Honda Element

dstranathandstranathan
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Have you seen this new mini-SUV? I am freakin' out! I may have to sell my Jetta and get one! They rock!



<a href="http://www.honda.com"; target="_blank">www.honda.com</a>



I like the silver one or the black one.



They even have an iPod in the ad! She plugs it into the dash?



I'm not even a "car guy" and I am in love!
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 94
    g4dudeg4dude Posts: 1,016member
    This is the ugliest looking car ever. Isn't it true that the rear doors can't even open unless the front doors are open? Anyway, if there was an ugly car scale from 0 to 10, the Element would be an 11
  • Reply 2 of 94
    i-bent-my-wookiei-bent-my-wookie Posts: 326member
    [quote]Originally posted by G4Dude:

    <strong>This is the ugliest looking car ever. Isn't it true that the rear doors can't even open unless the front doors are open? Anyway, if there was an ugly car scale from 0 to 10, the Element would be an 11</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Correction, <a href="http://www.pontiac.com/aztek/index.jsp?source=hmlnav"; target="_blank">this</a> is the ugliest car ever!



    they look a hundred times worse in person, too! What were they thinking?
  • Reply 3 of 94
    drewpropsdrewprops Posts: 2,321member
    Yeah, this is one of the cars I've been looking at for the last two months. I'm split between the Element, the Jetta (possibly the Jetta Wagon) and the Mini Cooper. I would like the comfort of the Jetta or the Mini, but am intrigued by the space of the Honda.



    My current car is a Honda that I bought new back in '93 and it's humming along just fine, which is a big nod to the Element. Unfortunately, the Element doesn't look to have a big COMFORT factor, which is going to be important to me for my next vehicle.



    I'm going to have to do some actual driving comparisons to help toward making my final decision. Some other important things to consider:



    1. How much STUFF do you usually have in your car?

    2. How much does the car cost to insure?

    3. What's the fuel consumption of the car?



    I've already started a thread over in the Digital Hub forum about cars that have built-in MP3 jacks. The mini coop also touts this feature, but any stereo that has aux. inputs can be made to work with an MP3 player so I hope that's not your only reason for liking the Element (I know, it's not).





    .



    [ 03-04-2003: Message edited by: drewprops ]</p>
  • Reply 4 of 94
    g4dudeg4dude Posts: 1,016member
    drewprops, get the MINI Cooper. I've driven the regular and the 'S' and these cars are the best value out there, no exceptions. Buy one and you won't regret it.
  • Reply 5 of 94
    _ alliance __ alliance _ Posts: 2,070member
    the element kicks ass. aside from its look, it has practicality beat. add that to honda's second to none quality and performance reputation and we found a winner.
  • Reply 6 of 94
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    My wife wants a mini if she gets this new job. Forget the fact that we don't need two cars ... and two payments <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
  • Reply 7 of 94
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Oh BTW the element is ****ing ugly.
  • Reply 8 of 94
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    Element, ugly. Mini, beeyootiful. Car and Driver has the Mini Cooper S soundly defeating every car except the top end Porsche 911 GT2 in its slalom tests.



    [ 03-05-2003: Message edited by: Eugene ]</p>
  • Reply 9 of 94
    _ alliance __ alliance _ Posts: 2,070member
    [quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

    <strong>Element, ugly. Mini, beeyootiful. Car and Driver has the Mini Cooper S soundly defeating every car except the top end Porsche 911 GT2 in its slalom tests.



    [ 03-05-2003: Message edited by: Eugene ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    so it's as fast as a miata, and can turn better than it too???? wow, amazing... <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 10 of 94
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    [quote]Originally posted by _ alliance _:

    <strong>



    so it's as fast as a miata, and can turn better than it too???? wow, amazing... <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Mock it all you want, but 163 HP and 155 lb-ft in a 2500 pound car is plenty of power. I'm perfectly fine with its electronically limited 136 MPH too.



    I test drove one (a straight Mini Cooper, not even an S) last December in the rain. It was the most fun I've had driving ever. The salesperson drove us all the way up to Skyline Blvd. and threw the car around like he was karting.
  • Reply 11 of 94
    drewpropsdrewprops Posts: 2,321member
    The Element isn't meant to be pretty, it's a service vehicle. It has that sublime appeal that guys get when we stand around looking at earth movers or funky special-purpose vehicles. It looks like something from a sci-fi movie.



