Honda Element question

[IFjane]

I am looking at a 2006 Honda Element, 15,300 miles, 4WD, perfect (the best I can tell) condition. Looks brand new. For those of you who had a similar model, what kind of gas mileage can I expect? I know what the EPA says, but I want "real world" mileage, not something done in a lab setting.

Also, please tell me any other pros & cons that I may not know about (I've read other threads and you ALL seem to love your Elements - I know about the blind spots caused by the seats when they are folded.....anything else?)

Thank you!

[Blueberry]

I just bought a pre-owned 05 with 30k miles a few weeks ago. Mine is a 5 speed with 4wd - not sure whether that would make a difference or not (I think the newer ones are actually rated better in the auto).

So far - I love it!! No regrets. You really can roll a bike in - we're still working on the optimum bike hauling method (we're looking at building an internal rack for it).

Mileage has averaged between 21 and 22 with a mix of driving in town and on the highway (commute). Where I have more highway miles on a tank, I suspect it's closer to 23 (haven't measured with just highway, but where I have more highway commuting and less in town, I do see an improvement).

Only drawback - there are more blind spots than average (even with the seats not folded) - you learn to use mirrors very quickly.

Good luck, and enjoy if you get it:)

CA

[IFjane]

Thank you CA. I probably will get it - I fell in love from the moment I sat in it. Took it on a test drive around town & was even more in love. I just think it will fit my needs completely & will be a good car to have. Stay tuned! :)

[Tuckervill]

On my drive from Arkansas to Oregon my average MPG was 21, which is pretty consistent with my regular driving. I occasionally get tanks that get 23, 24. Where the gas is better, I get better mileage.

The blind spots on the pillars between the windshield and front doors is pretty wide, too. I wouldn't get one that wasn't AWD, considering the kayaking and camping I do. The moon roof is virtually useless in my climate, but in some places it would be heavenly. It comes with the AWD.

I can't really say anything else bad about my E, but I did find out that the cup holder dealy lifts off the emergency brake handle pretty easily. I found out the hard way when my driver's license slid into the e-brake slot just as I was getting out at the airport!

Karen

[Blueberry]

IF Jane - That's exactly how I felt! Just like it was meant to be my car:D :D

Karen- Good to know about the cup holder. I had the feeling it wasn't exactly attached to the floor, but wasn't sure whether it would come up.... Will come in handy the first time I inadvertently spill something down there....

CA

[tygab]

another E owner. get avg of 23 to 24 mpg for both city and highway driving.

Got an 06 used as well in Jan. Love it. Extremely functional for what I like to do.

The seats are out and I put in a liner and it has hauled yaks on top and bikes and camping gear for 2 inside with room to spare. They appeared to be quite popular among the Tri crowd at IMLP too... can't imagine why.

Much much info on elementownersclub.com.

Agree more blind spots but you learn to compensate fast.

[jeannierides]

JANE!! What color is it??? I have been considering an Element even before my accident... when I later found out that it had the side curtain airbags standard! Once I'm back at work and actually am drawing a check :rolleyes: that's what I want!!
Hoping that you're going to get it in time to drive in down to Richmond this week!:D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ours is a 2005 orange one. We LOVE it! You DO get used to the blind spots very quickly, and I don't notice it much anymore.
We leave the back seats out all the time unless we NEED one in (hardly ever).
We haul our 2 road bikes inside it.
Also, with the back seats out, and if you shove the front seats forward all the way, you then have a 6'2" floor in the back. We bring a rolled up latex foam 4" thick mattress and sleep back there when we camp- comfy! Nice to have the skylight cracked open for ventilation while you sleep. We made a screen cloth to lay over it, with magnets on the edges, so mosquitoes don't get in.
We actually bought the Element for minimalist camping- it's the smallest car we can sleep in comfortably.

The one mildly annoying thing is having to open the front doors in order to open the back doors. Makes it odd for rear passengers (which we don't have very often). But it's also a bit harder to sneak in and out the back if you're sleeping in it, to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It IS possible to get in and out with a bit of gymnastics.

