I can give a good reason for a more powerful engine--overcoming the mass of the Element (it is heavier than the CR-V, you know) and the power-sapping AWD system. With 195-200 bhp and the fatter torque curve of my suggested I-5 engine, the engine won't have to strain so much going up and down hills. Put in the i-VTEC valvetrain and Honda's current knowledge of fuel delivery systems and exhaust emission controls and the 2.6-liter I-5 can deliver 195-200 bhp with just slightly less fuel efficiency than the 2.4-liter I-4 now in the Element.
Besides, the drivetrain setup could easily also be installed on the CR-V and the upcoming Latitude small van, since the Element, CR-V and Latitude are all derived from the same platform.
Honda's new (and first 'homegrown' diesel engine) 2.2 liter CTDi may be a great idea for Element instead of a new I-5 or V6. Only 145 HP, but 245 lb.-ft of torque. This engine is supposed to be available in Euro Accord by "Autumn".
Acura compact SUV (RDX?) could use J30A though, and be priced close to $30K. It could go along the lines of Murano, less utility and lower price than MDX/Pilot, but a parallel model to Pilot.
Respectfully, I don't see how an I-5 is going to be narrower than a V-6 and the same width as an I-4. If you take the I-4 and put another cylinder alongside, it's going to be wider even if you shrink the cylinder bores moderately. Ever see the 2.9l I-5 turned sideways in a Volvo? It's oozing out of the fenders. A transverse V-6 would be much narrower. Deeper, yes, but narrower.
I think while the new CTDi turbodiesel engine could solve the initial acceleration problem that will plague the Element using the current I-4 2.4-liter engine, the problem is that due to the excess amounts of sulfur compounds in #2 Diesel fuel sold in the USA (sometimes as much as 2,000 parts per million!) you can't use the modern fuel-delivery and exhaust emission control systems found on modern European and Japanese market diesel engines. :-(
Since the EPA will mandate before 2006 the use of cleaner diesel fuel (e.g., no more than 80 parts per million of sulfur compounds), this will make it possible to build diesel engines that even meets the strict California Air Resources Board rules for particulate emissions and ULEV emissions levels. In that case we will definitely see the CTDi engine in the Element.
I, too, fail to understand the lust for more power in this little truck or whatever it is. Seems the intention is to get you and a couple friends plus some of your stuff to lots of places fairly economically. You want utility, speed and moderate off-road capability, buy an Audi allroad or wait for the Tuoareg (sp?). Can any owners of the Element comment on the interior quality? I ask because the one I sat in at the New England Auto Show in November seemed very poorly built in terms of quality of materials and assembly. I don't care if the parts are or seem cheap, but would expect it to be screwed together pretty well. Also, the cargo area with rear seats up was quite small. Has that been inconvenient? Thanks.
tpat3 I agree that power is adequate for the vehicle to function as you suggest. I'd describe it as steady and smooth. I've driven my Element (a 4 spd EX4wd) for 3 weeks now and never felt it was underpowered even with 2 passengers, my dog, and being half loaded up with gear. My BF has a 98 Accord 4 cyl 2.3 ltr (150 hp)automatic that he says "pauses" on shifting and he was pleased that the E did not do that. It was smoother than the Accord. I regularly ascend a steep hill on the way home and the E is steadier and feels more solid than my Chrysler Sebring Jx 6 cyl automatic (168 hp).
I too was worried about possible cheapness of interior based on reports of the prototype vehicle out at the auto shows, but I think the plastics and parts on the 2003 are pretty solid. No super glue yet! Its a very smooth rugged type of plastic and seems quite fine. Without the mats, the floor is rather slick, even though it has some texture. However,it is very easy to clean. Rubber mats help.
The cargo area in the EX 4WD is 26 cu ft behind the rear seats and 77 cu ft with the seats taken out. Remember the E is quite tall so you can stack stuff in back and there are several tie downs and hooks for bags. Plus storage compartments on the side. The seats are very easy to fold up against the sides. I sometime fold the left rear seat up and leave the right side down. You can also adjust the angle of the rear seats to get more room behind or lay them flat. There is a lot of room on the floor between the front and back seats, as well.
