Midsize truck shootout

"On the scene of breaking news is IAMRAIDERPOWER"

"Yes @Joe D I am on the scene of tacomaworld.com where the mid size truck shootout happened, and it appears there are multiple reviews on what happened, back to you Joe!"

 

Shootout? Who's left standing? How many shots were fired? Was it a driveby? So many questions yet so little answers. Let's get chopper 4 out on the scene!

https://youtu.be/Ij5Y4A0mR5w

 

Our sources say there was actually no shooting involved. It turns out it was just the bed audio speakers on the ridge line popped when they got wet. On the bright side though, the Tacoma was able to plan a getaway with its integrated navigation system.
Oh wait what's that. No word on the Colorado? Reports are saying no one cares about the Colorado.

 

Coming up at 10, the live report with witness recounts but for now stay tuned for Judge Judy

 

Ftw

Bed speakers pop haha

 

This is a more comprehensive review of the Ridgeline http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/the-2017-honda-ridgeline-is-solid-but-a-little-too-muc-1775023406
They compare it to a Subaru for offroad since it has 20.1/19.6/22.1 approach/breakover/departure angles. 2016 Tacoma 32/23.5/21 approach/breakover/departure.

And I doubt the Ridgeline has any hope aftermarket to get the angles better. AWD is better than open diffs, but a deal breaker could be the donut spare and the location of it.

You'd have to unload the bed to get to the donut or an aftermarket mount on the inside front of the bed, or a tailgate mount.

It certainly has some appeal because of the smooth quiet ride, 49 inches between the wheel wells, more rear cabin space, flat floor, underseat storage, dual tailgate, locking trunk, power slider, and I see the rear seats get the AC and heat fed in through the center console, that's a nice feature.

 

As for the Colorado, I was behind one the other day and was surprised by how close to the ground the rear lower shock mounts are. Looked like maybe six inches, and they kind of stick out there all by themselves. Would be pretty easy to bash the fuck out of those.

 

I noticed the same thing yesterday... And the whole truck looks just meh.

 

They're no lower than the pumpkin, but midaxle is poor placement for offroading.

 

That's exactly what I said.

 

No surprise, since it is a transverse FWD-based layout just like a minivan, and almost all crossovers. This layout is best for weight, interior space, fuel efficiency, road manners, etc; there is a reason it is so common.

OT, but minivans really are better than trucks for many 'truck duties'. I built a screened porch this past year, and used my wife's Sienna for hauling all the building materials from Lowe's. It was much more suited to this task than a short bed pickup; I could stack 12 sheets of 23/32 plywood right in the back (second row removed), with a bunch of 2x10x8s on top, no straps required (since they fit exactly with the hatch closed). This same haul with a short bed pickup would have required a trailer, multiple trips, or a ridiculous amount of straps to secure the load.

I've noticed that most of the really competent contractors around here drive vans (the Ford Transit with the 3.2L diesel is awesome), and the poseur contractors are cruising in GMC Sierras and F150s.

 

Regardless of how "unmanly" you think a minivan is, they are actually quite heavy duty, and very practical vehicles. With the seats out/down, you can fit 4x8 plywood with the hatch closed. They typically have higher or equivalent payloads of light duty trucks and they can tow 3500lbs. No, they aren't going to do a lot of serious offroading, but they'll handle a dirt road just fine, many have AWD. And despite what many here think, most trucks and SUVs never really see anything worse than a smooth dirt road.

 

You can even get a Ridgeline in front whee drive. That's a real truck right there.

 

Yea, you can get the V6 with a 6 speed M/T, but only the base work truck trim, and only with 2WD. I don't even know why they bothered.

 

Ridgeline "There's just a laundry list of stuff that makes this well, a car". QFT

Though in all reality it fits the needs of "most" truck owners better than the others.

 

I noticed this in the review linked several posts above...

"VTEC? Yeah, the Ridgeline has Honda’s famous variable-timing system that makes the engine and its fanboys come to life at high RPMs. The idea is that the engine will only eat a minimal amount of air and gas below a certain speed threshold to maximize economy, but when you jump on the throttle it increases its intake substantially to give you a surge."

Hmmmm. Sound familiar? I wonder if this is dreamy marketing speak for similar EPA shift-a-nomics like we are getting in the Tacoma? Anyone here test drive a Ridgeline to see if there is any similar shiftiness? The 3.5 engine and peak power and max torque are right in line with the Tacoma.

Saw a Jaguar commercial the other day with some similar language about shifting technology designed to improve fuel efficiency. I'm thinking this technology is starting to hit fleets everywhere.

 

VTEC has nothing to do with shifting. VTEC engines have 2 sets of valves. Under low power, only one valve opens. This allows maximum air/fuel mixing top happen under low RPM, and thus higher efficiency. At high RPM, the second set of valves opens to allow maximum air intake. With higher air intake, you get plenty of mixing in the cylinder.
VTEC is nothing new. It's been on the Civic for decades. It gives you high efficiency at low power, but still allows you to make maximum power when needed.

 

Seems like the vast majority of Tacos I see are DCSB; I'm with you on why someone would want a stubby bed on a pickup but I can see that your average truck buyer doesn't seem to care.

Funny thing about most people and their "trucks". I have a friend with a loaded brand new F150; $50k and every feature I can imagine. He's waxed the inside of the bed and does not like to load crap back there because it'll get scratched.

The Ridgeline will do just fine, the people wanting the image but not the unpleasantness of a "real" truck will buy them.

 

Perhaps one of the main reasons for the DCSB dominance is the fact that most manufacturers only offer the top-of-the-line options on their 4-door models. I neither wanted or needed a 4-door truck, so I was forced to make due with fewer options and the base stereo when I would have gladly paid for more/better stuff. In my mind the longer bed was more important, and I don't have kids to justify a DCLB special order. Also couldn't get a DCLB Baja Edition. Bullshit in my mind, but the market just favors 4-doors.

 

Naw, your wrong. A "real" truck has got to have a transmission that hunts all over the place, a vibration that puts peoples hands and feet to sleep, and howl a tune like blowing on a coke bottle. Let's also not forget a real truck has no electric seats or height adjustments and low transmission fluid levels on some.