[IFjane]

JANE!! What color is it??? I have been considering an Element even before my accident... when I later found out that it had the side curtain airbags standard! Once I'm back at work and actually am drawing a check :rolleyes: that's what I want!!
Hoping that you're going to get it in time to drive in down to Richmond this week!:D

Hi Jeannie! It's burgundy. I'd rather have a silver one because of living on a mile-long dirt road - that burgundy is gonna get dusty fast....but I'll deal with it. :) (See you Friday :D )

[susan.wells]

For those of you who had a similar model, what kind of gas mileage can I expect?

I have a 2007 4WD AT EX Kiwi :D with about 15,000 miles on it. I average ~25 MPG combined driving. Love it and love my bicycle in the back!

Susan

[Tuckervill]

Tango Red Pearl? That's a 2007 color, and is what mine is. The 2006 red was called Rallye Red, and is not as wine colored as the Tango Red Pearl. Maybe your '06 is a mid-year model and got the darker red.

I love red cars. :)

Karen

[Zen]

I have that same pillar blind spot on the Wrangler but I love my jeep.
The new extended cab version would be nice and it gets about the same mileage. I don't know how they compare on price, though.

Watch out for those Elements. There are little talking crabs in there that say
"I peench":D

[IFjane]

I bought the Element yesterday!!! I love it so far - have a ride this afternoon so once I get home from the office I have to throw the bike in and see how she fits. :D

Zen - I see you've moved from Fredneck to Limbo - hope the move wasn't too stressful! :D :cool:

[Zen]

Zen - I see you've moved from Fredneck to Limbo - hope the move wasn't too stressful! :D :cool:

It's kind of floaty here in Limbo.
But I am stressed, Jerry.

I have Element Envy.
Camping and dogs and bikes and lumber...

[IFjane]

Camping and dogs and bikes and lumber...

"I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok
I sleep all night and I work all day!"

[Trek420]

"I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok
I sleep all night and I work all day!"

I work all night and I sleep all day
I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wildflowers.... :)

[chickwhorips]

I bought the Element yesterday!!! I love it so far - have a ride this afternoon so once I get home from the office I have to throw the bike in and see how she fits. :D

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the club!

[Zen]

I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.

Catchy tune:p

[Meg McKilty]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the club!

No dude, the real club is the Wrangler Club. I recently bought one (I have been pning for a Jeep for the better part of a decade, kid you not) and did you know Jeep Wrangler owners wave at one another? It's like a secret bretherenhood of the CJ7's...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sorry Meg, but Element owners have their own "secret handshake club" too. :rolleyes:
We LOVE our Elements!!!!!!! :p :p

[Meg McKilty]

Sorry Meg, but Element owners have their own "secret handshake club" too. :rolleyes:
We LOVE our Elements!!!!!!! :p :p

Whatever, Lisa. Our club..is..better than..your club. Take that.

[Zen]

did you know Jeep Wrangler owners wave at one another? It's like a secret bretherenhood of the CJ7's...

When I first got my jeep I didn't know why the hell all those people were waving at me. Did I underestimate my good looks?:p

I wanted a jeep since I was 14 years old, it only took me 26 years to get one.

[sundial]

IFjane, how do you like your Element? I have a 4WD and it used to average about 24 mpg until I added a Thule M.O.A.B. on the roof and now it averages maybe 21 mpg. :(

Glad you got an E. I have really appreciated the cargo space to haul the bikes around. I just added a U Haul trailer hitch and bought a Thule bike rack. Can't wait to see a pic of your bike and E. :) Congratulations on your new car!

[jeannierides]

Sorry Meg, but Element owners have their own "secret handshake club" too. :rolleyes:
We LOVE our Elements!!!!!!! :p :p

Awwww... I wanna join, I wanna join... maybe later, honey...:p

[jeannierides]

I work all night and I sleep all day
I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wildflowers.... :)

Hunh??