Having put about 1000 miles on our Element, the interior seems very well constructed - not a squeak, rattle or buzz. The rear seats do not rattle when stowed up against the windows. The rear doors (not tailgate doors) sound like a bank vault when closed. The materials, especially the stain proof seats, seem to be of very good quality. Good feel to the plastics, not too much glare on the dash. The stain resistant seats have already proven their ability to clean easily. My 2 year old spilled some liquid on the rear seats which I didn't find until after I removed his car seat. A paper towel and water removed the stains - I was amazed.
I highly recommend spending $106.80 for the front & rear carpeted floor mats - got ours on-line from hondacura world.com. The carpet is high quality and appears to be stain proof as well. If you don't get the mats, the standard plastic floor is coated with the Teflon or Olefin type material which makes it very easy to clean and it appears to be quite durable.
Only negative thing we noticed so far is that the plastic sill cover (I'm not sure if this is the correct name - what I'm trying to describe is the plastic piece you see at floor level when you open the door) gets a lot of contact with shoes and seems to scratch easily.
Just to echo the above statements about the power and interior of the Element, we also find the power to be more than adequate and the interior above average. There are no rattles or squeaks coming from the interior and the look and feel of the fabric and dash materials appear to be of good quality.
I also recommend the purchase of the carpeted floor mats as items easily slipped around on the plastic floors.
We have taken one lengthy trip in our E and storage space was not a problem. With the rear seats in their normal position, We were able to fit a large suitcase, a medium size suitcase, a full-size cooler (an essential item) and a couple of other bags without a problem.
I HAVE VISITED OTHER SITES(HONDAELEMENT.ORG) AND I FIND IT VERY DISTURBING THE IT APPEARS THAT "SCRATCH RESISTANT" PANELS ARE NOT FINGER NAIL RESISTANT. E OWNERS AND CAR SHOWS REPORTING PANELS WILL SCRATCH WITH A FINGER NAIL EASILY.CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THIS
stevens, here's a pic that was posted by Citromike on the other site. Doesn't look good, but still waiting to here if the scratches can be easily removed or if they are permanent.
For the feedback on power and interior. The poor quality of parts and assembly on show version I saw was enough to put me off this car but glad to hear ownership experience has been positive. I'd be using it as a family hauler with two very young kids and their stuff. Figure the easy clean features would come in handy but am concerned still abt. storage -- not so much for everyday but for trips. Thanks again.
So from what I gather, there's no real room for negotiation on this one. I really like the Element, but each time one pops on the lot it gets sold, so I have not been able to drive one.
It's for this reason that the Vibe is looking attractive. Nearly as large, but you can get all the goodies and that $2000 rebate certainly rocks.
So far, 300 miles, we are very pleased. Power is good on out steep hills. No problems at all with it. We have been off road and in snow with it as well as highway miles. It fits our hiking, camping and dog lifestyle well.
I'm loving this Element the more I see it. Hmmm... it's going to be a tough decision between the TSX or the Element when it comes time to replace the SI. It will probably depend on my geographical location at the time.
Hmmm, it may explain why not black cladding. That plastic may scratch in a white color. Black would make it worse so tone into grey to hide white scratches. Unfortunately the Elements are late into Canada and I have not seen it for myself. Was going to compare how the CRV black rubber trim scratches. Its a type of synthetic rubber though. It is not the hard type of plastic the Element seems to be. The hard type does not bounce back. The Chevy Avalanche is a has the silver gray cladding with heavy texture. It would seem to hide scratches well. I wonder what the future is for El cladding. The concept E had black painted fenders. If they were convinced of it they would have played up the cladding.
Can element owners post your gas mileage? Especially interested in AT/4WD (is MT/4WD EX available?) I was so certain that I wanted a CRV EX-L but now I think I will need to take a serious look at E before I make my mind. They are very different in my view but both are so lovely to pass. Whatever the decision will be, it's gonna be tough.
I have a 3 years old son and will have the second one next month. Is it easy to install child car seat in the element? I found the higher seat position in CRV makes access to child seat (lifting the 3 yrs old out of the vehicle) easier, can anyone share your experience in your element?
One last question, I only have a single garage, is the extra long front door gonna be a problem when I open it in my garage? I don't want to park outside to get my wife & sons out then drive it in the garage. But I guess it is an issue even with the CRV.
Our 4WD Ex gets about 25mpg highway, 20 to 22 city. Our only complaint is that the fuel tank seems very small (maybe only 11 or 12 gallons) and there is no type of trip computer to indicate miles to empty, etc.
