I had planned on buying a daily driver in a couple of months but might as well get it done now as we've had some bad ice in the last week. I have a bike so an efficient 4cylinder truck seemed like the best bet.
My plan was to buy a used/new Toyota Tacoma 4cylinder 5 speed regular cab truck. I would use this to drive to/from work, run errands, and haul my motorcycle 3-4 times a year, as well as home chit (hauling stuff from Home Depot, etc). The bike fits in the back with no problems and the mileage is good on the Tacoma. I have talked to local dealers and can get one (reg cab, 4 banger, 5spd) with A/C for $13.5k + TTL.

Well today, I called a forum member who works @ Honda and they have the Ridgelines for $209 a month for 42 month lease. 3k due at signing, and that is for 15k miles per year. I have never leased a car before so the lease makes me a little nervous. That and the fact I have 0 ownership once the lease is up. The +'s for the ridgeline is having a backseat to cart folks (rarely I do this), AWD, and just a nicer vehicle in general. Bad for it is that the mileage is 16/21. I think the Tacoma mileage is 20/27.

What do you think?

 

Well, $13.5k financed over 42 months at 7% APR is about $360/mo. That's a good bit more than the Honda, yes, but at the end of the 3.5 years you'd still have a vehicle worth pretty close to what you paid for it. And if you take care of it with regular maint, it should last you a good ten years at least.

Shop around and you'll likely find an Xtracab for that price, and/or a 4x4 model.

 

Tacoma...
Ridgeline.... for too many reasons to list.

 

I dunno, for work, the TAcoma is better. But, the question is daily driver. From what I've read, the Ridgeline may not be able to haul much stuff, or go off road, but is the truck for everyday driving.

 

The only way you'll know is to go drive a Ridgeline.

Ridgeline not haul much stuff as opposed to what? A short bed Tacoma? Or a long bed F150? The Ridgeline is rated 1/2 ton which means it's rated to carry 1000lbs in the bed. It's the same rating as most other trucks people buy for daily drivers. The Ridgeline also handles very well while loaded. Much better than it's competitors.

I can tell you that for all the Ridgeline bashing that happens, for the most part, people haven't even sat in one let alone driven one.

I think if you're going to use the truck once a week to carry something around, just go buy the cheapest Toyota you can find and keep it until it dies - which likely won't be until after you do. But if you want a truck you can daily drive with a ton more convenience features (composite bed, magic trunk, magic tail-gate, flip-up rear seat, rear seat period, 6 airbags, VSA, nice stereo, etc.) a lease on a Ridgeline for $209 a month is a total steal IMO.

Anyway, it's finally your call.

 

I would go for the Ridgeline soley becuase I like the looks and supposedly its a very comfortable driver.

 

I absolutely woud not suggest a Tacoma regular cab, the whole idea of that piece of glass 3" away from your head I have always thought to be a stupid idea on all pickups. If you go small truck get the larger cab with little back jumper seats.

The Ridgeline should be a good deal because Honda is not moving them off the lots like they want to, sort of sad really...

I too have never done a lease, and just don't see myself doing so anytime soon, but them again I'm the kind of guy who buys his trucks and then drives them for 8 to 10 years.

If you are considering a used Tacoma you should also consider a used Nissan Frontier. I'm on my 3rd Nissan truck and think they are great, thus the reason I bought an '05 Titan.

And seriously, the 4 bangers in both the Tacoma and Frontier are lame engines for a truck... and if you are getting a truck, make sure you get a truck and not a poser, posers are 2WD, trucks are 4WD.

 

For $209 a month for a Ridgeline, you're laughing all the way to the bank. I've driven one - it's solid, it's quiet, has moderate get-up-and-go (more than the 4-banger Toyota, though that is actually not bad with the 5-spd - my bro-in-law has one with the short bed)., and definitely has a nicer interior. My father in law uses Tacoma's exclusively for his maintenance and landscaping business and they last forever - the last one to go out required head work, but it had about 330K miles on it. It's definitely a durable motor, if nothing else.

I would personally go with $0 down and pay $280 a month for the Ridgeline over the life of the lease.

 

I'd be VERY interested in the list. I've owned mine since March and have zero complaints. It replaced a Pilot of 2 1/2 years that was also trouble-free.

That said - the Tacoma is a fine truck too. My brother has had several - no problems with any of them.

YMMV

 

I would be wary. Most of these cheap leases on Ridgelines are the very base model with steel wheels and non-body colored mirriors and door handles.