I was all for picking up an Element due to the fact that I cannot stand having a ride that is on the most wanted list of most thieves.

I want something that I can go out with and not need to worry about it being there when I get back.

However, I've been reading and I've been hearing that people get annoyed with the way the back doors work. I understand that you have to open the front door in order for the back doors to open.

Coming from a two Civic hatchbacks, I am feeling that this shouldn't be a problem since both my rides are coupes and I've only ever known what it's like to let a passenger out the back by opening up my door and releasing the seat belt anyway.

Do you feel that if someone is coming from a coupe with two doors that they'll end up being annoyed by the door issue?

This is one of the major reasons for me looking into something else but I'm really set on an Element.

 

im really set on the element aswell the backdoor thing doesnt bother me that much.. because i myself coming from 3 coupes to a four door im used to getting out and putting the seat up to let people in the back..... the one and only thing i dont like about the element is the "four seat" style" i dont like the caption chairs in the back..... but with the sales and other **** going on you cant beat the price..... only other thing i might consider is a ridgeline....but im gunna have to get a hell of a deal to snag a new honda truck

 

The Element is awesome. Really, the rear doors aren't a huge deal. Sometimes a pain when you've got someone getting out of the rear, you've got to open your door. I just look at it like a two door that opens huge. It's a great beach, camping, hauling, slobbering dog ride. We just picked our up for the wife a few months ago and no regrets here...

 

Short answer - yes

We have some friends who have an Element - they love the room inside, etc - but there are three or four things we do not like and kept us from purchasing one

1. 4 seats - period - you cannot get that 3rd person in the back seat like most other vehicles.

2. the doors - if you try to drop a kid off at school or somewhere - and they usually sit in the back (airbags and other safety reasons) - you have to get out and open the fron door for them.

3. Sun/moon roof is in the rear - can't get to it from the front.

4. Gas mileage is OK, but not good for a vehicle that size (not much better than a Pilot)

My $.02

 

The back door thing was kind of an annoyance with the pre 07 models due to the fact that the seat belt was made into the door. No longer a problem with the 07-08s. The person in the front can actually stay strapped in and just open the front and back door right from their seat. That's about the only asspain I could have seen.
The E is a 4 seater. No way around that.

 

yeah i agree about the seatbelts.. i have a 07, so i've never seen the older ones, but i love the back door. there's no problems here. if you have small kids, or even just junk you throw in the back, its great.. but i could see 2 extra grown adults trying to get in and out being a problem.

i don't have 1 problem with the back doors. infact, with my small family, me +2, i usually leave 1 seat out, and haul the 2 dogs around too. so thats 5 of us.. dog parks every sunday!

 

I've got a 08 sc. I like mine. The rear doors are not used that often for me, and i love the cargo room. ITs like a pannel truck with the rear seats removed. or you can fold them up and fit 2 mountain bikes and gear in it. When i take my girlfriends kids or sisters kid in it i like how the doors work. car seats are easy to put in and out and anchors are right in the seats after popping out a cap. It basicly trapps them next to you while you open and close the doors because they open to make one giant opening. That way you dont have to worry about them running out in traffic or getting run over in a parking lot. with someone with A wheelchair it is super easy to transport between the chair and the seat.The front seats slide almost far enough up that the steering wheel touches the drivers seat back. and goes far enough back that one of my 400lb customers fits in it fine. The downside of an element is that there is no room for more than 4 people the seats split in the middle so you cant sit in the middle of the rear. But on the other hand 4 above 6 foot people can ride comfortably.I have the SC witch has 18 inch rims is lower etc. The overall performance is good and it corners far better than you would expect a giant toaster to.

 

I got used to the doors the minute I was set on buying it. I came from a 95 Accord V6. I love my Element, and glad I went this route...

 

bought mine today for my wife and we love it. we bought an 06' EX-P still under warranty with extended warranty from an individual owner 16,3 I thought it was a good deal. with all the extras, just want the SC wheels

yes all the vehicles are mine. all honda manufactured except the red one.....boosted honda


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cobra6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

2. the doors - if you try to drop a kid off at school or somewhere - and they usually sit in the back (airbags and other safety reasons) - you have to get out and open the fron door for them.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

im sorry but that just seems lazy to me, open the door or your kids.

 

I picked up a remainder '07 3 months ago, and already have 6k miles.

It can get a bit hairy in tight parking spaces (open the front door, open the back door, person from back crawls out and stands next to driver, closes back door, walks out, then person in front can get out)... but that's not a huge issue. Overall, it's worth it