Car seats are easily installed. The rear seats have the new LATCH connectors built into the seat base (2 on each seat approx. where the buckle is located) and tether connections are on interior roof and on floor. With the amount of rear seat legroom and rear door opening, it is very easy to enter the rear to get kids into their seats. The front passenger seat has a lever which, when pulled, moves the seat completely forward and folds the seatback forward. We have a two y.o (forward facing seat) and 1 month old (rear facing seat) and haven't had any problems with accessibility or getting the seats very secure (pull the seat belts out all the way and they lock and will not "pull out" one secured to the buckle.
The front door opens almost 90 degrees (actually 78 degrees (and the rear opens 90degrees so you do have to be a little careful with the front door but it is not really very long.
Finally, has anyone else noticed that Edmunds changed the format of this site, including very small lettering. I thought it was my computer but then I signed on at home and noticed the same changes.
honda doesn't have its own salespeople, they work for their own dealer. honda completely stays out of the retail side of the business, because thats not their job. there has been no "pressure" to cap prices. if they did, they would lose franchises, as some dealers refuse to allow the manufacturer to control their money.
I linked to an article where Honda specifically told its dealers not to pressure Element buyers.
Here it is: "LOS ANGELES -- Honda salespeople will have to avoid the hard sell and do more listening when Generation Y customers come to see the Element sport wagon.
That is the edict handed down from American Honda Motor Co. sales training managers at 21 regional day-long seminars held in November.
About 6,500 Honda salespeople will be drilled in this new way of selling cars. Youthful customers will be allowed to dictate low-pressure discussions. Negotiations will not be marked with phrases such as, 'Yeah, well, if you won't pay that much, that guy over there will.'"
I have not had the chance to drive one of these yet, but is it pretty quiet? I have an '03 Accord and I now have an '03 Civic as a rental car as my Accord will be in for service for the next week and the Civic is much noiser. How is the Element on rough payment and at highway (70+) speeds?
Hey does anyone know why it's suddenly impossible to read the posts on this site? I'm going blind and my neck hurts. Can someone who knows something please try to take things back to the way things used to be? Aaah the past. Thanks.
rlei: ask the dealer if you can drive one home during the test drive, to test-size it in your garage. Heck, toss in the whole family. You should sample it the way you'll use it in real life.
One concern would be (later on) having to undo your seatbelt every time you drop the kids off somewhere. That won't be an issue for a while, though, since your kids are so young.
According to the new review from MSNs Ann Job the cladding is polypropylene. This is the same waxy material as the plastic for water containers and trash cans. This is not a high tech material and does not paint or buff very well. Rather than buff it would shred and go hairy. However this is the same material that the Isuzu Vehicross used for its cladding. So look at an old Vehicross's cladding and you can see how well it will hold up over time. No Vehicrosses in Canada so could someone report in? Quite frankly the Saturn plastic panels are high tech and takes paint very well. I wonder what Honda means by composite panels. Is it plastic plus plastic or plastic plus metal or what? Somebody report an Element accident and tell us about internal construction. How hard and how much would it cost to replace the cladding? This would be a opportunity by the aftermarket to offer fiberglass or carbon fiber fenders. That would be cool but expensive.
My apologies to the people who want or have the dark blue or black elements but IMHO the gray cladding does not look good with those tones. Black would have been better and next year they should offer black fenders.
The VXs cladding holds up great. I know guys who off-road them and have not had problems with it. I believe the color is solid throughout the material so scratches don't show up easily.
Must haves: More power for AWD automatic. The FWD 5-speed seems quick enough at 0-60 well under 9 seconds. The 11 second or more 0-60 in the AWD automatic is very sluggish considering it would be even slower with a load of passengers onboard. Higher and/or height adjustable driver seat.
Nice to have: Factory moonroof in EX FWD (instead of only on AWD model). Moonroof in front instead of or in addition to the rear in EX.
