GMC Canyon/Toyota Tacoma/Honda RIdgeline

[LCMS pastor]

Hey,

Tis been a while, but since February, I have been working 80 miles away from home, living in camper all but 2 days a week - (AM I GLAD WE GOT THE HIGH SIDE NIAGARA!) and going through two escrows.  

At any rate, I am now in need of a 4wd vehicle, as the new area (ANZA) has had a few flash floods - and this summer probably will be subjected to more.  Plus - living at 4300 feet - we get white stuff on the ground.

Is anyone familiar with the trucks in the Subject line?  I need decent reviews.  The Canyon has the low end tow - even with tow package only goes 4000 pounds - so it probably means switching trailers.....

The new tacoma with tow package goes 6500 - but is more expensive, shorter warrany, etc.  the Ridgeline looks cool - but aint been around long.

Not interested in the dakota - it hurts my wife's back and mine.  Same for nissan's midsize.

Thanks as always... nice to be back

[whitestar505]

paster,
 
     Looking at the new Honda Ridgeline myself. I think it is big enough for a lot of towing. Books say 5000 lbs tow and dealer will say 6000 lbs. What is nice is the AWD and size. Just right for me and garage. It 255 hp V-6 and it is a Honda. Price is just right when you look at all the others out there.
 
Good luck!
 

Hey,
 
Tis been a while, but since February, I have been working 80 miles away from home, living in camper all but 2 days a week - (AM I GLAD WE GOT THE HIGH SIDE NIAGARA!) and going through two escrows.
 
At any rate, I am now in need of a 4wd vehicle, as the new area (ANZA) has had a few flash floods - and this summer probably will be subjected to more. Plus - living at 4300 feet - we get white stuff on the ground.
 
Is anyone familiar with the trucks in the Subject line? I need decent reviews. The Canyon has the low end tow - even with tow package only goes 4000 pounds - so it probably means switching trailers.....
 
The new tacoma with tow package goes 6500 - but is more expensive, shorter warrany, etc. the Ridgeline looks cool - but aint been around long.
 
Not interested in the dakota - it hurts my wife's back and mine. Same for nissan's midsize.
 
Thanks as always... nice to be back

[Stevo_man]

Loved all the Hondas I have owned - just waiting for a good used Ridgeline now - droooool :canada:  after all, it is a Honda.

Right now I have a Pontiac Aztek and it has been plagued with problems, the same sort of problems all the GM SUV's have...... maybe the Canyon is better??

[OC Campers]

We just bought in March a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab SLT.  GREAT truck.  We didn't get the tow package but it came with all the heavy duty items required to tow.  My dh wanted the Dakota but there was no way we could fit 3 growing kids in the back seat.  The Ram ended up with only 1 mile difference in gas mileage (4.7 V8) from the Dakota.  The Dodge dealer had unbelievable deals.  They knocked $10,000 off the sticker price.  Now we do not have the 4 wheel drive but they had lots of them on the lot.  Our tow rating is 6,500 lbs if I remember right with the lower gear ratio that comes standard.  This truck was $20,000 less than a comprable Toyota Tudra.  We saved enough money that we could afford to purchase a 70,000 mile bumper to bumper extended warranty.  Dodge has a new body style coming out in the 2006 (which I don't like btw) so they will be trying to unload the 2005's.  Our dealer had 150 2005 Rams on the lot

Jacqui

[LCMS pastor]

.  We saved enough money that we could afford to purchase a 70,000 mile bumper to bumper extended warranty.  Dodge has a new body style coming out in the 2006 (which I don't like btw) so they will be trying to unload the 2005's.  Our dealer had 150 2005 Rams on the lot

Jacqui[/QUOTE]

Uh.. Jacqui - dodge come standard with a 7 year 70K warranty

[D1Boz]

I would get the Tacoma in a heartbeat. I have a 2002 Tacoma and love it. I take mine off-road a lot and it is tough. My company rents vehicles for us montly and I have a 2005 Toyota 4-Runner and this one has the v-6 that the 2005 Tacoma has and it has LOTS of power and torque. We just bought a 2005 Honda Pilot and it has 255 hp and the v-6 Tacoma has 245 but the 4-Runner I have right now will run off from the Pilot. The torque and smooth transmission is what makes the difference. Here is my clubs National board that you can take a look at and find and ask them questions about the 2005 Tacomas.  http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/  Good Luck with whatever you get!!!

[GeorgiaBoy]

I had the 2004 Tacoma and switched 8 months later for a 2005 Tacoma.  AWESOME!  Huge improvements!  The 6500 towing capacity pulls my PU without a hiccup, and the Prodigy brake control helps on mountains.  With the Toyota name backing it, I wouldn't take anything else.

Just MY opinion, of course.

