Seeking Element Opinions from Owners

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying an Element (LX 2wd) for around town driving and
taking the kids to school. What are the pros and cons you've experienced?
I'm a big Honda fan and have bought two CR-Vs in the past. My wife has the
2004 CR-V and I would be driving the Element. To be honest, I don't like the
styling of the Element's exterior and seating for only 4 instead of 5. But,
at least they added 1 or 2 different colors for 2005. My interest is that
it's inexpensive, provides a roomy interior for me and the kids. I won't be
driving it except for around town (Dallas, Texas) and it get OK gas mileage.
From my experience with Honda's I believe it will be a solid, long lasting
and trouble free car. Honda's have exceptional resale value, though I'm not
sure this will apply to the Element only due to the body styling.
What have you Element owners experienced with yours? What kind of gas
mileage are you getting? How was the handling? How do you like the ride in
city traffic? How is the road noise? If you had an Element and sold it, what
was the reason and did it have a good resale value? Lastly, did you feel you
were driving in a well protected car against a collision?

Thanks in advance!

BV

 

taking the kids to school. What are the pros and cons you've experienced?

The only downside I've found so far is it's hard to see the speedometer
from my height and with the steering wheel adjusted for comfort (to its
highest position).

My wife and I slept in ours over the weekend - popped out the two back
seats and left them at home, put a twin-size air-mattress in the back,
covered it with a feather-bed and were out like the proverbial light.

Um.

Mileage is in the low-to-mid-twenties, as advertised (and what I was
getting with the sedan I just traded in after eight years, so I've no
complaints). Handling is fine, offroad or at highway speed. The ride is
better than I thought it would be based on some negative comments I read
(and have now discounted given my personal experience).

No road noise I've noticed, but then I'm on the inside of the vehicle.

I've no concerns about resale; I'm having fun with it right now. I feel
safe enough in a collision, as much as in any car.

 

Love our Element for the two of us.

A little inconvenient for backseat passengers since the front door must be
open so the back can open. doesn't seem like much but if I had backseat
passengers all the time, that could be a pain.

That said we love this car.

 

One drawback you might not have noticed is that the Element has a max
cargo capacity of 675 lbs (including passangers!). Can't put too much
cargo inside, which (on the surface) is one of it's big selling points.