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honda element?

lovebunny

lovebunny

can i lick your balls?
Dec 14, 2003
7,310
209
San Diego, California, United States
yay or nay. whos got experience with them? im looking for a vehicle with lots of space, good gas mileage, reliable, and something that can get a hitch if needed.(just for bikes, not towing) does anyone have experience with them or another car that fits the bill? thanks:thumb:
 
DNA

DNA

The human raccoon
Jan 31, 2003
1,443
0
NH
I have one. It has lots of space. It is easy to clean out. You can put bikes inside it standing up once the front wheel is off. Mileage is mid-to-low-20s. It can haul a ton of stuff with the rear seats up. The seat also lay down to form a half-way decent bed. The suicide doors are a mixed bag ... sometimes they are brilliant and sometimes they suck. Visibility is ok but like a van when the rear seats are up. The AWD is OK in the snow. Most of the time I have been happy with it, but there was one sketchy drive to Leadville in a snowstorm where it didn't feel that great. My wife's beat-up Subaru Legacy wagon is better in the snow. Silver is right, it is not a high-clearance 4wd. Proably better than a Civic, but definitely not a real off-road vehicle. I would consider getting one again.
 
HAB

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
I looked at them a little but hated the interior. The dash is super high and deep, it feels like you're sitting in a bunker, which I didn't like at all. And I'm 6' tall, it's not like I'm just too short to see over the wheel or anything.

Everyone I know who has one likes it though.
 
lovebunny

lovebunny

can i lick your balls?
Dec 14, 2003
7,310
209
San Diego, California, United States
yeah i have heard nothing but good things about them. im also looking at the fit and the kia soul. im looking for something thats inexpensive and more carish than i usually have. my old boss has a newer fit and cant say enough good things about it
 
Serial Midget

Serial Midget

Al Bundy
Jun 25, 2002
13,053
1,896
Fort of Rio Grande
Back when they first came out I was doing adventure races and one of our crew had one - they are seriously versatile and can carry quite a bit. For one race we needed a sea kayak, 2 man canoe, mountain and road bikes. Her Element carried all our gear and 4 adults. We also had several large coolers and camping equipment as well. What I liked most was the upright seating - fairly comfortable for the long trip and about the best post race in and out for tired and cramped legs. We didn't worry about keeping the inside clean as the floor was all rubber. Its not a car for me but I can easily see why owners like them so much and, since its a Honda, I would feel comfortable with a used one.
 
Leppah

Leppah

Turbo Monkey
Mar 12, 2008
2,294
3
Utar
I like the FIT. My buddy had an Element. It was alright. I like the look of the FIT better. It's got tons of different seating configs too. Killer mileage too. I like those a lot and the old toasters. Been thinking about getting one sometime, but it won't be anytime soon. My minivan is going to last a while still.
I'm sure you could get a hitch for the FIT by now. But it'll probably only be inch and a quarter. It's going to be pretty friggin low too.
 
TheTruth

TheTruth

Turbo Monkey
Jun 15, 2009
3,893
1
I'm waving. Can you see me now?
I just want to tell you that there is no fit for a roof rack on the element. I work at a thule and yakima certified dealer, and I have to give every frustrated customer that owns an element a talk about why they made the wrong choice in vehicle. I tell them, "Maybe you should have just bought something more practical, like any other car but the element."
 
DNA

DNA

The human raccoon
Jan 31, 2003
1,443
0
NH
lovebunny said:
yeah im going to start saving for a down payment on a used one. its between a used element and a new soul. im kind of swaying towards getting an element. can you put a hitch on one?
Click to expand...
I bought mine used and it came with a hitch. Never used it though.
 
