Ridgeline VS Pilot

[bevanoff]

First Specs of Ridgeline:

Technical
• 255-hp, 3.5-Liter, 24-Valve SOHC VTEC® V-6 Engine
• 5-Speed Automatic Transmission
• Variable Torque Management® 4-Wheel Drive System (VTM-4®)
• Locking Rear Differential
• Heavy-Duty Automatic-Transmission and Power Steering Coolers
• Heavy-Duty Radiator with Dual 160-Watt Fans
• Fresh-Air Intake
• 4-Wheel Independent Suspension



Capabilities
• 5,000-lb. Towing Capacity
• 1,550-lb. Total Payload Capacity
• Half-Ton (1,100-lb) Bed Capacity



Safety
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD and Brake Assist
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control
• Front, Side and Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Power Door and Tailgate Locks
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)



Audio
• 100-Watt AM/FM/XM®-Ready/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers



Interior
• Power Windows, Door Locks and Mirrors
• Multifunctional Center Storage Console with Sliding Armrest
• 60/40 Lift-Up Rear Seat with Underseat Storage
• Power Sliding Rear Cabin Window



Exterior
• Dual-Action Tailgate
• In-Bed Trunk™
• Automatic Heated Wiper Zone
• Remote Entry System
• Large Foldable Side Mirrors
• Privacy Glass
• Integrated Bed Lights (4) with Auto-Off Timer
• Heavy-Duty Tow Hooks (Front and Rear)
• Hidden Roof-Mounted Antenna

[bevanoff]

I am interested in this because I have a 4500 lb travel trailer that I tow and in looking at all previous threads on pilot and towing one can see the whole spectrum of opinions and honda recomendations. I would like to start some dialogue on just what really is the difference other than the name and looks between the pilot and the ridgeline? To me each is beautiful as their skin is deep but their "bones' seem to been almost the same. With that said can anyone explain the different towing capacity of the ridgeline than the pilot?

[ipomoea]

I think one of the standard features of the Ridgeline is that it is tow-ready (tranny coolers standard, "special transmission gearing?", heavy duty radiator, etc.). The Pilot on the other hand, the towing package is an option. Towing/payload capacity for the Pilot is "3500 lb, 4500 lb with a small to medium-sized boat.". Thus, you drive the Ridgeline home, attach the hitch, back up to your trailer, and drive away. Different story for the Pilot (see threads about towing). As for the "bones", I think Honda engineers have been working on making the Ridgeline's structure's rigidity on par if not more vs. its intended competition (Tacoma? Sport Trac?). The press kit says that over 90% of its innards is "new." Meaning, whereas the Pilot is about 60% MDX, the Ridgeline claims to be of a different lineage (5% Pilot, 5% Element?, the rest built from the ground up?).

[fireflock]

Search for the Ridgeline Video thread and you will find a link to a Honda video from an auto show with the unveiling of the Ridgeline. The video presentation will answer a bunch of questions for you. From what I remember, the Pilot and the Ridgeline share only a small % of parts. The Ridgeline frame is 100% new - details and cutaways are shown in the video.

[Oahu_Dave]

One here:

http://world.honda.com/NAIAS2005/videos/ridgeline/

More here:

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID2135?m...40856&mime=asc

[ipomoea]

The link; http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Sa...80371168&path=!sports!autoracing!nascar&s=1037645509206

Excerpt:

"Honda racing officials haven't said anything officially about a NASCAR effort, but the company's debut of a pickup truck at last week's Detroit auto show has sparked considerable interest.

The Honda Ridgeline truck will be for sale this spring, as a 2006 model, with the company expecting to sell about 50,000 this year. The pickup will be built at Honda's plant in Ontario, Canada, and will have a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

NASCAR's new common-template rules would make it easy for Honda to put the machine in NASCAR's trucks series, if Honda comes up with a NASCAR-legal V-8.
"

[desertpilot]

The Ridgeline engine, although the same size is different than in the Pilot according to Gary Flint, Honda's Large Project Leader Engineer.

The Ridgeline engine have a cold air intake (see photo) located at the driver's side on top of the radiator (two rectangular air intake). It only operates at 4200 rpm and higher.

He also added that the engine is specifically designed for towing and have a large radiator type transmission cooler at the lower driver's side of the radiator common to the bumper air intake. The Pilot has a two tubes with cooling fins type.

Gary also stated that they engineered the sound of the new engine to be different than the Pilot and MDX.

All info are from the video at Temple of Vtec at the Detroit North American International Auto Show, link below (members only). The videos could be downloaded with Windows Media Player.


http://www.vtec.net/

[rfs830]

the videos were really good. Make me want the truck even more. Problem is that I need a daily driver that gets good gas milage. I like getting 30mpg so droping downl to about 15 would hurt but i guess it would not be that bad.

[Oahu_Dave]

Originally posted by ipomoea
The link; http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Sa...80371168&path=!sports!autoracing!nascar&s=1037645509206

Excerpt:

"Honda racing officials haven't said anything officially about a NASCAR effort, but the company's debut of a pickup truck at last week's Detroit auto show has sparked considerable interest.

The Honda Ridgeline truck will be for sale this spring, as a 2006 model, with the company expecting to sell about 50,000 this year. The pickup will be built at Honda's plant in Ontario, Canada, and will have a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

NASCAR's new common-template rules would make it easy for Honda to put the machine in NASCAR's trucks series, if Honda comes up with a NASCAR-legal V-8.
"

Oh god say it isn't true. Nothing against Honda or anything, but they do NOT belong in nascar. Stick to the little street racer civics and such, but not a real sport like Nascar. Not that I am a fan of the truck series, but I live for Nextel Cup.

Toyota getting into the truck series caused me to shake my head, but at least Toyota has been making trucks forever.