Factory A/C on DX. Very few people people are going to buy a new vehicle without A/C even if they are cutting costs on other things such fancy rims and stereos. The Element DX w/AC could considered a different model the way Honda considers an Accord EXV6 with Navigation a separate model rather than making the navigation an "option." The cost of dealer installed A/C is so high, you might as well just get the EX. (I have heard of people paying over $2000 for dealer-installed air conditioning when factory a/c could be half that or even less.) Many people looking at the Element would like a blank slate to customize. They would want to put in their own stereo system, rims and tires on a DX rather than paying for the included stereo and alloys that come on the EX and still paying for replacing them with custom stereos and rims, yet they would still expect to at least have a/c already installed.
They are not going to "fix" the problem with having to unbuckle the front seatbelts to let rear passengers in and out. They already thought of other ways to do it when they were designing the Element and it was going to cost too much.
My Element should be in next week. I was at the Detroit Auto Show this week and noticed that all of the fenders (front and rear) were trashed. The paint, however, was not.
Anyone else see the same thing? My time is running out and this, and the low useful load thing, are the only concerns left.
If I were to ever get an Element, I would want to use it to transport a couple bikes. Unfortunately, the interior bike mount appears to only be for a single bike. If you want to transport 2 bikes, you need to either lay them on the floor or get the roof rack, plus bike attachments. Instead, just buy the trailer hitch instead of bike mounts. Then you can get your own hitch-mount bike carrier and save the interior space as well as not worry about bikes on the roof getting knocked off under low clearance areas. I noticed the CD changer and the installed MP3 player are very expensive, but you can skip them both if you get an EX and have a portable MP3 player. Even if you don't have a portable MP3 player, you can buy a very nice one for much less than the cost of the Honda CD changer. The EX has an audio jack so you can plug in the portable MP3 player for use on the road.
After seeing posts about it, I went to a local dealer this evening to check out the plastic used in the fenders/panels of the DX line.
Unfortunately, I found them to be of such poor quality that I'm re thinking even buying an Element this year. Anything more than the slightest pressure leaves highly noticeable scratches. I made a couple myself with my fingernails(not even trying to dig in at all.) I can see them being totally trashed after a month of urban driving (parking in Chicago is rough on bumpers.) Kind of funny that Honda is making a point of marketing them as durable when they are one step down from a Rubbermaid trashcan. Too bad.
Anyone with an EX want to comment about their fenders? Is the quality better or just the color?
Other than that I loved the Element... hope it's something they correct for the 2004 line.
Sure you can go the trailer hitch route, but that sorta defeats one of the huge benefits of the Element - being able to stand them up vertically in the back and in out of the weather. If you're willing to lash the bikes to a trailer hitch, heck, why not get a CR-V and enjoy a better performing truck?
I have to confirm this but Jackson Racing may be at last supplying a supercharger for the latest generation of CRV. The question will be if it will work with the latest Accord/Element 2.4L? That would rock. This may be good because the Acura RDX model may be way too expensive. The Accord bases at $16K and the Acura TSX will base at about $25K. thats a $9K difference to go just from 160 HP to 200 HP. You might see a similar differential going from Element to RDX. So a supercharger at $2K+ looks like a good deal.
I went to the Honda website and the interior bike mount looks like it is only for one bike. If you have two, you have to leave the bikes loose on the floor rattling, sliding around scuffing the interior and scratching the bike as well as being a safety hazard.
I never test-drove any car I bought, big mistake I know. But I pretty much had exactly what I wanted in mind when I went to the dealer, and only thing I did was bargaining.
This time it will be different since I still don't know what to get, not sure how much freedom I would be given when testdrive. A Honda dealer is about 5 min drive from where I live now but I probably will go to the one where I bought my Civic (40 min away close to where I lived).
Anyway, your suggestion is great and I will let you know how it goes. BTW, unbuckling to drop the kids off kind of scared me a bit and now I am more toward CRV since my wife likes that better, I don't want to be a soccer dad (yet) ;-)
jopi & kdetroit, I was able to scrape off some plastic with my fingernails on the EX so the soft fender occurs on both models. There is a thread on hondaelement.org regarding this topic. I've put a deposit on an Element but now I am seriously considering putting off purchasing this year's model. Hopefully Honda will correct this serious shortcoming.
TWO interior bike holders may be installed for those that need them. For details just download the instructions for installation from any of several Element accessories internet sites.
I live in Heppner, Oregon. On Saturday I bought the Honda Element EX (silver). I got it at The Dalles. I wonder if I am the first person in Eastern Oregon to buy one? So far I love the car. On the way back I decided to take the scenic route, down Hwy 97 and then Hwy 206 east to Heppner. I ran into dense fog, snow and ice the whole way. I had no problems, the car ran great. The roads were sanded and I can tell you I heard every pebble of sand hit my new car!
