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Comments
I do think we'll see a new niche that's smaller in size. In Brazil the Ford EcoSport is a hit, it's a lot smaller than the Escape.
Mazda showed a boxy little crossover at NAIAS that could fit into that slot, too. Subaru is considering a tall Impreza-based wagon, if so I imagine the next Forester will get bigger. And I'd like the see the Honda Fit/Jazz make it over as well.
-juice
http://edmunds.com/news/autoshow/articles/101248/page009.html?
I want the 2.7 V-6. Decent gas milage and 173 horses.
elemint,
Overpriced? I can get a GLS with the above V-6, TCS and other options for the same price as an Element.
The Tucson is a smaller version of the Santa Fe due by year end.
So no one considered the Santa Fe when chosing the E?
It didn't seem to offer near the utility of the E and in the end just crossed it off the list.
It was warmer and we had the tire pressures pulled down to spec.
The salesman was busy when I arrived so I had a good chance to go over the car. Very nice set of features for the price.
I took the test drive and the ride was better, but still jouncy. I guess this what you get in a small truck.
The only thing that drove me nuts was a pesky, clicking rattle that sounded like it was coming out of the B pillar over my left shoulder.
So I left with no Element.
Looks cute, though.
-juice
However, on my Element, it's a different story. The pedal travels a great deal, and the brakes seem to engage with different levels of force at the same amount of pedal depression, depending on how FAST the pedal moves, instead of how HARD I press on the pedal.
Is anyone else experiencing anything similar?
On other vehicles I would suspect that the brake system needs bleeding, to remove air from the hydraulic lines... but based on some of the brake-related posts I've read here, I'm not sure.
-juice
Save your money, buy the new '03 and purchase the keyless entry ($200) and put it in yourself...that's the only diff between '03s and '04s.
Anyone know the invoice price?
-juice
I really wish we had the keyless entry and an armrest on the front passenger side. I saw another Element with a driver's side armrest that looked like a glove box. She said it's wide enough for the front passenger to share it. How come my dealer didn't suggest it when he knew the armrest was definitely an issue for me?
20844
this included $490 destination
and the following (about $400 for this stuff):
Skylight shade screen
Cargo Cover
Carpeted Floor Mats
PLUS:
50 service fee (don't know for what)
1044 tax
21 baseball stadium
105 registration and title
22065 bottom line
Hope you feel better about that arm rest and keyless entry.
I'm sure you can add both to your car somehow.
I have the stick shift. Love the arm rest.
Can't live without keyless entry.
Two big Honda boners on the 2003 Element. What were they thinking?
Inform your dealer your dissatisfaction, and give them a chance to help out.
Pay for the upgrade, it's worth it.
Mileage:
Delivery at 10 miles on odometer
First Fill up at 77 miles (to make the start point)
Fill up at 337 miles 12.354 gallons: 21.05 mpg
Fill up at 542 miles 9.127 gallons: 22.46 mpg
Fill up at 756 miles 9.094 gallons: 23.53 mpg
City driving plus three freeway round trips of 90, 136 and 190 miles, in that order.
It's cold 0 to 10 here in Milwaukee too during the period.
If you calculated 14.5 mpg, you made a mistake or something else is going on, recheck again. Take a 200 mile freeway ride and check again. I would freak out too at 14.5..., but is that just city bumper to bumper grid lock or are you letting it idle for half an hour to warm it up before you leave the house or driving with the parking brake on or what? As you can see, it's really cold here too, car is just breaking in and I'm at 23 mpg and going up!
-juice
25,000 miles
23.5-mpg 50/50 city/highway – winter
25.0-mpg 50/50 city/highway – summer
-juice
I'm considering purchasing a 2004 Element and was trying to find out if there is much performance difference between the a 5 speed FWD and AWD. According the the sales person at the dealership no. Can anyone confirm this?
thanks
Chris
That doesn't sound so bad, does it? ;-)
-juice
We like it. It's peppy, handles well for a truck - car, whatever it is, is funky and is very versatile and utilitarian.
