2017 Ridgeline and 2015 Land Cruiser - review

[D21FJ60]

That's a good point...I had a 86.5 hardbody for a little over a year and drove it prolly 15k miles all over, after I sold it i realized the spare wheel was mostly rust and very likely the chain had rusted to the spare wheel mount.
To keep it semi-tech, how does the ride height compare to a stock 200? Any plans to mount a/t's on it?

 

[M1911]

I hear you, and that makes sense. But, I don't consider the Ridgeline to be something built for off-roading - certainly not the way I think of off-roading! I wouldn't try Hell's Revenge with it. I figure that mini spare will get me to a tire shop no problem.

I take my SUVs out on the beach. I may be 4 miles up the beach from the entry. If I have a flat tire and a full-size spare, I can swap on the spare, air-down, and drive my way out without getting stuck. But I'm not confident that a space-saver spare would get me out. I suspect that the space-saver spare would dig down into the sand and get me stuck. Getting towed 4 miles out to get off the beach would just completely suck, particularly if I was fishing at night (in which case I wouldn't get towed out until the next morning).

It has been a long time since I've had a flat since my vehicles have tall sidewalls. The Mrs. can't say the same, unfortunately (damn 45 series tires!). But I hate the idea of being out in the wilds and not having a real spare.

 

[ryanCA]

I hear you, and that makes sense. But, I don't consider the Ridgeline to be something built for off-roading - certainly not the way I think of off-roading! I wouldn't try Hell's Revenge with it. I figure that mini spare will get me to a tire shop no problem.

A lot of cars don't even have spares! My last Lexus had a patch kit and a note that said "good luck."

As for the capability question - that's a big one. A big part of selling vehicles--and particularly pickup trucks--is selling a "lifestyle" and answering the "what if" questions about use. Like "what if I need to tow a house?" You're selling the "possibilities." But in reality, I think we all know that most jeeps don't hit the trails. Most pickup trucks don't tow or haul. Most 200's don't get modded and run trails in Moab. But I get that too--there's nothing wrong with buying what makes you happy. If a lifted super-duty diesel with truck nuts is your thing, go for it!

Well said. We like to kick people who buy $85,000 Ford Dually and not use the capability.

There are 13 LX/LC 200 series I see in a 1 mile radius. Yes I am weird that I note the plate number, and most of them I see at the school/grocery store. Except for 2 of us, all are mall queens, and they are buying the "capability" of the 200, just like the Ford Dually truck owner is buying capability.

My wife's 16 LX is a total mall queen, as was her LX470 prior and the LX450 before that.

Heck my sports cars and motorcycles are the same too. I go to the track 3-4 times a year, rest of the year I use those same way I can use a Toyota Yaris instead.

But who wants to be in a Yaris

Buy what makes you happy. This is AMERICA!

 

[M1911]

Well said. We like to kick people who buy $85,000 Ford Dually and not use the capability.

I don't have a problem with that. Most people who own a Porsche 911 don't ever track it either. So what?

For me, however, the full size pickups (even the "light duty" pickups) have gotten so darn enormous that they just don't work for me. I commute to Cambridge, MA every day, and even the 200 is a bit of an elephant in the parking garage at work. An F-150 long bed? He would be backing and filling at every corner of the garage. A crew cab dually? He wouldn't fit through the entry gate.

 

[ryanCA]

I don't have a problem with that. Most people who own a Porsche 911 don't ever track it either. So what?

For me, however, the full size pickups (even the "light duty" pickups) have gotten so darn enormous that they just don't work for me. I commute to Cambridge, MA every day, and even the 200 is a bit of an elephant in the parking garage at work. An F-15 long bed? He would be backing and filling at every corner of the garage. A crew cab dually? He wouldn't fit through the entry gate.

Agree 100%. Those trucks don't work for me.

I worked at 1 Beacon, in Beacon Hill, MA for 8 years. No way a truck would fit in the underground lot. Then again most people had Lambos, R8s, and Continentals, and those are big wide things. Not sure I would be comfortable giving them a lambo to the valet the way they used to pack them like sardines.

