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We're supposed to go in tonight to check it out and after studying the website it appears they are 4 passengers only? Is this true? She's gonna strike it down in an instant since she takes 4 kids to school every day.
So close yet so far :-(
Craig
To answer your other question, from looking at it at the auto show, the back seat can only handle 2. That is mainly because of the way the seat was desined to split at the center and fold up against each side of the vehicle. Maybe you and your wife could meet at the middle at the CR-V????
The Element has the same engine as the CR-V, so I would imagine it would probably be a little sluggish with 5 adults as well (assuming 5 adults could fit to begin with). However, If your wife hauls around 4 small kids, I guess that would be a different situation.
-juice
Thought I saw a number of posts a while back about modification of Element for purpose of scooter/wheelchair lift but spent an hr looking tonight and can't find 'em.
11 yrs drove a white Corolla, traded it l0 yrs ago for another white Corolla, both served magnificently but too low and small for my present needs. Ready to trade, have mobility issues due to Rheumatoid Arthritis. No need for towing or off roading ability or need of room for dogs or little kids (love both just don't have any now) Test drove a Pre owned Element and found it quite easy to access driver side and comfortable seating, rigid and stiff is actually a plus for me. Possibility of need in future for use of scooter or wheelchair. What does anyone think about adding a Wheelchair lift to the back of an Element? Got one opinion from a mobility company. Said it can be done because of the high roof and wide back hatch of an Element. Anyone ever tried this with success? The mobility person, by the way, said if not Element need to consider MiniVan, other SUV's likely won't work. Only purchase cars each 10 years, would rather not buy anything as expensive or large as minivan. Trying to do my homework. Thanks for opinions.
Go to Google and enter the search terms "wheelchair lift Honda Element". It brings up a good many results and you can see if you're able to find the info you're looking for. I'm sure there are companies that can install them into the Element. It's actually perfect for something like that, particularly with the rear seats removed.
Good luck!
Honda has a Customer Mobility Assistance program that offers up to $1,000 reimbursement.
We have a Mobility Guide that may help too.
Finally, there's a Best Vehicles & Modifications for Disabled Drivers discussion in the archives that may have some helpful links (feel free to ask claires, the host over there to reopen it if you like - I know it's focused on minivans but ....).
Steve, Host
Do they offer any electrically adjustable seating?
My wife loves the vehicle, but is only 5-1 and can't get the front seat high enough to see over the hood.
Help!
My mom owns an E and is around the height of your wife. She loved the Element for its versatility and AWD but also had a problem with the seat height. When it came time to buy, she found there was a difference in the (perceived) seat height (both manual seats at max "up") between two otherwise-identical Elements. I tried them both and had to agree. Still, to make things better for her, she ended up buying a removable car seat cushion that gives her another inch or height, and that works well for her. I don't know if the current model offers electrically adjustable seating, but I just wanted to offer a low-tech alternative that may or may not work for your wife.
I had 70,000 miles on my old one. I never had a problem with my 2003 it was a great vehicle. My new 2005 is red with black fenders. I just think if more people drove them we would see thousands on the roads. It is a great vehicle. I've read some postings on the subuaru vs the elements 4 wheel drive system. I live in the midwest one day it's sunny the next day there is 12" of snow and ice on the roads. I also hunt with this vehicle. I never have been stuck, slid out of control, nothing. I've plowed through 2 foot snow drifts with no problems. I've been in mud so sloppy it was flying on the windshield. No problems. My gas mileage varied from 22 in the winter to the best 29 in the summer. The average was about 24-25. I hope they continue to make this vehicle I will buy another one when this gets about 70,000 miles on it. I'm sure Subaru makes a nice vehicle but it's no toaster. The Subaru is too small and uncomfortable for me I wouldn't even consider one. I'm sure they make a good car. I'll take the toaster every time
That's ironic, because the other Subaru Crew Chief has a white Forester with the huge moonroof and they call it the Toaster because the slot in the roof looks like it could fit a giant piece of toast!
Plus the color is very appliance-like, they ought to call it Frigidaire White.
-juice
I have three dogs and have crossed-shopped the Element with the Subaru Forester (which has a GIANT moonroof / sunroof) and have narrowed my choice to these two.
I like the reliability that is afforded by Honda but have grown accustomed to the open-air feeling.
So, what do you think?
You can go aftermarket, ASC certifies places to install their power moonroofs. Both our hard tops have ASC roofs, but even I'd be afraid to chop an Element's roof given the reinforcements needed for the clamshell doors.
Get the Subie.
-juice
I was so loving the 05 Magnesium Metallic EX AT AWD but noticed the difference in specifications bewteen the 05 and 06 suspension. What IS an mcPherson Strut suspension as opposed to an independent one on the 05? What other differences are there that make the 06 better?
Thanks!
Smoot
This is as opposed to a live axle, for instance, where a movement on the left side of the axle affects the right side as well (one goes up, the other goes down, and both angles are affected). In this case the rear differential (aka "pumpkin") moves around with the suspension.
-juice
I'm going to my local Power Honda dealer within the week to buy my 06 E AWD EX auto. problem is, I've Googled til my eyes bled and I still can't seem to find sufficiant info on the colors like Alabaster White and Atominc Blue pearl. The colors on the Honda website look too airbrushed with added Photoshop and I don't want to be left umming and ahhing over color when at the dealership.
Any site recommendations? Any piccies you guys have out there? otherwise my only option is Black.
Ta muchly,
Smoot
Not to mention that the Element is going to have varying shades in real life depending on the light. Even black can look purple in some light. :P
Go with the white. :-) And make sure you look at it in the lot and not just the showroom.
