Exactly. In fact my dad just asked to take a ride in my Ridgeline earlier in the week to get a feel for it, as he no longer tows a tractor and is retired, and he admits he may sell his current GMC Sierra double cab for one next year as it meets his needs and is easier to climb into with his bad knees. I plan to also direct him to at least take a look at the Maverick and Santa Cruz so he can see all the options. ... View more

An updated crew cab s10/sonoma would be nice, but with CAFE standards and other safety requirements, something that size and price will never again be made. A sad fact, but still a fact. ... View more

Also, your user name seems to be a lie, given the complete idiocy shown in stating this is not a truck. ... View more

Some amazing facts for you: 1) definition of truck in USA for legal purposes: a 4 wheel vehicle with an open cargo bed. 2) there are people who do not tow more than a 10-12 foot fishing boat or an ATV and therefore don't need 8k, 10k, or 12k of towing capacity. In fact they find they can tow what they need with a minivan if needed. 3) Some people prefer the ride and fuel economy of an SUV, but do activities which involve dirty/smelly things, and therefore like the idea of a truck bed. 4) The vast majority of truck owners do not off-road. The fact of the matter is, many "truck guys" think the definition of truck is body on frame, 4x4, with massive towing ability. This is patently untrue. The bed is the only feature that defines a truck. Many F150s, for example, are Rwd only. F150s can be bought in configurations that only tow 3-4k lbs with a payload of around 1000lbs (looking at you Raptor). The Jeep Commanche of the 80s was unibody. All still trucks. So, let's say someone likes to go to Home Depot a lot, perhaps hauls muddy mountain bikes, or wet dogs. They own a UTV or ATV or fishing boat they need to trailer. 90% or more of their driving is the daily commute to drop the kids at school then off to work. A fuel efficient hybrid vehicle with an open bed is the perfect solution to their needs, and I am pretty sure this description fits a gigantic swath of the US population that currently buy 2-3 row CUV/SUVs like the Rav4 and Highlander due to the previous lack of a vehicle like this (not counting the Ridgeline, as that only gets high 20's MPG highway and 21 Combined and is much more expensive, otherwise fits the description). ... View more

You sound like Honda's target market. The Ridgeline tows 5000lbs (enough for your boat, it certainly pulls my 3800lb Coleman bunkhouse just fine), is smaller than a full size truck by around a foot in length and easy to use in cities (mostly due to the 64inch bed), but is only a couple inches narrower than an F150 which results in the largest cab in the mid-size segment (it is equal to a Silverado Double Cab). That width actually allows you to haul 4x8 material (1580lbs of it) flat between the wheel wells. The bed of the Ridgeline is 60 inches wide overall, and 51 inches at the tailgate and wheel wells. Rides like a dream while returning 28mpg highway with the AC on, 12-15mpg with the camper behind it depending on the terrain, and is the ultimate Home Depot machine. Plus integrated cooler/cargo trunk and an outlet in the bed. Shameless pitch from Ridgeline owner over. I grew up learning to drive in my dad's many beat up trucks (a whole yard of them like his 89 Ranger extended cab) and his one nice 2000 Silverado. I like trucks, but I don't tow anything more heavier than the camper named above, or offroad, so after having an honest conversation with myself and factoring out machismo, I bit the bullet and got the 2017 Ridgeline and, unless my towing needs change, I will never buy anything else than a unibody mid-size again. ... View more

My mother had a 1989 Buick Electra Park Avenue with the 3.8L naturally aspirated. For a car the size of a city block, that thing moved. It became my pimpmobile when I got by driver's license and it was passed to me. It was crazy that I simultaneously had the largest, oldest, fastest, and most luxurious car in my class. Driven sensibly, it returned almost 30mpg highway, and yet it would still lay you back in the seat when you put the pedal to the floor. Plus, those velour bench seats were amazing for a high school student and his date if you catch my drift. ... View more

I personally find this design beautiful to this day. I think that it would be neat if, with manufacturers bringing iconic badges back left and right, Chrysler did revive something akin to this in looks, in the size range of a Mazda 5. Something as a cheap, affordable, family mini-minivan. ... View more

I hear where you are coming from. Finding the gray areas and exploiting them is creative and drives competition, such as Smokey's ideas with large fuel lines, they were not illegal until later when people found what he had done. Hiding an illegal nitrous bottle is not creative, it is straight up cheating and working against rules. ... View more

