Ridgeline vs. Silverado

[crystal]

My truck replaces my old '04 Silverado because I had to smash that one up.
Things I like better about the Honda: Comfort. Visability to the front and sides. Layout inside. Reliable at 40 000 k. Trunk. Tows the polaris and the quad as well as the 305 ci chev. Quieter at speed. Traction on ice, (Highways in North get frost heave & sun baked but not maintained)
Silverado Pros: Rear visability. More power but same gas consumption, paint never chipped..well..not as much.

[bigdave269]

I had two GMC 1500's at work (1999 and 2002) that had to have the transmissions replaced before 25000 miles. And I never had a heavy load in either truck. The Ridge's tranny is still as solid as the day it was new at 22,500 miles. And I drive all 3 trucks the same way (except I never took the work trucks off-road). Why would anyone wonder why I prefer the Honda?

[Riley]

That's how I ended up with the Ridgeline as I had a 2001 GMC Sierra X-Cab Z71 that I bought new and with less than 40,000 it was beginning to temporarily slip/not engage when accelerating from a stop. Only did it 3 times but I didn't figure it was a good sign of things to come. Only towed a boat 3 or so times and other than that it was just a commuter vehicle. Had a couple grand of GM card earnings I could have used on a new GM truck but choose not too after many years of being a loyal GM owner. Use to do pretty good with resale on my GM trucks but I'm afraid those days are over. Anxious to see what the resale of the Ridgeline is going to be in a few years.

[bigdave269]

Unfortunately over the next few years, any gas guzzler is not going to do as well as they used to. Even the Ridgeline, I'm afraid. But is should do better percentage-wise than a Chevy or GMC.

As for the slipping, that was how it started in my GMC's. Then one day they wouldn't go at all. Since they are work trucks, and don't belong to me, they were fixed and returned to service. If it had been up to me, they would be replaced long ago.....

[DopplerDon]

My GM experiences have always been major engine problems. Never any tranny issues. I had a Dakota that had 75K on it and heard that trannys were a weak point, never an issue. I was quite impressed with my wife's Acura which introduced me to Honda. After a roadtrip to Fla in the Acura I was at the dealer asking them to make me a pickup (won't own any other type as my primary ride) unless absolute cannot have one. Been happy so far with my RL I expect it to continue, and it has introduced me to a great group of fellow Honda enthusiasts. 8)

[Ridgeline2006]

So, crystal, does the paint on your Ridgeline "chip?" If so, where and how and why, etc., if not, what did you mean?

[RANDYRNR]

Any vehicle with paint will chip when you throw a rock at it. :shock:

[colorider]

RANDYRNR wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Any vehicle with paint will chip when you throw a rock at it. :shock:

Unless of course - you miss!!!

:twisted:

[RRider]

Over the last 15 yrs I have owned 2 GMC Sierras. The 1997 was ext cab with the Z71 package and electronic pushbutton 4WD. I owned that truck for nearly 9 yrs. The only trouble with it was a loose outside mirror glass that was replaced under Warranty. I traded that in on my Ridgeline.

I DO like my Ridgeline, and have not had any trouble/problems others have had.... I have to say the Ridgeline does pretty well on snow covered roads, but it will spin and slide in the same conditions that my GMC never did.

The RL is overall the best handling, and riding truck I've ever had, But the GMC was the best handling on snow. I always carried a tow strap with me, and did pull several cars/trucks out of deep snow or a ditch they slid into. I don't think I would attempt that with my RL.

I have read a lot of posts badmouthing domestic cars, and trucks here and on the ROC. I have also read a lot of posts about problems with Hondas, Toyotas, etc...but not much badmouthing those problems.

OK I'm done ranting....

[bigdave269]

RRider wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
I have read a lot of posts badmouthing domestic cars, and trucks here and on the ROC. I have also read a lot of posts about problems with Hondas, Toyotas, etc...but not much badmouthing those problems.

OK I'm done ranting....


These are cars and trucks and as such, have thousands of components that can go bad. Honda and Toyota are no exception. The difference is that the "big three" do not go after the defects as aggresively as the Japanese, and will leave these faulty components in cars even after complaints and costly warranty repairs. That is why you see recall in American cars for several years worth of models when they happen. The Japanese model for quality control is much more strict, and Honda and Toyota have been known the buy back cars with defects so they can discover and correct the problem. When was the last time you heard of GM doing that? (It did, with Saturn, but that was the only case I know of.) Sure, Japanese cars have recalls, but far less, and for fewer years worth. When the Japanese discover a defect, the correct it in the line right away, and issue a TSB to fix the cars already sold. Getting American mmakers to do this is like pulling teeth. It's why most states have lemon laws now.

Believe me, I would love for American cars to have the same reliability as the Japanese. I grew up in Detroit, and I saw the downfall in the 70's when Detroit was producing crap. That town hhas never been the same. American cars are better and look nice now, but still suffer in reliability when comparing them to the Japanese. I love the look of the 300, but you couldn't pay me to own another Chrysler product at this point (I have owned a few). Maybe when the American makers figure it out, and start delivering reliable cars again....

[Rodek]

Dave,

A well written post!

[bigdave269]

Thanks. Too bad it had to be said.

[RRider]

bigdave269 wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Thanks. Too bad it had to be said.

Excuse me Bigdave. I didn't mean to hit a nerve with you. Oh BTW don't you currently own a FORD?

[bigdave269]

True I do and it is my 3rd Ford. So I know of what I speak. I've also had several Chryslers, and a few GM's. The Toyota/Honda switch has been a fairly recent one for me. My first Camry was purchased in 2003.

You didn't hit a nerve so much as trigger melancholy. America pretty much started the auto industry; certainly Detroit was cranking out cars for the masses long before anyone else. My lament is that the American auto makers should be the best in the world in terms of quality and reliability. Why is it that Kia and Hyundai can offer a free 10-year warranty and Ford and Crysler can't? I wish with all my soul that Detroit was still cranking out the best cars in the world, but it is just not so. If you had a good example, you got lucky. Many more people have not had the same experience. I had two work GMC's that had to have the transmissions replaced before 30,000 miles, and the third one is now slipping with just 20K on it.

Now, to answer your question, I bought a used 2001 convertible Mustang this year. The deal fell into my lap, and I couldn't turn it down, especially since I have always wanted a convertible. Consumer Reports called it the most reliable of all the years the Mustang was built. Still, the quality of the Mustang is nowhere near the quality of my Camry. It is just a fact. But, I do not have to rely on on a daily basis, so that made it even easier to justify. I won't go into a lot of comparisons here, but let's just say that as nice as the Mustang is, Toyota and Honda sell a much better product. And that is why I am sad for the loss of the American auto industry.

[Waterbug]

I've been a Quality Engineer for years and have even worked for two Japanese automotive suppliers. The American and Japanese approaches to quality are completely different. American manufacturers rely on a tool called a FMEA (Failure Mode Effect Analysis). With this tool, redundant systems prevent you from having a BAD score, because a failure of one system has little or no effect. That is why Detroit gave us dual braking systems, dual head lights, seat belts with air bags, even dual temperature controls. The Japanese approach would be to double the reliability of the original component. As a result, the Japanese component doesn't fail but the Detroit component has the same failure rate that it always has. (Maybe even worse because there are now twice as many to fail.)
Yes, the Japanese also use redundant system but it is more of a response to marketing demands than it is to an attempt to effect quality scores. My examples are the VERY obvious ones but it exemplifies the over all philosophy.