Thats the first picture I've seen of the Ridgeline that really puts its size in perspective. It's bigger than I thought, but I still think the Element type styling is pretty bad.

 

I'm disapointed that Honda didn't come out with a real truck but rather a "hobby" truck, maybe eventually they will make one.

 

i think that is hilarious but i would take the F150 (shoot me for saying that) over the Ridgeline in a heartbeat. that ridgeline has got to be the ugliest thing i have EVER seen, it makes the Honda Element look decent and the old '82 Suburu Brat look appealing. Yes the Ridgeline is going to be packed with little cool storage spaces and gatches/gizmos but that has got to be the most Hideous truck i have ever seen, WHAT the hell was Honda thinking!? the ridgeline got hit with the ugly stick from the beginning of the assembly line to the end...:domohit:

sure, there will be a few that buy the ugly thing(less than 1% of the truck market) but what i want to know is does the Ridgeline include a Brown Bag when you make the purchase?

 

You know, for a midsize truck, the RidgeLine doesn't look too small compared to the fullsize F150. I thought it was a bit smaller.

 

Honda and Chevy, after a few drinks, had a child. Its name is Ridgeline.

 

i think that is hilarious but i would take the F150 (shoot me for saying that) over the Ridgeline in a heartbeat. that ridgeline has got to be the ugliest thing i have EVER seen, it makes the Honda Element look decent and the old '82 Suburu Brat look appealing. Yes the Ridgeline is going to be packed with little cool storage spaces and gatches/gizmos but that has got to be the most Hideous truck i have ever seen, WHAT the hell was Honda thinking!? the ridgeline got hit with the ugly stick from the beginning of the assembly line to the end...:domohit:

sure, there will be a few that buy the ugly thing(less than 1% of the truck market) but what i want to know is does the Ridgeline include a Brown Bag when you make the purchase?

If you really REALLY love driving a vehicle, all of a sudden it will look alot better to you. I really didn't care for the Titan at first and now I find it really; nice looking (although not as nice looking as the F-150).

I agree with you 100% right now though. That Ridgeline is U-G-L-Y!!

I suppose Honda is going after the Tundra market moreso than the full size half ton truck market.

 

I don't know about the Honda. I was very seriously considering it because I was trying to be a bit practical for a change and it is very hard to beat Honda on quality, ergonomics, etc, and that trunk in the bed is awesome. As soon as my wife saw a picture of it she shot it down saying that it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen. It looks like a reworked mini Avalanche and she hates those too. So I showed her the Titan and now there is one in my drive way. Sometimes the wife actually does know best. :upsidedow

 

i dont think the ridgeline is that bad looking, its strange at first but once you see a few pictures it really grows on you, what they really should change are the headlights, if it had the f150 head lights it would look really nice

btw they have a new video on vtec.net showing the ridgeling offroading, nothing major, but the engine and exhaust sure sounded nice, overall its a pretty cool truck

 

Its funny it has more payload capacity then the titan. Of course so does the frontier. I like all the features it packs also. If it carries honda's good quality I think it would be worth a test drive. I also hated the titan looks when i first bought mine, but loved the interior. Now i love the looks and hate the interior.

 

The Trunk in the bed idea is a great one. Why didn't Nissan think of it!

 

The Trunk in the bed idea is a great one. Why didn't Nissan think of it!

because if you use the truck like a TRUCK, then you can't put anything in the trunk...

 

I still say Honda should have called it a SPORT WAGON. Honda and truck in the same sentance is illegal in most states. With that said, it sure does look bigger in that pic than I thought.

 

i think that is hilarious but i would take the F150 (shoot me for saying that) over the Ridgeline in a heartbeat. that ridgeline has got to be the ugliest thing i have EVER seen, it makes the Honda Element look decent and the old '82 Suburu Brat look appealing. Yes the Ridgeline is going to be packed with little cool storage spaces and gatches/gizmos but that has got to be the most Hideous truck i have ever seen, WHAT the hell was Honda thinking!? the ridgeline got hit with the ugly stick from the beginning of the assembly line to the end...:domohit:

sure, there will be a few that buy the ugly thing(less than 1% of the truck market) but what i want to know is does the Ridgeline include a Brown Bag when you make the purchase?

Preach on Prometheus!!! Amen!!! Come on folks. It is comparisons like this that give Japanese trucks (Name Brand or otherwise) including the Titan a bad name! What we have here is a mid-sized Sport Activity Vehicle (with a bed) against a real 1/2 ton TRUCK. If you plan to tow anything over 3K or 4K pounds stay away from the Ridgeline! If you want a fun little runabout that happens to have a bed for a quad, a couple of dirt bikes, or some Home Depot items then the Ridgeline seems like it would be a good choice. BTW, did anyone see the underside of the Ridgeline??? It has front wheel drive, unibody architecture with the longest drive shaft I've ever seen going to the back wheels from a transverse mounted V6 and tranny. Seems awfully brittle to me for towing. Oh, and don't let them fool you with the 1,500lb payload capacity. It's TOTAL Payload Capacity is 1,500lbs including passengers, gas, personal effects, and whatever you put in the bed. The bed capacity is only 1,100lbs. Take a look at the link below. At the right of the page is the "3D View" option. Flip that baby over and take a look. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it will fulfill the needs of many people but to compare it to an F150 is ludicrous and to compare it to a Titan would be REDICULOUS.