Konabumm

Konabumm

Konaboner
Jun 13, 2003
4,384
87
Hollywood, Maryland, United States
lovebunny said:
yay or nay. whos got experience with them? im looking for a vehicle with lots of space, good gas mileage, reliable, and something that can get a hitch if needed.(just for bikes, not towing) does anyone have experience with them or another car that fits the bill? thanks:thumb:
Click to expand...
Well, I've had a Jeeps, Land Rovers, and a Hummer. The Element is without question the best vehicle I've owned. It has made racing / riding this year so much fun. I built a bed for the inside so I don't have to spend cash on hotel rooms.

Where's a few shots to give you an idea of room.





Here's a link to making a bed for the inside or the element - I used this guys build but cut it in half to make a single. Sorry don't have any pictures.
LINKER


Hope this helps!
 
daisycutter

daisycutter

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2006
1,656
129
New York City
TheTruth said:
I just want to tell you that there is no fit for a roof rack on the element. I work at a thule and yakima certified dealer, and I have to give every frustrated customer that owns an element a talk about why they made the wrong choice in vehicle. I tell them, "Maybe you should have just bought something more practical, like any other car but the element."
Click to expand...
see below
the Thule 430 Tracker II Complete Roof Rack Base System as the multi-purpose base rack system you will need first of all. No matter what gear you plan to carry on your Honda Element you will first need to install a base rack system. It attaches directly to the contact points that Honda has included on the Element roof. The 430 Tracker II includes four TK9 Tracker Kits that snap directly into these contact points (no drilling or anything required). The other components included in this system are four Thule 430 Tracker II Feet (these snap onto the TK9 Kits that are mounted to the rooftop points) and a pair of load bars. The 50 inch load bars are the recommended length for your rooftop.
 
Gunner

Gunner

Monkey
May 6, 2003
533
0
Framingham, MA
Buyin a new car this fall and the Element is at the top of my list. Going back and forth between that and the Forrester for a bunch of reasons. Love the versatility of the Element and the fact that I can get it pretty dirty on the inside, but heard the handling on the Forrester is pretty decent and it also gets slightly better gas mileage.
 
macko

macko

Turbo Monkey
Jul 12, 2002
1,191
0
THE Palouse
This is rather coincidental. This past month, the girl and I bought two new cars: a Honda Fit and an Element. Now obviously we haven't been driving them for all that long, but so far we love 'em. The Fit is getting a solid 5+ mpg better than the Element, but that's to be expected with the Element's (lack of) aerodynamics, AWD, slightly larger engine and roof rack w/ gear box. But, with all of the room it has and for the general versatility of the vehicle, ~24 mpg is pretty gently caressing good gas mileage. I can't wait to start taking it out on road trips with the bikes, kayaks and dogs. First one planned is in about a month to the Olympic Peninsula.

TheTruth said:
I just want to tell you that there is no fit for a roof rack on the element. I work at a thule and yakima certified dealer, and I have to give every frustrated customer that owns an element a talk about why they made the wrong choice in vehicle. I tell them, "Maybe you should have just bought something more practical, like any other car but the element."
Click to expand...
Maybe you should have just found a job that fits you better, like anything besides working in a position that requires reading and intuition. Yakima Landing Pad #9 just happens to fit my Element, which really confused me because the instructions SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED HOW TO INSTALL ON A HONDA ELEMENT. :thumb:
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
TheTruth said:
I just want to tell you that there is no fit for a roof rack on the element. I work at a thule and yakima certified dealer, and I have to give every frustrated customer that owns an element a talk about why they made the wrong choice in vehicle. I tell them, "Maybe you should have just bought something more practical, like any other car but the element."
Click to expand...
If you're looking for a rack for an Element, you're doing it wrong. The whole point of the vehicle is that **** goes inside.

If you have kids and need both seats back there, you should have bought a minivan :rofl:
 
Big J

Big J

Monkey
Jul 18, 2005
421
0
Chicago
The Element was in the top five on my shopping list but poor interior noise quality knocked it out of contention.....ended up getting a loaded Highlander Limited.

This was a couple of years ago so the current model may have better interior insulation.

