2017 Ridgeline vs 2016 Tacoma

You can modify anything with enough money and skill. In this case just buy the truck that is best suited for your needs. Stop worrying what anyone else thinks, even though society seems to be more about keeping up with the "insert name" then looking at what is a true need and what is a want.

You can lower the Tacoma it has been done on the 2nd Gen so I am sure it can be done on the 3rd. There is already a leveling kit out from Truxx for the 2nd gen Ridgeline (~$200) that gives you 1.5" of extra clearance on the front and if you move up to a 265 tire from the 245 you will gain another 1/2" for a total of 2" and the rear has plenty of clearance the way it is.

Pick the truck for your lifestyle. Need off road capability and don't mind a bit more bouncy ride get a Tacoma. Need a more smoother ride and don't need 4L option then the Ridgeline will be more than enough of a truck for you.

 

My only complaints about the Ridgeline was how narrow of the opening of the rear doors. Where the Tacoma opens to a 90 degree, the Ridgeline opens to a 60-65 degree. Not great if you want to haul large stuff like Honda ads suggest you can do.

The other thing I didn't like is shallow bed height. It's even shallower then the 2nd gen Tacoma. I'm in construction so I haul and carry stuff on and off site all day. The Ridgeline would be a practical truck to use in my trade if Honda fixed those deal breakers.

I had a chance to drive the Ridgeline AWD model and I have to say it's a fun truck to drive on and off road. A tad bit on the expensive side but the interior layout and ergonomic of it is 1st class

 

LOL my boss has a ridgeline I think he's jealous of my taco

 

I picked up my Ridgeline Black Edition today, and it was requested I post impressions of it. So here's a short list:

* Feels bigger than it is from inside the cab. There is so much space (I'm 6' and even with the sunroof there are 5" above my head), and the seating position is more typical SUV (it's a pilot so of course.) ergonomically it's near perfect for me.
* it's quiet. Whisper quiet with the acoustic glass. Quieter than my Lexus.
* my god it's comfortable. I am blown away by the lack of cost cutting on the interior. It's impressive no matter what the class of vehicle.
* still doesn't look near as mean as a Tacoma, but I am already starting to like the quiet anonymity afforded by driving this truck. Black Edition and a tonneau cover is a sleek, clean look.

For me, I didn't need a truck that could go off road. I also don't need to tow more than 5,000 pounds. So given the huge disparity in ride quality, tech features, safety features and usable storage, I'm thrilled with my choice.

Enjoyed my stay here!

 

Sounds like you made the right choice for your needs!

// edit - obligatory "you suck and ridgeline is not a truck" comment.

 

Congrats, I'm sure the ridegline will be a great vehicle. I don't particularly like the exterior, but i am sure that would grow on me.

The other thing that sucks is the price...i believe the black edition is around the same price of the trd pro. I feel you get more for your money with the pro than you do with the black edition. (I believe the black edition is the same as the next top model just all black)

I take it you traded the trd pro in for it?

 

Congrats. Nice choice. You are the target market for this truck and I believe it will serve you well.
Have you visited the ROC forum?
www.ridgelineownersclub.com
Not as active as TW, but a great group of guys, and a lot less unproductive banter.

 

Glad you are happy with your purchase! Enjoy your new ride.

 

Bullshit! You can still offroad it, I know because I've taken a black edition offroad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQxlolr-zuM

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

You can even see my Inferno Tacoma in the background.

I still love my Tacoma and won't be trading it in for a Ridgeline anytime soon, but honestly guys the Ridgeline is pretty fucking awesome. Its no rock crawler, but for light offroading it actually does better than the Tacoma, throttle response is insanely better, way more comfortable and the high speed torque vectoring makes it feel like a rally car at high speeds on dirt, drifts were way more controlled it was point and shoot, with IRS it handled mid turn corrections with ease and wouldn't unsettle like the solid axles on our Tacos, not as tail happy but that's a good thing unless you're showing off.

