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Comments
The empty weights and GVWR all seem to point to a total payload of 1100 lbs or so. The door sticker is way under this. Since the rear seats fold out of the way, I think you can surmise that the 675 indicates the total payload that can be put on the floor structure of the truck in the back. That's all the floor is rated for.
What Honda is essentially saying is that you can't stick a 100-lb woman in the drivers seat and put 1000 lbs of cargo in the back. The maximum amount of cargo you can carry is 675 lbs irrespective of what is happening in the front seats.
- Mark
On another note, not meaning to, I laid down a 10-foot strip of rubber in the Wal-mart parking lot yesterday. . . I think my engine's torque in first gear is coming on stronger as it loosens up a bit (I'm at about 1400 miles now). I didn't mean to squeal that much, I just mean to accelerate a bit quickly.
I did some research on the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles website. According to them, "unintentional burnouts must never leave tire marks less than 30 ft or 3 times the length of the vehicle". They check for this during inspections.
This law has lead to some interesting changes in driver's ed programs. Apparently, they must now teach young drivers how to lay an even patch of rubber over a level surface.
Clearly, the Element make compliance much more difficult. I'm sure insurance rates will rise as soon as the news gets out.
but just in case, the next time I'm in Mass. I'll have to try a little harder (accidentally?)
towing a small trailer with sailboards, etc. Does
the Element have the power to pull a light trailer
with no trouble? Also, does it get around ok in
the sand?
Thanks
Try 15psi first, I'm sure that'll do.
Gearing is very short in 1st, which is why it's easy to chirp the tires. Who needs a V6? ;-)
-juice
The Element has bigger rims and tires, though. I recall a 4x4 expert mentioning it was the volume of air, not necessarily the pressure.
Now I'll let an engineer chime in on whether that means the Element could withstand less or more pressure before the risk of tires coming loose.
-juice
As for the A/C, the car will shut off the compressor if the engine is under heavy load. This is true of just about any modern car. Keep your foot into the pedal and the car will sort it all out.
I have a 4WD EX with the 5spd and my E has plenty of get up and go. While not a sports car, it certainly can move when it has too. You just have to give it some gas and avoid the automatic (heard that can be sluggish).
It's really up to the individual to decide what is too slow. I find it fine for pulling on the highway, passing, going up hills, pretty much everything. But I won't mistake it for a sports car.
Test-drive one and see for yourself
The seat was all the way back and adjusted to the lowest position. It just seemed like I had a fraction of an inch of clearance, and my knee was right at the level of the ledge, rather than passing underneath.
I've always driven small cars, and sometimes they're tight to get into, but I've never had a ledge like that interfere with my driving position.
So, tall Element drivers: is there some other adjustment I'm missing? If not, how do you mitigate the ledge?
I am test driving the car today, maybe it will be different driving it rather than sitting in it. I'm hopeful I can find a way around this issue, because otherwise I love the car. TIA for the help. -- x
The new problem now is that I found out I cannot put my bike in the back without removing the front wheel--it's too tall! This was one of the primary reasons I had for buying the vehicle, now I have to think about it more. :--(
Maybe I'm back to a station wagon with roof rack, sigh....
Great stereo though.
I have a hitch mounted rack; that leaves the roof open for other stuff.
-juice
-juice
BTW I think in the Honda brochure it shows the bikes with the front wheels removed. . .
Can't they fit if you lay them flat on the floor with a blanket to protect from scratches?
It took a little bit of manuevering to get them in though. The opening at the gate is too short, so I had to angle them in. But once inside there was plenty of height.
Ion was first, but really that model replaces the Saturn S series. Element was 2nd overall, 1st among imports.
Where are the nay-sayers that said this model would never sell now?
-juice
How about a/c for the DX - there is no a/c - you can't even get it as an option? the dealer needs to install it for you? how does that work, do most DX come with a/c anyway, because the dealers no they can't sell cars w/o A/c?
thanks
-juice
-juice
All the EX's are owned by upstanding soccer parents, DIY'ers, avid gardeners, active reteirees, and Chinese restaurants!!
I need to use the outlet for recharging the phone and running low power equipment when
the Element is off and I found out that it is only on with the key.
I bet the LX becomes the best selling model. A nice stereo and A/C, that's all most people really need.
-juice
It should sell well since almost everyone would get A/C installed at an inflated dealer price on the DX anyway and not save anything over the LX.
However, you lose all the safety extras yo can get on the EX. No ABS and no option of side airbags.
More amps just means more of Elmo's screeching voice!
-juice
My 3 YO daughter has adopted "Feel Like a Woman" as her anthem.
My 15 month old likes hip-hop, go figure.
-juice