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As silly as it sounds, greyhounds have to wear coats when I take them for a walk in the winter. Even when housed in a crate, they'd freeze riding in the back of a pick-up when we go skiing. Besides, the Ridgeline doesn't meet my size or mpg requirements.
"She Who Cooks" still hates the Element (styling issues). Even after attending several events where she's been able to mix and mingle with Element owners. Personally, I don't have such an aversion to odd looking cars. They aren't my preference, but I'm not afraid of them.
And Thanks!
How about a Mazda 5?
"She Who Cooks" still hates the Element (styling issues).
I ran into the same issue with my wife on both the Element and the xB. We have a CR-V instead, which is so BORING.
Micweb - I'll take boring. So will the wife. I'll even take odd. It's when the scales are tipped into ugly that we run into problems.
Subaru includes a cargo liner in the Forester and Outback, I imagine you can get one from the aftermarket for just about any vehicle. I've had 2 big lab/doberman mixes back there but you definitely need to fold the 2nd row in a compact.
Consider also a Mazda5, not sure if you'd call that a van or whatever, I think they're cool looking.
-juice
Oh how silly - what makes you think you are going to go skiing after the baby is born??!! If you do, it'll be alone and the hounds can ride inside with you.
LOL!
-juice
If anyone has any info, I'd appreciate it.
-juice
So, what kind of mileage are you guys averaging?
Be careful in making comparisons between the E and the xB. Drive both and you will find a large driving difference. The E actually drives like a small SUV while the xB feels like you are driving a go-cart with a windshield...granted, the mpg is much better in the xB as it is lighter and smaller but is the trade off worth sacrificing things like ride and safety?...For me the choice was easy after rolling in both... Good luck.
Element is bigger and more substantial, so it's a little ironic that the xB has more payload and a 5th passenger seat.
Element offers AWD, wider door openings, low-maintenance cargo area, clam shell hatch, and a much torquier engine.
xB offers a lower price, a 5th seat, and more fuel efficiency.
-juice
BTW - if you have a car with a cassette tape head, these tape adapters are definitely the way to go over the FM wireless transmitters - I have yet to find one of those that works really well.
So if your cassette player has that mini headphone jack out, you should be good to go.
As for the iPod, I picked up a Griffin Air Click that gives you a little steering wheel mounted remote to control the iPod when it is hardwired into your system. This way you are not fumbling with the iPod at speed. Works great in the house but have not tried it on the road.
There at least two new colors, Atomic blue metallic and tangerine metallic.
Any idea what the EX-P 4WD trim level would offer beyond the current EX 4WD?
I still think they should do a yellow one to steal away some H2 sales. ;-)
-juice
-juice
I must admit I tried to get as much as possible. We drove mostly 60-65mph. The E is 4-speed 2WD EX. My average in the mixed driving is 25-26mpg.
Has anyone achieved more than 31mpg which I think it's possible considering a fully packed E on my trip?
i have had my element for 3 months and have driven it about 5000 miles, all on long trips.
the first big trip from seattle to st. george utah was fairly pleasant, driving mostly 75+ mph on the interstates. my wife felt it was more sensitive in steering and needed more correction than our mazda b4000 pickup which we have parked for a while.
Then we took a trip from utah to texas on i40 across arizona and new mexico. the winds were BIG and from the south, hitting the element directly on the side. it was manageable but i had to slow down to 65 or so at times and it required attention - no drinking coffee with one hand and steering with the other.
But coming back across i70 from grand junction to the i15 was just terrible. the winds were unmerciful and the element felt like my old 66 vw bug which would change lanes on the oakland bay bridge in windy conditions. i don't know how high the winds on i70 were but they were strong and gusty, maybe 30+ mph gusts, you could see other cars and rv's slow down too but the big suv's plowed on faster and faster. it was a very unpleasant driving experience.
i have to take the car in for the first oil change this week and i want them to check the suspension to see if something is wrong. i'm not saying the car is unsafe but in high winds it's borderline.
the design may need side skirts or some modification to the roof line - like a rounded cap. if it's a problem in the suspension unloading then it's more serious but may be corrected with different shocks.
HAS ANYONE ELSE DRIVEN THEIR ELEMENT IN HIGH CROSSWINDS????????
Just slow down a bit for bridges. I'm sure you get used to it.
-juice
With the Acura RDX and Honda CR-V production moving to Ohio in 2006, will there be capacity to continue to make Elements?
What are your thoughts about how successful the Element has been for Honda and whether they will invest in a redesign?
So Honda invested little and it exceeded sales goals while hurting no other Honda products. They probably had to hire more people to count the money.
From a marketing success standpoint, I give it an A+.
-juicre
I agree with Juice about it being a hit from a sales/profit standpoint. But there are a few chinks in the armor. While it does appeal to the younger set (more than most any other Honda), it has not been exclusively the youth-mobile I think they wanted.
I think we could see a replacement for the Element, but it might not be CR-V-based like the current generation. They might take the xB approach and use one of their JDM vehicles as the basis for the next generation. This could help them reduce costs and put the rig closer to the price range of the target audience.
When talking to a Scion sales person he said the typical xB buyer at his dealership was late 30s or early 40s male -- and that is a relatively inexpensive car - about $16k.
The car makers have a tough nut to crack because they have to set the features / content high enough but the price low enough to appeal to the youth market they want to tap into to secure their brand's future.
The problem that folks older than the target market see the value proposition and have the means to actually buy one.
I myself am considering a new family vehicle in the next 18 - 24 months and have considered everything from xBs on the low end to an Odyssey Touring or Acura MDX.
Maybe I am unique but if I can solve the family transportation problem with something like an Element or xB, I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I enjoy somewhat outsmarting the marketers. And they do their best to somewhat poison a choice targeted at one demographic (say youth) to another demographic (middle age parents with families) by dropping features (4 seats, not 5 in Element) or adding crazy colors or styling to put off the non-target demographic.
I am sure the Honda corporate product line planners know what they are doing.
The have nothing to fear from the likes of me -- I sense I am an oddball of sorts in my car purchasing tastes, at least in my immediate peer group of corporate office workers, because when I express an interest in such value-oriented, youth targeted choices like the xB or Element, I get funny looks.
-juice
I am under the impression that the only difference (other than the number of wheels driving) is in the sunroof and frankly I do want a sunroof but would rather it be over my head where I can enjoy it while driving.
I live in coastal NC and never thought I needed 4wd, so that's why I didn't get it before, but I now I hear that it is safer in wet conditions. Is this true?
Any advice helpful..
Thanks
Nice to hear that after owning one Element you would replace with another!
The Element 4WD is "on demand" four wheel drive, the difference being that power is only shifted to the rear wheels when you lose traction while accelerating straight ahead; it is useful only if you think you will get bogged down in snow or mud (stability control won't help you there).
If the Element 2WD never let you down, it weighs less and has fewer friction losses (only two wheels to drive). I would continue with the 2WD, but check out the CR-V which has ESP (stability) control, side air bags, side curtain airbags, and ABS, all standard, plus a 5 speed automatic transmission.
Most of those features will probably be added to the '06 Element if you can wait. I love the style of the Element, but got a CR-V just because of the better safety features and 5 speed automatic.
Pic for fun...
-juice
I keep seeing mentions about 2006 Elements & possible new features, but can't locate any sure info - such as definates on what the new features/upgrades will be, and when they can be expected to hit the market.
I'd appreciate any info!
TDI-Blues