Thinking about coming back...

[zroger73]

Almost 8 months ago, I traded my '06 EX-L for an '07 Ridgeline RTL with navi. The Ridgeline has been 100% trouble-free during its 8,000 miles so far, but I feel guilty for driving such a large, relatively inefficient vehicle. Aside from the occasional trip to Lowe's to haul home a new appliance or materials for a project, the utility of being a truck goes to waste.

A few months ago, I had to have the rear window replaced in the Ridgeline (cause of breakage never determined...long story). The loaner I received was an '07 Accord LX. After becoming used to the Ridgeline's size, weight, and power, the Accord felt so tiny and lightweight for a mid-size sedan.

I'm contemplating going back to a car and possibly purchasing a used truck just for occasional use. Typically, I never buy the same vehicle twice, but the Accord changed enough for '08 for me to reconsider. I like the larger size, but this time I'd be purchasing a White Diamond / Beige EX-L V6 with navi. I'm glad to see Bluetooth and auto ON and off headlights, among other features. That color combination with the chrome door handles on the V6 is simply beautiful. The silver/gray/brushed metal of my Ridgeline and former Accord is cold and boring.

Now to my questions...

I understand there may be some price negotiating room on the sedans, but not so much on the coupes. True?

Are road noise and interior rattles reduced from the 7th gen?

Feel free to throw any other positive or negative comments out there. I'm fully aware of the huge hit I'll be taking on the Ridgeline, so no need to comment on that.

The other car I'm considering is a BMW 328i sedan. I'm prepared to spend the additional $10,000 "because it's a BMW" and I really, really like the feel of a rear-wheel drive.

[Accordlover]

First.

Drive both.

You cannot go into the buying process not knowing what you want. 328i vs. Accord are two very different worlds. If one of your reasons to trade the ridge is fuel efficiency, the 328i will be no different. Period. (crappy gas mileage + premium fuel)

It doesn't sound like you keep your cars very long so BMW reliability shouldn't be an issue...

I'd think there's more negotiating room on the sedans basically because there are oodles more of them to sell. :yes:

[Fireball]

The Ridgeline has been 100% trouble-free during its 8,000 miles so far, but I feel guilty for driving such a large, relatively inefficient vehicle.

Don't let environmentalists persuade you one way or the other. The whole left-wing global cooling (and now global warming) claptrap is a clever ruse to implement collectivism in America. Drive what YOU enjoy; it's your money and your right. :yes:

[Darth Do'Urden]

I'd love to have a Ridgeline.

Someday....

And yeah, screw the enviromentalists. I don't buy a fraction of their rhetoric.

[Accordlover]

That's right. Everyone keep filling up those V8's and V6's getting lower than 20mpg. Keep buying into the fuel prices. Show the US that we really don't care that gas could top $4.50 a gallon by the end of the summer nationwide!

I'm not preaching to not drive whatever it is that you want, all I'm saying is if you drive a big gas guzzler and don't use any of it's abilities regularly than it's not only a waste of your money, but it's one more vehicle that emits pollution out into the world. Global warming may have it's non-believers and questions regarding its validity, but there's no doubt that whatever comes out of your tailpipe is going to go into the air of which we live and breathe in.

Shoot, I feel guilty every time I drive my 1986 Accord!

Sorry for my rant, but I just wanted to throw that out there.

[princess]

If you don't need/want it....go for a change.

Although ours isn't hauling stuff or pulling the boat every day...we DO need it enough to justify owning it. The only crazy part is that it's the commute vehicle.:paranoid: We'd save fuel, money, the air, etc. if it was left home for me to drive. It MAY be for a while in TX.:dunno:

My Accord V6 & it's less wonderful MPG when I'm the driver, still gets less fill-ups than most Priuses due to my driving pattern. So I don't feel guilty about owning a V6 for no good reason other than I WANT to.:)

My tank lasts me 6 weeks or so.:yes:

[stevencrosbie]

Global warming may have it's non-believers and questions regarding its validity, but there's no doubt that whatever comes out of your tailpipe is going to go into the air of which we live and breathe in.

Shoot, I feel guilty every time I drive my 1986 Accord!

Sorry for my rant, but I just wanted to throw that out there.

Well....I 100% believe global warming is a trend of the mother earth and has little to nothing to do with what I drive.

In saying that...your 86 Accord probably pollutes more in 1 day than my truck all month combined. Fuel consumption does not equate to extra pollution.....it has more to do with what is coming out at exhaust pipe.

Man....your Ridge would be a great candidate for a nice used truck for someone. Trucks are not worth a whole lot used after that first year....and the hit you take on that truck will be enormous. When I was looking there was a 3,500 factory to dealer on it the Ridge. I could get an EX-L Navi for 27,500....so I bet you will get around 20 used...scary.

My opinion....if you want out of the truck (I wouldn't do it....it is probably way more useful than you think) than I'd get the BMW. It sounds like you go through cars before 5 years...and all of the maint is covered on the BMW. Those cars are nice and solid.

If it was me...I'd keep the truck and get a small car to commute in. You already have the nice vehicle (truck) and instead of taking the trade hit...I'd just get a small car to pair with the truck (or lease the BMW).

[Schu]

To the OP, the coupe does in fact seem to have the ability to hold its ground more firmly, in as far as purchase price, over the sedan... But both body types are being dealt at or below invoice pricing for now. This despite great sales figures in this frothy economic environment. Go in expecting to pay at or slightly below the invoice price, say from 500-1000 below. Of course some regions have been affected more by the car sale slow down than others.

