Honda Element
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: houston
You guys are haters.
Can't let something different change the way carmakers make cars.
C'mon change is good. I bought this truck about a month ago.
Just to let you I had a 85 crx, 92 accord, 2000 accord, 2001 civic, 2003 element.
What the hell ...this truck is just as good as all the others.
When I drive it I always catch people staring some good looks and bad. Overall, they are more good than bad.
The best comment I had was a kid tell me man your truck is cool.
Who cares if you don
Can't let something different change the way carmakers make cars.
C'mon change is good. I bought this truck about a month ago.
Just to let you I had a 85 crx, 92 accord, 2000 accord, 2001 civic, 2003 element.
What the hell ...this truck is just as good as all the others.
When I drive it I always catch people staring some good looks and bad. Overall, they are more good than bad.
The best comment I had was a kid tell me man your truck is cool.
Who cares if you don
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 0
From: Poconos
I've seen a few on the road in "hit-me-grey" color and one on a showroom. I never cared for the look of it.
The 4wd of this and Pilot don't impress me either. I passed on the Pilot because of this.
The 4wd of this and Pilot don't impress me either. I passed on the Pilot because of this.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18,885
Likes: 33
From: Philly (Narberth)
Just stumbled on this older thread and it caught my eye? Maybe there have been more recent Element threads, but I notice a number of the earlier respondents now OWN ONE 
What's your 3 Month Test Drive report
What's your 3 Month Test Drive report
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 2
From: Transporter
What I got stickers US$ 21,550- 4WD Automatic EX with Keyless Entry (an adder). I got the rest of my accessories through HandA; I highly recommend the larger center armrest with storage, carpeted floor mats, cargo organizer, and two-tone leather steering wheel cover.
Dealers were finally getting enough cars to be willing to discount, I got about $1,100 chopped off.
I got 4WD because the 2WD I test drove spun a front wheel on takeoff when test-driving the vehicle on wet roads. I just want to hit the gas and go no matter what - the 4WD model has delivered.
The Element has been great. It has a surprisingly low CG for how tall it is. I've frequently gone around a corner without drama and been shocked by how fast the speedometer is reading. The 2.4 has good pickup and the auto tranny shifts extremely smoothly. It's quieter than our 99 CR-V and has a better shift program. No torque steer or vibration on acceleration, a couple things that annoy me about the gen-I CR-V.
The back opens clamshell in the Element. The top portion stops opening when it's level with the roof of the car (great for the garage), and the flip-down tailgate is made to support weight (use it all the time). Also, the tailgate unlocks with the rest of the car, so you don't have to worry about unlatching it everytime you want in the trunk, just grab the handle and open it.
The stock stereo is great! The subwoofer gain is separately controlled from the controls, very easy to equalize any CD. Plus there's a convenient AUX input for MP3 etc. The A/C works awesome.
Now that I've had the element for a couple months my wife's CR-V looks like a station wagon and seems more cramped inside (the seat doesn't go back further?). I would rather be driving, and be seen in, the Element. The only downside to the element is less outward visibility because of the tall doors. The amount of rear passenger leg room space is insanely generous. However, because of the way the seats fold against the wall there is only places for two people (it's a 4 passenger vehicle, not 5.)
I hear comments when people looking at it when it's parked (not realizing the owner is nearby), and for the most part people either say they are not sure if they like it or that they kinda think it's cool. In my book the looks are strange but not ugly.
I tracked gas mileage for the first 10 fill-ups, it was 23.5 MPG overall (total miles/total gallons).
The Element is my daily driver for on-road use. With all the rain we've been having, I use it frequently (S2000 gets out maybe one day a week).
If you want to read lots more owners comments (including me, "Einstein" ) go to one of the following links:
http://www.hondaelement.org
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums
http://www.hondasuv.com
P.S. It's interesting to go from the S2000 to the Element. Both cars attract a lot of attention. When people look at the S, they are full of desire. When people look at the Element, they are thrown into a state of confusion.
Dealers were finally getting enough cars to be willing to discount, I got about $1,100 chopped off.
I got 4WD because the 2WD I test drove spun a front wheel on takeoff when test-driving the vehicle on wet roads. I just want to hit the gas and go no matter what - the 4WD model has delivered.
The Element has been great. It has a surprisingly low CG for how tall it is. I've frequently gone around a corner without drama and been shocked by how fast the speedometer is reading. The 2.4 has good pickup and the auto tranny shifts extremely smoothly. It's quieter than our 99 CR-V and has a better shift program. No torque steer or vibration on acceleration, a couple things that annoy me about the gen-I CR-V.
The back opens clamshell in the Element. The top portion stops opening when it's level with the roof of the car (great for the garage), and the flip-down tailgate is made to support weight (use it all the time). Also, the tailgate unlocks with the rest of the car, so you don't have to worry about unlatching it everytime you want in the trunk, just grab the handle and open it.
The stock stereo is great! The subwoofer gain is separately controlled from the controls, very easy to equalize any CD. Plus there's a convenient AUX input for MP3 etc. The A/C works awesome.
Now that I've had the element for a couple months my wife's CR-V looks like a station wagon and seems more cramped inside (the seat doesn't go back further?). I would rather be driving, and be seen in, the Element. The only downside to the element is less outward visibility because of the tall doors. The amount of rear passenger leg room space is insanely generous. However, because of the way the seats fold against the wall there is only places for two people (it's a 4 passenger vehicle, not 5.)
I hear comments when people looking at it when it's parked (not realizing the owner is nearby), and for the most part people either say they are not sure if they like it or that they kinda think it's cool. In my book the looks are strange but not ugly.
I tracked gas mileage for the first 10 fill-ups, it was 23.5 MPG overall (total miles/total gallons).
The Element is my daily driver for on-road use. With all the rain we've been having, I use it frequently (S2000 gets out maybe one day a week).
If you want to read lots more owners comments (including me, "Einstein" ) go to one of the following links:
http://www.hondaelement.org
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums
http://www.hondasuv.com
P.S. It's interesting to go from the S2000 to the Element. Both cars attract a lot of attention. When people look at the S, they are full of desire. When people look at the Element, they are thrown into a state of confusion.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan
Destiny2002, thank you so much.
If I were trading anything now, that would be a top choice for me for all the reasons you list. However, I don't need more than two seats 99% of the time (kids grown and gone, wife drives an Accord, rarely take more than one person camping with me) so I'd just store the seats in a shed and enjoy the huge, watertight cargo box. ) Also, I'd get the tow package to tow my four wheeler to the mountains on a little utility trailer (unless it would fit inside).
Thanks pas2k for reviving the thread.
If I were trading anything now, that would be a top choice for me for all the reasons you list. However, I don't need more than two seats 99% of the time (kids grown and gone, wife drives an Accord, rarely take more than one person camping with me) so I'd just store the seats in a shed and enjoy the huge, watertight cargo box. ) Also, I'd get the tow package to tow my four wheeler to the mountains on a little utility trailer (unless it would fit inside).
Thanks pas2k for reviving the thread.