RTL w/ Nav - What should be

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

This is simply a post to list a few things that honestly, Honda should have included with the RTL w/ nav (one we own, so I can ONLY comment on that model).
Have just over 500 miles on it (4 days as of today) and bottom line, Honda did a great job on this truck, but it could have a few things delivered in the RTL trim line, IMO.

:arrow: 1. Auto dimming rear view mirror. Pretty standard on most rigs now days, and without question on the top trim line of most if not all.

:arrow: 2. Pre-sets for the two key remotes. Wifes TL had this, resets the seat and mirrors to that remote. Again, another feature standard to top trim lines of vehicles.

:arrow: 3. Trip system in the nav, Miles to empty etc. Its there and yes I will be calling fussing too. No excuse not to have it from a $2k nav option. Fingers crossed a software update will cure.

:arrow: 4. Extra "Ridgeline" brochures with the vehicle (in the trunk, it gets the most ooos and ahhhhs) to save your voice on answering all the questions on the truck when you stop somewhere. :D If not that, some sort of commission system on sales assistance. (hey Im reaching here)

Bottom line, its a pretty well thought out truck, and after researching it before it came out, test driving it and all the competition countless times, and now owning it and giving it a good road trip (400+ miles in one day over two mountain passes) the rear view mirror and the remote to passenger link is about the only thing that really should have come on the RTL with nav.
Im pretty picky about my vehicles and to only come up with two "issues" (cough cough), thats pretty good!

I dont get to drive it anymore (pretty sure) wife has hid the second key set. :lol:

HR
8)

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Im sure Honda wants to sell as many of these as possible without taking a hit on the Acura sales. If the Ridge was as full blown, what do you think would happen to MDX sales?

I dont disagree with your post just being realistic about it.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

JoeRidge wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Im sure Honda wants to sell as many of these as possible without taking a hit on the Acura sales. If the Ridge was as full blown, what do you think would happen to MDX sales?

I dont disagree with your post just being realistic about it.

Different views, thats kewl!

I dont see the folks that purchase an MDX looking at the mid-size truck market for the most part. When we were shopping for the wife's rig, we looked at the F-150, Titan, Taco etc etc, not the RX or MDX or...you pick the SUV line. Doesnt mean folks dont or wont.
But, the primary competition is the RX lexus type vehicle, not the Taco or Titan etc.
If research did show product line shift, Honda would make an MDX truck in a blink ala Pilot/MDX.

So, dont see the threat of competition between the two product brands or lines with adding those features. That would be akin to saying you are going to kill the MDX cause you added a pick up bed to the SUV platform and callled it a ridgeline. Different rigs, different target audiance.
:shock:

Remember too, there is the Badging of the two lines and what they pull. As you know folks purchase the Acura or Lexus for the badge as well, it is considered the "oooo ahhhh luxury" end of things, and amazingly the vast majority of Luxury vehicle owners and shoppers in this segment have no idea of the links/ties between Honda/Acura and say, Infinity/Nissan or Lexus/Toyota.

But then, Im just an old balding retired Army phart........and all that and $.75 you can get a small soda at Burger King!

HR
8)

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

If anything, there might be some stealing of sales from the Pilot, depending on what next year's Pilot's sheet metal looks like, but, the Ridgeline shouldn't effect the others at all.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

I agree on all counts but at least you can get a auto dimming mirror from honda. The rest of it we are out of luck. I think this comes from american car owners switching over, at least that was my case Hawaii-Rider wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")This is simply a post to list a few things that honestly, Honda should have included with the RTL w/ nav (one we own, so I can ONLY comment on that model).
Have just over 500 miles on it (4 days as of today) and bottom line, Honda did a great job on this truck, but it could have a few things delivered in the RTL trim line, IMO.

:arrow: 1. Auto dimming rear view mirror. Pretty standard on most rigs now days, and without question on the top trim line of most if not all.

