The Element is NICE!

Just got to drive my wife's new 2005 Element. It's spacious, quiet,
solid-feeling, nicely laid out, good visibility, responsive steering,
peppy engine, good radio (satellite ready), smooth cruise control, lots
of handy features. Once you get used to its odd looks and design it's a
great car, and a great buy at the price.

 

seemed slow when i test drove one. do you have a stick? one i tried was
an auto.

 

It's an automatic. To be honest, I'm a conservative driver -- speed
and/or acceleration just aren't major factors for me. But the Element
certainly seemed peppy enough for any reasonable uses, in town or
freeway -- "more than able to get out of it's own way," as one saying
goes -- and just plain very nicely done in lots of other respects.

(Comparison autos in my case are Pontiac Montana minivan and PT Cruiser,
both of which I also like.)

 

of handy features. Once you get used to its odd looks and design it's a

I agree. My biggest beef is the visibility of the speedometer - the
steering wheel tends to get in the way and needs adjusting for city
versus highway driving. That's a minor problem, though, compared to the
multifunction bliss I've enjoyed in mine since last year.

 

Most of the Element drivers I see on the road tend to be younger than me.

Signed,

Old fogey Accord driver who was waiting for a Honda pickup truck

 

I drive an auto, and it did seem a little slow until two things happened:

first, the engine seems to perform better and get better mileage one
broken in a bit

and

two, I looked at the speedometer and not my perception of speed and saw
how fast it went from zero to sixty. I think the seat and car view make
it seem slower than it really is....

AL

 

It's a very nice and useful car for me. I love it.
I am 43, the car is what I really dreamed.
I tow a fold camp max weight admits (1500), with 2 adults + luggage
and 2 bicycles, the consume did not exceed 10 l / 100 km on highway on
mountain area (Vermont). Pretty impressed...

Chris

 

If you're putting that much in your Element, you probably should have
gotten something with a frame. The Element payload is only 685lbs
(read as: you can't put four full grown adults in the Element)

 

I rode in one about two weeks ago for a couple days. It was a M/T. I
liked the small stuff, like ruberized flooring, and the rear stadium
seating. However it wasn't a very smooth ride, very boxy/bouncy. I did
not feel very safe riding in it.

I'm glad you are happy with it! I didn't know it had such a small
payload capacity either.

-Jamie

 

I just got an 04 with the side airbag option. It really loosens up after
the first 250 miles and really wants to run. Check out
http://www.elementownersclub.com/

 

Bought an '04 EX back in October and love it. Good sound system - it's
like driving around in a speakerbox. Although it does seem that most
Element owners are young good looking females who can barely see over
the steering wheel, was surprised to learn that that average age of
buyers is 43. I'm an old fogey at 49, doing my part to raise the
average.
Checked out many other vehicles in that price range and am pretty
convinced that the Element is the most reliable in that class, and a
great utility vehicle for light work.
Careful when tunes are up loud and cruising on the freeway - I got a
criminal speeding ticket for going 90 ... sneaky fast ...

 

I think I did a mistake with 1500...
My point was I used the maximum towing admiss and still good millage.

Chris

 

Update: yesterday we bought a new bike, already assembled, and it took
all of thirty seconds to make the back of the Element accept it.

On the way home we saw a full-size TRON arcade-game case on the side of
the road by a computer store that was getting rid of it. I'd been
wanting such a thing for years to MAME with. We dropped the bike off,
went back, and it fit fine between the two raised rear seats.

I couldn't have done that in my Saturn or my wife's Beetle.

 

March 1, 2005 and it's called the Ridgeline. I don't particularly like
pickups, but I'm impressed. My son says that he's not since it only has a
5' bed. But with the two way tail gate capable of holding a 300 lb. static
load, I think that's a moot point.

 

Done some reading and so far the Ridgeline doesn't do it for me. It looks
like it will be something that Honda buyers will snap up though, especially
since Honda won't be making too many of the 2005 model year. The LATimes
had a positive review and called it a blue state truck but not really
lookcing for a chick (not referring to chic) truck. Leaning more towards
the Tacoma and Colorado. Too bad. I've driven Hondas for more than 20
years already.

 

i think youll like the taco. the colorado seems to be a weak imitation.

 

As posted previously in this thread, good info and owner feedback on
the Honda Element at: www.elementownersclub.com

And news, reviews and info about the new Honda Ridgeline at:
www.ridgelineownersclub.com

Take care!