I guess I jumped the gun a little too quickly. I see we have something in common in regards to automobils. I too am sorry if I seemed to go on the defensive, I guess its a part of my natural tendancy.
Yes I do still include Chrysler as a domestic because it is one of the original big 3. The fact thats its owned by Diamler only means that Diamler intends to compete more aggressively with GM and Ford.
The whole Chrysler takeover is absolutely facinating reading to me. But even more facinating is the future of Diamler/Chrysler if it were to ever somehow change hands again.
What I see coming from Chrysler these days is just great. It bagan with the Liberty and continues in the Pacifica.
We should get back to the board topic which is the Element before we get kicked outta here.
I should have inserted a few of these -> :-) in my original post. There's no way to tell I was using a joking tone.
Parts sharing like the SLK320 parts in the Crossfire should not be that surprising, I guess, but the Honda V6 (sorta back on topic) in the Vue shocked me a little. Saturn was GM's import fighter.
If you can't beat Honda, use them as an OEM supplier for engines? ;-)
Maybe the Element will get a tent in return, like GM offers on the Avalance and Aztec.
Ordered a full brochure from Honda yesterday. Still want to wait to see what the Equinox will cost but the price of the Element with all the options I want will come in at a mere 19,450 for me. Thats a pretty hard deal to pass up. And I'm sure that the Equinox will be much more costly especially if it's built in Canada.
Any current Element owners have anything they'd like to share?
If it's true that you can get a 4WD manual Element starting in June sometime then you've got an interesting cross-shopping situation with the CR-V. These vehicles have striking similarities on the spec sheet and I am frankly surprised that Honda decided to sell both simultaneuosly.
I had written off the Element for thinking that it is too truck-like but I would really like to drive one to see if the claims of good handling are true. If it drives better than the CR-V (as Edmunds editorial review claims) then this is a difficult decision between the two since the Element costs about $2K less.
Profile: 43 yo Male, married, 12 yo boy & 9 yo girl plus Lab. Active lifestyle. self employed.
I have decided to purchase an Element 4WD EX manual in Green for the following reasons:
1. The interior design fits my lifestyle. We ski/snowboard, fish, mtn bike, camp, play hockey and have a dog. Interior is designed (albeit not perfectly) for folks like us. I love the flexibility and ease that the seats move. Also love the flat floor and finishes on floor and seats. Interesting note: the kids liked the stadium seating and being able to look OVER the people in the front seat.
2. Fun to drive - I have driven both the manual and automatic trans. The manual is a lot more fun to drive. The location of the stick shift is not uncomfortable.
3. Good mileage for wagon/SUV.
4. Funky exterior that makes you feel different from all the other clones in the SUV class and sedans.
5. price point - I got offer for 4WD EX with 6CD changer for $20k. Most other dealers were not offering any discount.
6. Sounds system rocks and has aux plug for my ipod. 3700 tunes at my fingertips Dude! Goodbye commercials!
Drawbacks - 1. lack of passenger side power door locks 2. lack of passenger side armrest 3. no power driver seat 4. sunroof not electric 5. remote entry not standard 6. back doors only open if front is open. potential safety issue if back passenger has to get out and there is no front passenger to open door. 7. only 160 hp and no 6 cylinder available.
Almost said congrats, but you haven't taken delivery of one yet, right?
Sounds like you may be a candidate for an aftermarket roof rack and/or rocket box on top when you have a full load of passengers. Or maybe the factory rack is fine?
Have you thought about this and have you (or anyone - still here Jefyou?) checked the fitment guides at Yakima, Thule, Barrelcrafters, etc. to see if clips and stuff are available?
It sure looks like a good boating rig from the pics.
What's strange is that they featured several Elements outside the NY Auto Show, and one had a different tent next to it, rather than that one. Seems strange that they would promote an aftermarket tent, no? Maybe it wasn't ready? This was just last month!
I'm wondering about towing with the Element. I see the rating is 1500 lbs. I have a tent trailer that weighs in at 950 lbs. Has anyone spent much time towing with their Element? I can imagine that the steep mountains in the west would slow me down. However, aside from the weight of the trailer I travel light so maybe not...