2006 Honda Ridgeline

 

hi all,

From experience with trying to purchase the Element a long while back, I can say that what looks like an inexpensive car to build does not necessarily result in a lower sticker. If its like the Element, then, they'll put some out on the lot with low end options (i.e. 'work truck'), but they will ask alot of moola! Sure, I'd live with one, but I would not pay anywhere near the price of a Titan or F-150 (ok maybe at 1/2 the price).


Paul

 

The Ridgeline's high-output 3.5-liter, 24-valve, VTEC V-6 engine produces 255 hp and an equally impressive 252 lb.-ft. of torque, giving this truck towing performance on par with V-8-powered trucks.

BULL****!

Higher numbers are better. All comprable models are Crew/Double/Super-Crew variety equiped with 4x4:
Tacoma (V6) Power/Weight : 0.0634
Frontier (V6) Power/Weight : 0.0598
Ridgeline (V6) Power/Weight : 0.0560
Titan (V8) Power/Weight : 0.0597
F150 (V8) Power/weight : 0.0538

Tacoma (V6) Torque/Weight : 0.0730
Frontier (V6) Torque/Weight : 0.0640
Ridgeline (V6) Torque/Weight : 0.0551
Titan (V8) Torque/Weight : 0.0742
F150 (V8) Torque/Weight : 0.0654

Ridgeline has a worse power/weight ratio than the other trucks except the fat f150. It's torque/weight ratio is the worst in it's class. What you all should like is the Titan's nice torque ratio

Honda says "impressive" and 252ft-lbs in the same sentence.... Sorry, not seeing it. Also, 252ft-lbs does *NOT* give you the towing performance "on-par with V8 trucks". Sorry, but the Honda is a fatass. It needs more power, and to lose weight. They are overworking this engine and transmission. It's drive train is simply not designed to tow.

Also, notice that Honda claims it's a "half-ton" pickup, yet they compare to vehicles like the Tacoma (compact), Frontier (compact), and Dakota V6 (midsize w/underpowered engine). Honda marketing may catch some unsuspecting consumers and steal (yeah, I think it's steal) their money... But I don't know how any reasonably intelligent consumer can't call B.S. on this mutant.

 

BULL****!

Higher numbers are better. All comprable models are Crew/Double/Super-Crew variety equiped with 4x4:
Tacoma (V6) Power/Weight : 0.0634
Frontier (V6) Power/Weight : 0.0598
Ridgeline (V6) Power/Weight : 0.0560
Titan (V8) Power/Weight : 0.0597
F150 (V8) Power/weight : 0.0538

Tacoma (V6) Torque/Weight : 0.0730
Frontier (V6) Torque/Weight : 0.0640
Ridgeline (V6) Torque/Weight : 0.0551
Titan (V8) Torque/Weight : 0.0742
F150 (V8) Torque/Weight : 0.0654

Ridgeline has a worse power/weight ratio than the other trucks except the fat f150. It's torque/weight ratio is the worst in it's class. What you all should like is the Titan's nice torque ratio

Honda says "impressive" and 252ft-lbs in the same sentence.... Sorry, not seeing it. Also, 252ft-lbs does *NOT* give you the towing performance "on-par with V8 trucks". Sorry, but the Honda is a fatass. It needs more power, and to lose weight. They are overworking this engine and transmission. It's drive train is simply not designed to tow.

Also, notice that Honda claims it's a "half-ton" pickup, yet they compare to vehicles like the Tacoma (compact), Frontier (compact), and Dakota V6 (midsize w/underpowered engine). Honda marketing may catch some unsuspecting consumers and steal (yeah, I think it's steal) their money... But I don't know how any reasonably intelligent consumer can't call B.S. on this mutant.

Well put Potroast.

 

I don't think the Damn thing even has a full-size spare. What the hell!!!

 

I don't think the Damn thing even has a full-size spare. What the hell!!!

A full spare will be a dealer option. I agree that a truck should come with a full size spare but at least one will fit in the same space inside the trunk. It is also missing a memory function for the power seats and an AC power source. And apparently a rear-window defroster (pretty important in cold climates).

And I love virtually everything else about that truck. It will take time to convert the traditional North American truck buyer but you can bet that every other truck manufacturer will be scrambling to copy a lot of its features in their next model revision. In the meantime I will be pleased if fewer people line up to purchase a Ridgeline because Honda will already easily sell every Ridgeline they produce.

 

A full spare will be a dealer option. I agree that a truck should come with a full size spare but at least one will fit in the same space inside the trunk. It is also missing a memory function for the power seats and an AC power source. And apparently a rear-window defroster (pretty important in cold climates).

And I love virtually everything else about that truck. It will take time to convert the traditional North American truck buyer but you can bet that every other truck manufacturer will be scrambling to copy a lot of its features in their next model revision. In the meantime I will be pleased if fewer people line up to purchase a Ridgeline because Honda will already easily sell every Ridgeline they produce.