I think they may sing a different tune with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz hitting the market. They could make a mid-sized unibody from the Durango to compete with the Honda Ridgeline and a small sized Maverick competitor by bringing the RAM 1000 or 1200 north (not the 700, too small). The Gladiator's looks and off-road orientation would not appeal to those that shop for a Durango. On the other hand, a number of Durango buyers would appreciate the bed if they need utility more than a 3rd row. I am an example. I am a long time Dodge customer, when my wife and I considered a Durango to replace my Grand Caravan, we ended up with a Honda Ridgeline. We looked at it this way: 1)we have her 2017 Pacifica if we need a 3rd row and we only have 2 kids so a 3rd row is not a necessity to us, 2) our camper only weighs 4100lbs completely loaded, so we didn't need loads of towing capacity as that is our heaviest trailer, 3) we do not do serious off-roading, at worst rutted and slightly muddy gravel, 4) not having 2 wet and muddy dogs inside the vehicle would be nice after duck hunting (along with other wet gear when I kayak or go fly fishing). Sure, we could have bought a body-on-frame mid-sized truck or a even a half-ton, but I don't need the off-road or towing capabilities, just the bed, so the Honda offered that and also drives nicer and gets better fuel economy than those options. Had Dodge offered a Durango truck, I would not be driving the Honda today (it is great and unless the needs listed above change my next vehicle will be another Ridgeline or one of its new competitors, but I like the looks of a Durango and again am a long-time Dodge customer). ... View more

I have wanted to see a Durango flavored competitor to the Honda Ridgeline (and now Hyundai Santa Cruz and soon to be Ford Maverick) for years. Especially with the new Tow n Go Durango variant. Good looks, great driving dynamics, more than enough towing capacity for the average guy. Honestly, the name potential is even simple: the RAM-page (although I would laugh my you know what off if they called it a Dodge Dur-kota). I would also be happy to have them dust off and update the 2006 Rampage concept as that was pretty cool. ... View more

Although there are loss points in the system, I do believe this is a great system for modern vehicles, to gain many of the advantages of an EV, without the range/charge issues currently plaguing that technology. I see this as particularly attractive to electrify work trucks, as it means your truck would literally have a generator on board. Given the efficiency and power density of modern generators, along with the advances in electric motors, I think the system losses would be relatively minor and the generator would operate at near max fuel efficiency in normal driving. Add in a small battery pack, and you could have it operate for short distances/low speeds as a pure EV as well. Say an all electric operation below 50mph with a range of 20-30 miles would offer efficient around town driving, and then normal highway driving would be the hybrid system. ... View more

I think the real solution here is already in use for marine applications. Have the turbine operate at or near peak efficiency to operate a generator, and have the drivetrain be electric motors. You get the peak efficiency fuel sipping of the turbine (and it could be a fairly small turbine at that) and all the torque and horsepower characteristics of an EV in one package. ... View more

I say, with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz imminent, I think it would be cool if RAM went and updated the 2006 Dodge Rampage Concept as a competitor. It would neatly slide into the new niche, and with all of their trucks now under the RAM brand, they could do a wordplay and name it the RAM-Page. ... View more

Been saying for years this is what needs to be done. Especially as it opens up the market of electric pickups that would actually be usable for work. This idea has been around since the 1916 Owen Magnetic and is used for large equipment to this day. ... View more

I am seeing it just fine using Microsoft Edge. This despite being on a work computer that has restrictions on video. I do suspect this is in fact a browser issue. It might be due to missing plugins, an enabled blocker, etc, but is definitely the browser and not the site. ... View more

The Nash and Fiat have so much character and looks. Would give up left and right arms for the pair. ... View more

Although all of these will remain out of my reach, I must say, I will miss the stand out looks of the Bentley, the Ferrari, and the Morgan. I get these 3 are not for everyone, but they always struck a chord with me. Then again I am the nutjob that thinks the Rolls Royce Dawn is utter perfection, so there is that. Either way, these cars all bucked the norm of bland SUV/CUV vehicles that cover the roads today (or pickup trucks if you are in America), and for that reason alone are a shame to lose. ... View more

Good point on the tilting seat bottoms. As a tall individual, I would find my 2017 Honda Ridgeline undriveable for long hauls if I did not tilt the seat almost to its max to provide adequate support. In this regard, the best seating I ever had for supporting the knees/thighs at my height was my old 2014 Grand Caravan. I recognize that I am an outlier in height here, but if you are of at least 6 feet in height or more, a tilting seat is truly a must in SUV- or Van-type vehicles. Lower cars do not have this issue due to the extended-leg seating, such as in my old 2011 Scion xB or my wife's 2015 Sonata. ... View more

All good, and of course there is not enough space to list every cool option out there. Would have loved an RS Camaro or a 4-4-2, but we can't have it all. I do love that Thunderbird though. ... View more

In terms of driving experience, I would take the Testarossa, but I love the looks of old classics and if I was selecting a long term one to drive about, that Duesenberg just wins my heart. ... View more

Jeep needs to pull their heads out from where the sun doesn't shine and mount the mirrors to the hood, fender, or A-pillar. It is mind boggling that they continue with, and their fans accept, not having mirrors when you take the doors off. I hope it happens soon with the Bronco showing them how it is done. ... View more