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(St. Augustine was a popular type of grass in the South where I grew up, for those who only know fescue or bluegrass).
Steve, Host
-juice
Acceleration is fine. I test drove it on the Wash DC beltway and passed semis etc going from 60-75 no problem. Kept up with faster traffic going around 70 without a lot of engine noise.
Engine revs freely and delivers torque rapidly to get the job done safely. Sienna was slower to respond in passing maneuvers even though 0-60 times are around 10 seconds. Understand the 4WD Element breaks 11 seconds for 0-60.
My initial skepticism was quickly resolved. Of course if you go from a powerful SUV or sedan that has lots of get up and go then I can see why the Element 4WD acceleration is criticized. It's all about expectations vice adequacy. In my view the acceleration is fine.
Bottom Line: Don't prejudge before you test drive. This is especially true if someone is otherwise pretty stoked about the Element.
They found a Blue one for me elsewhere and retained their web site advertised markdown price for a black one in their stock. It was ready the next day when I closed the deal.
Highly recommend this dealer. No Honda take it or leave it attitude here. Low pressure - including the sales manager. They told me Sheehy policy is to not charge over MSRP for any vehicle.
I felt like I got a decent deal for a high demand product.
With any 2-door vehicle you would have to open the front doors anyway, but in the Element you don't have to get out of your seat and fold it to let the passengers in back, so it is really a little easier to let people in and out of the back than a regular 2-door vehicle.
After seeing the Element at the Pittsburgh Auto Show this weekend, my wife has put it on the shopping list. She is concerned about snow performance and I would think it would be good with the Real Time 4WD, but some actual Owner stories would be pretty good to hear.
Exby - What are you comparing it with? 160 hp is pretty respectable for a 2.4L I4. And the torque curve is fairly impressive.
first time I've bought a vehicle and had such a minimal emotional response
it must be doing something right though, I found myself at 100mph (whoops)and decided it was time to activate the cruise since I get to drive around with no tag for a couple of weeks while I wait on Honda finance to mail the title
very smooth ride shifts funny sometimes though of course it's 15 years newer than my old trusty hatch
(and for you Georgians out there I had a shocker when a Georgia state patrol behind me in the fast lane going about 80 with no license plate and they DID NOT pull me over, what's up with that? not that I'm complaining just dumbfounded they didn't bother to harass me)
I busted out my manual and lo what do I find my little 2000 civic can safely haul 175 lbs MORE than an element (850lb payload) talk about strange considering it has about 50 less horseys under the hood
I also had an interesting conversation with a salesman at the dealership inspecting the car before I bought it.
if you ever have a stook and you shift it from 5th to 2nd it will disintegrate the engine.
as one of their unfortunate salesmen found out the hard way, in the dealership owners s2k.
its now for sale with 5k on the odometer and a 100k warranty on its replacement engine
I forgot to look at the car show. Are they on the back's of the seats like in the minivans or are they on the back hatch like my dad's CRV.
I hate having the strap go back to the hatch. It gets in the way and blocks some vision.
I think my wife is stopping to drive one this week. Won't be buying anything for a few months, but I told her to drive it now, then if she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to yearn for it all summer. Now if she really likes it, well then I'm in trouble! LoL.
Maybe your wife will still yearn for it!
Remember when the 4Runner's V6 had 150hp? Never mind the 4 banger.
-juice
Greetings from sunny Miami.
fig.
But not everyone needs that kind of performance, and the Element will still outrun about half the vehicles on the road, so it's at least average.
-juice
All the Elements that were shown as prototypes before it came out appeared to be the DX. I wonder why they made this change to the EX? Not to sound shallow, but if I buy an Element, I'm tempted to get a DX and load it with options because of this! (Hmm, maybe I am a little shallow...)
-juice
http://www.handa-accessories.com/
A CD player was a $400 option at our Subaru dealer. I found a hardly used 6CD changer plus cassette for $250, and nowadays they run closer to $150.
This guy on Ebay is selling some 6CD changers that come off Mazda Tributes for $158 or so IIRC.
If you're handy with tools and have time, plus some patience, you could build you own DX for a lot less than Honda charges you, and have fun doing it.
-juice
I have a dealer in the area giving me info on the DX 5-speed this afternoon. If I can get a loaded DX 2WD (with either myself or Honda installing options) for around $19,000-20,000, I might do it. I've looked at Protege5's, Matrix/Vibes, CRV's, etc. and they really don't do it for me. The Element seems a better fit for me.
Thanks for all the info, everybody!
-juice
I would definitely go to a dealer to do the work, it's brand-new so you can demand OE parts. They should be able to tell you what parts availability is like.
If it doesn't look good, you might want to wait until after the move to get it fixed. Good luck.
-juice
I prefer unpainted cladding anyway. But no ABS, right?
I would not put a deposit down if you're not sure the final price is agreeable. No vehicle is worth "way over MSRP" IMHO. Demand will go down, it's just a matter of time.
-juice
Many messages seem to complain about a low seating position. I guess I didn't notice sitting in it at the auto show. Maybe it becomes more apparent during actual driving.
My biggest worry is the engine, but you note it to be peppy. You don't go hardly anywhere in Wester Pa. without a decent sized hill and an underpowered car can quickley become a real pain.
I don't need it to be a race car, just get up the hills while fairly loaded without a lot of gear searching and high revs'.
All you Owners, keep the impressions coming, they will really help a lot of us in our decision.
I've put almost 300 on my "new" (used) civic
and I've already decided the next car I buy will either have huge doors, or be a coupe/hatch of some sort. Its a 2000 civic but its not as easy to get in and out of as my 86 hatch was. I had noticed this when I compared the element to the CRV but after owning a vehicle with 4 doors again I do say that the coupe "type" design of the element does have that advantage especially if you aren't a contortionist. I plan on keeping this civic for only a couple of years if I can find something I like for a decent price, but I have a new respect for suicide doors/coupes now that I'm back in a sedan, when I was younger I didn't mind squeezing in and out, and maybe IM just so used to big doors and after a while I'll get used to it, but something like element/Saturn ion/mazda rx-8/ acura rdx, looks much more appealing than they did a while back, but I am single and right now its just me and my daughter primarily in the vehicle, but at least it is a much newer car with AIR and power steering, though the power steering seems as touchy as an old ford to me lol
The foglights require taking the whole front off but its doable by yourself with time. But I don't like electrical work. I fried my ignition installing an auto-off headlight system. You would void your warranty regarding electrics. Mudflaps and other bolt ons are a no brainer and no risk.
I wonder why it will be hard to replace your own quarter panels. They must be popriveted or staked in? Access or special tools required?
Sure there could have been 10,000 people doing the finger nail test - but do any owners have a problem (or not) in real life situations? Thanks!
PS We're waiting for the side curtain airbags to become available before buying. Maybe the cladding will be fixed by then.
I'd rather have a high light bar with daytime running lights than foglights. See you coming for miles. Foglights are fashion but the Element has those holes in the bumper that need filling.
1. put down your deposit and wait it out like everyone else.
2. do some travelling...there is bound to be one on a lot somewhere.
IF so what is it???
I'm hearing 650lbs, 1000lbs....
Are these numbers in addition to a vehicle full to capacity(4 adults, fuel,etc)
In any case, it is far more scratch resistant than the paint.