Remember that at high altitudes the air is thinner so you lose power, some times significant amounts. So to climb up the Rockies, once you're a mile high, might leave the 2.4l feeling a bit wheezy.
You can probably drop down a gear and make it up slowly, but you'll likely get passed a lot.
Another thing to consider is that the tongue weight uses up part of your payload. For instance, if it's putting 100 lbs on the tongue, you should subtract that from your available payload, i.e. you're left with just 575 lbs capacity inside the vehicle. That is not enough for a family of 4 and their camping gear. For two empty nesters it's probably fine.
I'm not sure the Element is right for a family vehicle. As a second vehicle it should not be a problem but as a primary, it could be a mistake to a family.
But who knows, if a family chose an Element as their sole vehicle im sure they could make it work.
I'm seriously thinking about getting an Element to replace my Outback and I may settle for an auto model. I drove both but I thought the auto was a bit easier around town because of the size of the car. The manual was much more fun to drive, nevertheless. For the record, my Outback is a manual model and it drives much better than the auto.
I just spoke with my dealer. He said that my Element with side air bags would be built on the 16th of June, so the estimate of early summer was a good one.
Why wouldn't the Element be right for a family of 4? 4 seats, good storage, easy entry/access, low-maintenance interior, low-maintenance engine, and very good crash tests. Not sure what part of that wouldn't be good for a family, but if I ever have one the Element would be very high on my list.
Where are you getting that 4WD EX 5Speed? That's EXACTLY what I'm looking for and would like to find a dealer (in the Boston area) that's not going to screw me...
Dunno about the easy entry part, you have to remove the front seat belt to open the rear door. If your kids are old enough to let themselves out, that would be a nuisance. For little tikes that need help, it'll make no difference, of course.
I had the opportunity to drive around in an Element for the day on Monday. Not a professional test driver but this is what I thought.
Upon entering the vehicle you notice that it is much roomier on the inside as opposed to what you might assume from the outside. There was enough space between myself, the windshield, the steering wheel and the passenger seat to make me feel as if I was in a van.
Looking to the rear of the vehicle I realized that the space behind the rear seats is much larger than it looks and when the rear seats are folded to the side walls it makes a considerable amount of room for cargo.
Back in the drivers seat, I was completely taken aback by the large environmental controls. Even more pleasing was that the controls on the stereo were also large enough to help you keep your eyes on the road without having to pull over to fumble with tiny buttons. I totally love that fact that Honda used large round knobs instead of buttons for volume and radio tuning controls.
So I get to IKEA where I had budgeted to purchase 500 bucks worth of stuff for my living room. It included two bookcases which were over 80 inches long including the boxes they were in. I also got other boxed stuff but none of it as large as the bookcases however it was all very heavy. My roomie got a new dresser for his bedroom when came in two large heave boxes.
Getting the bookcases into the Element was a breeze. First I opened the front door to allow myself to open the rear door and climbed in. Without reading the manual I was able to unlatch the rear seats, then fully recline them, then fold against the wall securely all in three easy steps. At that point I opened the back hatch and tailgate and slid the bookcases and other stuff into the vehicle. We were in the loading area for a max of 6 minutes while others on either side of us using mini-vans and traditional SUVs were there before us and still there as we left.
I love everything about the Element. Of course when we got to IKEA and I began folding the seats people stopped and gawked at how simple and easy it was. They all thought it was great.
The engine in the Element was also very surprising to me. I was expecting it to be quite sluggish and slow. Only it was the complete opposite. It’s performance was very impressive on I-95 heading to Baltimore. It kept up with highway traffic which was averaging 70-75Mph without a problem at all. It was quiet except when pushed hard but that’s expected.
My only issue with the Element is that because of it’s tall boxy stance, it required me to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel at highway speeds especially when passing semis or large SUVs. Also, it feels like it could tip easily however, I think it just takes getting used to.
This is truly a great vehicle. As a result, I have decided not to wait for the Chevy Equinox. I’ll be in a new Element by August. My first time buying an import.
I saw plenty of Elements at Rensaelaer Honda on Friday. All colors and 5-SP/AWD/Side Airbags in stock. They did have some they had loaded up with a lot of expensive options, but plenty with no dealer installed options. Just a quick trip over the Berkshires from Boston.
