I have considered many other vehicles, but after finally rejecting yesterday the:
-Chrysler 300 / Dodge Magnum (mechanically excellent, but you can't see out of them, they are ugly, the 300 trunk is small, and the Magnum wagon has the same downfall as an my SUV - the ladder and tools / testing equipment I carry is in the same compartment as me, rattling and having to be un-secured and re-secured with every usage);
-The Ford Five Hundred / Mercury Montego / Ford Freestyle (big trunk, but narrow front footwells, weak engines, no stability control, and only 60 plus buyer interest at the show, suggesting poor resale value)
- the new mid-sized Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Dodge Dakota (all too narrow, with a significant lack of console storage space, unlike the Pilot, which I hope carries over to the new Honda car-trunk
- the full sized pickup trucks - all are too big, and handle poorly, and only the Dodge and Nissan offer side and curtain air bags (the Toyota Tundra also has them, but only with a bench front seat)
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
John
I have long legs and even the Pilot seems a little tight. Accord fits though thanks the the adjustable wheel. Ody too thanks to adjustable pedals.
John
John
My wife is psyched for this vehicle - I'm going to loose even more lawn to perennial gardens if she gets one.
I just don't see the high and angled walls to the bed helping its practicality any.
In other words, a comfortable multi purpose vehicle, but not one for hauling around large trailers or heavy payloads.
John
I'm all psyche up with the coming of Ridgeline,however I'm a bit skeptical of the minor but irritating bugs that come with any car on it's first year of production.My pilot for instance sounds off the panic alarm when I turn on the ignition fast. Other than that minor quirk it's been a pleasant 2 year ownership.The improvements on the Pilot though makes me envious of a few friends who got their 05's with more HP, and moving middle seats, traction control etc.
I'm a bit wary about placing my order for the Ridgeline this spring because I may miss out on the goodies on the later generation of Ridgelines.If ever I miss out,does anyone have any idea what important features could come out of future models the first generation may not have? What are major risks involved in getting a first generation car/truck, considering that the 03 Pilot I got was a very faithful workhorse, or was I just lucky?
Thanks for all the responses.
I was at the New England auto show in Boston yesterday. I spoke with someone from corporate who said that it will be available April 1. Pricing is unknown at this time. He said I was the first person to ask about it and he gave me a nice fold out brochure on it. My wife said she'd drive it - no problem.
I've actually been pleasantly surprised by some of the smaller SUV's and the available room in them (namely the Equinox, Tribute, Sante Fe, and Forester). Not being a big fan of pick-ups I will pass on the Ridgline.
In one sense a unibody SUT with VTM AWD, Side Curtain airbags and independent rear suspension will be completely unique - and so they can charge whatever they want ! ......
But in another sense it will be another crew cab pickup fighting it out with the new Nissan Frontier and the Toyota Tacoma....
Both are probably going to be in the 25k range (through competition) but the time the Ridgeline comes out ...
If the only buyers Honda can get for this are the NON-Traditional PU buyers - i.e. drivers who could probably have made due with an SUV (i.e. Pilot) then how many can they possibly sell? ...
On the other hand, if they want to win over Taco and Frontier customers - they aren't going to be able to price this truck too much higher than the competition .....
The Tacoma is based on the 4Runner. The cheapest 4 Runners are in the 28k range. The most expensive Tacomas are 30k or so ...
By this logic - the Ridgeline should have a price overlap with the Pilot - but you SHOULD be able to get a Ridgeline TRUCK (i.e. to WORK with or trash a little on back roads) for a something less than the cheapest Pilot. If the Ridgeline prices are too close to the Pilot's - I think it may stand a chance of joining the Subaru Baja in marketing history .....
The independent rear suspension and a cab which is maybe 3" - 4" wider than the competition may be the main features differentiating the Ridgeline from the others. If so, then it has to be priced very close to the others, unless the ride is very much smoother. Even though it will have an independent rear suspension, Honda may mistakenly think that people want a "rough, tough truck" ride.
However, Honda may see the opportunity in going the other direction - making the ride smooth, and adding features missing from the Tacoma - Homelink, reverse sensors, Bluetooth, factory staellite radio, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, exterior mirrors which dim and dip down in reverse, and a cabin air filter. If they do that, they can charge maybe $5,000 more than the others.
According to the corporate person I spoke with in Boston, it's a real truck but with a much better ride and Honda qualities.
With the prototypes on the road for the past several months, and the formal introduction at the Detroit show in early January, I wonder why they do not plan to begin selling them until April? Did they mention anything else about the schedule?
As for comfort and convenience, that makes sense to me. I don't see this as a rough and tumble truck. As I noted earlier, my wife is psyched over the idea - an Odyssey with a pickup bed - I can take the kids to the nursery!! "How much mulch and peat moss can it carry?"
and.. here's what I see happening...
The Honda Ridgeline- official car of gardeners everywhere!
It is a new model isn't it, or am I just stupid because I cannot understand the Edmund's logic in terms of the placement of discussion groups?
Can this be why there have been no posts in two weeks?
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/artman/publish/article_180.shtml
Although I've purchased 5 new Hondas, the Ridgeline is not something that would interest me.