Honda Truck

Okay, most of you out there has heard of the ghey Honda Ridgeline . Well, the truck comes available in all wheel drive. Okay, think about what I just said, why would they consider a truck AWD? Shouldn't they just call it four wheel drive? The answer is, because when it's in 2 wheel drive, it operates on the front wheels. That's right, this p.o.s. $30,000+ truck is front wheel drive. I'm not surprised Honda has start producing front wheel drive bikes...

[Lash]

Usually AWD is all the time and 4WD is selectable.

[pyro]

yep, the rondezvous is the same way, FWD when in normal driving, but AWD when it hits ice or something slippery. the astro is the same way too, only i believe its RWD when not in AWD mode.

[onesexyga]

The answer is, because when it's in 2 wheel drive, it operates on the front wheels. That's right, this p.o.s. $30,000+ truck is front wheel drive.

Ever driven rear wheel drive in the winter? I do 10x better with my ga and summer tires than my friends RWD s10. Theres no weight, so its useless. I think its a good idea.

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by Lash

Usually AWD is all the time and 4WD is selectable.

& 4WD drive is usually locked differentials, IIRC.

Which is bad if driving on dry pavement (high traction) environments.
It needs a like slippery conditions or you will kill the differentials.

& I believe Honda calls it 'Real Time AWD'
A lot of other car manufacturers have this 'part-time' AWD feature.

Like I want my rear wheels to kick it when the front wheels start slipping (similar to our GA's traction control system, when the light turns on 'LOW TRAC').
Great way to push you out of control & into a ditch

[ViperGTSR]

4WD is lock, correct. 50/50
AWD is variable, say 35/65 split
and i believe the Ridgline is variable but is more a 70/30 most of the time

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by ViperGTSR_500hp

...and i believe the Ridgline is variable but is more a 70/30 most of the time

Oh, then the Honda Ridgeline IS real AWD all the time then ?
But drives like a front wheel drive truck.

Not like the original poster stated.


I like the BMW's set-up on the 330xi AWD system.
30% front & 70% rear, unless the wheels start slipping.
So it drives like a rear wheel drive car.


Offtopic:
Alex: I like your STi.
IIRC, you can 'dial' in your preferences on the percentage of front vs rear AWD, on your ride.

[ViperGTSR]

wow the website is NO help (honda.com)

it doesnt say what it is in everyday driving, it just says that, in low traction situations it locks the rear and goes to 30/70 up until 18mph, then disengages, but like i said, they dont specify what happens afterwords...

MIke: thanks, yea DCCD (Driver controlled center dif.) freaking awesome. You can lock all 4, or dial 65/35, or all to the rear almost and anywhere inbetween, its a great feature

[bigbenSC]

The Ridgeline employes the same front wheel biased AWD system used in the Pilot and Acura MDX. Most of the time the front wheels are driven, when they slip, or when the driver hits the VTM-4 lock button, the system can transfer 70% of it's power to the rear wheels. The system won accolades for it's effectiveness upon its release in the MDX in 2001. The computer decides where the best place for the grip to go is. Obviously it's not the best setup for doing "trucky" things like towing or serious off roading, but for everyday use it is the type of system that most manufacturers are adopting for unibody based vehicles.

Originally Posted by onesexyga

The answer is, because when it's in 2 wheel drive, it operates on the front wheels. That's right, this p.o.s. $30,000+ truck is front wheel drive.

Ever driven rear wheel drive in the winter? I do 10x better with my ga and summer tires than my friends RWD s10. Theres no weight, so its useless. I think its a good idea.

I can understand in a car, but this is (or atleast it claims) a truck. I just think that flat out Honda is homosexual. But that is just my opinion, owing a civic at one point, and then seeing this flametastic truck.

[GrahamKracka]

...id take pretty much anything over a GA....it left me sour

[MantaGreen97]

Originally Posted by pyromaniac6565

yep, the rondezvous is the same way, FWD when in normal driving, but AWD when it hits ice or something slippery. the astro is the same way too, only i believe its RWD when not in AWD mode.

But really the Rendeszvous shouldn't be considered "AWD" unless it powers all 4 wheels, all the time... The Rendezvous/Aztek utilise what they call "Versatrak AWD" and it is a specialised system that GM designed for these vehicles.

Even more ingenious was Honda's implementation of electromagnetic clutch packs in the Acura MDX, which was released in the same time period as the Aztek, IIRC.

The EM clutchpacks were a waste in the MDX, however, and I always hated the minivan-wanna-be-SUV vehicle. When Honda finally put the clutchpacks to use in the RL it was the first really smart thing I've seen Honda do, and despite the fact that I hate most Hondas, I think the new RL is pretty darn good.

