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Comments
Some of these "sport wagons" have no more space than a VW Golf. That's a 5-door hatch in my book.
Model__cargo space
Golf: 18
Protege5: 19.8
Impreza/WRX: 27.9 (this is somewhat wagon-y, but the angled rear glass limits what you can carry)
Anyway, you get my drift.
however when they do have problems
are they expensive to have repaired because of the boxer, awd and the relative scarcity of them
and parts?
I know I had problems finding parts for my toyota van since it had the oddball configuration
The Element brochure I picked up today has me and my daughter even more exited. The only problem we forsee is if we have a friend over--one of them will have to ride shotgun since my son rides in a car seat. Spills, mud and dirt wouldn't be a problem anymore with the polyurethane floor, waterproof/stain-resistant seat fabric and available all-season seatcovers. Also, we love the beach (not much to look though).
My old boss had LOTS of problems with his '01 Jetta. We almost named my son Anakin...chose Liam instead. E-mail me if you want the details.
Good luck with the Element.
Has anyone seen any in dealerships or is it too early?
I go on the Ride and Drive tomorrow.
Chris: hop over to Subaru Crew - General Maintenance & Repair. Ask and we'll give you a general idea of what parts cost. About average, I've found. We've owned 2 Mazdas and actually their parts prices are substantially higher ($28 for a Miata gas cap!).
Get an RX8 and then drive to Orlando and sleep in the car (or a tent). Those look like a hoot!
-juice
I've been researching new vehicles for a while now, I'm shopping for myself. I went to the Honda dealership over the weekend and I think this vehicle is a little overboard on Honda's part. Granted I'm not too impressed with most of the styling of Honda's newer models, but this one is really out there. Oh well all I can wonder is why? They seem to be marketing this thing as truly versatile and functional, but it seems it's alot less functional than the CRV or the outgoing Passport.
I think the Blackwood was also a 4 seater, though big surprise, that thing bombed badly (no 4WD, no pass through, little capacity, high price).
The Element would not be ideal if you have one kid, since you're supposed to put them in the center rear. But with two, it would work, though there is still the seatbelt issue if you need to let the rear passengers out.
I agree with Robert, however, all of these compacts are not really comfortable for 3 across seating in the back. They simply aren't wide enough. Compare the width of a Kia Sorento and you'll see why that is a mid-size and the CR-V and Element are not.
-juice
this morning I called a couple of other local dealerships that were not as far away from me as well as further out from Atlanta traffic.
1 said not yet but any time. the other(dealer #2) also had a blue dx 5 spd, but (here's the 1st hitch) he said it was a mistake and that Honda was picking it backup because it arrived too early, however he said IF it was still on the lot after I got off work I could look at it.
also received a second call from dealer #1 again asking if I was interested in seeing the car.
after I got off I called dealer #2 to see if I could come see it, but he said Honda had already picked it up and it would not be back until Friday or Saturday????
so I broke down and called dealer number 1 back and he seemed all up for my visit then (hitch #2)
he started telling me something about some sort of prep. I asked if I could just sit in the thing that's all I've wanted to do since early this year. and he went and asked his boss who told him something about it being on hydraulic jacks and that their was no way I could see it.
extremely irritated I said ok and ended the conversation he said he would call me tomorrow (I'm hoping it will be the dealership owner myself)
so irritated I called 3 other local dealers 2 said not yet but a third( dealer 3) said they had it and that i could come see it. I had a friend call and after talking for approximately 15 minutes. I decided after my experience with dealers 1 and 2 I would call back before making the trek directly into the heart of Atlanta.
i spoke to a second salesman he said they had it and I asked again if it was ok for me to just come to sit in the car and he said hang on a minute let me check. he comes back and tells me its sold??????
needless to say my bs meter is now wound up to a at zero.
so does anyone have a clue what happened? I'm at a loss. if Honda does not want the vehicle shown until closer to the official release why did they not tell the dealers to just say nothing period, and then the dealer saying they sold one already?
I like Hondas but this is getting very close to pushing me into defecting to a different brand
auto dealers = BS merchants
Just calm down and wait until the official release date to go look at it.
Steve, Host
Bigger than a CRV and quietier. Had a VERY solid feel.
It'll be interesting to see who they appeal to.
http://www.hondanews.com/forms/honda/index.html
Looks like a delivery van. I was hoping that Honda would intro a car or wagon like the rumored Latitude.
How about more details from your ride & drive?
Please elaborate on "E is quieter than CRV". First time I heard that opinion.
What about power with auto?
Fun to drive quotient of both 4A & 5M?
Tnx
Quieter than a CR-V? We expected the opposite. Really?
-juice
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021213/def014_1.html
I'd like to see it (hear it?) for myself. There is less inside to absorb noise. The tires probably are a lot quieter, though.
I'll guess the Volvo will take that award, it's the only one of the 4 with 3 rows of seats, the hottest feature, plus it introduces new safety features.