Scname - It's more likely that particular dealer just got a fresh supply. Here's a list of cars that spend the least amount of time on the lot. The poster who provided this cited the Wallstreet Journal as the source.
1) M-B SL Class 2) Acura MDX 3) Lexus GX470 4) Honda Pilot 5) M-B G Class 6) Volvo XC90 7) Lexus LX470 8) Honda CR-V 9) Honda Odyssey 10) Honda Element
Sales are going great. Stats are out there, we don't have to guess any more.
That one dealer might be sticking to MSRP and having trouble demanding full price for them, hence the current stock. He's clearly an exception.
Once in a while Automotive News will publish the national supply. About 60 days' worth is ideal, Hondas are generally well below that number, usually around half that.
Honda has, what, 800 or so dealers? You can't draw a conclusion from one. Even ten.
We recently took the Element for a test drive but didn't notice whether the second-row seating area had any reading and/or map lights (sufficient lighting for "Gameboy play" or "reading" on a long road trip)? If not, any creative solutions? Thanks
The Element has Reading lights for the front passengers and an overhead just to the rear of the front passengers and an second overhead at the top of the rear door.
I ended up with the deal I was looking for at Cambridge Honda, though Clair Honda came up with the deal first Cambridge came through with the Galapagos Green I was holding out for. Deal for Element 4WD EX Manual was MSRP - $600 + 8CD changer. The only dealer option I took were fog lights and remote entry/security, all others will be aftermarket.
I'm shopping for a suitable replacement for my beloved '95 Ford Ranger, which was totalled last month. I would never have thought to investigate the Element had it not been for the interest in looking at them raised by my neice & her husband as they were visiting over the Memorial Day weekend. The Element began to grow on me quite quickly. When J & S were all set to depart for home they said that they might stop back at the dealership where we'd looked at several Elements & I had driven the very well appointed AWD EX. I suggested that they leave their dog with me, in case they wanted to look. A few hours later, I found that they had bought just what they were looking for...and that their dog was not only welcomed into the offices at the dealer but also went along on the test drive! As the "parent" of 2 large dogs...I found this to be a compellig reason to shop there myself. Yesterday I test drove the ideal model, an EX in green. I am seriously considering this, even though it is more than I had planned to spend. So...here's my question/concern. Has anyone had any problems with the floor material being damaged? Should I consider installing astroturf to keep the floor looking new for years to come? Sorry for the novel...thanks for advice!
Just thought I would chime in regarding the Element. I bought my 2wd EX automatic in Nighthawk Black Pearl last Wednesday and have just over 200 miles on it (drove it off the lot with 12 miles).
To tampadink. . .I couldn't ask for a cooler vehicle for the price. As far as the floors are concerned, the ruberized floors in the cabin and passenger area seem durable enough (I haven't noticed a scratch yet). However, if you are loading and unloading your dogs from the tailgate, the plastic on the bottom of the tailgate may get scratched. This weekend I loaded up a stairmaster (which fitted nicely) and it scratched the plastic in the back easily.
It's really just a small portion of the vehicle and in the cargo area, so to me it's not a big deal. I expect some wear in the cargo area with moving big items.
The pluses for me:
Excellent on gas compared to an SUV 101 uses Cutting edge styling in this price bracket Honda reliability Awesome stereo Intuitive climate controls
Read an article linked in another topic that mentioned 60% of Elements are coming with AWD. Just thought I'd share that little factoid. The source was listed as JD Power.
When you say "invoice" do you mean what the dealer paid? Edmunds lists this as $19722 for this vehicle. If so, this is a heck of deal and the first I've heard of a Element being discounted this aggressively.
I paid $19722, which the Sales Manager OK'd over the phone (even more surprising). It was 5/31/03, at the end of the day; he said he'd already sold so many cars he could afford to let it go for the sake of another sale.
I had gone to another Honda Dealer first thing in the morning ceratin I was going to take one home, but they would barely budge from the Sticker Price, and theirs was loaded up with dealer-added options I didn't really want.