I saw jnes photos of her new green Element. (That sagebrush looks familiar). My color choices were silver or black. Though decision, I liked the interior color on the black model better, but I preferred the better visibility on a silver exterior.
automatic today. Rides very solid. Gauges remind me of the old AMC Pacer stuff from the 70's (not too thrilled about'em).
My question---I read somewhere that the 5 speed buzzes the engine at 3500 rpm at 70mph. The automatic I drove was at 2950 at 70. Can anyone confirm the 5 speed rpm at 70?. Perhaps this is related to the higher mileage ratings for the auto?
I had the opportunity for a road trip this weekend. I drove from Ellensburg, WA to Bellingham, Wa via Snoqualme pass, about 340 miles round trip . I was very impressed with the performance of the car. The engine out did my V6 in our Ford. The mountain pass is about 3000 feet and I never did have to slow down due to a sluggishness or down shifting. I found that heading back up the pass, the steepest climb, all I had to do was lock out the overdrive and I cruised right up.
Bellingham is the ultimate Element town, a very sports oriented, college town with beaches and hiking trails all over. The dogs and I spent 2 days hiking in sand and mud and the car held up very well. For the most part, few people made a show of looking at the car. 2 people did stop me in parking lots and a few others slowed down. While in Bellingham I spotted 2 other Elements. It was a good fun trip and I still love my car.
Hey all, here's a link to the February C&D Road Test: Car & Driver: Road Test: HONDA ELEMENT EX: Mr. X Games meets the Rubbermaid AFAIK, the article is not yet linked at the C&D website, but Aykew was able to do a little URL wrangling and figured out where it is Too late for me though cuz I already went out and bought the mag
Comments
Besides, the drivetrain setup could easily also be installed on the CR-V and the upcoming Latitude small van, since the Element, CR-V and Latitude are all derived from the same platform.
Acura compact SUV (RDX?) could use J30A though, and be priced close to $30K. It could go along the lines of Murano, less utility and lower price than MDX/Pilot, but a parallel model to Pilot.
Regards,
Tom
Since the EPA will mandate before 2006 the use of cleaner diesel fuel (e.g., no more than 80 parts per million of sulfur compounds), this will make it possible to build diesel engines that even meets the strict California Air Resources Board rules for particulate emissions and ULEV emissions levels. In that case we will definitely see the CTDi engine in the Element.
Can any owners of the Element comment on the interior quality? I ask because the one I sat in at the New England Auto Show in November seemed very poorly built in terms of quality of materials and assembly. I don't care if the parts are or seem cheap, but would expect it to be screwed together pretty well. Also, the cargo area with rear seats up was quite small. Has that been inconvenient? Thanks.
I too was worried about possible cheapness of interior based on reports of the prototype vehicle out at the auto shows, but I think the plastics and parts on the 2003 are pretty solid. No super glue yet! Its a very smooth rugged type of plastic and seems quite fine. Without the mats, the floor is rather slick, even though it has some texture. However,it is very easy to clean. Rubber mats help.
The cargo area in the EX 4WD is 26 cu ft behind the rear seats and 77 cu ft with the seats taken out. Remember the E is quite tall so you can stack stuff in back and there are several tie downs and hooks for bags. Plus storage compartments on the side. The seats are very easy to fold up against the sides. I sometime fold the left rear seat up and leave the right side down. You can also adjust the angle of the rear seats to get more room behind or lay them flat. There is a lot of room on the floor between the front and back seats, as well.
I highly recommend spending $106.80 for the front & rear carpeted floor mats - got ours on-line from hondacura world.com. The carpet is high quality and appears to be stain proof as well. If you don't get the mats, the standard plastic floor is coated with the Teflon or Olefin type material which makes it very easy to clean and it appears to be quite durable.
Only negative thing we noticed so far is that the plastic sill cover (I'm not sure if this is the correct name - what I'm trying to describe is the plastic piece you see at floor level when you open the door) gets a lot of contact with shoes and seems to scratch easily.
I also recommend the purchase of the carpeted floor mats as items easily slipped around on the plastic floors.
