Element owners...

[emily_in_nc]

Yep, I'm a former Subaru owner too...loved my 2001 Forester until it developed numerous problems in its fourth year of life. Began with the "check engine" light coming on over and over despite multiple fixes from the dealer. Ended with a shot transmission and estimate of $4K to replace it (Subaru dealers will not repair transmissions, only replace them). This in a 4 year old car!!! The Subaru dealer here was such a bunch of jerks, too, at one point my husband had to go down and yell at them to give me a loaner car because my car lived in their shop, for the most part, for the last few months of its sad and short life, and they never once offered me a loaner.

Finally I threw my hands up, traded the Sube in for an Element, and have never looked back! There is at least twice the cargo space (with the rear seats removed) in the Element - no more lying bikes down on top of each other or getting grease on the carpet, either!

I loved the environmental bent of the Subaru brand, but after my experience, I wouldn't take the chance on buying another one.

I sure do miss my little digital thermometer thingie showing the outside temp, though....Elements did not have them as an option, at least in the 2004 model.

Emily

[DrBee]

I've been out of town - so I'm finally getting to pipe in on this thread.

I, too have an Element (2004). We love it! Mr. Fish (hubby) is a woodturner/woodworker so we are constantly picking up logs from interesting trees from the side of the road.

It's great for hauling the dogs around and the kids! We have 2 young children and have taken the Element of numerous long (multi-day) road trips and it still looks (almost) as good as new. I love being able to wipe everything down and being able to sweep it out! I have not yet taken the hose to it, but I'm dying to try it!

I've also transported 2 bikes in it (w/o kids) with no problem at all! You can fill the thing pretty much endlessly. We say it has a black hole generator.

Once you get in one - you'll love it!

[DrBee]

Some advice when car shopping. Get an internet quote!!! It will save you hours of dealing with car salesmen. Once you have the quote - you just go in and buy it. It's painless. That's how I purchased my last 2 hondas.

[pooks]

We've had our E since 2003. There's an Element list on yahoo and the element owners club site (already mentioned) that have lots of info.

What I love most:

It represented the life I wanted to have but didn't!

I know that's crazy, but I'd been driving a leather interior Chrysler Cirrus (which I loved), black (which showed every spot but was so pretty when shiny, and I did keep it shiny). But one look at that Element commercial on television and I was hooked. I looked them up online, read about them, loved what I read. Hadn't seen any on the roads and then a Sunset Orange Pearl (the official name for "orange) passed me and I knew I HAD TO HAVE THAT.

I demanded that we go test drive them. My husband was doubtful, but he LOVED it. When I drove it, I couldn't believe how FUN it was to drive. "More fun than a food fight," is how I used to describe it.

It was great for our dogs, and I love not having carpet. So quick to wipe up anything from mud to spills. No, you can't hose it, but I just keep a small whisk broom in one of the side pockets. On the rare occasions I decide to clean the floor I whisk it out, then if I really want to go all the way, bring a big container of soapy water (just a little dish soap, not overly soapy) and wipe the floors. Then wipe them with clear water. Then finished. And this doesn't take long, believe me.

Okay, so we immediately took ours camping and it was great. We tent camp, and take all sorts of things with us, but it held it all. (We actually decided we like leaving the back seats in place for that, instead of having one big open area with stuff just piled and stacked.)



Turns into:



and:



I said we tent camp. I didn't say we rough it! LOL.

We don't camp nearly as often as I'd like, but now we've added biking to the agenda, and are LOVING it. (Our bikes are extra big so we have to pop the front tires off to fit them in the E, but we're the only people we know who do so I'm thinking it's because they're shaft drives and are just a little bigger than most, plus they're 27" tires.)

I'm wanting a canoe or kayak, next.

So for us, buying the E opened us up to the ability to live the kind of life we've always wanted to do but never got around to doing!

Mileage: Loaded down for camping and including mountain driving two weeks ago, we were getting 23-24 mpg on the road. In town we don't get that, but I'm heavy on the gas pedal and need to break myself of that habit. (I did say it was fun to drive, right? Well, that's what makes it fun. Zoooom!)

Would I love a vehicle with better mpg? YES. A hybrid E would be perfect. But when you consider that this is NOT an aerodynamic vehicle and we didn't buy it because of its mileage, and yet it gets better mileage than my old Cirrus, than my husband's Caravan, and than my friend's Odyssey? I can't complain.

My husband is ready to buy a new vehicle and is seriously considering getting himself an Element, too. THAT'S how much we love it.

