wing
Big Wig
Administrator
 OfflineVehicle: '01 S2000 & '05 Titan SE
Gender: 
Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
Posts: 17629
If you ain't first ... you're last!
 
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« on: April 12, 2006, 07:21:48 am » |
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Day 1:
It's a car; it's a truck........ it's a Honda? It is the much debated Honda Ridgeline! You can call it a truck or a car or an SUV with a box, or a caruck or whatever you want; I’ll refer to it as the Ridgeline from here on in. The Ridgeline is a full sized cab (5 seater) vehicle with a short box similar to the Ford Sport Trac. It is built on the Pilot / MDX chassis and is configured with a fully independent rear end; as a result it rides more like a car than a truck. More ....
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Day 2:
I did some poking around today on the inside of the Ridgeline while waiting for Costco to open so I could drop off my tires to get mounted. The Navigation System / HVAC controls and Radio controls each have their own separate control panels but they are all integrated into the Navigation system for voice activation. Although I'm not sure how practical using the voice commands really is, it takes about one tenth of the time to just hit the appropriate button than to command the computer and have it repeat what you said than actually complete the action. More ....
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Day 3:
Storage space, the Ridgeline has storage space a plenty, Honda really put some thought into how to utilize the available space in this vehicle. Starting with the center console which has 2 cup holders and the usual flip up lid for CDs and a few storage items, into the rear with flip up seats and available space under them and going all the way back to the trunk hidden under the bed allowing for weather proof and lockable storage out of the way of peering eyes. More ....
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Day 4:
I've been fairly impressed with the Ridgeline so far I believe it is an excellent urban vehicle for someone that does a lot of home improvements or needs to haul things around once and awhile. Although realistically unless you need a truck like vehicle constantly, the Ridgeline is large to maneuver around and it certainly is not Civic like in fuel economy. It is not perfect though there are a few things that Honda possibly did not think through fully when building the Ridgeline.More ....
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Day 5:
According to wikipedia most trucks (with the exception of the car-like minivan) are built around a strong frame called a chassis. It goes on to define the Ridgeline as a car-based truck with the Subaru Baja being the only other car-based pick-up truck sold in North America. So there you have it, it IS a truck, a car-based truck. I showed the Ridgeline off to a few people over the last few days. All were impressed by the interior space the practicality of the in trunk bed and the swing out rear tailgate. More ....
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si
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« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2006, 09:51:03 pm » |
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is it at all possible to put a canopy on the back? |
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airbalancer
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« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2006, 09:58:54 pm » |
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What the size of the box?
Is there a cover for the box.
Is it easy to get into the box?
Can you tow a horse trailer with it?
Really it just a SUV
It does look ugly but not as bad as a Element.
Auto lock, just had program on the Bimmer.
Read the manual maybe you can change it. |
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hondasalesguy
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« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2006, 11:50:54 pm » |
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Auto locking doors, ugh, is this so it is like an American vehicle? Drives me nuts and when I get out the rear door is locked so I have to push the remote button to get my bag from the rear.
It beeps / bongs incessantly if you leave the rear window open when exiting the vehicle.
As soon as you put the vehicle back in Park, the doors unlock, so you shouldn't have to unlock the rear door with the remote.
Why would you leave the rear window open anyways?
Box is 4 feet wide by 5 feet log, increased to 6.5 feet with tailgate down, you can put plywood sheet in and it will overhang by 18 inches.
There is a tonneau cover but it is around $1900.
Towing capacity is 5000 pounds.
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G0dspd
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« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2006, 12:45:49 am » |
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is it at all possible to put a canopy on the back?
The after-market industry doesn't have one at this time but word is that "Snug Top" is gonna have one available in a few months. It's not like the canopies you can put on Tacomas ... they have to deal with weird angles and I doubt they can integrate a window in the canopy. They do have canopies for the Avalanche ... not a good look.  |
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« Last Edit: April 11, 2006, 12:47:26 am by G0dspd »
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"If you go through the pearly gates backwards in a fireball, that's a cool way to die!"
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wing
Big Wig
Administrator
OfflineVehicle: '01 S2000 & '05 Titan SE
Gender:
Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
Posts: 17629
If you ain't first ... you're last!
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« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2006, 06:54:01 am » |
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Why would I leave the rear window open? Why not? I was stopping for 2 seconds.
And no the doors do not unlock when I put it in park, maybe this just needs to be programmed, but it is not doing so.
The tonneau cover is $2095 according to Honda.ca |
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airbalancer
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« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2006, 07:12:19 am » |
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So you can not carry a 6 ft ladder in the box without hanging out the back  Can you leave the front window down? |
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hondasalesguy
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« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2006, 08:24:47 am » |
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Wing if you are stopping for "2 seconds" I am thinking a couple beeps/bongs couldn't be that annoying? |
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wing
Big Wig
Administrator
OfflineVehicle: '01 S2000 & '05 Titan SE
Gender:
Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
Posts: 17629
If you ain't first ... you're last!