[Zen]

Here you go, Jeannie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lumberjack_Song_(Monty_Python)

[Starfish]

I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.

Catchy tune:p

O Man...that takes me back! Haven't heard that for years! :p

[Trek420]

IFjane, how do you like your Element? I have a 4WD and it used to average about 24 mpg until I added a Thule M.O.A.B. on the roof and now it averages maybe 21 mpg. :(

I'm enjoying being blissfully car payment free. Don't tell my Alero but I'm looking at the Honda Fit. I checked the specs and it's remarkably roomy. With the seats down the teeny tiny car is pretty close to the Element :eek:

Sure, I can't roll bikes in or stand up in the back and dance ;) but plenty of room for the Costco run and/or doggie.

Price is far less than the E, side curtain airbags and MPG 38/33 mpg.

[jeannierides]

I'm enjoying being blissfully car payment free.
Price is far less than the E, side curtain airbags and MPG 38/33 mpg.

I'm with you on the payment free aspect of things. I am that way as well - after 5 years!:eek: But I'm not feeling so safe in my car any more after my accident.
I'm impressed that the teeny little car has all the bells and whistles of a really safe car! I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded!:rolleyes: The side curtain airbags are an absolute must for me!!
GO Honda! :D I've also checked into the CRV, but the airbags don't seem to be an option! What??:eek: Anyway, all I've done so far is to check online. I haven't had the courage to go to a car dealership yet!:o

[Blueberry]

I *wanted* to like the Fit - really, I did. It was just too small for me - the seats weren't comfortable for my *admittedly well padded* rear end.

The CRV was a non-option for me because of the lack of a manual option. I *really* like my 5 speed :p :p

[divingbiker]

I just added a U Haul trailer hitch and bought a Thule bike rack.

May I ask how much you paid to have a hitch installed at U Haul? I've been eyeing this (http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=917) Thule rack ever since Regina hauled our MTBs a few weeks ago, but I'm having trouble justifying the cost of installing a hitch on an 8 year old car. Thanks!

[IFjane]

IFjane, how do you like your Element? I have a 4WD and it used to average about 24 mpg until I added a Thule M.O.A.B. on the roof and now it averages maybe 21 mpg. :(

Glad you got an E. I have really appreciated the cargo space to haul the bikes around. I just added a U Haul trailer hitch and bought a Thule bike rack. Can't wait to see a pic of your bike and E. :) Congratulations on your new car!

sundial - I LOVE IT!!! I first took it on a test drive last Friday. I walked back into the dealership & without saying a word, the owner looked at me & said, "I know - you're in love." :D :D And I was....and am.

So far I haven't had to put gas in it - BIG plus 'cause I would have had to fill my truck tank by now. SO and I went on the group ride yesterday & hadn't had time to figure out how we wanted to put the bikes in, so I flipped up one of the seats & both bikes slid in just perfect! (Have I said I love it? :) )

[sundial]

IFJane, I hang both seats up and put both bikes in and turn both wheels in so that it doesn't roll. We have a cyclist friend that joins us for rides and we bought the 4 bike rack so that we can haul other bicycles around to the destinations.

The E is really cyclist friendly. :D

[sundial]

May I ask how much you paid to have a hitch installed at U Haul? I've been eyeing this (http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=917) Thule rack ever since Regina hauled our MTBs a few weeks ago, but I'm having trouble justifying the cost of installing a hitch on an 8 year old car. Thanks!

Divingbiker, I paid $259.42 for a Class II hitch and it comes with a lifetime warranty. Also, should you trade your vehicle in, U Haul will mount the hitch free of charge. Installing just the hitch does not take long, but if you have it wired for a trailer, it will take them about 3 1/2 hours or so. :eek: Usually it takes 45--90 minutes to install the hitch.

I have found that it is really handy to have this hitch and we put one on every vehicle except for the sedans.