I had a 99 Tacoma. My 17 Taco is way bigger. Any bigger, I couldn't get through the gate at work as you said.

What intrigues me, is are consumers demanding bigger and better, or are manufacturers creating them for the market? I guess the ole chicken or the egg argument.

 

[wardharris]

Since this has turned into something of a group tech hijack, I will say that as much as I respect the new Tacomas, I went out of my way to find a creampuff one-owner 15 years old due to size for wheeling and parking lots. I could easily have found a much newer rig in later version or new for near the same money as I have in the 2002 shop truck, but it is the right size and has three pedals......

 

[Canyonero]

That's a good point...I had a 86.5 hardbody for a little over a year and drove it prolly 15k miles all over, after I sold it i realized the spare wheel was mostly rust and very likely the chain had rusted to the spare wheel mount.
To keep it semi-tech, how does the ride height compare to a stock 200? Any plans to mount a/t's on it?

Ride height is lower (LC is lifted and has 33's, I don't remember stock height) in the Ridgeline - basically you slide across into the truck vs. stepping up.

I think I'm going to keep the Ridgeline stock. I threw on the OEM Honda tonneau cover, tinted the windows and threw in weathertech floormats, but other than that I think I'm good to go with it. The bed is already made of some kind of composite (unobtanium, most likely) and won't scratch or dent.

Also cool, 1500 pound payload.

 

[Itsky]

Thanks for sharing your experiences on the ridgeline. It's a pretty interesting vehicle! I had the chance to drive one the other day and was sort of blown away how much I liked it.

For a family road trip, without a need for 4LO, it looks pretty ideal. I'm looking forward to reading about your continued experiences.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

This thread is another great example seeing things from different views, and seeing positive results. It's good for all of us not to get fixated on just the 200, and forgetting ourselves that it has its own set of limitations.

For me, sometimes needing a truck bed on the weekends and going to work everyday. I found that instead of spending around 30k for a new truck, I bought a $2k Jetta that won't bother me when it gets wrecked/scratched/dented from daily driving and a $2k utility trailer that doesn't have a body to get scratched/dented and has a payload double that of the Ridgeline. It was overall significantly cheaper including fuel cost over the new truck. But that worked for me, it's not the right answer for everyone.

Thanks @Canyonero for posting something like this, it keeps the dialogue of widening everyone's views.

 

[LBridges]

...

Heck my sports cars and motorcycles are the same too. I go to the track 3-4 times a year, rest of the year I use those same way I can use a Toyota Yaris instead.

But who wants to be in a Yaris

Buy what makes you happy. This is AMERICA!

It seems Toyota may be getting the message to be more adventurous (like coming back to World Rally Cup Racing). Have you seen the promised 200+ HP Yaris GRMN?

 

[ryanCA]

It seems Toyota may be getting the message to be more adventurous (like coming back to World Rally Cup Racing). Have you seen the promised 200+ HP Yaris GRMN?

Ya saw that

They also said new mr2 is coming now that Supra is almost ready

 

[slowride]

Not a huge fan of the Ridgeline, but it does have a niche, and that gas mileage is great. I personally would not get a new Tacoma. The powertrain in the Tacoma leaves a lot to be desired, and needs some tweaking. I test drove four 2017 Tacomas (all autos), and the transmission does not like to hold a gear. Leaves a lot to be desired. I was pretty set on getting a Tacoma until those test drives. It was ultimately what caused me to look at a used 200 series instead.

Yes, I agree about the Tacoma... I had one on order a Off Road, Four door, Long bed, with the JBL Nav Package, $40K+... The reviews comments on The Tacoma World forums made me give up on the Taco for the time being... The problems and poor power train/tranny design have placed it on Consumer Reports no no list... Gotta make Tacoma's head engineer Mike Swears proud...