The price was right - a few hundred over invoice at the dealership in Norwood, MA. We got a lease at a good residual and MF too!
Good shopping!
If you'd like to head north during warmer months, I'm organizing the second Honda SUV Olympics for July 31st and August 1st. We're holding the event at Cannon Mt in Franconia Notch State Park, NH. Plans are only tentative until I get word from the folks on site, but I've been contacted by the owners of about 20 vehicles (CR-Vs, Elements, and Pilots) who are interested.
I found the one I got by watching Boch's inventory. They had it for about a month before I got it.
I travel a lot for my work, and when I've been on the road I've enjoyed playing CDs. But when the temperature dipped and I put the heater on, the CD player started playing with lots of static. I told the dealer, who supposedly contacted Honda's tech support about the problem. The dealer then told me that because the dash is "weather resistant," it holds a lot of heat, which gets transferred to the CD player, especially when the heater's on.
In other words, he said it's just a defect I'd have to get used to. He suggested not using the panel heat while playing the CD player, but just using the feet/heat. In other words, I should modify my behavior, because there's no fix for the CD player.
This sounds kind of screwy to me. You'd think Honda would've gotten a CD player for their cars that can play while the heater is on.
Anyone else have this problem?
Also, if you look on page 102-3 in the Element manual, there is an Error message that the CD will display when it's too hot to play. If you are getting the error message, then the dealer may have a good point.
On the other hand, if you aren't getting the error message, then I think the dealer is just tap dancing. He just doesn't want to deal with it.
Last time I checked, the Dash is actually totally INISDE your car and has only minimal insulation duties.
I'd call the dealer and ask him to reconsider. What is going to happen when it get's HOT outside. Are you supposed to run the A/C in the Dash to keep it cool and not on your feet which might be hot.
Duh?
I'd call Honda Customer Support and request a Zone contact if the dealer doesn't come up with a good answer.
If that's confusing keep in mind DVDs are worse, you have the whole DVD-R vs. DVD+R, and then RWs for both of those!
-juice
-juice
'04 ex CRV or a
'04 ex Element, either in manual awd. [our other car is a nissan titan kc 4x4 pickup ]
I. what i'd like to know from any Element owners is that would the extra trouble of going to Reno, NV, to buy would get me the Honda without the catelyic converter that may (i've heard) sap the mpg mileage? what ya'll's actual mpg on the stick shift awd?
II. since i'm used to a Jeep ride i'm figuring teh funky Element is more my "element" than the cute CRV, but does any ElemenT owners have any comments about Element build quality and reliability. would the CRV be more reliable?
thanks... Chris
-juice
Thanks
Element made their list for top ranked and most satisfying.
-juice
Don't forget the reinforcement required for the "suicide doors" adds a weight penalty vs. the CRV too.
High revving engines aren't a problem if the car takes that into account in terms of motor mounts, engine counterbalancers, and soundproofing.
When I test drove an automatic Element, it didn't seem "busy" in the engine compartment at all on the freeway.
Thanks
Future Element Owner
lalagimp "Honda Element: Prices Paid & Buying Experience" Jan 2, 2004 3:24pm
When I see a pontiac aztec I want to hurl. God help me if I'm at a stop light and an element and an aztec are on each side of me. I may have a seizure. LOL
-> lighten up... just my opinion!
Scion xB also sells well. So does Avalanche. So odd balls can succeed. I wouldn't necessarily group the Element with that Pontiac, though.
-juice
Historicaly, American's don't buy ugly cars. But they are buying the Element. People in the business of design like the Element. (I know of one in particular who is driving around the world in an E.) For every person who hates it (like my wife), there is another who adores it.
"Polarizing", "odd", "controversial"... sure any of those fit. But ugly just isn't in the cards.
Very funky. Surpringly large ... I pulled up behind an RX330 this morning and boy did it look small.
Our E is nicknamed Stubby.