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Avalanche vs Ridgeline price.

A

amv

Full Member
Joined
May 4, 2007
Messages
75
Location
NYC
At the end of June I am either going to purchase a Ridgeline or an Avalanche so
I've been reading both forums for the past couple of months. This is the first
time I've posted in either. 
                                                 
Now I feel I have a good grasp of the pluses and minuses of both. The big
difference I've noticed between them is price. I was quoted close to $48,000 for
a top of the line Avalanche versus the $28,500 (closer to $29,500 with the
accessories I want to add)top of the line Ridgeline. Yes, there are big
discounts currently on the Ridgeline. To be honest I hate the way the Ridgeline looks,
and I'd rather buy American but not for close to $20,000 more? Am I missing
something here?
 
The Ridgeline is a unibody, front wheel drive based AWD, with a V6 engine, all independent suspension, and is generally smaller.  It's essentially just like the Pilot SUV and Odyssey minivan it shares a lot of underpinnings with, just transformed into truck shape and made a little beefier.  This is set up mainly for light duty, on road use.

The Avalanche is COMPLETELY different, aside from general design layout, being a body on frame, RWD or 4wd full size SUV at heart, with V8 power, and just a larger size.  It also has a much larger model and options spread, hence the pricing from the low $30k's up to $50k, the higher end models having a few features a top Ridgeline don't.  Being a BOF, heavier, V8, etc. this is just a tougher truck, and can see more demanding use.

They're really just very different vehicles, and people who like one generally don't like the other.  If you want more efficiency and trully carlike road manners, go with the Ridgeline.  If you want a true truck that's heavier, with more power, more space, and tougher, go with the Av, accepting the fact that it's more expensive and eats more gas.

Beyond this, should be some interesting replies, since most people here loathe the Ridgeline, and obnoxiously so.  But, we'll see.
 
If you need/want a full size TRUCK, and want the versatility to carry four/five passengers and lots of stuff or 1 passenger and lots of really long stuff then go with the Avalanche.

If you need/want a small open bed car-based SUV then go with the Ridgeline.

And obviously, if price is a huge factor and you want all the bells and whistles you can buy for less than $30K, then go with the Ridgeline.

Personally, having owned an Av, I'd look at used Av's (there have been some awesome trucks listed here for $20k) before I'd even consider a Ridgeline.

 
The only real way the two vehicles can be compared is by
their outline and the fact that they are both derived from
a wagon-type SUV, the Suburban for the Avalanche and the Pilot? for the Ridgeline. Obviously, to compare the Pilot to the Suburban is nearly impossible, they are totally different, so are the Ridgeline and Avalanche.
A fair comparison would be the Chevy Colorado Crew cab vs the Ridgeline. Honda has no current (or past) model that can be fairly compared to the Avalanche.
 
Obtain a supplier discount certificate and with the incentives you are down to 40000 to 42000 for the AV. The Rigidline is at 30000 so the difference is getting smaller.
 
cz3cqg said:
Obtain a supplier discount certificate and with the incentives you are down to 40000 to 42000 for the AV. The Rigidline is at 30000 so the difference is getting smaller.
Click to expand...
that's what I was thinking to  :B:
 
they've actually sold enough of those pesky little ankle biter trucks to have a forum? say it aint so!!!!
theres really no way to compare these vehicles, other than you CAN hide a ridgeline INSIDE a AV
goatboy
p.s. hope i helped
 
I don't understand what some people are talking about with fuel saving with the Ridgeline.
Ridgeline    16/21
AV 2wd      15/21
AV 4wd      15/20
Only 1 mile per gallon better, driving habbits make a much bigger difference then that.
 
DaytonaZ71 said:
A fair comparison would be the Chevy Colorado Crew cab vs the Ridgeline.
Click to expand...

The Colorado is a midsize rear wheel drive truck/4x4 optional, body on frame.

The Chevy Equinox SUV would be a closer comparison to Ridgeline, it's a unibody car frame
FWD Starts at $22,865, AWD Starts at $24,365
 
I just looked up a top of the line Ridgeline with as many features as possible that would be on a top of the line AV and the MSRP for the ridgeline was $43,431. You need to compare the price of an AV that only has the features you want for a more realistic price comparison. Also lookat features on the AV you priced that you can't get on a Ridgeline, like 20" wheels ($2000) on AV, 17" on Ridgeline and onstar if you want it now standard on AV (was $1000 option) not available on Ridgeline.
 
It's still apples to oranges, it's not that everyone here hates the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline isn't even close to being in the same vehicle category as the Avalanche. PRICE comparisons should be with other unibody SUVs or midsize trucks, first you have to look at what you're using it for. Towing capacity, offroad,.. etc.
 
DO this..

figure Dollar per pound and report back...
 
Flint4x4 said:
The Colorado is a midsize rear wheel drive truck/4x4 optional, body on frame.
The Chevy Equinox SUV would be a closer comparison to Ridgeline, it's a unibody car frame
FWD Starts at $22,865, AWD Starts at $24,365
Click to expand...
The rest of the world looks at the open bed of the Ridgeline and calls it a truck and compares it to the small/mid sized pickups except for people who compare by silhouette-they compare it to the Avalanche.

