Just saw the first Ridgeline

I wouldn't take the RL offroading, but I wouldn't take a Tacoma offroading either, that's not my thing. My fun is atv and dirt bike riding and the ridgeline can take me to the trailhead with no problem. I agree that there is a vehicle for everyone and their style, otherwise there would only be one car manufacturer and model on the road. My question is how many here actually take the Taco off-road. I know this is a crazy question to ask on a Tacoma enthusiast forum, but how about some truthful answers here. Lets put the exterior looks aside and honestly tell me if the the RL would work for you on a day to day basis. This is a question for everyone reading this thread.
Another wild question I have is, if the Tacoma had this same body style would you still buy it, if not, what would you get instead? Everyone be honest, and don't worry about hurting my feelings, I have very thick skin, and no answer is going to make me look at the Tacoma again, I have made my decision.

 

If Honda made a truck, I'd be first in line to try one. This is however, NOT a truck. It's sort of a new age 4 wheel drive ElCamino (For you old guys)

Honda build good stuff for the most part. I don't think they ever meant the Ridgeline to compete with the Tacoma......and vice versa.....

 

Parked next to one. Its like a mini van front with a bed.

 

What makes it Not a Truck? It can tow, it can carry cargo. It has an open bed. Its not a suv, its not a car, its not a minivan. By definition it is a truck. Is it because it doesn't have a big front end with a macho grill, or it doesn't have the manly image that screams "I bought this to compensate for my penis size".

 

(i actually don't mind the RL but i though this was funny.)

 

Really? LOL. I mean we all get that you some how affiliated with or cheering for Ridgeline. But lets not get silly. Semantics is not the way to do it. Here is a "dump truck" based on your post. Definitely not a minivan, car or suv.

 

Again, what's your point? If that vehicle performs an intended function for the owner, who cares what it's called?

 

Here is the point since you have missed it, let me repeat myself - "semantics is not the way to do it".

BTW you are saying the same in a different words just directing it to the other side of the argument.

 

Just seems like Tacoma bros are getting all defensive because theres a "car" that has a bigger payload capacity and more HP than their "truck".

 

Thanks for your honesty, and your last line was perfect.

Congratulations, you just further proved that the Ridgeline is a truck. The pic you posted is indeed a dump truck by definition because it has a dump bed.
The ridgeline has an open cargo bed and is therefore a truck. If the bed were to tilt then it could be called a dump truck. If you took the bed off of your Tacoma and put a flatbed on it then it would be a flatbed truck. If you put the equipment on it to tow stalled/wrecked vehicles it could then be called a tow truck. Anything else sir?

 

For crying out loud. No I did not. I am saying... jeez not going to repeat myself the third time. Whatever. You guys need to get a life or something. Advertizing Ridgeline on a forum called "tacomaworld" and complaining about tough crowd! WTF?

Ciao.

 

I'm pretty sure we can all agree the Ridgeline is an ugly ass truck by definition...

 

I suggest that the fact of the matter is exterior looks can not be put aside. I argue that the exterior of a vehicle is at least as important, and many times more important, to most people than the way the vehicle actually performs. As evidence, note that the #1 argument in this thread against the RL is that it is ugly.

 

Ironically, the 2016 Tacoma is butt ugly too....

 

All the Taco owners made it about manhood.
Sayings such as,
The ridgeline looks girly,
It doesn't look like a truck,
Its a minivan with the back cut off.
My initial argument was the RL is a lot more comfortable and serves the purpose that I need and most others will need.
I agreed that the Tacoma is a better choice for off road, but the looks of the truck do not play a part in the off road capability. You could put a rounded front end on the Tacoma and with the same frame and ground clearance and it would do the same.
I am trying to figure out why all the taco owners are not even willing to give it a chance.
I have been with a couple not so sexy girls, but they sure did perform better than some of the hottest girls I've been with.

 

I can say with a great deal of certainty.....Trolls like their Ridgelines

 

The reason people keep saying it is ugly is because the way a vehicle looks is important to many people - I submit more important than how it functions. The majority of trucks have always had a very similar design and look. Deviations from that design/look generally haven't done well in the marketplace - as evidenced by the gen 1 Ridgeline. I recently read a review of the new Ridgeline and the article talked about how before designing the gen 2 Honda spent a lot of time asking consumers why they didn't like the gen 1. In essence the answer was the design (specifically the bed/cab design) - it didn't look like a traditional truck.

Based on the facts and figures, an honest, unbiased person would have to admit the gen 2 RL is minimally equal to, and arguably superior to, other mid-sized trucks in terms of on road performance and utility. Off pavement and towing are the areas where the Ridgeline is less capable than the competition. If we were able to set aside emotion, then those wanting a mid-sized daily driver and who don't plan to tow more than 5000 lbs or do any serious off-pavement driving would arguably more often chose the RL based on the facts and figures. But, we aren't emotionless Vulcans - the truth is we are very emotional creatures and, men particularly, are incredibly visually stimulated. How something looks most often trumps how it performs. Hence the reason the Tacoma will outsell the Honda about 3 to 1. Honda can appeal to the logical side of our brains all day and all night with a superbly engineered, designed, and arguably superior truck but I predict it will ultimately be outsold by the more "manly", "tough", "macho", "traditional", "capable" (chose the adjective of your choice) looking Tacoma.

 

The ridgeline is a fine vehicle. Some folks have small issues