What would Honda have to do to Snag Tacoma Buyers

Like the Tacoma Honda is redesigning the Ridgeline for 17 (which happens to be the only other brand I would actually trust and buy) My thoughts are make it look like a truck and build it for the street first with all the tech goodies and a standard bed.


Is the Ridgeline out of the question because it is Unibody. I think it would attract 2WD drivers who want a car like ride.

 

F the Ridgeline.

 

This thread sucks.

 

Time to empty that truck savings account again already? .

If you wanted a Pilot but needed the bed for whatever reason then the Ridgeline is perfect. Otherwise it's just an oversized CUV with a box and that doesn't work for doing very many truck things...

 

Limited towing and hauling capability without a separate body/frame construction...no manual transmission availability, not really a truck by those typical definitions

 

I like the Ridgeline option, more so as I go up.

A decent ground clearance AWD pickup that can tow ~6000.

The problem is Honda will use a 3.5L engine, from the new pilot, which generates virtually the same power specs as the new Tacoma and will likely feature the same gas mileage ( no impressive)

The pilot current gets 20.9mpg, I would imagine the Ridgeline would be right around 19-20. I would also imagine it will be priced against the Tacoma/Colorado which again puts it up against the full size trucks.

Honda needs to realize that they can really take a strong hold on the market if they can price their product properly so they aren't priced the same as a full size, Tacoma and canyon.

 

Honda pricing competitively

Are we talking about the same company here? They don't competitively price anything IMHO.

 

I disagree, if they fix the box to a standard 6' or so length with a small double cab it is perfect for a lot of "midsize" buyers.

Something to haul small loads, tow small trailers and still haul the family in comfort.

My parents (60 years old) would probably be the target buyer and my parents would love one.

They find my truck, to truckish for them and not comfortable enough. So they bought a forester + cheap trailer for their needs.

 

It won't be 6 feet. I can guarantee you that.

Even then I can see your argument but to be honest most "truck" buyers in the USA could get away with this and never need more:

 

I think Honda/Toyota think they can still overcharge because of their great reliability.

I think it is starting to chase buyers away.

The civic used to be the best selling car in Canada for nearly 20 years. Honda upped the pricing for the 7th gen (2013) and offered a poor product.

They sold poorly and now are redesigned for 2016 with a turbo engine, better interior and more aggressive pricing.

 

I love the looks of the 2016 Civic. If I needed a commuter I'd probably go for the green SI coupe just for the looks. However, I think it's only turbo'd once you hit the 20K range though. Even then the performance model is touching Focus RS/ST type pricing for much MUCH less car.

Yes, Honda isn't as out to lunch as they were on the less SI though. It's still too much money though when the Ecoboost Focus or Mazdaspeed 3 can be had for similar money and better stock specifications.

I agree with you that Honda should adjust pricing but I doubt they will learn until it's almost too late. They definitely won't come onto the market with an aggressive price on a low sales volume CUV based truck.

 

I think 4 real doors is mandatory. No one will buy anything with access cab in their target audience. The future buyers will have kids, which Honda knows and a extra cab doesn't work well with kids.



I think that if the truck looks like that, it will sell strong.

It would almost be a new class, like CUV. It would be a CUT.

I know Scion/Toyota were also thinking of something similar but smaller.

 

Haha we think a like.

I had a 2006 Si and loved it, but when it came time to replace it in 2012 the Civic Si was not nearly the best and I bought a VW GLI (great car).

I do think the 2016 type R will be a very cool niche car to compete with the new focus RS. Hopefully the Si can hold its own against the ST which is a bargain.

 

It's not really a new class. Arguably that was the point of the last Ridgeline which sold well initially and then took a dump. Even Ford sort of played in that market with the SportTrac way back in the day even though that thing had a true frame.

My argument with the Ram 700, which Ram is considering building in Mexico and bringing to the USA, is that if you boiled down needs and wants a compact car with a box could handle the needs of most truck buyers. However, whether that concept sells is a totally different argument.

I think the Ridgelines problem has already been mentioned and is similar to the rest of our conversation. It's different, but not enough value for the difference. It won't get amazing MPG, the AWD won't be much of an upgrade for the average person, and the capability of the truck will be slightly less than what it's priced against.

 

Everything I've read about the new Civic Type R leads me to believe that Honda has really lost their direction with design. The same as with the new NSX. It might be a cool car, but what really made the older ones special (rawness, driver engagement, handling feel, etc.) isn't really captured with the new models. Honda still has great engineers and produces a quality product, but their focus in design has just kind of gone all over the place. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but the initial driving impressions I've watched videos of on YouTube have definitely left me less than enthusiastic. This is coming from someone who has always thought the highest of Honda's race pedigree and loved the influence in design seen with the NSX, Type-R's, and S2000 ... they're just not as focused any more

 

I would buy a Honda if they made a Toyota. Yep. .. I'm a fan boy. Get over it.

 

If it looks like this, I will DEFINITELY shop it and compare it to the Tacoma. My only beef with the new Tacoma is that the rear seat is still cramped if I am driving it up with my in laws and daughter to catch a cruise ship. Other than that, I love it.

 

Just hop in the Pilot. If you like the seat spacing you'll know what's coming in the Ridgeline.

Seriously, Honda doesn't have the money for developing the truck to be much different from it's parent vehicle. I'd make a solid guess that the Pilot seats are going in the Ridgeline.

 

So you can smack bitches with the gate and then bury them .

I love the online stories about having a load of garbage in the bed then getting a flat tire on the way to the dump. That spare tire placement...

 

Honestly i'd have to be given it for free, and than I'd probably sell it for mods for the Tacoma.