Ridgeline spotting

"and 100 more" (nth256)
08/09/2016 at 11:01 • Filed to: None

Saw a 2017 Ridgeline in the wild recently.

From this angle: very truck-like!

I only saw it briefly, across two lanes of traffic. But my initial impression was... disappointment. I mean, it didn’t look bad , but in-person you can clearly see the Odyssey DNA. In profile, with stock (read: small) wheels it looked like an Ody with the rear roof chopped off. Which makes me sad, since that’s the argument every truck-bro has been making - It’s just a minivan with a bed. The proportions are just a tad wonky, and in passing, it looked just like a minivan with a bed.

From this angle: modded minivan. :(

I still think it’s a good looking vehicle, in general. I think it’s a great concept. I’m looking forward to seeing one lifted, with some upsized tires and maybe an old-school rollbar in the bed with some KCs on top.

I hope the next one i see redeems my initial appreciation for the design.

DISCUSSION (24)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 11:18

I want to see one as a rally car. It has to handle better than the body on frame trucks.

and 100 more > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
08/09/2016 at 11:21

It would probably look badass lowered a few inches with some rally-spec wheels, fender flares, and sidepipes.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 11:24

Pilots and Odysseys look really good with a bit of a drop so I can’t wait unitl someone does a Bisimoto style build on one.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 11:25

Exactly. Which is why I’ve been saying Honda isn’t marketing it to the right people.

People who like trucks don’t want a minivan with a bed, no matter how capable it might be.

On the other hand, commercial buyers just want something to get the job done reliably, and the Ridgeline has enough capability to meet many buyers needs..

Ash78, voting early and often > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 11:29

It’s not bad, I’d call it an improvement, but they really phoned it in on the styling (vs Pilot). It’s like a Pilot with the Sawzall treatment. Nothing unique, and to be honest, that old flying buttress really tied the truck together. And Honda peed on it.

and 100 more > Ash78, voting early and often
08/09/2016 at 11:32

I really, really want to see one with a rollbar in the bed now:

Kinja'd!!!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Ash78, voting early and often
08/09/2016 at 11:41

The old one looked far more correct. This one looks better from a few angles and falls flat on it’s face when taken as a whole.

DynamicWeight > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 11:42

I saw one in the parking lot at the movie theatre this weekend. Gave me a chance to get up close to it. Yeah, it’s ugly. For sure. Looks worse than the old Ridgeline. It really does look like a Pilot with the back end cut off. Makes me glad I got my Tacoma. I had been worried I had jumped the gun by not waiting to see the Ridgeline... nope. Even my gf said the box looked small.

So annoying, because I think I’m the perfect candidate for a UTE... just not that ute .

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 12:06

This is one of the reasons I don’t like it. The old one looked a bit strange, but okay, sure, it’s Honda’s first semi-conventional pickup, so I guess it would be. This one looks like a DIY hack-job. A very well done hack-job, but a hack-job nevertheless.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 13:01

I just saw one last night, looked nice.

Kinja'd!!!

and 100 more > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
08/09/2016 at 13:15

They do look nice.

I guess my issue is my own preconcieved notions of what it’s supposed to look like.

Pistol Whipped Cream > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 13:20

My dad and I just went and looked at them at the dealer. Those of you in Canada should be happy to know it has a rear windscreen defroster (the Taco does not). I liked it, the interior was a bit cheap looking (all cars today). I just thought there was way too much plastic on the outside for my liking. Paint the whole thing please.

Saracen > and 100 more
08/09/2016 at 13:34

We had an ‘07 Ridgeline in the family, that my dad bought new. It was the fully loaded one, RTL I think.

At first I didn’t like it, but when the time came that I actually needed a truck, I really came to appreciate it. It was a third car for my parents, so I had the ability to use it whenever I needed it, so it got used several times a year, carrying lots of stuff.

It was VERY comfortable, smooth and quiet. It was ridiculously reliable. I loved the trunk under the bed. The rear cab was roomy enough for passengers or stuff. It was no hardcore offroader, but traction and capability were good enough for %95 of truck buyers.

I only had two problems with it aside from its looks: The bed needed to be at least a foot longer, and it desperately needed more torque. I missed the truck since my dad sold it (I think he regrets it too), but those issues were enough to keep me from looking at a used Ridgeline for myself.

I don’t like the fact that the new Ridgeline looks like a Pilot. I actually prefer the looks of our old one. Yeah, it was fugly, but it was at least chunky and blocky like a truck should be. The new one really does look like a Odyssey or a Pilot that got the Sawzall treatment.