NPOCP: 2008 Honda Element for $6k (Plus driving impressions).

"Nymphicus Hollandicus" (nymhicus-hollandicus)
08/05/2015 at 17:36 • Filed to: Car search, Manual, NPOCP

In my never-ending manual car search (that must be done within the next two weeks or so), I have found a decent Black (same color as the Pilot) Honda Element for $6k but here’s the catch, it has 155k on it. It doesn’t look too bad, and there’s a tiny bit of rust underneath (looks typical) and I may be able to get a little bit off/more for my trade (my hated Honda Pilot).

Driving impressions were pretty good, the clutch felt good and the engine pulled very strongly. If my mechanic thinks this is a good car I may go further with the deal. I just am slightly weary of the mileage but it’s a Honda so I guess it’s barely broken in lol. Oh and this thing is just massive inside, there’s probably more headroom than in the Pilot.

So what’s the consensus? Should I (slowly) reel this catch in or drop a massive deuce on it and walk away?

Still have to see that Baja which I may next week

DISCUSSION (14)

Sneaky Pete > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 18:01

Dunno what the book is, but 6k seems steep to me, and I’m one of the few that really likes the element. What model is it? Lx, ex?

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Sneaky Pete
08/05/2015 at 18:04

It’s an LX, and it’s $1,500 under Blue Book

DogonCrook > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 18:23

The irony of your screen name and this post is too much. I don’t know anything about the element, but why not look at a fit they are fun and serve the same role. I’m only suggesting it because of your name lol, if it’s a joke or sarcasm disregard.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > DogonCrook
08/05/2015 at 18:34

I actually hate SUVs, just not ones like the Element, Jeep Renegade and Subaru Forester. I don’t consider the Element an SUV though, it’s more of a Scion xB/Kia Soul like vehicle with AWD. My name is more of a peaceful protest against people who love to buy SUVs (especially big BOF ones) just because ‘Merica. I unfortunately have a 2005 Honda Pilot that my parents gave me (I’m grateful I have a “free” car) that I’m trying to get rid of. Well it’s mostly so I can have a stick-shift because I’ve wanted one for years and I’ve had this stupid computer make gear changes for 3 years and we’re breaking up.

Truth be told I’d love to have a Fit, but I go to school in an area that gets generous droppings of snow so if I want to have my father’s superb negotiating skills with me, I must get an AWD car, or else I’m on my own, and I have the negotiation skills of many republicans; aka I have none.

DogonCrook > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 18:47

Yeah a fit won’t do in the snow. Seriously a fun car though and fold flat seats so it’ll honestly hold more shit than some full sized suvs. If you are looking for 4wd check out the mazdas too, they drive very similar to cars and are pretty well built. You might want to look out of state too, here in the south 4wd on smaller vehicles have comparitively low resale values compared to the same vehicle up north. Subarus and such take a pretty hefty hit down here on the non performance models.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 19:10

CP. Father had one and it was a gutless piece of shit that wasn’t even nice to drive.

smobgirl > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 19:23

I was looking at them a year or so ago and could barely find any AWD models under $9K here. But they’re relatively rare in Colorado and subarus are a dime a dozen. If it’s well-maintained I don’t think the price is too bad. That mileage scares me much less on a Honda than a Subaru. The Civic I paid $5K for at 100,000 miles is still on the road with 225,000ish and the only relatively expensive repair was a head gasket (that blew partly because of a lying mechanic).

But I'm biased and adore the element, so I may just be trying to live vicariously here.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > DogonCrook
08/05/2015 at 20:40

I have been looking at cars out of state. I am willing to do that but my dad says he’s more comfortable with getting a car that is located in New York (where I am). He said there’s less protection if I buy in say New Jersey or Connecticut.

I’m not sure which Mazda comes with AWD and a stick (besides the Speed6 and I don’t want a turbo car for reliability reasons). Maybe if I find a Tribute I could get lucky but I doubt it. And having AWD as a requirement really drops the amount of cars to practically nothing considering my budget. I would be willing to buy a car far far away but I’m heading back up to college in 2 and a half weeks so I wouldn’t be able to.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > smobgirl
08/05/2015 at 20:46

It’s nearly impossible to find a good, AWD stick shift for less than $6k or so. I’d be open to getting a FWD but I’ll lose my father’s negotiation skills with that.
This particular element has had oil and maintenance done religiously so maybe this could be good. And I think this car could need CV joints (it made an odd sound while driving it), but I’ll wait for my mechanic to tell me what it needs.

I used to think the Element was ugly when these were new, but than I realized how good they are since my ex’s father had one. Plus I’m a sucker for unique vehicles, which explains the Baja that I’m also looking at.

DogonCrook > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 21:02

Yeah forgot about the manual. Out of state is time consuming but some deals are worth it. Late 80’s and early 90’s Toyota pickups are dirt cheap and bulletproof. You would probably have money left over and some legit off-road capabilities. I’m from Texas so if that’s a death trap in the snow I wouldn’t know lol.

ciscokidinsf > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 21:28

I have one reaching 203,000 miles:

The good:

Good engine, low maintenance

Honda reliability for sure

Incedible Spacious - you will love the element every time you move, larger inside than the stupid Toyota FJ

4WD actually does the job

The bad:

Very Noisy - no carpets equals lots of noise at driving

MPG & Profile - Engine puts the lowest MPG of the 4cyl fam (vs. accord, civic and even the CRV) and on a windy ass day you will feel it

Materials - Dunno why, but the plastics and specially the material for the seats arent aging well, or as well as other Hondas, so it depends.

The doors - if you are carrying a family in the rear seats every day, those doors will get in your nerves for sure. Gotta open the front doors to let the rear doors open

$6,000 is NP with evidence of good maintenance - I approve

Clown Shoe Pilot > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/05/2015 at 23:43

if it was clicking in the rear it won’t need CVs, just a fresh load of diff juice out back.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > ciscokidinsf
08/07/2015 at 09:23

How long have you owned it?

ciscokidinsf > Nymphicus Hollandicus
08/08/2015 at 00:19

10 years - its a 2004