I was wondering if anyone uses the Element for an everyday commuter car. I currently drive about 36 miles to work one way 5 days a week and am in the market for a new car. I went to the dealer to test drive an Si but they had already sold it before I got there to drive it. They let me drive an EX-L V6 accord which was awesome but the Element caught my eye...

It had a very roomy interior and seemed like I could use it for more of a utility use than a leather equipped Accord.

My only concern is the 4-cylinder engine. I owned two 4-cylinders before, a dodge neon and a Saturn which both died on me. I don't think that I was a hard driver but rather just the receipient of lemons. The saturn was used anyway and rusting through. The neon was 'new' but was known to have head gasket and camshaft problems according to others that have owned that 2000 year. I guess I'm 4 cylinder gun-shy. I definately could appreciate the good gas mileage, the ground clearance, and the AWD or is it 4WD(?) in the winter up here in the northeast.

I would appreciate your comments and driving experiences with the element. Since the announcement of the SC Element my interest was even more peaked.

Oh! I did have another question about the flooring. I noticed that it 'squishes' pretty nicely but does it tear easily? It was on the EX model and it concerned me if I dragged something across it if it would tear easily.

Thanks in advance, you guys on this forum are by far the most helpful!

 

hey, whats up.

My mom just bought a 2006 silver on silver Element, 4WD EX-P.

Its really nice. Because she also drives a 99 V6 accord, this car is our family's "spare" car. I drive it once and a while. Its really nice and the 2.4L 156HP engine is decently peppy for a 4banger.

the 4WD is Honda's Realtime which, like the CRV, puts power to the rear wheels when the front is slipping. Honestly, I wanted her to get the front wheel drive EX, because of maybe getting a bit better gas milage, but we got a great deal on the EX-P. I think the MPG difference is minimal.

It drives like an accord, but just with a high ground clearance. I don't like SUVs whatsoever, but the element is a great compromise. I drive a lowered 92 Civic hatch, so i'd rather drive my car over the element anyday, but the element will be nice during winter here in chicago.

When elements first came out, they had issues with stress cracks in the front windshield. and now supposedly honda fixed that issue, but people still report getting cracks easily by rocks, which can happen to any car, but the element has a steep windshield (seems like its ~75-80 degrees!)

sorry for the long *** post. so in summary, I love the element, i'd want it as a second car, because I'd miss the sporty lowered driving feel of my civic, or when i purchase an s2k. but you might be okay with it since you had a saturn and stuff. good luck.

 

oh, about the floor, i dont think you should worry too much about it tearing. we put a boxed freezer in the back, with the seats folded up, and it did scuff the ground up, but i think its pretty sturdy.

you can always get some nice Honda element floor mats.

 

i could under stand how you could be gun shy about 4 cyclinders "gm, dodge" my firt car wasw a chevy cavilear that died after i had it 6 month but i have a 78 honda accord and it still runs strong and it gets about 45 mpg in short honda =god domestics

 

Well I have had mine now for 3 years and I have hauled just about everything around with mine and made a TON of road trips and my little kristin is doing just fine. 56k on the odo never tore the floor, never had a cracked windshield, and it was my DD when I was driving 27mi one way to work. Yeah she is only a 4 cylinder and thats great with me cause why the hell do i need a 430 horse v8 to haul around my dog and waverunner when the E does just fine. Mine is a 5 speed however and with its extremely short gearing she has adequate power for passing on the highway even in 5th. I have never had any problems except the catch for the suicide doors being outta wack and making noise but they fixed it even out of warranty. I hope that this helps to out a bit, o and make sure that you get the all weather floor mats, they will save the regular floor and help keep it looking great.

 

Thanks for the information... I was hoping to purchase late winter, early spring but then I realized that they are coming out with a redesign for 2008. I'm not sure if I can hold out that long but as long as my current Buick keeps running I can only wait and see. I'm anxious because a lot of magazines report that the 08' element will have increased horsepower as well as a 'redesign', hopefully they won't retract too much from what the Element *is*.

 

Honda 4 cyl motors are great. Take care of them, and they'll take care of you. I have had domestics before as well, and won't go back. No problem with Honda 4 cyl though. In most cases the car will fall apart before the motor does. Just do the maintenance, and you should be good.

GL with your decision.

 

If you're really concerned about gas mileage, get the 5 speed. There have been a few guys recently that have made it a 6 speed w/ factory Honda/Acura parts for about $200 in parts.

One guy has had it for about 2500 miles now and his avg MPG went from the EPA sticker estimate of 22/25 to about 31-32 in a mixed environment.

It's a great little mod if you're willing/able to open the trans case and do some hard work.

The only drawback that has currently arisen w/ it is the lack of a reverse lockout, so if you miss a gear, you can shift into R accidentally...although it is still quite hard to do since the R gear is by itself all the way to the right and down.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jason &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you're really concerned about gas mileage, get the 5 speed. There have been a few guys recently that have made it a 6 speed w/ factory Honda/Acura parts for about $200 in parts.

One guy has had it for about 2500 miles now and his avg MPG went from the EPA sticker estimate of 22/25 to about 31-32 in a mixed environment.

It's a great little mod if you're willing/able to open the trans case and do some hard work.

The only drawback that has currently arisen w/ it is the lack of a reverse lockout, so if you miss a gear, you can shift into R accidentally...although it is still quite hard to do since the R gear is by itself all the way to the right and down.</TD></TR></TABLE>

do you have any more info on how to do this, I have the 5 speed and I average 26,27 mpg artound town, and on my last trip to parris island i averaged 29+ mpg but wouldnt mind the 6th gear

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1dumbassscreenname &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you have any more info on how to do this, I have the 5 speed and I average 26,27 mpg artound town, and on my last trip to parris island i averaged 29+ mpg but wouldnt mind the 6th gear</TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely.

Parts list is in this thread, as well as his experiences doing the install http://www.elementownersclub.c...25635

Here is the above listed user's results in MPG increases
http://www.elementownersclub.c...25730

Another users experience, using info from 1st user's install
http://www.elementownersclub.c...26067

 

huh, I should be spending more time on the EOC, i have been a mamber for a couple of years but stopped going cause there was never anything technical at all but this makes me really happy!! I cannot wait to give this a try.

 

well, I have an AT, but this has got to be the single best mod for the Element yet.

30+ MPG from a rated 24 (MT) by the EPA is a big deal...and the 31-32 he got was a mixed environment...I'm sure it's up there in the 35-37 range strictly highway.