Comments on: Honda not planning Tundra rival

By: TheDeal

TheDeal — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 04:12:15 +0000

Sounds like Honda has the smarts to keep building what people are buying these days. Ford, GM and Dodge flooded the market with huge gas guzzling trucks and SUVs when oil was cheap…reminds me of 1973 again. Maybe Ford will build the Pinto again and Chevy can dust off their Vega?

By: kevin

kevin — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:16:14 +0000

shame its a nice looking car

By: tim

tim — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:52:53 +0000

aznstaurt, not sure where you got your info on a v-8 Ridgeline , but that is not in the works as it defeats the purpose of the Ridgeline. It already gets equal to v-8 mileage now. A v-6 diesel has been discussed if in fact diesels show they would do well in America. Keep in mind, the Ridgline, Just like the Pilot(which sales are off this year) were designed , built and marketed for the United States. Just like the Toyota Tundra, Avalon, Seqouia, Nissan Armada and Titan. The Ridgeline is a specialty vehicle and in no way will replace any fullsize truck as once again it is not a fullsize truck to begin with. Downriver Outline Point, You obvioulsy have a problem with freedom as last time I checked we all can drive what we choose to in America. Only a loser who still lives with his Mommy puts immature comments like that on a web forum.
I don’t see people crosshopping for trucks looking at a Ridgeline and a fullsize to compare, they are different for different people.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:11:23 +0000

“Isn’t that what they said when crossovers like the Pilot and Highlander first came out? “They can’t beat the Explorer because of towing capacity and off-road abliy.” And what is happening this year as we speak?–crossover SUV sales are over-taking body on frame SUVs.”

That is why I said “for labor purposes”. As stated, I can see the Ridgeline gaining in sales like the Pilot but I highly doubt the day that I will see it (as it is now) @ construction sites or even @ Home Depot carrying anything other than some bags of mulch. I just have a hard time seeing men buying that thing to go off road (where Honda even states its capabilities are limited) or hauling really heavy loads (which it cannot).

The Ridgeline & the F150 are 2 different animals to me but that is not to say people will not crossshop. However, bc some people actually use the F150 as it was intended (not like the soccer moms driving SUVs for no reason other than going to the mall) I do not see the Ridgeline outselling the F150. Maybe I am wrong … I hope I am but I doubt it.

By: VB

VB — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 04:00:05 +0000

I think John Mendel has it right. Efficiency is the name of the game, folks. Honda had the answer for the last 30+ years. They’re concentrating on what they do best. To be profitable, you have to come out with the right product at the right time. Full size pickups and SUVs definitely have their place and purpose, but if that’s where GM and Ford spends the bulk of their development dollars, it’s gonna be hard as hell to move those things when the gas is over $3 a gallon AND the cost of a fill-up is $75. Let’s not get into how long that tank of gas will last. Why should Honda get involved with that?

By: aznstuart

aznstuart — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 02:30:22 +0000

“Vehicles like it may take off like crossover SUVs but they will never be able to replace a truck that is used for labor purposes.”

Isn’t that what they said when crossovers like the Pilot and Highlander first came out? “They can’t beat the Explorer because of towing capacity and off-road abliy.” And what is happening this year as we speak?–crossover SUV sales are over-taking body on frame SUVs.

FYI, the Ridgeline will be getting V6 diesels and a V8 in the next 3-4 years.

Watch, when Ford redesigns the F150 in 2009, it will come with an IRS and Ford’s version of an In-bed trunk. If people really need a work truck they can get an F250 or higher.

By: Heiney Love

Heiney Love — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:07:42 +0000

The ridgeline was never going to cut it because of its looks

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:37:29 +0000

Ridgeline has won a lot of awards but mostly bc of its innovative features & ride quality. Vehicles like it may take off like crossover SUVs but they will never be able to replace a truck that is actually used for labor purposes.

