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I don't have a boat or camper, so I could care less about that. As to snow, my so-called "hero" trucks just drive right through snow.
I guess in your opinion it makes more sense to spend $31k plus for a ridge
then purchase a utility trailer to do the hauling huh?
Nope tow my trailer with an SUV. I have no need for a pickup.
Bob
Bob
Bob
Bob
1/2 ton "truck" out there as well as the avalance and the sport trac.
The general opinion has been the ridge out shines them all.........
Around here just mention the ridges shortcomings and prepare for the
fallout................... :lemon:
Also, i don't know if anyone is here in the NE, but we've had rain all week. Does that trunk stay nice and dry all the time?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I'm in the Baltimore-DC area and we have also been getting a ton of rain this past week and I have had no leaks in my trunk or anywhere else on the truck.
I do plan on using it next week for tailgating for the first time at the MD football game and can't wait to use the trunk as an ice box! Anybody else out there use the trunk as a cooler yet?
With 3,300 sold in Sept. sales are down compared with the summer months.
Think it's the market? Toyota sold 21.4% more Tacomas, Dodge sold 7% more Dakotas, and Nissan sold 9% more Frontiers, in 09/05 vs. 09/04.
All depends on perspective. For instance, if I consider the WRX in its first year, it was scheduled for, if I recall correctly 15K (or was it 18K) units to be sold in the US. It was a HUGE success and, consequently, production for that first year was bumped up to 22K units. So... 22K units = HUGE success for a company like Subaru. Admitedly, 25K for HONDA is much less than many of its other vehicles, but its still more than LOTS of other niche vehicles out there ... and they've still got about 10 months of '06 sales to go!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=107579
If anything, I would have thought the current engine was already maxed out for HP and torque.
Perhaps they will be doing appearance kits?
John
What about the 300hp 3.5 in the RL?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
You can't get more without sacrificing something. The Ridgeline engine is set up for making good low end torque and hitting peak hp at reasonable rpm's (255 hp at 5750rpm, and 252 ft-lbs at 4500). The RL's engine is 300 hp at 6200 rpms, and 260 ft-lbs of torque at 5000 rpm.
For towing and everyday driveability, the Ridgeline's engine is superior.
If you want to burn up the highway, the Acura's engine is more interesting.
Reading Edmund's first drive for the RL, their only criticism is the lack of low end torque that makes the competition's V-8 more desireable.
John
By the way, I never had any problem outaccelerating most SUVs on the road with our Pilot (and we only had the 240 hp version).
In addition, if Nissan can make 287hp/274ft-lbs 3.5 liter, certainly Honda can, too.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Who cares if you can get 300 hp at 6,000 rpm? It isn't an acceleration game out there. This is coming from a guy who loved Honda motorcycles because they sounded so sweet at 9,000 rpm. But give me a grunt Harley with low end torque for normal driving.
Also note, it isn't the RL's torque at 5200 rpm vs the Ridgeline at 4700. It is the Ridgeline torque at 2,000 rpm vs the RL's torque at 2,000 rpm. That is the point that the Edmund's reviewers were making regarding a V-6 vs a V-8. And they get paid $ for making their points. I don't get a red nickel.
John
Anyway, what we might see is something like a Mugen Ridgeline and not a Honda-produced concept, at all. And Mugen has a race-bred V8, which they've already shoved under the hood of the Acura RL in the past.
Bob
it isn't an acceleration game out there
then just what are you getting at? low-end torque is all about acceleration. We already know the V8 frame-based trucks can tow more. That has alot more to do with the vehicle's structure, tranny, and differential, then it does the engine (old gas-power Dodge Powerstrokes are 6-bangers and can pull a house down). so what more are you looking to get out of putting an 8-cyl in the Ridge aside from acceleration?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The Ridgeline brochure has the torque vs rpm map. I haven't seen one for the RL. But, like I said you can't get something for nothing, and the RL's 300 hp is achieved at the high rpm end range, and the torque curve is also shifted.