We have taken one lengthy trip in our E and storage space was not a problem. With the rear seats in their normal position, We were able to fit a large suitcase, a medium size suitcase, a full-size cooler (an essential item) and a couple of other bags without a problem.
I'd be using it as a family hauler with two very young kids and their stuff. Figure the easy clean features would come in handy but am concerned still abt. storage -- not so much for everyday but for trips.
Thanks again.
It's for this reason that the Vibe is looking attractive. Nearly as large, but you can get all the goodies and that $2000 rebate certainly rocks.
So far, 300 miles, we are very pleased. Power is good on out steep hills. No problems at all with it. We have been off road and in snow with it as well as highway miles. It fits our hiking, camping and dog lifestyle well.
But would you give up 2mpg for 20 more horses? A lot of people would not. And pay an extra grand for it?
The cladding doesn't seem as resistant as I'd expect it to be. I wonder if you can buff those out somehow.
-juice
I wonder what the future is for El cladding. The concept E had black painted fenders. If they were convinced of it they would have played up the cladding.
I have a 3 years old son and will have the second one next month. Is it easy to install child car seat in the element? I found the higher seat position in CRV makes access to child seat (lifting the 3 yrs old out of the vehicle) easier, can anyone share your experience in your element?
One last question, I only have a single garage, is the extra long front door gonna be a problem when I open it in my garage? I don't want to park outside to get my wife & sons out then drive it in the garage. But I guess it is an issue even with the CRV.
Car seats are easily installed. The rear seats have the new LATCH connectors built into the seat base (2 on each seat approx. where the buckle is located) and tether connections are on interior roof and on floor. With the amount of rear seat legroom and rear door opening, it is very easy to enter the rear to get kids into their seats. The front passenger seat has a lever which, when pulled, moves the seat completely forward and folds the seatback forward. We have a two y.o (forward facing seat) and 1 month old (rear facing seat) and haven't had any problems with accessibility or getting the seats very secure (pull the seat belts out all the way and they lock and will not "pull out" one secured to the buckle.
The front door opens almost 90 degrees (actually 78 degrees (and the rear opens 90degrees so you do have to be a little careful with the front door but it is not really very long.
Finally, has anyone else noticed that Edmunds changed the format of this site, including very small lettering. I thought it was my computer but then I signed on at home and noticed the same changes.
Most of the changes to the site's layout are good, but, how do I jump to a message with the message number now?
To jump to a specific post, type "#xxx" in the search box.
For more news on the site changes, please visit the Town Hall New Look! discussion.
Steve, Host
Here it is:
"LOS ANGELES -- Honda salespeople will have to avoid the hard sell and do more listening when Generation Y customers come to see the Element sport wagon.
That is the edict handed down from American Honda Motor Co. sales training managers at 21 regional day-long seminars held in November.
About 6,500 Honda salespeople will be drilled in this new way of selling cars. Youthful customers will be allowed to dictate low-pressure discussions. Negotiations will not be marked with phrases such as, 'Yeah, well, if you won't pay that much, that guy over there will.'"
http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=4007
I still can't decide between the Element and the Audi A4 Avant Quattro 6-Speed:(
OR should I opt for the Infinti FX 35??
Help please!!
Low center of gravity with quattro = fun cornering.
You aren't going to be carving corners with the other two.
Thanks.
tidester, host
One concern would be (later on) having to undo your seatbelt every time you drop the kids off somewhere. That won't be an issue for a while, though, since your kids are so young.
-juice
tidester, host
I wonder what Honda means by composite panels. Is it plastic plus plastic or plastic plus metal or what? Somebody report an Element accident and tell us about internal construction. How hard and how much would it cost to replace the cladding? This would be a opportunity by the aftermarket to offer fiberglass or carbon fiber fenders. That would be cool but expensive.
My apologies to the people who want or have the dark blue or black elements but IMHO the gray cladding does not look good with those tones. Black would have been better and next year they should offer black fenders.
-mike
More power for AWD automatic. The FWD 5-speed seems quick enough at 0-60 well under 9 seconds. The 11 second or more 0-60 in the AWD automatic is very sluggish considering it would be even slower with a load of passengers onboard.
Higher and/or height adjustable driver seat.
Nice to have:
Factory moonroof in EX FWD (instead of only on AWD model).
Moonroof in front instead of or in addition to the rear in EX.