I assumed it would have some small negative effect but I was not very sure how much. I live in Arlington, VA just 5 mins from DC and we don't get much snow in this area but when we do, it's nice to have a 4WD vehicle.
If I can just make this final decision I'll go ahead and order the vehicle.
I was able to get a 2WD EX 5-speed at invoice ($17,232) which certainly surprised me. I finally got it last Thursday and keep finding excuses to drive around.
Yep, got mine for invoice also. It had a couple of dealer's extras on it no charge with my invoice price. Don't miss the Blazer I traded one bit.
Don't see a lot of Elements around the Denver area, so maybe Honda's offering dealer incentives to get them out on the road. Also it was close to end of month, so I'm sure that helped.
Purchased my Element EX last month. Paid sticker price of $19,722. First inquired through internet pricing at $20,400. Then inquired through Sams Club Auto Buying Program at invoice price of $19,722, but had to purchase through a Sams Club dealership. Two dealerships were listed in my area, but not near my home. Went to closest Honda dealer and requested Sams Club pricing and they gave it to me with little haggling. Worth doing the research.
$19,722 is invoice for 4WD EX AUTO transmission. Dealers are not as willing to discount 4WD EX with MANUAL transmission because they are more desirable and less of them out there. In fact, they are coming off the production line this month.
The manual transmission makes the 4-cyl 160 hp seem peppier than the auto. I have driven both and the Manual transmission is a lot more fun to drive than the automatic.
I'm sure they are making less 5 speeds, but they are not more desirable to the majority of buyers. There was some doubt as to whether they were going to be produced at all because of the low interest in manual transmissions. If they were more desirable, they would be making more 5 speeds and less automatics.
We're neighbors, I work in DC and live in the MD suburbs. We got plenty of snow this season, didn't we? :-)
My wife bought a Legacy last year and we were sure glad we both had AWD for all the storms we had last year. She had perfect timing, her 626 was comparatively lousy in snow.
Go for the AWD, at worst it'll cost you a few bucks a year on gas, and then you'll recover the investment at resale.
After buying another house we have been playing around with the idea of buying some kind of truck-like vehicle. The potential list of suitors has included Toyota Tacomas (both new and used), an older Toyota or Nissan pickup, a Ford F150, and the Element. Well, the Toyota Tacomas are still expensive and hard to find with the options we want, the older Toyotas and Nissans are kind of hard to find as well, the F150 is nice, and so is the Element.
Yesterday we went to drive a 2003 F150 5-speed XLT that my fiance has had his eye on since Sunday. We drove it, liked it, and were almost ready to buy. Then came the salesman. First they wanted us to pay $600 over invoice for a F150 in it's last model year. Then they offered us $2700 below KBB fair trade for a 1995 GS300. Needless to say we left pretty quickly thereafter. Then as we were heading home we decided to drop by the Honda dealer to check out the Element. Test drove a EX 4WD automatic.
We are now happy that the Ford dealer offended us. The Element is awesome. Neither one of us expected to enjoy the drive as much as we both did. The Element feels SECURE on the highway and you can still maintain a conversation without yelling. The back seats had more than enough leg room for even my 6'6 fiance. We believe that this is our vehicle of choice now. Just have to wait until we can find a dealer willing to sell a EX 4WD 5-speed for invoice. We want a Shoreline Mist EX with side steps, fog lights, roof-mounted bike rack, rear spoiler, and splash guards.
it will be tough to get EX 4WD 5speed at invoice because Honda isn't making a lot of them and they are in demand right now. (i've chatted with several dealers in my area - Boston - that have orders on them already, and they haven't even come off production line) I decided on one and persistently shopped around. Found dealer to offer me $600 disc plus 8-CD changer. You may wish to consider aftermarket on the options - it'll be a lot cheaper, even with Honda parts. Certainly the bike rack and splash guards you can do yourself. The dealer charges MSRP plus exorbitant labor. There are several websites that offer discounted honda parts. The only options I am going to have my dealer do are the fog lights (electrical)& remote entry/security (electrical). those are tricky things but roof rack and mudguards are piece of cake for even the least handy person. One option you might want to consider that makes a comfort difference is the wide armrest with storage. The standard armrest is short and narrow. I still can't figure out why the passenger doesn't get one or why the passenger doesn't get a power lock? Did the engineers have a 3-sake lunch that day?
ateixeira: If you are talking about me and the F150, I refuse to pay $600 over invoice for a truck when it's in it's last model year and they are in the paper for $8500 off MSRP on some models. It was a 5-speed V6 truck which isn't exactly a hot item.