They might snag some *new* truck buyers from the car side, but I don't think they're going to convert anyone. Toyota tried comparing a 5/8's scale V-6 truck to full sized with the T-100 and failed. Me and every truck buyer I know want more power/payload ability than they need, not "just enough".
Now that the Tacoma and Frontier are bigger and more powerful, I can't really even see the need the Ridgeline fills. It's funky looking like the Element and that weird little Scion Xb, and that appeals to the youth market, but those are also inexpensive. I'm thinking the Ridgeline is going to be thousands more.

 

:deathsent Well I have to say I like the Ridgeline. It definetly has a unique look but to say it is a POS is ludicrous. If I could talk my better half into one well get it. It will do the light duty stuff and the titan will do the rest.

 

That is one long driveshaft, though its hard to tell it looks like it might be a 2 piece with a Ujoint in the middle.

I have yet to see a pricetag on this vehicle but I guarantee it is going to be a yuppie-mobile. Honda makes excellent quality, reliable vehicles. Not every Honda is recommended by Consumer Reports (see the Honda Passport listed as unreliable), and usually the downfall comes in building things that aren't set up right for what they'll do. There is no way you can compare this vehicle with full-size trucks; the top end horsepower (that's the number they're giving you) is almost a whole engine less than most of the other full-size V8's.

The comparison someone made about the Ridgeline kicking the Ford's *** off the line towing its max vs. the Ford towing its max is ridiculous - you're talking about a 4,000 pound difference. That is like saying the Ford towing its max will kick a Volvo big-rig's *** towing its max. True but ridiculous comparison - the Ford can't tow an 18 ton trailer. The Ridgeline can't tow a 9,000 pound trailer.

IF this truck sold for 20k it would be definitely worth having for a light-duty truck. I am going to guess it will be selling for more than 30k, which makes it completely useless to anyone except yuppies looking to haul home some garden soil and look Hondish doing it.

 

Price-same as 4x4 SE moderately equipped

I agree that the actual selling price will be $30,000+-about what a moderately equipped 4X4 SE CC would go for.
Prometheus,I love seeing your posts!For your insightful comments-heck no,I disagree with them in this case-?!Your avatar is the best by far!!!Thanks.Charlie

 

Honda makes excellent quality, reliable vehicles. Not every Honda is recommended by Consumer Reports (see the Honda Passport listed as unreliable), and usually the downfall comes in building things that aren't set up right for what they'll do.

:lol: That is like saying the pope is not catholic...

Honda did not make the Passport, they just put their logos and a few features on an Isuzu Rodeo, and the Isuzu was not known as a good vehicle.

 

to whoever suggested that honda underrates there engines is correct, at least with the j-series, which is what the ridgeline has, the new accords at rated at 240hp, but with premium fuel put down as much power as the previous 260hp acura tl's, theres a good chance that it actually does put out more power then its rated for

also to the person who said youll have to rev the crap out of it to get it moving is wrong, honda took low to mid range power seriously, as seen in some of the reviews and videos, also while towing the 5000lb trailer, all reviews said that down low, the 5.4L f-150 had more pep down low, but midrange, was about the same in both, even a bit better some have said, and the rumour is that 0-60 pulling that 5000lb trailer the ridgeline can actually beat the f-150, that doesnt mean to much, but it just shows that the 3.5 litre j-series in the ridgeline isnt as bad as some might think it would be, and its pretty believable considering ive seen data where the tundra would pull a trailer (forget the weight, something like 6000lbs) almost as fast or faster then the f-150, i believe the honda could in fact beat it in that test, not that it matters much

 

Honda makes great products, i've owned a few in my lifetime and can say they are ecstreemely reliable and fit and finish was usually eggsilant... but i think Honda designers need to stop whatever they're smoking :smoke: because to hit the truck market with a Quasimodo looking truck is just insane. if you want a full-size spare you'll probably have to leave it in the bed because looking at the 3D view of that truck i don't see any space in the underbelly of the ridgeline, or maybe they'll have an attachment that will go on the tailgate so you can mount the full-size spare there, or maybe they will have a special roof rack for the tire, hehe. i just can't get over the look, Honda with all its wisdom could've come up with something much more appealing than that don't you think? Even Mitsubishi is coming out with the "Raider" truck, that to is FUGLY... oh my gosh what are they thinking? Obviously, there are a few that find it somehow appealing and functional, but i just don't think i will be able to get over the look of it, i don't care how functional it is. when i first saw the Titan i said damn that looks bada$$. now being that i am overly-critical on the outside appearance, i will tell you that 90% of folks will find it unappealing and 10% will think its eye-candy, but less than 5% of the truck buying market will actually throw duckets down to own one. i agree with the other post that states that the ridgeline will make some car buyers turn to the ridgeline just because its a Honda and its functionality. i don't even think there is going to be a mod, that can help the way it looks!!! its just a pathetic looking truck and Honda in my opinion seriously half-a$$ed it in the design department... Honda probably would have been better off doing something like Hummer did with the SUT. they should have taken an element and chopped the back off and put in a bed, at least they would have been able to do something with the surplus of Elements on the lots due to lack of interest.