Toyota has FJC founded on decades experience.
Nissan has the X-Terra which has done fairly well also with years of experience.
Does Honda have what it takes to make a similar vehicle?
I was shocked to see the Ridgeline come out. Trucks and "Honda" didn't go with me. I just read that the Honda Ridgeline came in 1st in this year Score Baja 250.
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On March 10, 2007, the California Race and Rally (CaRR) Team and their Honda Ridgeline took first place in their class at the SCORE Baja 250. Driver Gavin Skilton and his #779 Ridgeline dominated the Stock Mini Class, and also finished ahead of many other stock classes. The win placed them firmly in first place in the SCORE series for their class.
I think Honda definitely could....but probably won't. Their automotive company is much different than it's ATV/Motorcycle line. They definitely have a great offroad history and if they wanted to, I'm positive they could build a very capable 4wd rig that even a SFA guy like me could get behind. However, I have a feeling it's just not part of their consumer "target" base.
JMO,
Sean
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Having owned a Honda Passport / Isuzu Rodeo in disguise for 9 years before the FJ, I can vouch for the ability of that vehicle to go off road and pull weight! And although Honda didn't build it, they may have had a hand in the design. If you were lucky enough to find a manual transmission, you could lock up the rear and front to back like the FJ. They held together well too, except for a poorly designed V6 engine that consumes oil. I'm always suprised that there were never more aftermarket parts for these vehicles and you don't see more in the woods, especially since they are no longer 'new'.
If Honda wanted to they certainly could build one, I just think they need to see a demand of 10 million vehicles a year before they start such a project.
I owned a '99 Isuzu Rodeo 2wd Manual. It was the first vehicle I ever went offroading in. I took it through mild fire roads in Valencia. It was a fun vehicle but the build qulity was pretty low and mine did drink oil. I didn't know it was common knowledge. I don't think Honda had a hand in development. It was a desperate move to enter the SUV market during the craze. Once the CRV and Pilot came in the, the Passport disappeared.
I was looking for future concept vehicles from Honda and nothing so far was geared towards off-roading. Sean pointing out their moto/quad division is true.....they know how to handle dirt.
IS is poor for rock crawling but isn't it fine for pre-runner Baja style racing?
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jhaydeno previously said:
Having owned a Honda Passport / Isuzu Rodeo in disguise for 9 years before the FJ, I can vouch for the ability of that vehicle to go off road and pull weight! And although Honda didn't build it, they may have had a hand in the design. If you were lucky enough to find a manual transmission, you could lock up the rear and front to back like the FJ. They held together well too, except for a poorly designed V6 engine that consumes oil. I'm always suprised that there were never more aftermarket parts for these vehicles and you don't see more in the woods, especially since they are no longer 'new'.
If Honda wanted to they certainly could build one, I just think they need to see a demand of 10 million vehicles a year before they start such a project.
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Honda certainly has the money and the engineering talent to jump in and they have been known to suddenly do so.
In the 70's Honda Motorcycles publicly derided two stroke engines and then suddenly released the Elsinore 250cc
Introduced in February 1973, the revolutionary Elsinore was Honda's first two-stroke sold in America and the first purpose-built motocross machine from the world's largest motorcycle producer. And it changed the face of American motocross forever.
Few things have the power and longevity of a good idea. There are countless examples of them in Honda's history, and one of the most significant is the 1973 CR™250M Elsinore.
Originally known simply as the Elsinore, it was the first production motocrosser from Honda and the first two-stroke Honda sold in America. The Elsinore was a pure motocrosser-fast, reliable and good handling. In addition to its well-rounded approach, the Elsinore was distinguished by its lightness. A beautiful polished aluminum fuel tank (Who can forget the green stripe on top?!) chrome-moly frame, silver plastic fenders and magnesium bits scattered throughout gave the Elsinore a jewel-like persona.
With 29 horsepower on tap, the five-speed, 225-pound Elsinore had a power-to-weight ratio and handling that redefined the 250 motocross class. Shortly after its arrival on the scene, the Elsinore carried Gary Jones to the 1973 AMA 250 National title - Honda's first. Led by the original Elsinore, Honda CR250s have won an astounding 24 National and Supercross titles.
The Elsinore began a lineage of innovative Honda motocrossers leading directly to today's sophisticated aluminum-framed CR250R. Like the current CR, the Elsinore (and 125 Elsinore that followed in 1974) was the most technologically advanced motocrosser of the day.
Perhaps even more significantly, the Elsinore began Honda's commitment to American motocross, a commitment that had a profound impact on the growth and popularity of a sport still in its infancy. The Elsinore name dropped off the CR250 in 1982, but the impact of this revolutionary machine lives on in a sport that has captured the heart and commands the attention of mainstream America
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PokerDawg, even if they did, it would cost $20k more than the FJ. Used to be a Honda guy until they got too expensive.
Are you looking for something better? (more expensive)
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Oh yes, they drink oil! I know a bunch of people who ran them dry, some in under 300 miles from an oil change. Many engines were replaced in and just out of warranty (including mine @ 54K, which Honda refused to back because, "we didn't build it". I will never buy another Honda, but it is a good all around 4WD vehicle. Not the best rock crawler, not the best prerunner, but for those of us moderates that do old fire trails, shallow mud, creeks, logs, etc. on the east coast it really did pull it's weight and you could drive it 6 hours on the highway and still have your sanity. I liked it better then my moderately built '79 CJ-7. I once pulled out a stuck F-250 4WD with a 12,000 lb trailer attached in low gear with all 4 spinning!
PokerDawg, even if they did, it would cost $20k more than the FJ. Used to be a Honda guy until they got too expensive.
Are you looking for something better? (more expensive)
No. I think this market category lacks variety. It's dominated by Jeeps and the XTerra is common. Although Mitsubishi is famous for rally racing, they don't have those cars here in the US. I don't think the Montero is in the same category. I'm happy with the FJ, I'm curious to see what Honda can come up with.
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jhaydeno previously said:
I once pulled out a stuck F-250 4WD with a 12,000 lb trailer attached in low gear with all 4 spinning!
Awesome!
If I bought a 4x4 Rodeo....I may not have purchased an FJ today only because I would say...I already have a 4x4. But the oil consumption was terrible so maybe not.
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