J
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
The best thing about the Element is how fricken cheap they are. Comparing them to a Higlander Limited isn't really fair. What's the price difference? $10-15k?

For how much you get, the Element is one of the best deals out there.
 
waterdogs

waterdogs

Monkey
Jul 30, 2010
817
0
Upstate SC
We love ours, bought it new in March. Two Golden Retreviers in the back, four bikes (two XC and two DH) and one BigStack (Kayak Mount) on the roof, wife and I in the front seats and we still have room for all our outdoor stuff in the back (cooler, tent, bags, clothes, food, etc.). We have a 4WD which gets about 19 city and anywhere from 24 -27 highway.

Got any specific questions, fire away.
 
waterdogs

waterdogs

Monkey
Jul 30, 2010
817
0
Upstate SC
Who said Yakima doesn't fit? I don't mind the height, I'm 6'4"..... yeah you are supposed to fill it, but the dogs take up that space.
 
Snacks

Snacks

Turbo Monkey
Feb 20, 2003
3,523
0
GO! SEAHAWKS!
I have one and love it. It's the first year (2003) so I think a few things have changed since then. It's a great road trip car. The gas milage is just okay but remember it's basicly a box on wheels. Mines a 2WD which is fine for Seattle.

Take the rear seats out and pack it full! Two of us camping for two weeks with bikes and there was always a ton of space.
 
Big J

Big J

Monkey
Jul 18, 2005
421
0
Chicago
buildyourown said:
The best thing about the Element is how fricken cheap they are. Comparing them to a Higlander Limited isn't really fair. What's the price difference? $10-15k?

For how much you get, the Element is one of the best deals out there.
Click to expand...
You’re correct, my final choice does make it an apple & orange sort of comparison but the noise coming from the engine compartment was more than I expected from Honda but like I said maybe it's changed.

I really dug the Element, rubber matted floor, fold away seats, est. The thing I liked the most is that the bikes fit inside and a good size pod fits on top.

I was looking at a lot of different mtb road trip vessels in fact I put money down on a G8 GT but the dealer couldn't get me the color I wanted, so yes I was all over the map.

J
 
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woodsguy

woodsguy

gets infinity MPG
Mar 18, 2007
1,083
1
Sutton, MA
I looked long at the Element 5 years ago. I really like it with a few exceptions.

- I don't like how you have to open the front doors to open the back.
- I don't like that the back windows don't roll down.
- I don't like that the back seat doesn't slide.
- I wish it got better mileage.

The last one was the deal breaker for me. With larger suvs now getting over 30mpg 24 seems a bit low. My next suv/awd van will get high 20's average.
 
Inclag

Inclag

Turbo Monkey
Sep 9, 2001
2,752
442
MA
woodsguy said:
I looked long at the Element 5 years ago. I really like it with a few exceptions.

- I don't like how you have to open the front doors to open the back.
- I don't like that the back windows don't roll down.
- I don't like that the back seat doesn't slide.
- I wish it got better mileage.

The last one was the deal breaker for me. With larger suvs now getting over 30mpg 24 seems a bit low. My next suv/awd van will get high 20's average.
Click to expand...
There are larger SUV's getting 30+ mpg now??
 
Jeremy R

Jeremy R

<b>x</b>
Nov 15, 2001
9,698
1,053
behind you with a snap pop
IH8Rice said:
i never understood the rear sunroof too....its pretty much pointless except if you have people in the back.
Click to expand...
I think it was actually designed so people can change clothes standing in it without showing their turkey neck to the rest of the parking lot when their towel fell. Seriously.

I like the Element. If I did not have to have a truck I would have considered one.
 
IH8Rice

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
Jeremy R said:
I think it was actually designed so people can change clothes standing in it without showing their turkey neck to the rest of the parking lot when their towel fell. Seriously.
Click to expand...
youd have to be a midget then to change in there. plus it only tilts.

two sunroofs makes sense. one sunroof in the back doesnt
 
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