Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
04-14-2005, 12:37 PM
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Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
http://info.detnews.com/autosconsume...x.cfm?id=19285
I wonder, if this were a Ford or Chevy badged vehicle, would it get higher than 2 stars?
Their insinuation that this "truck" will start a revolution in how we build and buy pickups is laughable. The cheap plastics on the interior that Scott mentioned in his 3 part thread on press bias were (surprise!) not mentioned in this review. The lack of a V8 for such a large and heavy truck was also briefly mentioned but did not hurt the Ridgeline's rating....odd, because the yuppy Leinert couple's review of the Chevy Colorado BLASTED it for not having an available V8 and its overall rating suffered because of it.
5 star vehicle because of trick "cubby holes". Memo to GM: Make the GMT-900s soft, V6 only and have lots of places where mommy can store her purse. Seems to be the way to build a "truck of the year" candidate these days. 
I wonder, if this were a Ford or Chevy badged vehicle, would it get higher than 2 stars?
Their insinuation that this "truck" will start a revolution in how we build and buy pickups is laughable. The cheap plastics on the interior that Scott mentioned in his 3 part thread on press bias were (surprise!) not mentioned in this review. The lack of a V8 for such a large and heavy truck was also briefly mentioned but did not hurt the Ridgeline's rating....odd, because the yuppy Leinert couple's review of the Chevy Colorado BLASTED it for not having an available V8 and its overall rating suffered because of it.5 star vehicle because of trick "cubby holes".
Memo to GM: Make the GMT-900s soft, V6 only and have lots of places where mommy can store her purse. Seems to be the way to build a "truck of the year" candidate these days.
04-14-2005, 12:42 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Take the Ridgeline, remove the "H" on the grille, put a Bowtie there, and it'd be ridiculed to no end....
Take the Colorado, remove the Bowtie, and insert the "H", and it'd be the new segment busting mid-size truck of the decade...
Take the Colorado, remove the Bowtie, and insert the "H", and it'd be the new segment busting mid-size truck of the decade...
04-14-2005, 12:55 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
FWD Minivan based trucks will start a revolution????
Ridgeline is very unimpressive and doesn't have the utility or power of an Avalanche.
It doesn't even have best fuel milage for a crew cab, that award goes to the Colorado.
Go sit in a new Tacoma then a Ridgeline, you will laugh your *** off at Honda. The trunk is a good idea on paper, but doesn't seem as practicle for everyday use like a car truck. Nissan made a great first try, and they still arn't meeting their sales goals, the Honda will flop, there are just too many other good trucks out there and the GMT900's are one the way.
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p.s. what ever happened to the baby Avalanche that was to be built????
Ridgeline is very unimpressive and doesn't have the utility or power of an Avalanche.
It doesn't even have best fuel milage for a crew cab, that award goes to the Colorado.
Go sit in a new Tacoma then a Ridgeline, you will laugh your *** off at Honda. The trunk is a good idea on paper, but doesn't seem as practicle for everyday use like a car truck. Nissan made a great first try, and they still arn't meeting their sales goals, the Honda will flop, there are just too many other good trucks out there and the GMT900's are one the way.
.
p.s. what ever happened to the baby Avalanche that was to be built????
04-14-2005, 01:15 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Anyone surprised? When was the last time a Honda product had recieved bad press coverage?? I don't even remember one.
I don't see it as world-class or that impressive a truck myself, but do see it as a decent truck. It'll handle light-duty, it has those neat storage compartments in the bed, and "Above all, it's a Honda"
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I don't see it as world-class or that impressive a truck myself, but do see it as a decent truck. It'll handle light-duty, it has those neat storage compartments in the bed, and "Above all, it's a Honda"
.
04-14-2005, 01:18 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
Anyone surprised? When was the last time a Honda product had recieved bad press coverage?? I don't even remember one.
I don't see it as world-class or that impressive a truck myself, but do see it as a decent truck. It'll handle light-duty, it has those neat storage compartments in the bed, and "Above all, it's a Honda".
I don't see it as world-class or that impressive a truck myself, but do see it as a decent truck. It'll handle light-duty, it has those neat storage compartments in the bed, and "Above all, it's a Honda"
.when was the last time a honda product was released that should have had bad press coverage?
