What would Honda have to do to Snag Tacoma Buyers

I don't think it's a matter of "good enough", I think if people are honest with themselves, the honda will do everything most people need it for, and it comes with some nice bonuses over a tacoma. I camp and fly fish in the summer, ice fish in the winter, drive around with a couple little ones in the city, and drive back and forth to work everyday. Guaranteed, the honda would do all that, and having a locking trunk, negates a tonneau cover. It also has a better ride, more versatile interior, and can much more easily carry 4x8s when I need them. If I was looking for a new truck, I'd take a good look at the honda. I think they might be on to something, but that's just my opinion.

 

Or this.



Okay...maybe that's too far.

 

"she had man hands"

 

And I get that.

However, the average buyer isn't going to buy the base model. Just take a look at the Tacoma, or any truck, and people want the higher trims. I think, IIRC, the TRD Sport is the most popular trim on the Tacoma. So if we assume people want at least those sort of options people are going to be in the higher packages in this Ridgeline. On the Pilot those packages start at 38K... and end up over 40K with delivery and AWD. Those are fullsized prices. The average buyer is going to look at that price, where he could get into a Lariat Ford or Larame Ram with discounts, and it's not going to be a contest. Not when it's good enough versus more than enough. Especially when good enough isn't cheap or efficient enough to differentiate itself.

That's why the first Ridgeline puttered out. I think this one will do the same. While it's "hot", maybe even truck of the year, people will buy it. As soon as the new shine is gone though from the remodel in 3 years people will choose other flashier, more OR, and more powerful, and more "perceived awesomeness" trucks that are the same price and get close to the same mpg. The Ridgeline just isn't different enough where it counts to buyers, which is in their pocketbooks, for what it is.

 

They had bigger dicks back then

 

They are based off the same platform. No joke.

Crysler has hinted about bringing them over but until they can lock down enough market share to take those gambles on the Ram/Fiat line they won't.

 

You could be right, a lot depends on price. I just know how I feel about it, others may have different priorities.

 

Yeah, plus to be honest in late 2017 Jeep and Ford will re enter the mid sized market. That could change things for Toyota too... especially if Ford follows through and bring a fully capable Ranger to North America.

 

VW's car based pick up... for sure would buy

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/vw-reveals-amarok-power-pickup-concept-worthersee

Closest the USA will get
http://www.smythkitcars.com/#!untitled/c1o

 

Now that the 2016s are out, the cheapest double cab you can get in Canada is over 36 grand, I wouldn't be surprised to see the honda be around that price too. The days of sub 30 grand double cab midsize trucks are over here.

 

That thing seems pretty nice. Not great offroad obviously with no lorange, but adequate with AWD. 245/75/16 tires I think and probably can't take more, maybe 8 inches ground clearance. The spare tire could fit under the rear seat when the bed is loaded.

• flat bed, 4x8's fit flat
• flat rear seat floor with great underseat storage
• 400W AC with room for devices to charge
• 2way tailgate
• bed trunk
• good payload
• good power and fuel economy
• nice cabin, power seats
• triple zone climate control with vents in console for rear seat
• square bed so will have a lot of tonneau and topper available
• Class IV receiver with 7-pin

Could be a good work truck, family truck, and recreational truck all at the same time.

 

I have a full size 1/2 Ram 4x4. I had a 06 Tacoma 4x4. I am going back to the "mid size" truck. I prefer the more nimble mid size trucks. Easier to park, don't care they only get the same mpg as a full size, and price is what it is.

Funny how many talk about the steep discounts Dodge, Ford, Chevy gives on their pickups. My thoughts is they do it because they can't sell them at or near msrp. One might as well say msrp is $100,000 but we will discount $65,000, and someone will brag what a deal they got.

If the Ridgeline msrp and selling price is close the the Tacoma, I will take a look at it.
Vid is of a 2014. I realize the 2017 has a different AWD. But not bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edaUhu9UKxY

 

Yup. I'm from Canada too brother.

The sad thing is that a 2016 XTR Ford V8 is only worth 39K in Canada after discounts (that's what my company just paid for my new truck) in the same cab configuration... how is the mid sized market supposed to exist and thrive in that market?

 

They do it because of their economies of scale. A couple of years ago magazines were figuring out the cost of building a half ton and, honestly, it's a very lucrative market even with all those discounts. Plus the odd sucker I'm sure does pay MSRP. Poor guy.

I'm sure Honda won't price the Ridgeline out of the market, but it won't price it cheaper than the Pilot either. It will cost a slight premium over the Tacoma I'm sure but not so much that it would scare off a buyer comparing the two.

 

Agree. I did a quick search on 2016 Pilots. Some in the Phoenix area are discounted $2,600. Not bad for not being out to long.

 

Honda and Toyota usually discount to about the same level. Honda will ask a bit more because they always do.

 

Before buying my 2014, I saw that video. I've had a couple stock Toyota's and not sure they would do any better in similar conditions below.

 

Just a comment on that. One problem with the old Ridgeline was that the AWD system was clutch pack based and did have a tendency to overheat or fail under extreme demands. While it was fine, to be honest, for just about anything the truck could physically clear it was not terribly reliable when abused and fixing it was expensive. Honda is switching to a electric mechanical linkage for the AWD in the rear this time so things could be different, but one thing to keep in mind with AWD is that if you abuse it you will lose it on a lot of vehicles. It's just not as durable as a select-able center differential based 4WD system that is fully mechanical.

 

Is that man hands?