As for the Element, I would be willing to pay a few hundred over invoice as long as I can get 3.49% financing similar to what I have on my 2003 Accord. I just won't pay MSRP for any car right now. I'm not the type of person that has to be the first one on the block with one and we have 3 cars so the need for an Element isn't immmediate. It's a "want" and something that we have patience for. But if Honda runs an add next week for 3.9% financing and a price at a few hundred over invoice we would be there with bells on.
If you're goal is 3.9%, you may be able to get that whether of not there's any special offer. When I went to get my Element, I had a 4.2% loan from Lending Tree before I walked through the door. While I was able to get the Memorial Day 2.9% financing, the finance manager said they'd be able to beat the 4.2% easily had the promotional rate not been available.
And invoice (or a few hundred over) should be doable too.
They have PDF files of the installation instructions, which helped me decide what was within the realm of being doable. Keyless entry looks like a snap to install. Believe it or not, the Side Step Rails look fairly easy too.
Foglights look really complicated; I would have a shop install them, if I feel the need.
Comments
Yes I do still include Chrysler as a domestic because it is one of the original big 3. The fact thats its owned by Diamler only means that Diamler intends to compete more aggressively with GM and Ford.
The whole Chrysler takeover is absolutely facinating reading to me. But even more facinating is the future of Diamler/Chrysler if it were to ever somehow change hands again.
What I see coming from Chrysler these days is just great. It bagan with the Liberty and continues in the Pacifica.
We should get back to the board topic which is the Element before we get kicked outta here.
Parts sharing like the SLK320 parts in the Crossfire should not be that surprising, I guess, but the Honda V6 (sorta back on topic) in the Vue shocked me a little. Saturn was GM's import fighter.
If you can't beat Honda, use them as an OEM supplier for engines? ;-)
Maybe the Element will get a tent in return, like GM offers on the Avalance and Aztec.
-juice
Too late!
Any current Element owners have anything they'd like to share?
I had written off the Element for thinking that it is too truck-like but I would really like to drive one to see if the claims of good handling are true. If it drives better than the CR-V (as Edmunds editorial review claims) then this is a difficult decision between the two since the Element costs about $2K less.
I have decided to purchase an Element 4WD EX manual in Green for the following reasons:
1. The interior design fits my lifestyle. We ski/snowboard, fish, mtn bike, camp, play hockey and have a dog. Interior is designed (albeit not perfectly) for folks like us. I love the flexibility and ease that the seats move. Also love the flat floor and finishes on floor and seats. Interesting note: the kids liked the stadium seating and being able to look OVER the people in the front seat.
2. Fun to drive - I have driven both the manual and automatic trans. The manual is a lot more fun to drive. The location of the stick shift is not uncomfortable.
3. Good mileage for wagon/SUV.
4. Funky exterior that makes you feel different from all the other clones in the SUV class and sedans.
5. price point - I got offer for 4WD EX with 6CD changer for $20k. Most other dealers were not offering any discount.
6. Sounds system rocks and has aux plug for my ipod. 3700 tunes at my fingertips Dude! Goodbye commercials!
Drawbacks -
1. lack of passenger side power door locks
2. lack of passenger side armrest
3. no power driver seat
4. sunroof not electric
5. remote entry not standard
6. back doors only open if front is open. potential safety issue if back passenger has to get out and there is no front passenger to open door.
7. only 160 hp and no 6 cylinder available.
Sounds like you may be a candidate for an aftermarket roof rack and/or rocket box on top when you have a full load of passengers. Or maybe the factory rack is fine?
Have you thought about this and have you (or anyone - still here Jefyou?) checked the fitment guides at Yakima, Thule, Barrelcrafters, etc. to see if clips and stuff are available?