Does the Ridgeline also utilise EM clutchpacks? I know it was designed by using the MDX as a starting point, but I never really looked into the Ridgeline much.

Originally Posted by ViperGTSR_500hp

4WD is lock, correct. 50/50
AWD is variable, say 35/65 split
and i believe the Ridgline is variable but is more a 70/30 most of the time

It's always been my understanding that AWD meant it was always driving all 4 wheels all the time, not able to be disengaged; and 4WD meant it usually would be a 2WD vehicle but the driver may select 4WD mode to drive all wheels. How the wheels are driven (torque percentage) and what type of differentials is up to the manufacturer to decide. Obviously in an AWD system the differentials would never be locked together so all 4 wheels operate at the same time because that would not be driveable.

However there are 4WD vehicles that have a "full-time" 4WD setting (which does not lock the front and rear) and they aren't AWD because the 4WD is not the "normal" mode of operation. It's like when you see 4LO and 4HI, the former is the locked position and the latter the "full-time" position.

A true "AWD" system on the other hand is always driving 4 wheels. The car's electronics or the driver may be able to change the differential operation and/or torque split but all 4 wheels are still [normally] driven.

The manufacturers don't help the issue either. Like the Toyota Highlander, it says "4WD" on the back of the vehicle but it is *not* a 4WD vehicle it is a AWD vehicle. Why they insist on calling it 4WD is because there are some marketing idiots over at Toyota I suppose.

[BigTaters]

gm is light years ahead of people in the 4x4 world.. they have a system that is about 3-5 years ahead of ford and dodge with the setup for tow haul and auto shift on the fly at highway speeds.. most reviews in magazines give them awesome reviews.. anyone that wants a truck for just every day **** driving in the city could buy a honda but it will be useless for 90% of trucking applications like climbing hills and mud bogging.. pulling trailers.. going off roading etc etc

[GrahamKracka]

you could always get a titan 4x4

[bigbenSC]

Mantagreen97- There is no reason for a car to be 50/50 4wd all the time everyday, it lowers fuel economy, adds unnesessary wear to the drivetrain and the tires. The Ridgeline uses the same system as the MDX and Pilot, as stated in my previous post. AWD is only necessary when one of the primarily driven wheels (weither it be a front or rear biased system) begins to slip. Most new AWD setups from Japanese and American manufacturers are this way. The AWD system in the Acura RL is way more advanced that that in the MDX, Rigeline, or Pilot. You cannot lock the system, the computer controls every aspect of its operation. It also can speed up one wheel relative to the others depending on driving comditions (IE the rear outside wheel during a tight corner).

[MantaGreen97]

Originally Posted by bigbengt67

Mantagreen97- There is no reason for a car to be 50/50 4wd all the time everyday, it lowers fuel economy, adds unnesessary wear to the drivetrain and the tires.

Hmm, I thought that was what I said

But thanks for the additional info on the systems used in those Hondas. The system in the RL is truly impressive, it's too bad it's only in the flagship ($80k+ CDN.) right now but I'd imagine in some years it may filter down to the TL and perhaps even lower models

[coupe]

Originally Posted by onesexyga

The answer is, because when it's in 2 wheel drive, it operates on the front wheels. That's right, this p.o.s. $30,000+ truck is front wheel drive.

Ever driven rear wheel drive in the winter? I do 10x better with my ga and summer tires than my friends RWD s10. Theres no weight, so its useless. I think its a good idea.

If its a 2wd yeah it will suck. I bet i can do better in winter than your ga with my GMC Z71 offroad.
I cant imagine it would be fun to tow with a FWD truck.

[onesexyga]

Everyone has made valid points that a truck like this isnt good for towing or mud bogging, but lets be honest. Whos going to do that? Rednecks will still buy a Chevy. Nothing wrong with that. But for these people who belong in cars and drive trucks because they think theyre cool, its fine for them.

[Greed4Speed]

Have y'all actually seen a Ridgeline? The tailgate top is about 4" lower than the bed sides. Whats up with that? Its also a solid body like the Avalanche.

All that aside, I guarantee there are going to be people pulling boats and towing with them. I've seen people pulling boats w/fwd cars too. I also don't think they'll handle it very well. Structurally or mechanically. Not sure Honda took into consideration how Americans abuse their trucks. Wonder how long the tranny will last under the conditions.

I've seen plenty of "redneck" mudding/towing types driving other import trucks. I also bet that plenty of kids will be taking their parent's AWD truck out for some mudding too.

[crazypontiac03]

I'll stick is buying a Chevy/Ford Truck before i would even think about Buying that Poor excuse for a truck!! Honda needs to Stick with Car's!