The Honda dealer actually encouraged me to get a U Haul hitch over the Honda hitch because U Haul had a better design. :p

I really like the Thule rack and it's so much easier to load the bikes this way.

[divingbiker]

Divingbiker, I paid $259.42 for a Class II hitch and it comes with a lifetime warranty. Also, should you trade your vehicle in, U Haul will mount the hitch free of charge. Installing just the hitch does not take long, but if you have it wired for a trailer, it will take them about 3 1/2 hours or so. :eek: Usually it takes 45--90 minutes to install the hitch.

I have found that it is really handy to have this hitch and we put one on every vehicle except for the sedans.

The Honda dealer actually encouraged me to get a U Haul hitch over the Honda hitch because U Haul had a better design. :p

I really like the Thule rack and it's so much easier to load the bikes this way.

Hmmm...I might have to do this. Thanks for the info!

[sundial]

Once you have a hitch, you'll wonder why you didn't have one earlier. :)

[Tuckervill]

Installing the Honda hitch requires removing the rear seats! :eek::eek:

I usually use etrailer.com and my hubby puts them on--then I don't have to pay for installation. :) As long as there is no drilling involved, he doesn't mind doing it.

Karen

[sundial]

I don't think U Haul had to work around the seats to mount the hitch--unless you need it wired for the harness (lights for trailer).

I went to Handa Accessories and printed out the step by step guide to installing a trailer hitch just in case the mechanic didn't know where the prewired stuff was.

www.handa-accessories.com

[Tuckervill]

Yeah, it's the hitch made by Honda that requires removal of the rear seats. The ones I've looked on etrailer don't.

It's something I should take care of soon.

Karen

[TexanCzexican]

GO Honda! :D I've also checked into the CRV, but the airbags don't seem to be an option! What??:eek: Anyway, all I've done so far is to check online. I haven't had the courage to go to a car dealership yet!:o

I think airbags aren't an option for the CRV because they come standard with the vehicle. I have an 04 CRV and it has front & side air bags. And he is paid off in less than a year (YIPEE). The bikes fit well in it, too.

[jeannierides]

I think airbags aren't an option for the CRV because they come standard with the vehicle. I have an 04 CRV and it has front & side air bags. And he is paid off in less than a year (YIPEE). The bikes fit well in it, too.

Isn't there a difference between the side airbags and the side curtain airbags that are standard on the Element? Maybe I'm just confused.:rolleyes:

Ok, my bad. I just checked and the new CRV does come standard with the side curtain airbags.:o

[IFjane]

Maybe I'm just confused.:rolleyes:

No comment! :D :eek:

Jeannie - just go out and buy and Element - you won't be disappointed. And your as-yet-unnamed pink & green bike will love it, too. :)

[Starfish]

While we're on Elements...another question.

Do any of you feel that the limited clearance keeps you from roads you would otherwise like to travel...like you might if you had a higher-clearance truck?

Anyone out there go from camping and tame off-roading in a pickup with canopy, to the Element? Comments?

I think I really want an Element for all that if offers...hauling the bike in the back, sleeping inside with access to ignition, etc, and better security.

But, I worry a little about wanting to go on roads that are a little more rutted or rough...not wild...just tame off-roading toward better a little more remote campsites, etc.

[Tuckervill]

I took mine on the Buffalo National River on the gravel bank (deep, always shifting, hard to walk on gravel). The AWD kicked in nicely and did its job.

I even pulled my husband's F150 out of the gravel. I told him not to drive down there without 4WD!

Overall I'm very pleased with its performance, and I wouldn't hesitate to drive down almost any road. But, do understand that I live in a place where I have a choice whether to drive down a road or not. I don't have to worry about deep snow ruts or anything like that.

Karen

[jeannierides]

No comment! :D :eek:

Jeannie - just go out and buy and Element - you won't be disappointed. And your as-yet-unnamed pink & green bike will love it, too. :)

HaHa Jane!! That really is the plan, but I have to wait til I'm back at work. :(