It sure looks like a good boating rig from the pics.
Steve, Host
What's strange is that they featured several Elements outside the NY Auto Show, and one had a different tent next to it, rather than that one. Seems strange that they would promote an aftermarket tent, no? Maybe it wasn't ready? This was just last month!
-juice
-juice
You can probably drop down a gear and make it up slowly, but you'll likely get passed a lot.
Another thing to consider is that the tongue weight uses up part of your payload. For instance, if it's putting 100 lbs on the tongue, you should subtract that from your available payload, i.e. you're left with just 575 lbs capacity inside the vehicle. That is not enough for a family of 4 and their camping gear. For two empty nesters it's probably fine.
-juice
But who knows, if a family chose an Element as their sole vehicle im sure they could make it work.
So, ZTORIN, which one do you have?
-juice
Upon entering the vehicle you notice that it is much roomier on the inside as opposed to what you might assume from the outside. There was enough space between myself, the windshield, the steering wheel and the passenger seat to make me feel as if I was in a van.
Looking to the rear of the vehicle I realized that the space behind the rear seats is much larger than it looks and when the rear seats are folded to the side walls it makes a considerable amount of room for cargo.
Back in the drivers seat, I was completely taken aback by the large environmental controls. Even more pleasing was that the controls on the stereo were also large enough to help you keep your eyes on the road without having to pull over to fumble with tiny buttons. I totally love that fact that Honda used large round knobs instead of buttons for volume and radio tuning controls.
So I get to IKEA where I had budgeted to purchase 500 bucks worth of stuff for my living room. It included two bookcases which were over 80 inches long including the boxes they were in. I also got other boxed stuff but none of it as large as the bookcases however it was all very heavy. My roomie got a new dresser for his bedroom when came in two large heave boxes.
Getting the bookcases into the Element was a breeze. First I opened the front door to allow myself to open the rear door and climbed in. Without reading the manual I was able to unlatch the rear seats, then fully recline them, then fold against the wall securely all in three easy steps. At that point I opened the back hatch and tailgate and slid the bookcases and other stuff into the vehicle. We were in the loading area for a max of 6 minutes while others on either side of us using mini-vans and traditional SUVs were there before us and still there as we left.
I love everything about the Element. Of course when we got to IKEA and I began folding the seats people stopped and gawked at how simple and easy it was. They all thought it was great.
The engine in the Element was also very surprising to me. I was expecting it to be quite sluggish and slow. Only it was the complete opposite. It’s performance was very impressive on I-95 heading to Baltimore. It kept up with highway traffic which was averaging 70-75Mph without a problem at all. It was quiet except when pushed hard but that’s expected.
My only issue with the Element is that because of it’s tall boxy stance, it required me to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel at highway speeds especially when passing semis or large SUVs. Also, it feels like it could tip easily however, I think it just takes getting used to.
This is truly a great vehicle. As a result, I have decided not to wait for the Chevy Equinox. I’ll be in a new Element by August. My first time buying an import.
1) M-B SL Class
2) Acura MDX
3) Lexus GX470
4) Honda Pilot
5) M-B G Class
6) Volvo XC90
7) Lexus LX470
8) Honda CR-V
9) Honda Odyssey
10) Honda Element
That one dealer might be sticking to MSRP and having trouble demanding full price for them, hence the current stock. He's clearly an exception.
Once in a while Automotive News will publish the national supply. About 60 days' worth is ideal, Hondas are generally well below that number, usually around half that.
Honda has, what, 800 or so dealers? You can't draw a conclusion from one. Even ten.
-juice
Thanks
I ended up with the deal I was looking for at Cambridge Honda, though Clair Honda came up with the deal first Cambridge came through with the Galapagos Green I was holding out for. Deal for Element 4WD EX Manual was MSRP - $600 + 8CD changer. The only dealer option I took were fog lights and remote entry/security, all others will be aftermarket.
Good Luck. AW
So...here's my question/concern. Has anyone had any problems with the floor material being damaged? Should I consider installing astroturf to keep the floor looking new for years to come? Sorry for the novel...thanks for advice!
