One of these pulled up at my workplace today and I can not get over how stupid they look and that got me thinking, who thought making a shittier version of an Odyssey was a good idea.
This thing can’t be useful as a truck, can’t seat as many as a van, costs $50k and burns more gas then an Odyssey (10l/100km hwy vs 8l/100km hwy). Does anyone who drives these things think they are hot shit?
Honestly the reason all these super big trucks exist now, instead of the small ones, is corporations getting around the spirit of the law, by following the letter of the law. When they tightened emissions controls around trucks, the way to get looser emissions was a larger truck. So they super-sized them and here we are today, with these stupid monstrosities.
The more I look at the new big little trucks the more I can not believe the bad fuel economy being sold as green-eco-greatness in these things.
A sibling of mine gets to use a fleet truck though work and they got a new ford platinum 1/2 ton truck, stupid fancy. That thing gets 12 to 14 liters per 100k, and that is not great but not bad. But the kicker is THIS THING IS A HYBRID! how does a 1/2 ton truck costing $100k with so much tech and eco marketing not even compete with a b2000 mazda from 1988 (supposed to be the same class fyi)?
I have a ridgeline. I’m no way do I think I’m hot shit? I’m fact, I get shit for it not being a “real” truck. Odysseys have been on back order for years. You literally can’t buy one (this may have changed recently but that was a big part of why I ended up getting the ridgeline last year). I don’t understand your statement about how it’s not useful as a truck. I regularly have to move 4x8 sheet goods and it works just fine. When I was looking at cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs you’d be surprised at how many can’t do that. It’ll tow our family tent trailer, but not much else. It moves our family of 4 and dog. I don’t need all the seats a van provided. It has a little v6, not a hybrid like the mini van. Of course it won’t get the same fuel economy. Getting more than 20 mpg is pretty good for all the utility it provides. Also the top of the line “black” edition is 50k. I think starting msrp is 38k.
The ridgeline is a step in the right direction. It is the least amount a truck that a truck can be. Every ridgeline sold is an f150 that isn’t. You picked a weird thing to be mad at.
The one that was out front had a 4" or less bed. How do you move 4x8 sheets without it hanging out the back? (at that point a van makes a better truck).
I am not in the states so 50k is the base price I looked up here. I have a 3/4 shitbox truck with a v8 that is carbureted (for yard work and towing a 5th wheel a few times a year) it gets better fuel economy then this, please tell me you don’t think this is good on gas.
The 4 doors I’ve seen have around a 5’ bed (the newest ridgline is just over 5’), put down the tailgate and you get close enough to 8’ and then use some straps. The honda ridgline would probably be suitable for the majority of personal truck owners. If you use your ford F-teen-thousand that’s great, but for every one of you there are 3 “don’t scratch my rhino lined bed” mall cowboys.
I do agree that most people who buy trucks or SUVs should just buy a van though. Vans are awesome and people who think they are too cool to drive them are wrong. Vans are too cool for you.
Those ford F-teen-thousands also have the odd super short bed. I guess I just wish for the olden tiny trucks like the VW one based on the rabbit.
As a Subaru Baja owner, I disagree with your opinion. I’ve been able to safely haul 100 lbs propane tanks, as I feel much safer placing the tanks in the small bed than keeping it in the enclosed cabin of an Outback (or Odyssey). Upgraded the rear strut assemblies to mitigate the sag while carrying 20 bags of 40 lbs of wood pellets. The small bed lets me throw down a tarp and carry a reasonable amount of compost/manure without smelling up the cabin.
It also goes like a raped ape in snow. I find myself having a “snickers craving” during a winter snowstorm, just for the excuse to go driving to the grocery store (if they’re still open), hopefully finding someone to pull out of the ditch along the way.
I much prefer the boxer engine in the Subaru over the setup in the Honda (or Hyundai), but to each their own.
I like the Baja, this “thing” is not a Baja. It is so far from anything like that that it confuses me that you think that they are even in the same category.
I’d like to know why you think they’re not in the same category as both are:
- unibody, not body on frame.
- four door crew cab
- small bed
- Limited capacity, compared to a “real” pickup truck
With the center console in the rear seat, the Baja can only seat four compared to the Ridgeline’s five. The Ridgeline can tow significantly more; bed weight capacity is a bit more as well.
Obviously the styling is wildly different: the Baja is based of a decades old gen station wagon, whereas the Ridgeline is following the modern big beefy SUV trend. Maybe that’s where you’re coming from?
I bought one and while I with they had a version that was compact sized instead of midsized, your hot take is terrible.
It is expensive, but my cars prior to it were a used 1992 Civic si I owned from 2001 till 2014, then I drove our 2005 Camry from 2014 till Dec 2022.
When buying a new car I wanted two primary things: a decent AWD ride and a bed I could put nasty stuff in and hose out after, like mulch and dirt. Something that did not work with enclosed spaces. I tried a few light trucks and they handled poorly or seemed cheaply made. The Tacoma has apparently needed to continue growing and is almost a full size now, too tall. The Ridgeline was the smallest one that seemed well made, had a decent ride, and has a bed I could hose out.
It sits lower than other trucks, so I generally feel small compared to other trucks. No idea why you think it is huge. Don’t think I am hot shit, just someone who couldn’t find a well made light truck and settled for the closest thing.
On a side note, it works perfectly fine as a truck and nobody buys trucks to seat 8 people.
I said it looks silly and I am confused why someone made it.
I do feel your pain of not having any choice of a small truck, but this thing is silly.
Honestly I would love a compact fully electric or hybrid truck that gets better mileage but rides the same as a car with a bed in the back. A two seater or with a short back seat to load stuff in the cab so it is shorter would be even better!
Thoughts on the ford maverick? As someone who doesn’t know trucks, unibody hybrid seems to be the right fit for you.
A new Transit (at it’s smallest) in North America would be…
- 12" taller
- 10" longer
- 3" wider
- $6,000 more expensive comparing base sticker prices (Cargo)
- $11,000 more expensive comparing base sticker prices (Passenger)
- Use 20-30% more fuel (using Fuelly data to estimate)
This is what grinds my gears about people saying to get a minivan instead of a mid-size crossover - yes I get ego is something to get past but MINIVAN’S ARE 80" WIDE THESE DAYS.
In fact, if that person bought an Odyssey instead of a Ridgeline, they’d net a total difference of five inches of length.
Yes, as has been pointed out buying an Odyssey would have been better, not that the Odyssey is good (also hate the enbiggening of minivans). I think people buying ridgelines are driving them empty and without passagers (like almost all trucks in north america), but are trying to justify having a truck. This thing is basically the “just the tip” of trucks.
If you have use of a truck bed, you likely are not buying this. If you think you would like the option of a truck bed then you are likely buying this.
My favorite part is that the Odyssey can store larger items because of the removable back seats. If you need to move a fridge, don’t call the guy who owns a truck, call the guy who owns an Odyssey.
You probably don’t want mulch in your odyssey though. So call the guy with the truck if you’re buying mulch.
I’ve done mulch in an Odyssey, just lay out a tarp. Most tarps are already bigger than a modern truckbed too.
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