But what I'd rather do is get a Prius. To me, that would be the perfect combination of vehicles. (He doesn't like small cars, thinks they're unsafe, so is not enthusiastic about the Prius, but I haven't given up yet.)

You'll love the Element. Just get behind the wheel and give it a test drive.

[pooks]

Some advice when car shopping. Get an internet quote!!! It will save you hours of dealing with car salesmen. Once you have the quote - you just go in and buy it. It's painless. That's how I purchased my last 2 hondas.

I took various bits of advice I'd read on the Internet and did the same, with a twist. On the day we were ready to buy -- I mean, seriously ready -- I emailed all the local Honda dealerships' internet sales depts. I said, "Tomorrow I am going to buy a Honda Element. I want Orange, 2WD, automatic. I don't want a lot of extras and don't want to pay for them. Please give me your best price, and if it's the best price I get, I'll be at your place tomorrow morning!"

NOTE: One thing I read is don't expect to get a good price when you're "just looking." Only if you're serious will they really bring out the good prices, so don't bother talking money until you're ready to spend it, and then you'll get a better deal because they won't have already dug their heels in on a higher price.

BTW -- the two things I'd do different are 1) get sidesteps -- not necessary for the front seats but the back seats are easier to get in with them, and 2) probably a rooftop rack, although a lot of people claim the aftermarket from Thule and Yakima are superior to the Honda racks, so I'm not sure about that.

Anyway, I sent that email on Thursday evening. I woke up Friday morning to find one response already waiting. A couple of other places responded, and they were higher than the first. When I emailed them back and told them that I'd already gotten a price of "XXXXX" they both said they couldn't beat it. But they also asked me, "Does that include ..." and "Be sure that they don't .... " In other words, they were coaching me against the competition. Very fun.

I heard back from some other places; they didn't have what I wanted or wanted too much money, and weren't as friendly.

As it turned out, the first price WAS the best offer we got, and we bought the E that afternoon!

[emily_in_nc]

Pooks ~

Love your Element pictures and your luxurious tent camping set-up! My husband and I would like to do something like this too. Where were you camping? It looks absolutely gorgeous!

Feel free to PM me with this answer since I'm kinda hijacking the thread here.

Thanks much!

Emily
Green Honda Element '04

[pooks]

Emily -- Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Our favorite place to camp! More pics here:

http://planetpooks.wordpress.com/200...in-home-again/

and

http://planetpooks.wordpress.com/200...ll-river-road/

and I may post more later.

One more thing about the Element. For some odd reason they don't have as high a towing capacity as many SUVs. I forget what it is, but only lightweight trailers, popup tent campers, etc.

When we were at RMNP another orange element rolled in pulling a small popup. They of course honked, waved, and we ended up visiting. (Element owners tend to be instant friends that way!) They had driven from Michigan and were getting 22 mpg on the highway with the trailer.

[emily_in_nc]

Pooks - thanks so much for the info! I totally missed your response because we were out of town for five days, and I got hopelessly behind in my TE threads.

Hubby and I have been dying to go to RMNP, and your pictures surely clinch that idea. It's simply gorgeous!

And just to keep this thread on topic, here's our Element in the process of being loaded for our Ohio trip (where I was last weekend):



Those are our Bike Fridays, on a homemade rack my husband made.

Thanks again!
Emily

[PinkBike]

I'm now seriously considering an Element but wondered about real-life gas mileage. What do y'all get city and highway?

[pooks]

Hwy -- we got 22 to almost 25 on our trip to the Rockies, usually using AC. I know people who claim to get better than that.

In town, I'm only getting 18-20 this summer, heavy duty AC time in Dallas. In winter, it's better. Again, I know a lot of people who claim to get better mileage.

Here's a great site to lurk or post and ask questions if you want more info:

http://elementownersclub.com/

Those are our Bike Fridays, on a homemade rack my husband made.

I love that rack.

[emily_in_nc]

I honestly never keep track of my MPG. I know it's not great compared to a hybrid or a smaller car, because Elements are rather tall and boxy.

Emily

[tygab]

Guess what I just got!!!

(Hint: big, boxy, and SHINY SILVER!) We found a 2006 that had been turned in with low mileage and went over today to the dealer with a price in mind. We got very close to that price and are happy with the outcome! I have a nearly new car!

I get to pick up on Wednesday (after getting required insurance, reg, etc taken care of)! It will be a busy start to the week!

Thanks to all who gave their input here. I'd made up my mind months ago but was just waiting 'til the stars lined up for it to be the right time. Guess that was today!

I am sure I will have more questions for you all as I get acquainted with the new baby!