Last edited by anasazi; 04-14-2005 at 01:28 PM.
04-14-2005, 01:27 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Originally Posted by anasazi
not that i like the ridgeline, but just to play devil's advocate here ...
when was the last time a honda product was released that should have had bad press coverage such as this?
when was the last time a honda product was released that should have had bad press coverage such as this?
But Honda in general has a good track record with safety, reliability, and quality, and the media definitly has a positive outlook on Honda products in general. Same with Toyota's, and the media turns the other way when they see faults with them. You'll almost never see them get called out.
04-14-2005, 01:35 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
2001 Civic and the 6 or so recalls it had is one. CRV fires and Honda blaming it on techs instead of a faulty design definetly didn't get the coverage it deserved.
But Honda in general has a good track record with safety, reliability, and quality, and the media definitly has a positive outlook on Honda products in general. Same with Toyota's, and the media turns the other way when they see faults with them. You'll almost never see them get called out.
But Honda in general has a good track record with safety, reliability, and quality, and the media definitly has a positive outlook on Honda products in general. Same with Toyota's, and the media turns the other way when they see faults with them. You'll almost never see them get called out.
and the CRV issue most likely wouldn't have been well known just a few months after the release.
just like this ridgeline might have issues that won't be well known until later in the year...
just playing devil's advocate here
04-14-2005, 01:56 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Drop a load of bricks on that "trunk" the first time and its all over. This isn't any kind of "truck" in the real sense of the word. This is a pseudo-truck for the bi-costal yuppie set, not any sort of real work vehicle.
That would be obvious to anybody except of course bi-costal media types, LOL.
That would be obvious to anybody except of course bi-costal media types, LOL.
04-14-2005, 02:00 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
I swear people can't drive anymore. ABS, Tractio Control, and Stability control. For Christ's sake, I drove a body on frame, no ABS, open diferential, rear drive car in crappy weathere for years. NO VANITY MIRROR. It's a f***ing truck.
04-14-2005, 02:13 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
It's made by honda isn't it, well then it must be world class! I guess I better run down to the dealer and get me one, cuz jo blow the yuppie idiot reporter says so! Wouldn't want to miss out on the freakin' revolution. Funny, first thing I thought of when I saw the ads was, wow a baby Avalanche! What a friggin' ripoff. 
Here's an idea for ya GM, get rid of the silly Bowties(NOT) and start puttin' an H in the grille... 
You'll never get a bad review. 
Its to the point where you know what a review of a given vehicle will be before you even read it. Simple made by GM=bad review, made by a foriegn company=good review... see its simple no need to read anymore car/truck reviews. If you like what you see in an ad, go to the dealer and see for yourself. Don't trust these slimeballz to tell you what to buy.
I guess I better run down to the dealer and get me one, cuz jo blow the yuppie idiot reporter says so! Wouldn't want to miss out on the freakin' revolution. Funny, first thing I thought of when I saw the ads was, wow a baby Avalanche! What a friggin' ripoff. Here's an idea for ya GM, get rid of the silly Bowties(NOT) and start puttin' an H in the grille... You'll never get a bad review. Its to the point where you know what a review of a given vehicle will be before you even read it. Simple made by GM=bad review, made by a foriegn company=good review... see its simple no need to read anymore car/truck reviews. If you like what you see in an ad, go to the dealer and see for yourself. Don't trust these slimeballz to tell you what to buy.
04-14-2005, 02:22 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
Originally Posted by SSCamaro99_3
I swear people can't drive anymore. ABS, Tractio Control, and Stability control. For Christ's sake, I drove a body on frame, no ABS, open diferential, rear drive car in crappy weathere for years. NO VANITY MIRROR. It's a f***ing truck.
04-14-2005, 03:17 PM
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Re: Is the Honda Ridgeline a world class truck? The Detroit News thinks so
If you think its a media darling now wait until they bring out a hybrid version. It will be all about why can't the other truck makers create such environmentally responsible trucks....
Of course those articles are only written by people that have never used a truck in the real sense anway.
Of course those articles are only written by people that have never used a truck in the real sense anway.