Linky

 

who would be buying these i don't know...

i see one on my way to work all the time and i can't help but laugh at it's pathetic attempt at being a pickup truck
i'm thinking it's mostly the honda name selling it, but it is selling, so what can i say?

 

 

I'm guessing it's successful because it gives people who want pickups but perhaps don't "need" them, and option that has no real downside.

Perhaps GM might take this up in considering importing the Holden Ute as an El Camino?

 

I think that the Ute doesnt offer what the Ridgeline does, and that is car-like handling and performance, but has teh ride hight of a SUV/Truck. This is just another crossover, only this one has a bed. It uses its Minivan cousins for that ride hight, but Dad wont be caught dead in a minivan, so why not cut the back end off, and then have a bed! Tada!
Anyway, my brother and I were riding in his Avalanch, and we rolled up next to a Ridgeline. We just looked over and smiled. Just doesnt look like a truck.
But hey...its a Honda.

 

As ugly as the Ridgeline is...the under-bed lockable trunk is a game changer.

The biggest flaw with a 4 door pickup is that you can take your passengers, or your luggage securely, BUT NOT BOTH. Lockable Trunk = problem solved.

 

Avalanch has a lockable tail gate, with lockable side pockets with lockable bed cover...holds a HELL of a lot more crap then the Minivan with a bed.

 

avalanch MSRP starts at $34,860

honda MSRP starts at $27,700


to the average person on the street who doesn't know/care, it looks like a cheaper avalanch from honda.

 

The Avalanche is also HUGE compared to the Ridgeline...I think the size difference is enough that most people will not be cross shopping them.

 

The two way tailgate (swings on the side, and on the bottom) + the storage under the bed is neat.. Plus I bet the Ridgeline probably has a lower load height.. Its probably alot easier to load stuff in by hand.


And from what I hear, the mpg of a Ridgeline isn't as great as you'd expect..

I still like my naked black Av better.

 

That's bad news. I was hoping the prices would come down.
If you think the Ridgeline is ugly, okay you have your opinion, but tell me what current model of pickup is truly good looking. I hate the look of the full size GM trucks since the last change. I've never liked the look of the Avalanche, although much better without the cladding. I don't like the GM mid-size trucks (the S-10 was better IMHO) Dodge? No! Ford? Oh hell no! The new Toyota's are ugly, but to me the Nissan isn't too bad looking. Anyway, I've decided if I'm buying a truck it has to be reliable and do what I need it to do. With all the problems I've had with my last Chevy truck, and the flawlessness of my wife's last two Honda's...........We'll see. I'm still struggling with the decision.

 

Not by too much. Avalance is about 2" wider and 1" taller

I'd trust a Chevy truck for reliability over a Honda. I know many people with very old Chevys or ones with 200,000mi. If you don't like Chevy, buy a Ford.

 

I think a Avalanche style vehicle based on the COLORADO chassis would be a perfect vehicle for this Genre. The I5 gives plenty of power and FUEL ECONOMY which the standard avalanche is kind of lacking. Wouldn't be so damn big so you could actually convince your wife to drive it.

With the Avalanche and one based on the Colorado chassis ("Snow Drift" ) I think GM could eliminate the Honda Ridgeline buyers and convert them over to the Force...

 

June price for Av=$26,663.45

June price for Envoy XUV=$$24,317.50

You make the call on which of all the available vehicles is a better deal.

 

isn't that the H3?