:arrow: 2. Pre-sets for the two key remotes. Wifes TL had this, resets the seat and mirrors to that remote. Again, another feature standard to top trim lines of vehicles.

:arrow: 3. Trip system in the nav, Miles to empty etc. Its there and yes I will be calling fussing too. No excuse not to have it from a $2k nav option. Fingers crossed a software update will cure.

:arrow: 4. Extra "Ridgeline" brochures with the vehicle (in the trunk, it gets the most ooos and ahhhhs) to save your voice on answering all the questions on the truck when you stop somewhere. :D If not that, some sort of commission system on sales assistance. (hey Im reaching here)

Bottom line, its a pretty well thought out truck, and after researching it before it came out, test driving it and all the competition countless times, and now owning it and giving it a good road trip (400+ miles in one day over two mountain passes) the rear view mirror and the remote to passenger link is about the only thing that really should have come on the RTL with nav.
Im pretty picky about my vehicles and to only come up with two "issues" (cough cough), thats pretty good!

I dont get to drive it anymore (pretty sure) wife has hid the second key set. :lol:

HR
8)

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Hawaii-Rider wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote") If not that, some sort of commission system on sales assistance. (hey Im reaching here)

My dealer offers $100 if the buyer tells them your name. They've printed up some brochures that we write our name and number on and I've taped my sales person's card inside. I'm handing those out and hoping to make a car payment or two!

I like your ideas, especially the seat/mirror adjustment.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

When I bought my Pilot, I thought I would miss the auto-dimming rear view mirror that I had on my previous vehicle. I didn't.

When I bought my Pilot, I thought I might miss the dual-keyless entry activated seat memory feature I had on my previous vehicle. I didn't.

When I bought my Pilot, I thought I might miss the trip computer feature I had on my previous vehicle. I didn't.

Then - 2 1/2 years later, I traded in my Pilot for a RidgeLine. And I STILL don't miss those features.

YMMV

:) :) :)

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

I still miss all of them except the mirror, which I paid to have installed. The Memory seats are a real killer for me. I was really used to them. My wife is much shorter than I am and when I got in my cars the seat was in position for me. Now I hit my knee on the dash a lot. It would not have been hard to program in a I miss it a lot. If I didn't have the accord with the trip computer it might not be so bad but keeping track of mileage on the ridge is a pain in the butt compared to the Accord. It does it and it resets it automatically when I fill up with gas. Why would that have been so hard to program in. It's software for crying out loud. There is no such thing as a perfect automobile, including the Ridge. Great vehicle but not perfect.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Concerning the memory seats - in all fairness I should mention this was never a big item for me as my wife is fairly tall and there is very little difference between her "set-up" and mine - usually nothing more than a minor mirror adjustment.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

That would have made it much less of a issue to me. None of these things are deal-breakers, just things I was used to in my previous cars. There are things in the Ridge which they did not have.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Auto-headlights would have been nice.... or a least a button for them on the steering wheel. Everything has auto-headlights now....

I think there is a lot that they didn't add in that will be showing up in the 07 models...

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

My Ford Excursion has the auto headlights when it starts getting dark and auto off after you turn off the truck, and it is nice. Also has the auto dimming rear view and the memory presets for the drivers seat. This is on a Ford School Bus!

Trust me, the Ridge is nice, but after spending the $$$ we did, its fun to lay out what could have been and what would be neat.

My wife said when she came out of the commisary yesterday there was a group of people around her truck (she thought someone had tagged her in the parking lot) but when she got there, they were all asking questions etc and ended up giving the group the "Ridge Tour" right there.
What a hoot.

HR
8)

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Im a X MDX owner and had told my wife that if they ever made a MDX with a pickup bed I would buy it.


They did.



There are many more X MDX and Pilot owners on this site.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

JoeRidge wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Im a X MDX owner and had told my wife that if they ever made a MDX with a pickup bed I would buy it.


They did.



There are many more X MDX and Pilot owners on this site.


Hmmmm, time for another poll?????

:)