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The true capacity of the Element will likely never be known due to legal issues.
It is important to know the load rating of your tires and inflate them upward (not to the max!) if you will be carrying a load.">
-juice
I can half way help you out - I have dogs (3), but not kids, and own an EX 4wd, Element.
I can tell you that one thing that is nice about loading things into the back seat of the Element (like you would be doing with a car seat), is there is a ton of floorboard space between the front seat and the rear seat. In other words you can open the suicide doors (like you mentioned earlier, no pillar to get in the way), and if you have a heavy load, you can rest it on the floorboard before actually setting the item on the back seat.
The Element is awesome for dogs, because most of the interior can be wiped down (don't have to worry about stains). I did however buy a roll of carpet at the hardware store, and made a huge custom mat for the rear, and a matching mat for the front.
With having said all of this, if I were you, I would buy the CR-V. The Element is a better vehicle for hauling dogs, but the CR-V will probably be better for kids. If you plan on keeping it a long time, the suicide doors would probably be a pain as the kid(s) get older.
Now, there is one thing that I love about this car: EASY TO CLEAN. Kids spill drinks ALL the time ... the dogs love swimming and then running in every mud puddle they can find, and this car cleans up so well. The previous post recommended a rug for the back, and I agree. I had a customer of mine give me a stack of rubber backed throw rungs and they fit perfectly! They also keep things from sliding all over the place.
I would also add, the All Wheel Drive is spectacular in the snow and is safe. Up against the CR-V though, I think I might go with the CR-V. I also use my car for my business (painting contractor) so cleaning the inside is really important. If your dogs don't swim in the river (as my dogs do) then you may not need the industrial interior.
I bought a piece of dense foam, about 1/2" thick, and I then cut a couple of smaller pieces out of it. I put a piece of foam between the ceiling, and the tensioner bars - this seems to eliminate marks on the ceiling.
In my opinion, the Element is a great vehicle if you don't own a truck. This past weekend, I took the rear seats out, and took it to the garden center and bought 30 bales of pine needles (20 in 1 trip, and 10 in the second). It only took me about 30 minutes worth of cleaning to get the interior looking brand new again. All I had to do was vacuum the inside, and wipe down the interior and floor with a damp rag - I also had to lift up the floor panel that covers the spare tire, and vacuum down in there. I then reinstalled the custom carpeting panel I mentioned earlier, and put the seats back in. I was literally done in 30 minutes.
We have 85k on our 04 and have fortunately had to replace only once. We have gravel/rock quarries very close so it is very common for us to get chips.
I'm looking at the element, and I'm curious what folks think about the 2wd versus 4wd. I don't feel like i NEED the 4wd per se (not driving in snow, over mountains, etc.) so i guess i'm feeling like i'm inclined not to pay for it. but thought i'd throw it out to the group.
If so, what have you used? I am not real crazy about drilling holes in the bumper so I was thinking about a license plate mounted one. I have found one on the net for about $150 but I know nothing about them so I am leery about just jumping out and buying one.
Do you drive on the beach?
Do you drive on dirt or gravel roads often?
If not, FWD costs less and saves gas. But if you can justify the AWD, it's a more complete vehicle and will likely be easier to re-sell later.
Thanks anyways!
(Someone in 3 years will buy a used one and will show up here searching for the same answer ).
And enjoy the ride.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
The -41.2% is May'07 vs May '06, the -25% in year-to-date '07 vs. '06. Looks like Element sales are declining faster now. WHY??
Interestingly, when the Element came out, it never cannibalized the CR-V. This new CR-V is hurting the Element a bit, though.
Perhaps because Honda took some risks with the styling this time around, the CR-V isn't as generic any more. Before, anyone who found the CR-V boring would get an Element. Now, the CR-V is a bit more adventurous, and my theory is that's cannibalizing a few Element sales.
But what do I know, that's just a conspiracy theory.
Considering getting an Element for my two Newfoundland dogs but am concerned about (1): getting sufficient air back to them since the rear windows don't open much and, (2): if I get the EX with the skylight, does the available sunshade protect enough from the heat? I don't know if the AC provides enough power to adequately cool the "dog area."
Has anyone had problems with cooling/ventilating the Element?
If you roll down the front windows, and pop the sunroof up (leave it in, just open it), and open the rear, pop-out windows, you get a pretty good breaze flowing through.
In terms of the sun shade, I don't have one, but I was under the impression you weren't supposed to drive with the sunshade in place, but I may be wrong.
My Buick Rendezvous is about ready for replacement. About 4 times per year I engage in Roving which is part of an amateur radio contest that involves loading a vehicle with all man manner of VHF, UHF and microwave gear along with antennas for 10 bands.
See this for details; just click on Rover at the top of the page.
www.buffalo.edu/~msadams
Now, my questions are:
1. What is the height from the floor in the rear to the ceiling?
2. What is the average width of the back area with the seats removed?
3. Any issues with Yakima roof racks? That is what I have now.
I must say that the Buick has been really good. Lifetime fuel econ with AWD has been 19.5 and I have 75,000K mi on the clock. It is VERY comfortable and the AWD is decent. But Buick no longer makes this SUV and the 2007's were only made with FWD. The [non-permissible content removed] of this is that I qualify for GM employee discount and the only GM vehicles that are suitable for roving are $35K to start! I simply will NOT pay that much.
Best regards,
Mark K2QO
If so, did they decrease MPG?
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I am thinking of buying a 2005 Honda element EX 4WD. I found one for $17000 which included the 7yr/100,000 miles warranty transfer and accessories like tow package, cargo mats, liner etc.
Please let me know if this is a good offer to go for and also the experience with Honda element.
Thanks
Tony
Sure enough, her husband had one first, and she liked it so much that she bought one too!
I asked about how they use them, and the only difference is that he leaves his seats out, while she keeps them in.
Both were RT4WD. His is a bit older, hers was new.
Any other families with TWO Elements?
check on www.elementownersclub.com and search '2 E Family' ...
It is not very common yet but I have seen several 2 E families and many multiple Honda families. Pssst, - I got 4...
Actually, it is going to be quite nice to get to drive my xB next week.
The Element is our family car. It replaced a 95 Corolla. I only wish I still had the Corolla's mileage. LOL