11th Dec 2010, 14:13
My mechanic reports that Ford F 150's are having a lot of problems with their "new" V8 motors.
As to Honda 'reliability" being a myth, how do you account for thousands of Honda owners that vote positive in reliability scores in the annual April issue of Consumer Reports?
11th Dec 2010, 18:08
"Either way, who is going to haul anything in a $30k Ridgeline, I would be worried about scratching the paint."
Apparently you haven't shopped for a full sized domestic truck. To get one with anything on it, and a powertrain that could actually move it well, easily gets you into the $30K range. They go well over $40K for a loaded one.
11th Dec 2010, 18:12
Why do you keep going on about this truck if you hate it? Move on already! It is not like you are proving anyone right or wrong by saying it is not a truck. We get your opinion already. Not everyone wants a less refined hard riding pickup for everyday use. These are a great alternative to that, and suit many people pretty well. They hold up to 1,500 lbs. and tow 5,000 lbs. That is more than 90% of the average consumer who needs a truck, will ever need for personal use.
It is what it is, so be happy with your Ford or Chevy pickup, and let it go...
12th Dec 2010, 11:27
Sorry, but with the performance upgrades, and nice tire and wheel packages, the long wheel base domestics ride better. And the gas mileage is very good on the new GMs I have bought. Put the cruise on and relax on a long trip. If you tow, the transmissions are up for the task. It's nice to let other new vehicle prospective consumers know there are better trucks to consider. My days are done walking into a Honda dealer only without looking around. The fact I had issues with mine was the very reason I looked around to start with.
15th Jan 2011, 15:16
So the list of Top Ten selling cars and trucks for 2010 in North America is out, guess what, no surprise, full size Ford and GM trucks are the best sellers by a large margin.
The best selling cars are the Civic, Corolla and Camry.
No surprise there either.
Hyundai did not make the top 10 as predicted this year, maybe the next year.
Everyone knows Honda/Toyota make the best small, fuel efficient cars (or they used to in the 1990's), but for full size work trucks, Ford and GM cannot be beat.
If the Ridgeline is such a great truck, why is the F-150 in first place and the Ridgeline did not even make the top 20?
16th Jan 2011, 10:04
The F-150 is a work truck used by many many fleets and construction companies and Uhaul, etc., etc. They make stripped down bare bones models for these purposes. This has long been a known fact as to why they are the number one selling vehicle in the world. It has nothing to do with consumer based vehicles. Sure they sell regular trucks to consumers too that are loaded up, but that is not where they gain the vast majority of their sales. The same can be said for Chevy and Dodge.
The Ridgeline, on the other hand, is a very well equipped vehicle even in base form. It is only available as a 4 door as it is meant for a family hauler/pickup. It is purely a consumer product, and would have little use on a construction site or as a U-haul. The Ridgeline is an excellent alternative to the ancient design of a pickup. They ride much nicer and are more efficient then most pickups, as you need a V8 to move a pickup around, especially if you are loading it up and towing with it.
You are talking two entirely different focuses in the market here, and they are really pretty hard to compare side by side. Funny thing is though, for all the ripping the Ridgeline takes, it specs out pretty darn close to the base F-150 V6 in size and capacities. All in all, it is a pretty nice vehicle, even if it is no threat to the F-150 in the sales arena.
17th Mar 2013, 20:20
No they haven't. I guess you must live where people don't use trucks, but where I have been, they are a very important vehicle. The best thing about the Ridgeline is it keeps non truck people out of trucks. So maybe, just maybe, they will get manuals back in real trucks and stop trying make them car like. I would take an old truck any day over the new ones, and certainly over the Honda. If I want handling and comfort, I will use my car. If you want a simple and durable vehicle that you don't care about denting or scratching, an old farm truck is the only way.
18th Mar 2013, 08:08
I tow a Fountain powerboat with a late model Silverado. I do not farm. I can't imagine designing a spare tire storage inside a bed. Carry a load, and you have to empty everything out.
I pay insurance on a truck. Why pay insurance for a truck with such limited applications? You can buy a hatchback car and tie the lid down. I buy antiques and have moved pianos to a new bed last weekend. Also, at least buy a 8 ft bed and no stepsides. Looks cute, but again limits the usage.
I am even picky on tire selection. I like smooth, car-like rides, and no oversize ones or off road tires. The long wheelbases are great on the highway.
18th Mar 2013, 14:48
The Ridgeline, as other commenters have pointed out, is not a truck. It is a Pilot SUV with a tiny bed behind the passenger compartment with very high sides that make loading items very difficult. I certainly hope no domestic truck ever "lives up" to such a horribly non-functional concept as the Ridgeline. Even the poorly built Tundra is at least a real truck.
18th Mar 2013, 18:37
Well, here it is, seven years later and I still don't see Honda producing a benchmark pick-up, or in reality a truck.
19th Mar 2013, 08:13
Why does everybody make such an issue out of where the spare tire is? Really, when was the last time you had to even use the spare?
19th Mar 2013, 08:57
I have had to use my truck spare. Picking up building materials, there were drywall screws on the ground. Another time was at a boat ramp, where there was junk on the access ramp. If you are carrying a full load in the bed, the tires are subjected to more strain. Especially in the heat, slightly under or overinflated with a load. Trucks are exposed more to flats than cars on the interstate. Even then I have had flats, especially from debris on the shoulder. Also you need a full size spare, not a toy spare, especially if you have a load or towing.
I also have a Corvette with run flats. If they blow however, a flat tire in it means a cell phone call. The flat and its size would never fit in a car. Even some older cars cannot use a small spare with positraction rears, as it will damage the rear ends. That's why it's good to have cells and AAA.
Putting a spare tire inside the bed and lifting a cover is a very bad design in my opinion. It's a lot nicer to have it underneath and lower the retaining cable. I had a friend that replaced his roof on his shed and filled his bed with shingles. He had a flat going to the dump. Imagine lifting all the heavy shingles out to change a tire.
11th Dec 2010, 11:25
But in my experience Hondas are much more reliable than anything domestic. I've put more into repairs on GM vehicles then I have ever spent on a Honda when buying it! I've never had any issues with any Honda or really any other import I have owned. I wish they made domestic vehicles as well, but in my experience, they just don't.