Low-end torque is not entirely acceleration. It is the ability of the engine to pull at or maintain a certain rpm (ideally, the one that is most efficient). In other words if you floored the engine at 2,000 rpm, something happens other than 3 downshifts to get the engine speed up to 6,000 rpm.
The benefit of high torque at low rpm is that you maintain high engine efficiency (low fuel consumption). When the engine has to race to develop power, it rapidly losses its efficiency.
it is one of the reasons a diesel engine is more efficient than gasoline.
John
Now, in the same paragraph, you are saying you want torque to maintain speed, but you want it to take off when you floor it (acceleration). Neither of us have the maps to the RL, but I'm fairly confident we would find it is not very different from the Ridge in low-end torque, while providing higher HP.
Regardless, however, your point was the 3.5 is already maxxed and, I'm extrapolating, you feel the vehicle needs a bigger engine in regards to a "tuner" version. I think they can make the current one faster with the same engine. Heck, even the MDX has more power. It wouldn't be tough for Honda to cut the acceleration times down a bit for a "tuner" version.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
As a woman, I like the design because it is not loaded down with all that unnecessary metal on the front grille.
By the way, why do most men choose size when most of the time they don't even use those large things for what they are intended? I guess it must be the "BIG" factor that turns them on.
I came out of the store not so long ago to find four men standing around and admiring my Ridgeline. As I approached, I asked one of the men if he wanted to take it for a spin. He accepted. Well, a couple of weeks later when I pulled up at the same store, he was the new owner of a Ridgeline.
George
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
probably not.
The rear drive engages through two electrically engaged clutch packs.
Simple matter to tell the computer something like: VCM only when in 5th gear; when VCM kicks in, rear drive clutch packs get no signal.
John
BTW - I wonder when the '07's will roll out and if any other cosmetic changes will be added. Anyone...anyone.........Bueller.....anyone.
George
John
Its possible they wanted to save that as an "update," but I would think it silly (and more costly) that they are actually producing 2 different systems for the Pilot, when one would have sufficed.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
But there is definitely a concern about mpg amongst car buyers. Could it be that all Pilots will be getting VCM as an option also?
John
I do have the finances to purchase a Ridgeline, but I will more likely be going with an MDX. I have two greyhounds which cannot be transported in the open bed of a truck. With an infant to transport, I cannot use the space in the cab for them.
When I have expressed concerns over the price of a Ridgeline, I have done so in comparison with what other trucks cost. Because other mid-size trucks are built on ladder frames they cost little to produce. Therefore the manufactures and dealers can discount them heavily to drop the price. Not so with the complex body of the Ridgeline. Of course, the Ridgeline benefits greatly from that body and is worth the cost, IMO. But that doesn't stop shoppers who only think with their wallets.
Congrats - you mentioned that a few months ago but I hadn't read anything. When was the big day?
anyway, whether its on a 2wd model or 4wd or both, doesn't matter. the ridgeline, as we all know by now, is not really for the "truck machos" out there, but more for folks who want a "truck experience" and don't really have aspirations to go off road too often if ever. that being said, the VCM fuel saving feature is an added selling point to the ridgeline's niche. for those like me who don't use a truck as a "work truck" that can pull 300,000 pounds etc but for eveyday activities, the added feature will further entice those in the target market to take the ridgeline plunge. and, personally, i think it's a good move.
george
But anyway, just sharing some info I ran across. May be awhile before it can be confirmed online.
george
John
"One possible exception is the fuel-saving VCM cylinder-deactivation system that's already used in the Odyssey minivan, which shares Ridgeline's basic V6."
Key word, "possible".
If you have other information from a source a little more credible than Consumer's Guide, by all means let us know. I understand if you don't have a link for it, but can you at least describe your source?
I ask because Gary Flint talked about VCM with the guys at TOV. Gary is the guy responsible for the development of the Ridgeline. He told them the aerodynamics of the Ridgeline would eliminate the effectiveness of VCM. 3 cylinders are insufficient to move the heft of the aerodynamically challenged Ridgeline. So, you'd have an engine that can switch from 6 to 3 cylinders, but only in theory. The conditions where that might actually happen would be so rare, it wouldn't make a difference in fuel economy.
Who ya gonna trust?