Honestly, the only thing that both my wife and I dislike about our new Honda Ridgeline are the dealer added steps/running boards to get in and out of the truck. For me and her they actually inhibit our ability because it seems that you always are rubbing the back of your leg against them as you get in or out unless you use them as a step which neither of us need.
They can always be removed. It’s just a few bolts holding them on. I would not have bought that option. But once it’s on there, you have to fight like crazy to get him to remove it.
Rams
That’s funny, I was actually considering having the running boards installed for my wife, she stands at about 5’6” and uses the running boards on the van all the time. We have a ‘03 Honda Element which she struggles a bit to get in and out of but it looks as though the Ridgeline is a little lower.
like others have said is comfy and easy to get in and out not too high like a full sized half ton truck not too low like most cars. My 1/2 ton truck never thought I would need running boards but last few years I have finally got a set of running boards bolted on, and use them all the time to climb up in. Came in handy last year for sure getting in the day after got done with my hip replacement surgery. Was much easier to get in/out with the running boards since without impossible to get up there and our 1st smaller SUV was too tight to fit in bending my legs in even with the seat all the way back.
I believe is the only mid sized truck that realistically will get on avg over 20 mpg besides the santa cruz and ford maverick, if you wanna call them trucks? If the ridgeline had a 6 ft bed, I would buy one if found a good deal on one. I was looking at them when 1st came out and were under 30K new could get one for out the door, no longer the case 40K is a bit much or more nowadays for a new ridgeline, at least for me.
Believe me I’m not thrilled to cut a check for the cost of a new one, but at this stage I don’t really know if I want a used vehicle.
I’ve had my van for about 18 years and it served us well. It’s a stock 7 passenger vehicle…4 captains chairs and a rear bench seat, dual A/C and even a video tape player with roof mounter tv screens. It was a nice truck for the 5 of us. Now it’s showing its age with a little rust and developing some quirks that I don’t feel like chasing down, it’s a little piggy on gas and on long road trips my wife has a tendency to get a little car sick. She has Ménière’s disease and it can be bothersome on longer trips. We are almost empty nesters and don’t shuttle around the 5 of us anymore too often, but it is nice if we all go out together when they’re all home and now with fiancés for my son and daughter, so that make 7 total. It could squeeze 8 if absolutely necessary but someone would go w/o a seatbelt on the rear bench seat.
Finally, the front passenger leg room is tight. It’s a van with the doghouse up front so for the driver and passenger it very restrictive, she can push her seat back pretty far but your legs and feet are basically straight forward.
We've have a 06' model that been in the family all its life. Our oldest son was handicapped (no right leg) and this was his vehicle. Really like the bed storage, 22 mpg., very strong engine with no oil consumption with 187,000 mi. when it went to our grandson and they fully restored it pretty much mechanically the past 2 yrs.
I wished I liked my GMC Sierra as much as I liked the Ridgeline. A truck is a tool thus 80% of the population doesn't need a full on truck with low gas mileage. Yeah I'm one those but at the time I purchased it a Ridgeline would have been more than enough and do pretty good job towing also.
Our son he lost his leg in a MC accident @ 19 yrs. old. It worked for him really well packing all his gear for wheel chair basketball 14 yrs. He was 6'6"/low wasted and fit really well w/o issue. We lost him January of 00' due to life and bad health from the leg loss over the years. He was a member of the 96' Para Olympic basketball team. RIP son.
Thanks for that info and I’m very sorry about the loss of your son. I’ve heard excellent things about the Para Olympics over the years and glad he found some enjoyment out of the program.
I have no plans on using it as a work truck but it’s nice to be able to have something to go to the lumber yard or Home Depot/Lowes/hardware store and not have to worry about putting stuff like paint or anything else inside the car or trunk.
I think I will get one of those flat bed covers that are foldable if we make the purchase.
I went past the local Honda dealer that has a couple on the lot but many of the cars toward the back were still snow covered and I didn’t feel like hanging around or walking the lot today, it’s still cold and windy. The cars on the road frontage were cleared for the public to see.
Thanks again for all the info, this is good stuff.