    I'm quite charmed by the difference it has in comparison to the same-old-same-old that's happening in sport-ute territory these days. The Element wins out over the CRV because it doesn't have a damned swing-out door in the back. Whoever thought that THAT was a good idea? I'll be hornswaggled if I want to keep stepping around a swing-out door when I'm loading and unloading a truck.



    The flexibility of the interior space is intriguing, and yes perhaps a little gimmicky. I need to see it in person, right now I only have a brochure.



    For sure the Element is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of ride. For me the ugliest thing on the road is the PT Cruiser. Gawd what a load of ugly on wheels. To those who think it looks "retro" my answer is NO it doesn't. It might have started out as an evocative reference to another age, but then it went all psycho and weird.



    So I understand when somebody doesn't like a car/truck.



    And the Mini is indeed a sweet little ride. A micro Beemer if ever there was one. But as much as I live out of my car NOW I would have to change my ways BIGTIME if I were to get that car...
  • Reply 12 of 94
    _ alliance __ alliance _ Posts: 2,070member
    [quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

    <strong>



    Mock it all you want, but 163 HP and 155 lb-ft in a 2500 pound car is plenty of power. I'm perfectly fine with its electronically limited 136 MPH too.



    I test drove one (a straight Mini Cooper, not even an S) last December in the rain. It was the most fun I've had driving ever. The salesperson drove us all the way up to Skyline Blvd. and threw the car around like he was karting.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    bah, i never saw the appeal of it...

    i sat it in it at the last auto show and wasnt impressed. the performance is limited by that pathetic engine, but at least it can manuever. or...just get a go-cart...
  • Reply 13 of 94
    johnnysnotjohnnysnot Posts: 16member
    An S.U.V. with an in-line 4 cylinder and 160 horses? You've got to be kidding me. My wife's '02 Hyundai Sonnata has more balls than that riced-out ice cream truck.



    Thanks, I'll pass. if I want a sport utility I'll stick with a Jeep or a 4-Runner. At least they'll get me over the mountain.
  • Reply 14 of 94
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    Is there any tranverse I4 AWD drive-train that could fit into the mini? I know the trannies are out there, this would be the perfect car to build a rally car with, something with the all road performance of a Soob or Lancer but not stupid looking. Mebbe 10K USD over the price of a cooper S and in limited numbers?



    Though for real life 163HP is fine in a mini, actually, but if they build an AWD version, it will need a little more poke. I think the mini could be more fun with a 1.8-2L revv happy Honda engine.



    It's good as it is, I've driven one. But I want something to attack the gravel backroads with. Come on BMVay, gimme a makkinen killing mini!
  • Reply 15 of 94
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    [quote]Originally posted by drewprops:

    <strong>The Element isn't meant to be pretty, it's a service vehicle.

    ...</strong><hr></blockquote>





    <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" /> way The Hummer can get away with that but no Honda can.
  • Reply 16 of 94
    dstranathandstranathan Posts: 1,717member
    Wow, the biggest disscussion I have started here at AI thus far is a CAR post???



    Who woulda thunk it?



    Anyway, I DO like the Element.



    I have a Jetta. A pal of mine has the MINI Cooper (it rocks). I also have a friend with a XTerra, which I also love.
  • Reply 17 of 94
    burningwheelburningwheel Posts: 1,827member
    the good thing about the element is that it gets really good gas mileage. something like 21 city, 24 highway



    my friend bought one, i kinda like, it's unique looking , unlike all the other SUV, seen one, seen 'em all BORING!



    the people who buy the element aren't sheep, like most americans
  • Reply 18 of 94
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    <a href="http://www.fueleconomy.gov"; target="_blank">Fuel Economy</a>
  • Reply 19 of 94
    artman @_@artman @_@ Posts: 2,546member
    [quote]Originally posted by _ alliance _:

    <strong>the element kicks ass. aside from its look, it has practicality beat. add that to honda's second to none quality and performance reputation and we found a winner.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You sound like a car dealer...The Element = BOXEY



    Destroy all SUVS, Jesus wouldn't drive one. So why should you! <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />
  • Reply 20 of 94
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    21/24 for a small car with a 4 cylinder is pathetically bad, even for AWD. Wow, a Corvette gets better mileage, that's just embarrassing.
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