Found something interesting on Edmunds blogs, it's a review of the 07 Avalanche (favorable, of course)
The comments about Avalanche vs Ridgeline seem to follow this thread somewhat.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/243
 
I was making the same decision a few months ago, deciding between the Avalanche and the Ridgeline. Price wasn't really a question. I commute 60 miles one way to work and wanted a comfortable truck for the many hours I was going to spend driving. Both had the 4 wheel/all wheel drive option that I wanted for spending time in the NC Mountains. Tried the Honda and liked it, tried the Avalanche and bought it. THEN I found this website! I probably would never have considered the Honda if I had known about this group of proud owners. Now I am one, can't see the same pride in the Ridgies!
 
Thanks everyone for you answers/opinions. Though I must admit some of them are downright silly. :D

I'm not really concerned with which one is considered a real truck, or the overall weight of the vehicle. And a friend has had a Ridgeline for a couple of years and so far it's holding up fine. As far as room to hold stuff I consider it a wash, and I must say the Ridgelines in bed trunk is very appealing. Chances are I will never use the Avalanche's midgate.

My main use of the vehicle is to get out of NYC and up to my house in the mountains. It's a 155 mile drive. Both vehicles are supposed to handle highway driving well, which is important to me. Once up here I'll occasionally be travelling down a steep log road, hauling firewood, brush,gravel and doing other odds and ends. Currently I have a Landrover LR3 which I love. However, a pickup bed would be really helpfull with chores around here and for dumping my garbage. In addition I'd like to save some money. The Avalanche's price is similar to an LR3. And as I mentioned I can get a top of the line Ridgeline, with the accessories I want, for $29,500.

I would prefer the ground clearance( being able to raise the LR3 has gotten me out of a couple of jams) and better off road ability of the Avalanche, not to metion the looks. However my friends Ridgelinge has done pretty well in the circumstances I will be using my vehicle.

If the price difference was $3000 or so I would spend the extra money, but it doesn't seem to be. What kind of Avalanche can I get in the low $30's?



 
Personally,I'd pay a lot extra to have the Avalanche because it's a larger, more powerful, better looking full-sized luxury truck, those are the same reasons I would't buy a Colorado, Ranger or other small or mid-sized truck, not just a Ridgeline.

  With all the incentives, discounts, etc available you might be able to find a barely optioned Avalanche for the low 30s. If you don't care about mid vs full sized trucks and you can get a Ridgeline with everything you want for 3K less and it will do the job you require, it doesn't make much sense to buy the Avalanche, does it?

 
:welcome:

Buy the AV.  It is a little more expensive, but well worth it.

Plus there is this....
Avalanche  :cool:
Ridgeline  (n)
 
Buy the Ridgeline AND BRING it to every Avalanche GTG if you have a sense of humor  :cool:
 
Flint4x4 said:
Buy the Ridgeline AND BRING it to every Avalanche GTG if you have a sense of humor? :cool:
Click to expand...

or no sense at all.

That's like a vegetarian eating a steak.  Not right.
 
sounds to me like your decision is made...

you don't care about the midgate....
you want an open bed to haul wood etc
and you want a cheaper vehicle
comfort and ?:cool: isn't an issue

GL... You should get the one you want.

The problem you're going to find here is that WE are REALLY loyal to Chevy (American made) and the AV in particular... We ?(99.9%) don't want anything else... If it were our choice.. that's all we'd drive... we're spoiled because we have the best looking, most versitile vehicle on the road.... That's our opinion and we're sticking to it.

Trying to talk someone into understanding the difference is futile... you love them or think think they're Bu** ugly . You can afford one or you can't. I don't have an EXT because I don't have the resources. I drive what I can afford (and like)... AV's


 
Let me start by saying I am a die hard Chevy fan and have always been one. But I will tell I did look at a couple different vechiles before I bought my AV, Toyota FJ not comfortable and very stiff ride. Honda Ridgeline too small and not enough power. I looked at price and I bought the AV for $36K before taxes. This was for a Z71 with every option but Nav and rear DVD. I have not looked back since. I drive my truck every chance I get. So if you look real hard you can get the price where you want it. Also the E85 made it a done deal for me and that was when gas was still $2.50 a gallon. :B:
 
ounds to me like your decision is made...

you don't care about the midgate....
you want an open bed to haul wood etc
and you want a cheaper vehicle
comfort and  Cool! isn't an issue
Click to expand...

Well the decision hasn't been made, though I am leaning towards the Ridgeline due to price. As for comfort I've heard they're similar, and when I've been in the Ridgeline it was pretty comfy, though not as much as my LR3. As far as cool, I think they're both cool in slightly different ways. Though I do agree with many here that the Ridgeline is ugly. As far as hauling wood wouldn't I be able to do that in an Avalanche? Or is it too difficult to remove the cover? As for power the Ridgeline was powerfull enough to pull some dead trees up the side of the mountain my house is on. However I'm not sure how good it is at passing other vehicles at 80mph on the thruway...
 
the covers only take a minute or two to take off, if hauling wood you would have to clean out the drains more often...      but that isn't that bad of a job   
 
Remove the box covers, haul wood, park on an incline and hose it out. I've never cleaned my drains
 
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