Just saw the first Ridgeline

Late

 

I heard someone refer to it as a "Trar" once. Love that word.

 

lol

 

The Ridgeline is in its own segment, focused on its own market.
But I would like to see Honda make an actual Taco competitor.

 

Honda has never made a truck, right? Volkswagen sells the Amarok, which I would like to see offered here. That along with the US-spec but world version of the Ranger to join the Colorado would be interesting. Maybe we'd get the Hilux or at least pressure Toyota more with the Tacoma.

Back in the day VW offered the Taro before the Amarok and that's when Toyota was making their best small trucks an even VW knew it. I always wanted to find that grill for my '91 but even more if I'd have ever gotten around to doing a TDI swap in it.

 

I am no means a boulder crawler but I bet the Ridgeline could not get me down and up this hill. Which would have been a bummer. Beach was beautiful.

 

I'm sure it's a fine truck for most. Now if you can't drive an ugly truck then is probably not for you. I can't.

 

There's been some people who rock crawl RAV4s and find their limits. I couldn't say if a Ridgeline is more or less tough than a RAV4 but there's usually a couple of things that limit these types of vehicles, lack of low range and the center differential/transfer case coupling starting to overheat (which in the RAV4 usually means you eventually end up in front wheel drive only).

 

Nice! The only vehicle I considered while looking at Taco, which I still like after mods is Jeep Wrangler Rubicons. They look great with 35's and can handle off roading with ease. Still in my sight 10 years from now.

 

To my point about RAV4.

http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/trails/rav4-crawler-finding-the-limits-of-the-trucklet-15044.html

 

Looks like a Subaru could make it up that. Doesn't look that bad. Maybe there's more difficult spots than you were showing in the picture, but I have to say, I've maneuvered worse in Colorado when I had an Outback.

 

Can you compare it to the Taco? NO
Is it an option for people that needs to haul some stuff? Yes
The Tacoma payload its 1,600 pound and at 950 ( on the scale) mine hits the bump stops , even after the new 4 leaf springs were installed. The Honda rates at 1584 pounds, ( not sure how accurate this is) . Unfortunately the Ridgeline bed it's too short. The ridgeline with a longer bed it would be the perfect combination for me. The comfort of a car with the space of a medium truck. Not everybody that has a truck wants to go off road.

 

Just throwing this out there....

For all of you guys who are essentially complaining and arguing with Tacoma fans, lovers, etc, please remember that this website is called "Tacoma World" and that the motto is "Tacoma Owners and Enthusiasts" so understand you may not get too far trying to convince us that the Honda truck is better.

I just needed to say that I think...

 

I sorta like the Ridgeline, but I *LOVE* the Taco. I am a member of a audio website (Emotivalounge.com) and you often get people there comparing audio gear... the best advice I have seen on those threads is "hey, if you like the sound of your <other product> and that's what you have, then that's what matters, right?" So to that I say:

Hey, if you like the Ridgeline, and that's what you have then that's what matters, right?

For me, it's gonna be a Taco.

 

I really like most everything about the ridgeline, the interior, comfort, truck bed trunk (although I don't like how shallow the bed is) and the way it drives.

But what I don't like is the way it looks. At this point, I think the old one looks better - and that thing was pretty ugly as well.

I can't drive a vehicle where after I park it, I don't look back to check it out. If I don't have the urge to do that, then the vehicle is not for me.

 

I think a cross between the old and the new would have worked... flat belt line, old front

 

Having watched several videos of the 2017 this Canadian reviewer does one of the better jobs. Before I buy my next truck I will test drive the competition. I did recently check out the Colorado at Epcot. The biggest downside for me was the drivers seat geometry. The door pillar is large, forward and square. Its vertical edge poked me squarely in the back of the upper arm when I rest my arm on the window sill as I like to do. It is a simple thing that may be completely irrelevant to the next guy but it was so uncomfortable that the truck could be perfect in every other way and I would have to say no. I also found the visibility to be poor. The hood hides a fair bit of real estate in the front. Enough to obscure our ducks, goats and dogs. I will also drive a Taco to see what i'd be missing before making up my mind. It might be fun for some of you to test drive the Ridge.

Hope I didn't ruffle too many feather. After all we both like foreign brands so we should stick together. If we were Chevy and Ford owners then we'd really have a brawl on our hands. You would all be hunting me down with pitchforks.

 

I have to say, the more I learn about the RL the more I like it. I came from a Subaru and wanted something a little more capable, a little more powerful that would tow more on the rare occasion that I do in fact tow a small trailer, can still haul people, bikes, boards and the dog and perform respectably on light off-road stuff. Seems like the RL fits the bill and is a bit more refined than the Tacoma. Yep, I know it's not a truck, but I could give a fart WHAT it is as long as it suits my needs. If this was available when I bought my Tacoma last October theres a good chance I would have gone with a RL. I could care less what all the cheesy bros and fanboys think. Most of those clowns are too insecure and self-conscious about themselves anyway so they have to trash everyone else who isn't a good 'ole boy or thinks exactly how they do. I'll keep an eye out on how the RL pans out for others over the next few years. Added bonus would also be not being associated with all the gomers and bros who seem to drive Tacomas that populate this site.

 

I thought I was going to get a Tacoma when the 2016 first came out. I test drove the OR and the Sport, was really ready to pull the trigger on the Sport. A couple things happened and I had to hold off a couple months. Then I started reading more on the Ridgeline. I decided to wait for it so I could see it in person. When I pulled up to the dealership I saw a silver one and the Sport. The black is beautiful on this body style. I looked it over, sat in it, immediately felt more headroom than the Taco. Then came the test drive. Smooth ride, good handling, excellent pull off the line, smooth shift points, quiet cabin. I knew right away the RL is going to be my next truck. I don´t have to have a big ass grill or hard body lines to make up for my manhood, (my wife can confirm this), so I will not be ashamed to drive the Ridgeline. I challenge all you guys on here to go test drive one and report back.

 

Agree. I figure I have a 7yr/100k warranty on the Tacoma and the damage is done already (pulled the trigger on a Tacoma last October), so I'll just drive it until the warranty is about to expire and in the meantime let the Ridgeline work out it's kinks (they can't be any worse than the shit show that has come from all the Tacoma complaints).