I agree with MisterCMK.. Some people like it. It certainly has a market.

True they should market it differently. But it certainly is more capable than a Pilot or a minivan.

Different trucks for different folks.

Ford F-650.... That's a truck!

**********

I remember the early Ranchero-- 61 or 62 Falcon with a pickup style bed.

BTW Anyone remember the Ford Courier?
Anyone remember the name of the one with a Pinto front and pickup-style bed?

 

First Ranchero: 1957. From 1957/59, Ranchero was a Ford, 1960/66: Falcon. 1967: Fairlane. 1968/71: Fairlane or Torino. 1972/76: Torino. 1977/79: LTD II. Last Ranchero = 1979.


First Courier pickup: 1972. All Couriers had pickup beds. Courier: Toyo Kogyo = Mazda.


Ford never made a Courier with a Pinto front end. Ford never made a Pinto pickup. In an effort to help sagging sales, (after the exploding gas tank fiasco), Ford took the 1977/80 Pinto wagons, blanked out the quarter windows, added a porthole and called them a Youth Van, a Surfer Van or a Rally. Last Pinto = 1980.

 

CLASSIC!

I only have an F150 and wouldn't try to compare it to anything larger (3/4 ton & up), but I love when these people like Ridgeline owners think their supposed truck is better. Sure, maybe in ride quality, but not it the aspects trucks were designed for.

Don't get me wrong, to each their own. If you like it, great. I personally don't and can't fathom purchasing one, unless it's for the wife who currently drives an Altima. It simply shows a persons true ignorance or lack of knowledge when they try to make a comparison like this. Kind of like saying a Ranger is equal to Chevy 2500 when it comes to towing/hauling and the like.

 

As an ex-gas jockey, ( many moons ago ) this story brings back glorious memories on watching the gas pumps dancing off the islands followed by the thunderous ringing of alarms going off.

Ironically, the last episode I had like this was when a young women decided to giddy up and go with the gas pump and it basically took the pump right off the island. She was driving a 1/2 ton Dodge if I remember correctly so even the Ridgeline can't do that!

Great story Buckeye!

 

Classic...

 

Chevrolet apparently thought it was a good idea because they followed with the ElCamino in 59 & 60 in their full sized cars and later moved it to the Chevelle/Malibu midsized car. They were all basically 2 door station wagons with the back modified into a pickup. Gm's newest version is the Avalanche which is a SUV with the back modified (as is the Ridgeline, Baja, etc).

 

Yeah I work part time at a gas station at the moment since I lost my job on Monday.I have worked at this gas station for a while though,two years this October.

I couldn't believe how many people drive off with the nozzle in thier vehicles.They hear the click,start the vehicle,leave,and then go "ohhhhhh craaap!".

However,and thank God,I have never had someone pull the entire pump off of the island.

I did have someone in a Dodge 2500 back into one of the pillars by the pumps and dent it up bad.

 

I can see how people would find the Ridgeline attractive. At least from the light duty stand point. And that is all they are. Suburban mommy mobiles. Wanna go down to the Home Store and pick up a gallon of paint and some brushes? No problem! I've got a pickup truck! Umm. Take Jr's scooter to the dirt track? Hook it up!


Gotta tow something over 500# on a trailer. You gotta problem...Gotta carry something over 5 ft. long. You gotta problem. But, how many suburban mommies do that sorta thing. Not many.

It's a machine that enables mommies, so lazy Dads don't have to go with Jr. or buy the paint. He can drive his Beemer and be cool to the watercooler crowd.

 

You gotta remember where this thing is designed; in the land of Hello Kitty, dance dance revolution, and Anime, all people and things are designed to be small and cute. So too is the Ridgeline. It's part of the mentality that comes with millions of people living squished together in small, crowded spaces with no "open roads" or "countryside" to drive in to get away from it all, and no real "heavy lifting" or "work" to be done. Honda would make an absolute KILLING with a convertible option on the Accord or Civic, but they don't, because the idea of wanting to be "outdoors" and letting the wind blow through your hair just doesn't compute in a land of concrete skyscrapers and breakfast smog. Why design a truck capable of towing a boat to the lake, or hauling lumber when most people in that country will NEVER do those kinds of things?

 

joekiser, That was a good post. Spot on.

 

I always wondered where Hello Kitty was from.

My daughter likes it.

And better than a real kitty who would jump inside the car or truck or whatever and pee the seats.. Kitty pee never goes away!

Anyway as I said, Ridgeline has its applications and its owners are happy, so if they don't knock me I won't knock them.

 

Good description of California! That's where the Ridgeline was designed and they are built in Ontario, Canada.

You seem to have those "furrin" car companies reasoning behind not producing convertables down pat. Besides the Mustang, what other cars does Ford have that are convertables?

 

Do you not think they did a little bit research on what Americans buy before they designed the thing?

Tim

 

That's the thing though,Honda doesn't want to be "in" with the blue-collar,hard working portion of America.They are in with the environmentalists,the hippies,the teenagers who watched too much Fast and the Furious.

 

And their research probably told them that that is who they could sell more "trucks" to...So that's who they designed it for. I honestly don't think they thought they would be selling this "truck" to the blue-collar, hard working portion of America...they just make it look tough in the commercials so the hippies would think they're tough now for driving a "truck".

Tim