I still do some moderate-hard offroading (mainly Baja and around Mammoth) so I still need my Tacoma with crawl control,rear locker and better approach/departure angles. But in a few years if I giveup the heavy stuff and I'm only hauling my dirtbike to Ocotillo and going to Mammoth for skiing I'll be jumping straight into a Ridgeline.

Edit bonus pics:
http://imgur.com/a/kO8r7
http://imgur.com/a/mXL75 (my Tacoma in that same mud pit, but since its MY truck I hit it 4x as fast lol)

 

Honestly that was impressive! Thanks for posting that. So that RL had the Truxx 2" lift and OR tires on it?

 

Yeah Nitto Terra Grapplers IIRC

 

Seems like that truxxx leveling kit would work well for offroading with 265/60/18's.

 

I like that pearl white when I saw it in person, waaaaaay better then the boring plain white the Tacoma gets

 

The Truxx kit is 1.5" and if you upgrade the tires to a 265 (stock is 245) which will give you another 1/2" you will get the 2" total. My buddy bought a Ridgeline 2 moths ago and installed the Truxx kit a few weeks ago and it makes a big difference. He is upgrading to a 265 tire in the spring after the winter tires are off the truck. As far as I recall he measured the Ridgeline front end clearance after the lift at just over 9" (9.25" maybe?) with stock tires on.

Yep it appears that way as long as you have a good A/T tire. Some have installed 17" wheels to get a bit more sidewall with a comparable size that would give them about a 30.5in tire. There is one guy over on the ROC forum that has KO2 on his and it looks sharp.

 

so was at a safety class today that I had to take for 'working at heights', ya bullshit new mandatory class when I've been working off lifts and ladders for the past 9 years daily. Anyways ran into a co worker of mine I worked with about 8 months ago who was considering buying a ridgeline, test drove them etc and said he loved them. never looked at tacomas for some reaosn.

So after he saw mine today and we went for a ride when we went to get lunch he said he loves it and is now considering one.

 

The Ridgeline was terrible from the beginning. I didn't think they could make it worse but some moron thought it was aesthetically pleasing to put a pickup bed on a Honda CRV

 

Well actually it was on a Honda Pilot but ya the new CRV now looks like a mini Pilot . Looks are all in the eye of the beholder. I work with a guy that bought a F150 after his 2003 tacoma was written off in an accident. Reason he didn't buy a G3 Taco is he didn't like the look of it , plus the lack of power & trans complaint that some others have brought up.

Personally I love my Taco and find the power adaquate and no issues with the trans or anything else that some have experienced here for that matter. Each to his own I guess.

 

It's ugly but it's not a bad concept.
There was the subaru Baja, now the hyundai thing? I liked the baja when it was out but couldn't afford one at the time.

I like pick ups because I like having the mess out of the passenger area. I don't haul heavy things so, independent suspension wouldn't bother me. If I need to haul heavy, it's usually long and I'd rather just rent a u haul van for $35.00 or have it delivered. A comfortable ride isn't a bad thing. I hated the smell of all my gear after a few days of camping, sitting in the storage area of XYZ SUV/station wagon/van. So that's why we have a pickup.

If going off road was only limited to fire trails and the beach for me, I would have considered one. It's usually at least a 4 hour drive for me to get to trails I like so, that wouldn't be bad. It would just have a hard time hitting the trails I like, mostly because of ground clearance. I mean, new Land rovers are all indy suspension right? Along with trail rated grand cherokees, toureg, and Porche Cayenne, so they can't be all bad. Just not for me.

If I didn't live in the city of philadelphia where the roads around me are like going on the rubicon in some areas, I would have considered one.

But damn, they are ugly.

 

If the Ridgeline had a 6ft bed, low range and a manual transmission I would be interested.

If I'm going to compromise, a Subaru Forester makes more sense. I have more confidence in Symmetrical awd over any part time system. In Canada the 6spd manual is still available with the 2.5i engine and it's $20,000 less than a Ridgeline.

 

You might have to wait for the Ranger or just settle for the Tacoma if you want that setup. The Ridgeline isn't made for you unfortunately or targeted at you.