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« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2006, 08:26:39 am » |
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Yes you can leave the front window down, I read the manual this morning and disabled the auto-locking much better now. The rear window will bing and bong for 3 minutes it states.
Well not 2 seconds, I stopped to go pick up something from the store, so 2 minutes maybe. |
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safristi
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« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2006, 09:18:54 am » |
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....
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sirAQUAMAN64
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« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2006, 01:51:37 pm » |
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This'll be a hot product you're reviewing - I would have expected more debate already, but odds are we're nearly RidgeLine'd out... or are we??? 
In any case, that's one of the best photos I've seen of the RidgeLine. Looks meaty and in it's 'element' there more than most other photos.
Personally, I like and dislike the look at different time. But overall I like the vehicle. It does seem to have a full sized interior in a smaller package.
One question about interior quality - are the removable rubber insoles to the glovebox and such all wobbly, or do they fit properly? Does it appear the interior would scratch easiliy?
Pricing for the Honda seems fair too considering interior size and comparing to something like the Tundra, Titan, or even the Pilot. A base model 4X4 at $35 is decent value. Not superb, but good.
PS - Good  merging the Blog and Forum comments! This way we can edit our blog posting if we forgot something too! |
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« Last Edit: April 11, 2006, 02:03:22 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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ghost
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« Reply #11 on: April 11, 2006, 03:55:07 pm » |
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a friend I know that runs a construction business was with me during the autoshow. He commented the ridgeline is not a real pickup workhorse despite what Honda wants it to be. Really it's just for yuppy pick-up wannabes. He drives a Ford F150 see. but does have his share of exotic cars as you know construction industry is quite lucrative. |
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airbalancer
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« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2006, 03:08:49 pm » |
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How is the Nav screen in the sun, with the sunroof open.
Are you able to see it?
I have PDA and if it is in the sun, I have a hard time seeing the screen as the sun wash it out. |
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« Last Edit: April 12, 2006, 04:44:21 pm by airbalancer »
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wing
Big Wig
Administrator
OfflineVehicle: '01 S2000 & '05 Titan SE
Gender:
Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
Posts: 17629
If you ain't first ... you're last!
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« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2006, 04:16:37 pm » |
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Pretty good actually that picture it is half in the sun and it visible in a camera I didn't think it would pick it up. Contrast and brightness is adjustable. |
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wing
Big Wig
Administrator
OfflineVehicle: '01 S2000 & '05 Titan SE
Gender:
Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
Posts: 17629
If you ain't first ... you're last!
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« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2006, 08:18:19 pm » |
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SAM, I noticed I forgot to answer your question: One question about interior quality - are the removable rubber insoles to the glovebox and such all wobbly, or do they fit properly? Does it appear the interior would scratch easiliy?
I noticed at the autoshow that the rubber pieces were "off" this is not so in this vehicle I suspect people had done a number on them at the show. The interior doesn't look like it would scratch easily the door panels are covered in some type of fake leather that might not be durable for "work" but for everyday use it would be fine. |
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airbalancer
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« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2006, 07:13:30 am » |
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Narrow seats in a Honda.
I always find that a problem, more with shoulder width then with hip room.
I found that with looking at S2000.
How narrow will these seats be with winter coveralls and a winter coat on.
For width Ram has the wides seats and GM next.
"going all the way back to the trunk hidden under the bed allowing for weather proof and lockable storage out of the way of peering eyes. "
I do not understand. Does it mean that the storeage area under the box is open to the cab? |
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wing
Big Wig
Administrator
OfflineVehicle: '01 S2000 & '05 Titan SE
Gender:
Location: Ottawa, On, Canada
Posts: 17629
If you ain't first ... you're last!
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« Reply #16 on: April 13, 2006, 07:17:25 am » |
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No the storage area is not open to the cab, it is under the truck bed, but is water tight and lockable. I have pics I'll post tonight. |
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safristi
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« Reply #17 on: April 13, 2006, 10:01:27 am » |
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WING ya still have not answered the QUESTION of which we dare NOT SPEAK.......!!!!  ... IS IT A TRUCK?....  |
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....
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sirAQUAMAN64
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« Reply #18 on: April 13, 2006, 01:41:06 pm » |
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Thanks Wing.
I like the truck myself. A company in South Oshawa has cycled from all GM trucks... to include a Tundra... to GM's and a Tundra and a Titan... then came a RidgeLine... and now 2 RidgeLines there! |
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airbalancer
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« Reply #19 on: April 13, 2006, 05:17:34 pm » |
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Saw a Ridgeline with a cap on at Whiby Honda, I did not think the ting could look worst, but it did |
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