New member - Purchased my 2008 Ridgeline yesterday

[Elementscifi]

Hi to everyone on the forum. I wanted to say hello and thanks for all the really great information I have read so far. I purchased a new, 2008 RidgeLine yesterday and take delivery on Wednesday since I am having a trailer hitch installed. A bit of history, I have owned a number of full sized trucks in years gone by, but I did a lot of research and looking and think I am going to love the RidgeLine. Not sure of the model designation difference between the US and Canada but mine is an EXL-SR. It doesn't have the built in NAV system. I would like to ask a few quick newbie questions if you don't mind.
1) GPS - There are so many choices out there and I know everyone has an opinion. I don't need Bluetooth - just want something that is accurate, voice directions and easy to read.
2) Rear cover. I would like something that rolls up. The dealer suggested Raven.
3) I think that my wife and I fell prey to the momentary, pop-eyed bedazzlement that often happens when you go in and purchase a new vehicle. We succumbed hook, line and sinker, and bought all of the add on stuff like Honda undercoating, leather treatment, paint protector, (Gawd I can't remember the fourth item in the package :shock: We don't take delivery until Wednesday and they didn't give us our final paper work) extended warranty and life insurance. Did we get hustled? Are these things necessary?
Thank you in advance for any and all comments and/or suggestions.

[Ultra-Hog]

Congratulations Elementscifi and welcome aboard! You are in for a great ride!
I can't help you much with #1 but I bet that someone else with experience can. I can help you with #2 though. I am an early adopter of the Retrax cover and I couldn't be happier with it. It is by far the easiest to use on a daily basis because it is so simple to open and close. That makes it very quick and easy to load and unload anything from the bed AND the trunk. Most other covers require that you drop the tailgate first then release one or two latches then fold back the cover before you can access the bed or the trunk.With the Retrax you simply push a button to release the cover and slide it as far as you want to. It will latch in any position. It is similar to operating a horizontal window shade and takes just about as much effort. Also, the installation couldn't be simpler. It will take you longer to take it out of the excellent shipping packaging than it will to install it. If you ever want or need to take it out you can do it in about 5 minutes, although I wouldn't consider that taking it in and out regularily is something that I would want to do. There are no holes to drill or modifications of any kind to make to the truck. You do have to drill two holes for the drain tubes in the rubber caps for the bed bolts but they can be replaced for a couple of dollars if you really want to. For my use, the Retrax is by far the best. Your needs may be different.
As to #3, probably, but your dealer will love you for adding some additional profit to the deal so you should have earned some special consideration as an excellent customer when it comes time for service.

I know that you will enjoy your Ridgeline as much as all of us do here on R4WD. We look forward to your participation and your input.

Once again, congratulations! :)

[Elementscifi]

Thanks for the info Ultra-Hog. I am going to have a look at that Retrax and see if I can find an Alberta dealer. I bought the Ridgeline so I could haul my 06 Electra Glide Ultra Classic around to different bike shows. I will let you know how I make out with the gps and cover.

[Ultra-Hog]

The web site for Retrax is http://www.rolltopcover.com/ . They do ship the cover so you don't have to find a dealer to pick it up or install it. They used to offer a discount, $100.00 I believe, to Ridgeline club members so be sure to ask if you order it on line. When you contact them make sure that you tell them that you are contacting them because of www.ridgeline4wd.com . I don't think that they are a sponsor of this site YET, but every mention can help. And no, I don't have anything to do with Retrax or this site other than as a satisfied customer and member. If you search R4wd for "Retrax" there is a lot of information available here. If you want anything additional, just let me know.

I might add that you have excellent taste in motorcycles! I do hope that you have a trailer and are not counting on transporting the Ultra in the bed of your Ridgeline. That would be an intereting, er, challenge. :roll:

[Elementscifi]

Hey Ultra Hog good to hear from you again. Impeccable taste in motorcycles! I will be renting a Featherlite motorcycle trailer to transport my Classic to the various events and bike shows. I write military science fiction and short anecdotal stories about life in general and riding specifically. My first book 'Element', of the Element trilogy is a story about a team of recon SEAL's struggling to recover an anomalous energy source. So I had my bike custom painted. The air brush artist pulled 8 murals from the book and put them on the bike. He did an awesome job. So the bike is a part of my marketing strategy to sell my book. I plan to attend book signings and have my bike on display and it will attract attention. People may not buy my book, but the all will look at the bike. Here is link to my author's web pages on my publisher's website. My publisher is Mundania Press. You can go and have a look if you like and read a review by my friend Major Michael Farmer, author of Tin Soldiers, Iron Tigers and War Dogs. Mike was gracious enough to take time from his busy schedule to read my manuscript and write a review.

Here is a blurb...
"A group of physicists working on a black INTEL project have gone missing...A team of recon SEALs have been sent in to find out why."

http://www.mundania.com/authors-christopherbesse.html

My own website is at
www.elementscifi.com

I am in the process of updating and doing a total face lift on it because my book is due to be released this month.
My motorcycle book is called "I Ride Therefore I Am" and is a collection of 16 short stories about riding.
Anyway my friend thank you for your comments and I hope to hear from you again. If you like what you see and have friends who like that particular genre, pass the word! :D
Chris in Red Deer, AB

[bigdave269]

Welcome to the website, Chris, and I am going to open-answer here one comment you sent to me via e-mail. No you are not bothering me with any questions about the website, that is what I am here for. I may not have all the answers, but I will get them as soon as I can. To all our new members, please feel free to e-mail me with your questions. I have no "hours," but I check my email often throughout the day and will get back to you.

[brahma]

I'm really thinking of purchasing a 2008 RTL w/o navi, but I'm hesitant. We drove by during closing hours and saw that they had marked down their trucks by $5000, so we're tempted talk to a sales person. We had heard that the dealer was having problem selling Ridgelines, therefore they are marking down their inventory to help sell. I figured with the new models and redesigned...they're just trying to get rid of them to make room for the 2009s. Are the 2009 worth waiting? Thoughts/suggestions?

[bigdave269]

My thought is that now that gas is over $4.00 nationally (and over $5.00 in some places), it is getting harder to sell trucks and SUV's. Ford is reporting a 29% decrease in truck sales and GM is not far behind. Toyota is even suffering on their venerated Tundra and Tacoma lines, and their SUV sales have tanked. Ford has just announced employee pricing on its truck line, GM has been offering up to $4000 cash back. But it's not just trucks, low mileage cars like Chrysler 300's are hurting, too. The only kind of car taking off these days are hybrids.

The range for our members is 14 - 21 MPG for a Ridgeline, which is much better than most full-size trucks, and you won't get stuck in some dinky Frontier or Taco with comparable mileage. I'd say if you can afford the gas right now and really want a Ridgeline, now is the time to buy with a $5K markdown. I wish mine had been marked down like that!

[mikepacheco]

from what I've read, there will not be any big changes in the 2009 Ridgeline, anybody else read anything?

Mike in SF

[tomcat]

No big changes but it did get a face lift and some interior changes. Not enough for me to go get a new one unless it got 30mpg's :lol: .