Steve, Host
From what is available, I like the Atomic Blue and Rallye Red best. Personally, I much prefer the standard EX with black body panels over the EX-P. I'd also stay away from "trendy" colors like Kiwi (Kermit Green) and Tangerine (Orange).
Too bad they don't have any greys or khakis like they did last year. Magnesium and Cargo Khaki were awesome looking colors on the Element. Even the Galapagos Green from last year was a decent color.
I think Honda should really offer a full palette of colors on each vehicle. It makes sense in my opinion. Instead it seems like they offer several colors that are very close like Tangerine, Tango Red and Rallye Red which are all derivatives of red. Just my opinion.
I've now gone off the Black and will probably choose a lighter colour {as advised my host Steve}. Hondaelement.org had a sweet series of pics of the Silver EX-P that someone posted.
-juice
There's a Magnesium in here where I live and I like that one too.
p.s. My "other" vehicle is a 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (AWD) Cabriolet (convertible) and I love both my vehicles!
Here are the results-
4- Element
3- HHR
2- PT Cruiser
1- Scion xB
Perhaps the Scion's pricetag had a lot to do with it, I dunno. The PT getting second is pretty absurd to me.
In my book, they'd be in this order-
4- PT Cruiser
3- Scion xB
2- HHR
1- Element
Good news, though. The Element sales for 2005 have held pretty steady. Sales are at 51k as of 11/05 vs. 55k as of 11/04 YTD.
There biggest issue was with the suicide door configuration - an automotive answer in search of a question is how they put it. I have to admit that I have considered an Element for a while as a family vehicle for my wife and 1 and soon to be 2 children. The hassles with opening the doors caused the C and D reviewers concerns as well because of the seat belt connection to the door and the need to open the front door to get the back door open.
The suicide door set up adds versatility and if the car is mainly used by 1 person and some cargo its a neat solution. But if the car is used routinely with multiple passengers, it can get to be a pain.
Here the xB does a little better because of its 5 door configuration.
I do think the xB feels cheaper and less substantial, ie less safe in a crash than an Element. It does have great front and rear seats but little cargo space. It seems like a good around town car but I am not sure I would trust my family to it - basically because to some degree, mass = safety and the Scion xB is a light weight vehicle without side airbags.
I find the xB intriguing because of its price, mileage and fucntionality but I am not sure I could actually pull the trigger on one.
The Honda Odyssey is the vehicle that makes the most sense for my family but for whatever reason I resist it. Maybe the CR-V, maybe an Acura RDX, Rav 4, or Pilot. But I always come back to the Odyssey for its interior space, safety and utility. I stubornly resist . . . .
If I had to guess, both the xB and Element are deliberately somewhat family unfriendly to push family-use purchasers to other more expensive vehicles and because the target market - younger people - are not as likely to have issues with the configuration.
As far as the xB, besides the center gauges and the fact that it feels very much like a $14k car, the powertrain would be a deal breaker for me. Especially with the automatic, it is painfully slow. I haven't driven the xB, but I have driven the mechanically identical xA in both manual and automatic. I guess they're a lot of car for the money, but I'm not impressed.
I can see how the suicide doors would make the Element less than user friendly for someone who routinely carries rear seat passengers. The fact that it's only a four seater doesn't help in that respect either. But for a single, 30- something guy like me, it'd be near perfect. And that Honda 2.4L is such a sweet engine.
I wish the CR-V was essentially a 5 door Element but it is not. I do not like the swinging rear door with full size spare on it and the front seat room is more limited. Hopefully something Honda will address with the redesign.
I agree, the Element is a very solid car for a single driver of any age who appreciates utility and value with a little uniqueness thrown in!
Mazda5 is nice, fun to drive, too. CR put it on the very top of its tall wagon category, well ahead of the PT and HHR.
RAV4 has grown a bit, it's not a tad bigger than the CR-V, and correspondingly costs more. Element seats 4, RAV4 up to 7 people. How much do you want to spend?
-juice
I see that in my area, online, there are about a dozen for sale, mostly 2003's and some 2005s. I would have liked to get a 2004 but none are around, so my first question is: Is the 2003 plagued by 1st-model-year bugs?
Of the dozen for sale only one is a standard, I prefer this over an automatic, but haven't actually driven one. Does the unusual shifter position take a lot of getting used to or is it annoying in any way?
Its battery looks to be an irregular shape and looks too small, how many amps (amp hrs) is it? I don't think I'd like it to whimp out on a -35C winter night when I'm out in the 'boonies', can it be replaced by a big honking AC delco?
Thanks,
Ian
One of the problems I had was trying to find a FWD manual EX. Out of 70+ for sale in the Atlanta area at the time, two were manual FWD EX and they were both colors I wouldn't consider (Orange and Dark Blue). As far as the shifter goes, I test drove a new one and the unusual position (coming out of the dash) becomes very comfortable quickly. It's actually a great spot for it. I also drove an automatic FWD and was surprised that it had plenty of power, but I just couldn't bring myself to get an automatic.
Have you searched for one every way possible? I'm not sure what sort of options you have in your area. Also, have you considered trying to get a deal on a remaining '05 model?
Have you tried your local library and the annual Car issue of "Consumer Reports"? In the back they list vehicles by model year with all those little black and red circles for everything from engine to clutch to fit and finish to reliability. If there were any problems with an Element model year it would show there.
I would have bought the one I test drove but it didn't have the rear sunroof.
Thanks for the feedback.
Ian
Bring back the Cargo Khaki! That was a nice color.
It's funny that you have to make excuses to the salesman about the car (as far as being dorky) but I encounted the same sort of thing when I was looking at them. One salesman came right out and told me he thought it was "dog-ugly" but drove great and was very versatile.
It is definitely a love it/hate it look, but I love it. Kinda sad that I didn't end up buying one. I wonder if there will be a next generation model?