By: saabaru

saabaru — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:24:17 +0000

Didn’t the Ridgeline receive MotorTrend’s 2006 Truck of the Year Award?

By: MM

MM — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 21:33:32 +0000

Not surprising, because a full size truck requires a V8, something Honda doesnt have. It’s probably a good idea not to design one anyway. It still awes me how Honda makes so few cars yet they are all considered best, or one of the tops in their segment. Probably their only car which has been considered less of a winner is the Ridgeline and Element.

By: tim

tim — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:24:09 +0000

The Ridgline, is priced like a loaded F-150 4 wheel drive, gets the same gas mileage, can not haul near as much and is front wheel drive based. Random Jerk you must be joking if you think this is where fullsize trucks are headed. The Ridgeline is not a fullsize truck anyway.
Fullsize truck sales have not been hurt near as much a SUV sales. Do your homework.

By: MGBYG

MGBYG — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:33:40 +0000

SIMPLE REASON WHY:

They don’t make a MINIVAN THAT LARGE to base it on!!!

geez

By: 1952 MG TD

1952 MG TD — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:15:51 +0000

the ridgeline is where pickups are headed? unibody, IFS, IRS, transverse v6? nope.

The ridgeline gets worse gas mileage than a v-8 tahoe!
the ridgeline gets worse mileage than an H3!!!!!
the ridgeline has less hp and torque than all other midsize trucks!!!

the ridgeline is not the answer. They found a small niche, I cannot think of any other manufacturer attempting to follow… and that is for a reason.

By: Renton

Renton — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:10:27 +0000

You can still have a small, lightweight,efficient V8, it would increase tow capacity and give the truck some needed street/work cred.

By: Random Jerk

Random Jerk — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:04:24 +0000

Large V8 power pick-ups will be a declining market with the current oil outlook. Why jump into a heavily saturated yet shrinking market? The Ridgeline is where pickups are headed, why would Honda go backwards?

By: R.C. Collins

R.C. Collins — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:52:23 +0000

Umm… well no shit. I would hope they would at least try to build a decent truck before attempting to build full size competition.

By: axel cortez

axel cortez — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:34:23 +0000

tehy have to stat somewhere to lear how to build a good pick up give them 5 or 6 years to learn how to build them and toyota will have serious competition and ford

By: Renton

Renton — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:27:34 +0000

otis wildflower, — That new HondaJet will pretty cool.

Honda makes great stuff. Too bad they forgot to build a V8.

By: otis wildflower

otis wildflower — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:15:15 +0000

“I do think they can get away with some high-end sports cars (NSX) as long as they are niche vehicles.”

Besides, they build race engines and sponsor IRL, so they have a heritage and demonstrated competence. Nissan can get away with a full-size truck since they started with trucks and have better diesel engineering.

I think Honda will compete with Bombardier or Gulfstream before they get into that segment.

By: JC Whitless

JC Whitless — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:11:36 +0000

Honda should be courting Ford and try to buy Jag…

That would give them the uber luxary brand they need…

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:10:53 +0000

Well, even Honda can do a better job than Toy Ota ever will, that’s for damn sure.

By: blue-coupe

blue-coupe — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:09:10 +0000

From a corporate mission perspective, Honda has no business in full-size truck market. It’s hard to say you’re building effecient vehicles when you’re moving a bunch of lumbering trucks.

I do think they can get away with some high-end sports cars (NSX) as long as they are niche vehicles.

By: 1952 MG TD

1952 MG TD — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:02:25 +0000

Honda knows it does not have the technology to go after that segment, and all that it requires. They do not have the tooling for solid frames. they do not have large engine sources, they do not have large deisel suppliers, they do not have transmission suppliers, they do not have the proper axle suppliers…etc.

I can see how it would cost honda too much to go after that segment, and I applaud their ability to realize it as well.

By: tino

tino — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:59:43 +0000

on all*

By: tino

tino — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:59:27 +0000

well thats good…because you know we don’t want honda to have a monopoly on vehicles