Factory A/C on DX. Very few people people are going to buy a new vehicle without A/C even if they are cutting costs on other things such fancy rims and stereos. The Element DX w/AC could considered a different model the way Honda considers an Accord EXV6 with Navigation a separate model rather than making the navigation an "option." The cost of dealer installed A/C is so high, you might as well just get the EX. (I have heard of people paying over $2000 for dealer-installed air conditioning when factory a/c could be half that or even less.) Many people looking at the Element would like a blank slate to customize. They would want to put in their own stereo system, rims and tires on a DX rather than paying for the included stereo and alloys that come on the EX and still paying for replacing them with custom stereos and rims, yet they would still expect to at least have a/c already installed.
They are not going to "fix" the problem with having to unbuckle the front seatbelts to let rear passengers in and out. They already thought of other ways to do it when they were designing the Element and it was going to cost too much.
Anyone else see the same thing? My time is running out and this, and the low useful load thing, are the only concerns left.
Instead, just buy the trailer hitch instead of bike mounts. Then you can get your own hitch-mount bike carrier and save the interior space as well as not worry about bikes on the roof getting knocked off under low clearance areas.
I noticed the CD changer and the installed MP3 player are very expensive, but you can skip them both if you get an EX and have a portable MP3 player. Even if you don't have a portable MP3 player, you can buy a very nice one for much less than the cost of the Honda CD changer.
The EX has an audio jack so you can plug in the portable MP3 player for use on the road.
Unfortunately, I found them to be of such poor quality that I'm re thinking even buying an Element this year. Anything more than the slightest pressure leaves highly noticeable scratches. I made a couple myself with my fingernails(not even trying to dig in at all.)
I can see them being totally trashed after a month of urban driving (parking in Chicago is rough on bumpers.) Kind of funny that Honda is making a point of marketing them as durable when they are one step down from a Rubbermaid trashcan. Too bad.
Anyone with an EX want to comment about their fenders? Is the quality better or just the color?
Other than that I loved the Element... hope it's something they correct for the 2004 line.
- Mark
This may be good because the Acura RDX model may be way too expensive. The Accord bases at $16K and the Acura TSX will base at about $25K. thats a $9K difference to go just from 160 HP to 200 HP. You might see a similar differential going from Element to RDX. So a supercharger at $2K+ looks like a good deal.
If you have two, you have to leave the bikes loose on the floor rattling, sliding around scuffing the interior and scratching the bike as well as being a safety hazard.
This time it will be different since I still don't know what to get, not sure how much freedom I would be given when testdrive. A Honda dealer is about 5 min drive from where I live now but I probably will go to the one where I bought my Civic (40 min away close to where I lived).
Anyway, your suggestion is great and I will let you know how it goes. BTW, unbuckling to drop the kids off kind of scared me a bit and now I am more toward CRV since my wife likes that better, I don't want to be a soccer dad (yet) ;-)
I was able to scrape off some plastic with my fingernails on the EX so the soft fender occurs on both models.
There is a thread on hondaelement.org regarding this topic. I've put a deposit on an Element but now I am seriously considering putting off purchasing this year's model.
Hopefully Honda will correct this serious shortcoming.
http://www.hondaelement.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=403
I saw jnes photos of her new green Element. (That sagebrush looks familiar). My color choices were silver or black. Though decision, I liked the interior color on the black model better, but I preferred the better visibility on a silver exterior.
My question---I read somewhere that the 5 speed buzzes the engine at 3500 rpm at 70mph. The automatic I drove was at 2950 at 70. Can anyone confirm the 5 speed rpm at 70?. Perhaps this is related to the higher mileage ratings for the auto?
Bellingham is the ultimate Element town, a very sports oriented, college town with beaches and hiking trails all over. The dogs and I spent 2 days hiking in sand and mud and the car held up very well. For the most part, few people made a show of looking at the car. 2 people did stop me in parking lots and a few others slowed down. While in Bellingham I spotted 2 other Elements. It was a good fun trip and I still love my car.
Joan
http://www.eburg.com/~jneslund/matt/Honda_Element/
Car & Driver: Road Test: HONDA ELEMENT EX: Mr. X Games meets the Rubbermaid
AFAIK, the article is not yet linked at the C&D website, but Aykew was able to do a little URL wrangling and figured out where it is