[veryolddog]

As much as we really enjoy our Hondas, we own two, an Odyssey and an Element, (we have a Honda in the family for the last 20 years), I would prefer a Toyota Truck. I think that they put more muscle in their trucks and this is the first year for Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is built on the Odyssey Chasis and has the same engine. Four wheel drive is on demand and similar to our Element and the Honda CRV. I prefer 4 wheel drive when you can pull the lever like on the Toyota's. If I were really going to buy a Truck truck, then I would buy a Dodge 2500 with a Cummins Turbo diesel 4 X 4. I have owned 3 of these monsters in the past and I could not wear them out with over 150,000 miles on each of them. I think that the diesel was just getting broken in and I use to get 19mpg general city driving. If I wanted gas, I would go with the Toyota, but the American manufacturers are giving great deals these days. Do what you think is right for you.

[Dave Krahl]

Consumer reports recently compared these. You may want to get an online membership and look up the article (//www.consumerreports.org). They thought the Ridgeline was in a class by itself, much more sophisticated than the other trucks, however, the Tacoma is more of a traditional truck with better towing capacity. So there's a tradeoff that only you can decide on. The Canyon was not even in the running.

Hey,

Tis been a while, but since February, I have been working 80 miles away from home, living in camper all but 2 days a week - (AM I GLAD WE GOT THE HIGH SIDE NIAGARA!) and going through two escrows.  

At any rate, I am now in need of a 4wd vehicle, as the new area (ANZA) has had a few flash floods - and this summer probably will be subjected to more.  Plus - living at 4300 feet - we get white stuff on the ground.

Is anyone familiar with the trucks in the Subject line?  I need decent reviews.  The Canyon has the low end tow - even with tow package only goes 4000 pounds - so it probably means switching trailers.....

The new tacoma with tow package goes 6500 - but is more expensive, shorter warrany, etc.  the Ridgeline looks cool - but aint been around long.

Not interested in the dakota - it hurts my wife's back and mine.  Same for nissan's midsize.

Thanks as always... nice to be back

[OC Campers]

. We saved enough money that we could afford to purchase a 70,000 mile bumper to bumper extended warranty. Dodge has a new body style coming out in the 2006 (which I don't like btw) so they will be trying to unload the 2005's. Our dealer had 150 2005 Rams on the lot
 
The 70k warranty that comes with purchase is only the powertrain.  The warranty I purchased is a bumper to bumper warranty

[TheViking]

Ok, here is my take. I have a Toyota Tundra so I might be a little bias. But I can say that this is my first Toyota product and I have not one complaint. It is the double cab SR5 with the TRD package so it is nicely equiped and very comfortable. We have a 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 that is painful to the back after 100 miles of driving. TheTundra tows 7100 LBS. For example, My TT weighs around 6200 Lbs loaded, recently we drove up the Grapevine and never went below 55 mph. We cruised at 60 till a vehicle pulled out in front of us, but regained speed easily. I will give you this piece of advice though.....Whatever TV you buy, try to think of the future and the possibility that you may upgrade to a Hybrid or TT, you don't want to buy a new Hybrid and then another TV so you can pull it. Best to get now just in case. Toyota will deal with you on price and warranties, we got a 6 yr 80,000 mile B to B extended warranty for around 1,500.00. Definetly check prices though, I got mine for 29K and the only real upgrades I could get was Leather, CD changer, and Navigation. However, if there are new Dodges out there for 20K less, I'd jump on that. Might even buy two at 9K each! Good luck and have fun shopping.

[mach8274]

I have an F-150, 4x4, 5.4L V8. It tows like a dream. I don't want to knock anybody down about the Honda, but it really isn't a truck. It has a unibody frame, that's right unibody-just like most of your front wheel drive CARS out there. It also has independent rear suspension which may be good for ride, but as far as load-can't carry much. It's probably a pretty good vehicle for some light duty towing, but I wouldn't do much more than that. It is made by Honda which is a strong point, but it's still too new. If I were to get a new truck, it would probably be Toyota Tundra.
I know it doesn't mean much, but that's my opinion.

Good luck in your quest.

Dave :usflag:

[sacrawf]

I would suggest considering the Tundra.  A lot more truck than the Tacoma for not much more money.  I loved my 2000 Tundra.

[TheViking]

Here is some good info on the Tundra-

 
http://trucks.about.com/od/2005toyotatrucks/a/05_tundra.htm

[Mikeswaggs]

Its so sad that so many of us good, American folks are buying Japanese vehicles.  Where is our patriotism?  Japanese folks never buy american, so the joke's on us!  I live in Detroit and work in the american automotive business, and I see how important it is that we continue to support american automotive, and I have watched firsthand,(I work at General Motors Powertrain) how huge leaps in quality have been attained in the last few year.  As for the Canyon/Colorado, the inline 5 cylinder is an excellent engine, with very little warranty.  It is fuel efficient, and does quite well in that vehicle.  I will agree that the truck could use the I-6 that is in the Trailblazer, so if you are looking for a bit more towing capacity, you perhaps could entertain the Silverado and keep the base V8, the 4.8 liter.  Keeping that engine instead of upgrading to the 5.3L gives that truck gas mileage in the low 20's.  There are great options in the American autos that can help keep American jobs here and stop helping Toyota have profits in the 2.4 billion dollar range.  Just a though....