Well I saw my first Ridgeline on the road..
03-16-05, 05:57 AM
#17
Originally Posted by mmarshall
The Scion xB, IMO, has ANYTHING from Honda beat for ugliness...including the Element.
03-16-05, 06:33 AM
#18
EV ftw!!!
I haven't seen the Ridgeline yet, but I have to agree with you Mike, the Pilot, Element and CRV are sooooo butt ugly! 
03-16-05, 06:37 AM
#19
EV ftw!!!
Originally Posted by mmarshall
The Scion xB, IMO, has ANYTHING from Honda beat for ugliness...including the Element.
03-16-05, 10:02 AM
#20
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally Posted by mmarshall
The Scion xB, IMO, has ANYTHING from Honda beat for ugliness...including the Element.
03-16-05, 10:22 AM
#21
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
CR-V, ugly, again, not even fully painted. This is just an ungainly beast, avg power, but it again, sells 100k a year.
And I agree, the Ridgeline will be difficult to market. They can't sell to REAL pickup truck owners who need their truck for work. I guess they're trying to maket it for your soccer moms who also want to haul around stuff (X-mas tree? stuff from Home Depot??).
Last edited by Cadd; 03-16-05 at 10:37 AM.
03-16-05, 10:22 AM
#22
No offense, but I can not associate "truck" with "Honda". I'm being a little ignorant by saying that this ridgeline is wimpy looking. However the thing that gets me is in their ad where it says that it's "re-invented". What do they mean? It's just a copy cat of the Chevy avalanche 
03-16-05, 10:26 AM
#23
Originally Posted by mmarshall
And, Mike....that unpainted body cladding on the Element, CRV, and some similiar vehicles is not there just for "cheapness" sake. These vehicles are often operated in gravel, dirt, stones, salt, sand, abrasives, etc... and that vinyl / plastic cladding is there to absorb damage from road debris that would really do a number on painted surfaces there. In fact, I wish that the Subarus that I speak so highly of here on the forums would use a little more of it....they are driven under much the same conditions.
03-16-05, 10:35 AM
#24
Lexus Test Driver
Originally Posted by whipimpin
I doubt any of those "SUV"'s you listed actually make it offroad. Even owners of "real" SUV's rarely - if ever - take their vehicles off-road. My brother's Cherokee has been off-road numerous times and - aside from a few minor full-length scratches (he thought it would be a good idea to squeeze between two trees - turned out it wasn't) - his truck has sustained minimal damage.
I think I may be that 1% who enjoys having a little fun sometimes. Don't get wrong, this isn't exactly a Rubicon trail. But at least, I don't mind getting it dirty.
03-16-05, 07:44 PM
#26
Speaks French in Russian
Originally Posted by GS3Tek
No offense, but I can not associate "truck" with "Honda". I'm being a little ignorant by saying that this ridgeline is wimpy looking. However the thing that gets me is in their ad where it says that it's "re-invented". What do they mean? It's just a copy cat of the Chevy avalanche
)I however will defend it on this though. In regular Honda fashion, they always find a way to improve on something even if to some will be quite useless.
1. Its built on a Unibody frame which I think is a first for a pick up truck which in return gives you a smoother car like ride(something Honda cant get away from)
2. 4wheel Independent Suspension which also gives you a smoother ride and maybe lighter wieght
3. In bed trunk - Theres basically a big compartment under the bed to store stuff.( Ive read somewhere that Toyota might use something similar or might use those ramps that they displayed on the concept Tundra last year)
4. Dual Access Tailgate - It can either swing down or to the side which might prove to be convienient to some.
5. Composite Cargo Bed - Already introduced on the Tacoma
6. A somewhat fuel efficient engine.
I personally dont think that is reinventing a pick up, however just making a pickup more car like and more tuned for on road duty instead of trying to excel in both on and off road(Sorta like what the Rav4 and RX300 did when they were first introduced). Somethings I do find to be creative like the In bed trunk and Dual tailgate thing, but everything else is kinda wack. These are the features that will make this truck sell, and the Honda badge.
This "Utility Vehicle" probably would be more widely liked by us enthusiast if the styling was A LOT better. Even Bangle is luaghing at this monstrosity.
03-16-05, 08:18 PM
#27
Keeper of the light
iTrader: (17)
Originally Posted by Cadd
I agree, 99% of SUV owners do not see anything but local streets & the highway.
I think I may be that 1% who enjoys having a little fun sometimes. Don't get wrong, this isn't exactly a Rubicon trail. But at least, I don't mind getting it dirty.
I think I may be that 1% who enjoys having a little fun sometimes. Don't get wrong, this isn't exactly a Rubicon trail. But at least, I don't mind getting it dirty.
03-17-05, 03:53 AM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by flipside909
Well there's one thing the xB has beat on the Element, sales numbers.
Like the Element, though, the xB is selling mostly to a crowd whose average age is 10-15 years older than the marketers planned on.
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-17-05 at 03:58 AM.
03-17-05, 05:56 AM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by LexusChris
I disliked the Honda Element when it first came out but now I like it, I even thought about getting one......
Just don't expect it to appeal to Corvette and Viper people, though.