Picking the car is tougher, but I'll say the Z because of its significance, even though I prefer the G35.
-juice
I note that the "official" brochure states Honda has "60 accessories" available for the Element. Has anyone found an online source where these accessories are listed? I could only find a dozen or so shown in the Honda literature.
I posted here just once before, but I have been an avid reader of this forum for several months. I am a retired 70 years young Senior, and anticipate using this "luxurious" vehicle instead of my Jeep for camping, exploring, biking, and kayaking. (I am hoping to find a seat arrangement which will allow me to haul my 12 foot lake kayak 90% inside the vehicle by keeping the tailgate down and the clamshell closed.)
I hope this unique vehicle fulfills all of our expectations for it. I would love to see some of you midwesterners (with your equipped Elements) at some Missouri campgrounds this Spring and Summer. [dralbertlee@earthlink.net]
tidester, host
chris777: We are in the Atlanta area too and the Honda dealer we went to said that they had gotten it in error and Honda had picked it up and brought it back. The dealership we are getting our 03 Accord from said that they would get them before the 19th but couldn't sell them before then. I heard of similar things when the new Accord came out. They weren't allowed to sell them until the official release date but who knows...
I was just irritated that the dealer called me twice then he backed out.
along with the others
Which dealer were you working with?
Hennessy Honda is the one who said Honda made them return their early arrival element
and Curry Honda was the one told me they sold it already
I am working with the dealer that gives me the best price and service (without lies and scams) and maby Asimo isn't looking so bad after what I'm hearing
What salesman were you dealing with at Ed Voyles. We like the guy we work with there and have bought 5 cars (the Accord will be #6) from them. They did tell us that they were getting some in early but they absolutely can't sell them until Honda's release date or they will be in trouble. Maybe you had a new guy or something. We've never been a fan of Curry Honda.
No five speeds to drive. It's a tad more sluggish off the line than a CRV but no slouch either.
Same horsepower but the Element developes it's torque at a higher RPM.
Like all cars, it's certainly not for everyone but then, it wasn't meant to be.
I dropped by Hennesee and checked out that black ex
the [possible blind spots dont look that bad but then again im not in the drivers seat since it was locked
2 points no one has seemed to have mentioned before
1) I noticed what looked like 2 mufflers after the catalytic converter one was larger than the other
2) conical dome lenses on the gauges
I still think it looks better in pictures , but it was black and I dont care for the dark colors
it reminds me of the matrix where it looks scrunched up,
ie short and compressed I think both element and matrix would look much better stretched out several inches
hopefully tomorrow I can get back down there and really give it a once over and drive it to boot
there was a 40 yr old who pulled up and was looking at it also(again so much for demographics)
but he mentioned he had heard about a v-6 from motor trend or car and driver in august?
I think it's got a certain appeal to it. I can't explain it but I like the little thing. I like the location of the gear shift in relation to the driving position and I like the box-on-wheels appearance. Maybe we can get a test drive when we pick up our Accord Coupe.
Which was marketed to the gen X, and mostly bought by the baby boomers.
I've got lots more of the pics I took posted HERE in case anyone would like to see them.
What was Honda thinking when they made this thing? Well built I'm sure, but who wants people staring at you like you're from Mars when you drive it?
Isell:
Thanks for the response. As others have noted, reviews are all over the place regarding "Noise, vibration, harshness (NVH)". So you're comments on production vehicles are encouraging. I'm still wondering what test numbers for 5spd AWD & Auto 2WD will be. Guess I'll have to test drive to see!-)
Gator:
Thanks for all the great pictures!
Oh, and about navi system....fugedaboudit!
Just got a Magellan Sportrack Pro GPS package at Price Club ($190 after $100 PC Rebate, expires 6 jan 03 IIRC) including auto mount pc cable, power cable and Mapsend software. I can't talk to it but it works great for all the "Element-al" purposes of biking, hiking, kayaking....
See my review on Epinions- http://www.epinions.com/content_83738136196
Strangely enough, there are plenty of people who don't mind being stared at as they drive by in an ugly vehicle. Talk about low self-esteem...
Now, where's my turbo Forester?
dan: lots of people want attention, and plenty of it. Extroverts are gonna love it. I bet you my 16 year old brother and 17 year old sister love it.
Sure looks tall next to that CR-V.
-juice
Steve, Host
If you find it good looking and buy it, great. If you find it ugly and buy it despite the look, great. And whether or not you want attention, you've got it.
Pugs are so ugly they're cute. That's sort of how I see the Element, just in my opinion, of course.
It will be a success if it appeals to a different buyer than the CR-V. They didn't want to sell 2 conventional SUVs, they'd compete with each other, sell the same amount, but double production costs.
You have to understand, they want to appeal to a completely different audience (vs. CR-V buyers). I think it will.
-juice
Same as mine. But some will never get it.