To tampadink. . .I couldn't ask for a cooler vehicle for the price. As far as the floors are concerned, the ruberized floors in the cabin and passenger area seem durable enough (I haven't noticed a scratch yet). However, if you are loading and unloading your dogs from the tailgate, the plastic on the bottom of the tailgate may get scratched. This weekend I loaded up a stairmaster (which fitted nicely) and it scratched the plastic in the back easily.
It's really just a small portion of the vehicle and in the cargo area, so to me it's not a big deal. I expect some wear in the cargo area with moving big items.
The pluses for me:
Excellent on gas compared to an SUV
101 uses
Cutting edge styling in this price bracket
Honda reliability
Awesome stereo
Intuitive climate controls
-juice
All things considered, it is everything I want it to be right now; 4WD, great gas mileage, great cargo capacity/flexibility, awesome price point.
I have a BMW 330i that's collecting dust in the garage until the perma-grin wears off from purchasing the Element.
G-
Or do you mean the window sticker MSRP of $21310?
- Mark
I had gone to another Honda Dealer first thing in the morning ceratin I was going to take one home, but they would barely budge from the Sticker Price, and theirs was loaded up with dealer-added options I didn't really want.
-juice
Just deciding on wether I should get 2WD or 4. Anyone know if there is an increase in fuel consumption with the 4WD Elements as compared to the 2WD?
-juice
According to what dealer sticker was showing, 4wd Es get 1 or 2 mpg less.
If I can just make this final decision I'll go ahead and order the vehicle.
Don't see a lot of Elements around the Denver area, so maybe Honda's offering dealer incentives to get them out on the road. Also it was close to end of month, so I'm sure that helped.
The manual transmission makes the 4-cyl 160 hp seem peppier than the auto. I have driven both and the Manual transmission is a lot more fun to drive than the automatic.
If they were more desirable, they would be making more 5 speeds and less automatics.
My wife bought a Legacy last year and we were sure glad we both had AWD for all the storms we had last year. She had perfect timing, her 626 was comparatively lousy in snow.
Go for the AWD, at worst it'll cost you a few bucks a year on gas, and then you'll recover the investment at resale.
-juice
Yesterday we went to drive a 2003 F150 5-speed XLT that my fiance has had his eye on since Sunday. We drove it, liked it, and were almost ready to buy. Then came the salesman. First they wanted us to pay $600 over invoice for a F150 in it's last model year. Then they offered us $2700 below KBB fair trade for a 1995 GS300. Needless to say we left pretty quickly thereafter. Then as we were heading home we decided to drop by the Honda dealer to check out the Element. Test drove a EX 4WD automatic.
We are now happy that the Ford dealer offended us. The Element is awesome. Neither one of us expected to enjoy the drive as much as we both did. The Element feels SECURE on the highway and you can still maintain a conversation without yelling. The back seats had more than enough leg room for even my 6'6 fiance. We believe that this is our vehicle of choice now. Just have to wait until we can find a dealer willing to sell a EX 4WD 5-speed for invoice. We want a Shoreline Mist EX with side steps, fog lights, roof-mounted bike rack, rear spoiler, and splash guards.
Offer a reasonable sum, maybe $500 over invoice, and ask for a fair amount on the trade (or sell yourself for a higher private sale price).
Good luck.
-juice
As for the Element, I would be willing to pay a few hundred over invoice as long as I can get 3.49% financing similar to what I have on my 2003 Accord. I just won't pay MSRP for any car right now. I'm not the type of person that has to be the first one on the block with one and we have 3 cars so the need for an Element isn't immmediate. It's a "want" and something that we have patience for. But if Honda runs an add next week for 3.9% financing and a price at a few hundred over invoice we would be there with bells on.
While I was able to get the Memorial Day 2.9% financing, the finance manager said they'd be able to beat the 4.2% easily had the promotional rate not been available.
And invoice (or a few hundred over) should be doable too.
http://www.handa-accessories.com/element.html
They have PDF files of the installation instructions, which helped me decide what was within the realm of being doable. Keyless entry looks like a snap to install. Believe it or not, the Side Step Rails look fairly easy too.
Foglights look really complicated; I would have a shop install them, if I feel the need.
Will follow up once I receive & install.
G