I personally have not driven a seventh gen, but this car is completely new. What I can't seem to fathom is how many people are affected by road noise, to me I drive with the windows down and my foot on the floor as often as possible... The noise of the engine, the screaming of the tires all contribute to the VISCERAL driving experience... I believe this is Honda's philosophy to. What can you compare it to in noise penetration? Who knows, take a drive and judge for yourself, that way you will know for sure if it fits the bill.

I have driven many BMW's, to me the 3.5L Honda is a more potent engine than say the 3 series engines, that combined with great FWD balance makes for a car that would be more than a match for any 3 series BMW on some deserted twisty section of road. RWD is only really good for that last ten tenths of driving skill, I am sure your not anticipating that for this car... Like I am :P

[k757]

Now to my questions...

I understand there may be some price negotiating room on the sedans, but not so much on the coupes. True?

Are road noise and interior rattles reduced from the 7th gen?

Feel free to throw any other positive or negative comments out there. I'm fully aware of the huge hit I'll be taking on the Ridgeline, so no need to comment on that.

The other car I'm considering is a BMW 328i sedan. I'm prepared to spend the additional $10,000 "because it's a BMW" and I really, really like the feel of a rear-wheel drive.Hey zroger73!!!! :wave:

As you know, I dropped my Redrock Ridge for the Accord. The trade in I got was between the Excellent & Good on KBB's "Trade in value".

The sedans can be had for invoice. The coupes, not so much currently. I paid 26,300 for mine. The LX you drove is nothing compared to the EX-L V6 NAV. Don't even think they are the same car. way too many differences to note.

I can't compare to the 7thG, but I am at 3k miles and no rattles at all on CT roads.

[zroger73]

Schu,

My dream car would be a Lexus LS460 or BMW 7-series. I like the feeling of accelerating in near silence as I'm forcefully pushed into soft, climate-controlled leather "furniture". However, either of those are decades away from being affordable for me, so I'm on a quest for the QUIETEST and most powerful car with the largest amount of electronic gadgets I can get in the $30K's.

Fireball,

I pay little to no attention to environmentalists or politicians. Any choice to decrease emissions or increase efficiency is almost exclusively a "feel good" effort on my part. I'm the last of my bloodline with no plans to produce offspring, but that's not to say I don't put forth at least a little effort in areas where I'm willing to extend resources for future generations.

k757,

Thanks for the feedback on pricing. Only in the last week have I been able to monetarily offset the huge hit I'd take by trading the RL for something else. Therefore, my quest for a new ride is only just beginning. In the coming weeks, I'll more thoroughly drive and research the models I'm considering. Who knows, I might end up deciding that keeping the Ridgeline is the best vehicle for me after all.

[jackpop]

First.

Drive both.

You cannot go into the buying process not knowing what you want. 328i vs. Accord are two very different worlds. If one of your reasons to trade the ridge is fuel efficiency, the 328i will be no different. Period. (crappy gas mileage + premium fuel)

It doesn't sound like you keep your cars very long so BMW reliability shouldn't be an issue...

I'd think there's more negotiating room on the sedans basically because there are oodles more of them to sell. :yes:

wrong wrong, very wrong..

The 328i get good fuel economy.. It gets 1 mpg less than the accord V6, and when your considering a BMW you don't worry about fuel consumption ,if you cannot afford to keep up with its "horrible" gas mileage you shouldn't be buying one

[pazbien]

Schu,

My dream car would be a Lexus LS460 or BMW 7-series. I like the feeling of accelerating in near silence as I'm forcefully pushed into soft, climate-controlled leather "furniture". However, either of those are decades away from being affordable for me, so I'm on a quest for the QUIETEST and most powerful car with the largest amount of electronic gadgets I can get in the $30K's.

Fireball,

I pay little to no attention to environmentalists or politicians. Any choice to decrease emissions or increase efficiency is almost exclusively a "feel good" effort on my part. I'm the last of my bloodline with no plans to produce offspring, but that's not to say I don't put forth at least a little effort in areas where I'm willing to extend resources for future generations.

k757,

Thanks for the feedback on pricing. Only in the last week have I been able to monetarily offset the huge hit I'd take by trading the RL for something else. Therefore, my quest for a new ride is only just beginning. In the coming weeks, I'll more thoroughly drive and research the models I'm considering. Who knows, I might end up deciding that keeping the Ridgeline is the best vehicle for me after all.

I would get the Accord. I was offered recently a Sedan EXL v6 w/ Nav for 26,800$ here in NYC which is an amazing deal. Toyota camry is quieter and has a few more gadgets but dealers are not going below 28K$. Besides, the Accord looks better IMO and drives 100% better. If you want the coupe there is no comparison as that is a nice car.

[jackpop]

Honestly, If you were debating between the 328i the Accord and the Camry.. i would buy the Camry.. its the silkiest ride in the world. and the interior is 100% better with alot of Lexus materials.. I love the 8th gen accord, but only really the coupe, I love everything about the coupe except the dash, its awkward looking..

[Rogizzy123]

I think you should test drive both the bmw and the accord and see what you like... I've driven both cars and love them. I have the 4cylinder(wish I had the v6) accord and I have had no rattles and no complaints at all. I love the styling of the new accords including the interior imo... My uncle had a 328i for a while and that thing was amazing too. Love the interior, love the engines smoothness, just about everything that car had was amazing. A test drive should help you make your decision.

[honda761]

Bmws are quite an experience , those inline 6 motors are heaven. I test drove a 325i years ago and when I got back in my Mazda6 V6 I thought it was going to fall apart. I think people who have money should have at least one bmw in their life.