The Ridgeline is the better logical choice without a doubt. but you have to give up your man card. Whereas, the Tacoma is a cool boy toy truck that you can really dress up to make it your own... Hopefully, Toyoda will work out the bugs in a few years... and even put a height adjustable manual drivers seat from a $16,000 Yaris in it...

Jeff

 

[Canyonero]

If your "man card" is tied to your truck choice... well, that kind of insecurity doesn't seem too manly.

 

[Markuson]

If your "man card" is tied to your truck choice... well, that kind of insecurity doesn't seem too manly.

Just gotta say...
Canyonero is one heck of a legit dude.
No card required to verify.

 

[Redbull]

I don't like the new styling but I love that trunk in the bed. Typical Honda-clever design. It reminds me of when Honda Debuted the fold flat 3rd row on the 2nd gen Odyssey and sold hundreds of thousands of Odyssey's at MSRP.

Thanks for the review.

 

[slowride]

If your "man card" is tied to your truck choice... well, that kind of insecurity doesn't seem too manly.

Nah, didn't mean it in a disrespectful way at all... I like the Ridgeline in just about everyway over the Tacoma, if you had to drive 2,000 miles in a Tacoma or Ridgeline, there's no comparison between the two... the Ridgeline is the clear winner... When your hauling "air" in the bed 90% of the time the Ridgeline is the way to go, but the Ridgeline doesn't get the truck "ego stroke" some of the other's Tacoma, Canyonrado and even frontier get at the present time...

I'm a big Honda fan to say the least currently owning a NSX, TSX sportwagon and Pilot... I was lucky enough to be at the Transportation Research Center "TRC" in Liberty, Ohio 2+ years ago when the Ridgeline was being test muled in full black camo among many other unmentionable projects.

The Ridgeline is on my list of contenders if Toyoda doesn't step it up with the Taco sooon...

Jeff

 

[mcgaskins]

If your "man card" is tied to your truck choice... well, that kind of insecurity doesn't seem too manly.

Your review makes me want to own one as a daily driver no joke. Anyone who thinks you forfeit your man card to own a Ridgeline has been drinking the koolaid.

 

[RickC5]

Having owned TWO previous generation Ridgelines (and several Tacomas), I can say that the Ridgeline is an excellent highway vehicle, even with four adults in the cab--lots of room. But, they aren't meant for off-roading. Minimal ground clearance, and that's right in the middle of the truck. Plus, there were "things" hanging down underneath with no type of protection--surprised I didn't rip them off when attempting a bit of off-roading here in Western Colorado. Only did that twice and couldn't stand the scraping noises from underneath. Anyway, while the Ridgeline is a very capable car (just a Pilot with a bed), it shouldn't be compared to a Tacoma, as there's simply no comparison. Two completely different vehicles. That's my story & I'm stickin' to it.

 

[Canyonero]

I posted that earlier - and I agree - if you take the Ridgeline off road, you're doing it wrong. I'm surprised anyone would even attempt to take a Ridgeline off road. It's important to know what your vehicle is designed for.

But that also doesn't make it an apples to oranges comparison with the Tacoma or any other mid-size truck. Even though the Tacoma is more capable off road, we all know most of them aren't going to see more than a dirt road. So, outside of that difference, their use (Ridgeline or any other compact truck)will be similar most of the time. And outside of the off roading, that's where the Ridgeline shines in my opinion.

Honda probably doesn't have the resources to offer every configuration of truck the market might want, so with the Ridgeline, they offer the single configuration their data indicates the overwhelming majority of truck owners will need.

There are a lot of great truck options, I don't thing one is "right" or "wrong." I was all over the place before landing on the Ridgeline--Tacoma, F-150, Tundra (again), and I briefly looked at the GM twins (not a fan of the interior design and my opinions on GM build quality have been expressed elsewhere.)

With this thread I was just intending to shed light on my ownership experience as a 200 series owner, knowing there are probably others that recognize the limitations of an SUV, no matter how awesome it is.

 

[Itsky]

Any updates?