"Sprinty" (1985sprinty)
12/27/2015 at 12:14 • Filed to: Honda, Element, Used car advice
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"Sprinty" (1985sprinty)
12/27/2015 at 12:14 • Filed to: Honda, Element, Used car advice | 1
| 27 |
As a fellow jalop, there are few opinions I trust more than (most) of yours regarding vehicular knowledge. My wife and I are trying to figure out what our next car is, and we are toying around with getting a used Honda Element with AWD. We need something with enough space for bicycles, skis, and the occasional lumber-yard run. Something that doesn’t suck gas too quickly is also a plus, but are there issues with this particular vehicle? (yes, I know most people say the Aztek is the only thing uglier)
So, The Honda Element AWD: Good, Bad, or Meh?
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:19 |
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I’ve never driven one, though people I know who’ve had one say it basically drives like a CR-V. In my mind that’s neither good nor bad.
That said, the other thing people tell me (often unsolicited) is how damn practical it is. Like many box-shaped vehicles it has great packaging, but the suicide doors and interior configuration make it more usable than even a Scion xB.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:20 |
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I don’t know. They look cool though.
Sam
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:22 |
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You don't want an Element. We've had one for several years and it isn't very good. The gas mileage isn't great (aerodynamic properties of a brick), the suicide doors suck, and it's incredibly loud and uncomfortable to ride in. Very practical and can haul a lot of stuff, but for me, the cons outweigh the pros.
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Sprinty
> Aaron M - MasoFiST
12/27/2015 at 12:23 |
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Thanks!
jkm7680
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:23 |
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Super rugged.
There’s also room in the rear for extracurriculars.
Steve in Manhattan
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:26 |
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Never rented one, although I’ve never heard anything bad about them either. And it’s a Honda - probably dead reliable like the rest of them. Just get your mechanic to go over it with a fine-toothed comb before you buy.
Jedidiah
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:26 |
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I’ve never been a fan of this style of vehicle.
Personally, I’d much rather have a traditional bof suv.
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Jedidiah
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:28 |
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I don’t like this style of vehicle.
Personally, I’d much rather have a traditional body on frame suv.
I’ve ridden in a couple of CR-Vs and was far from impressed.
Sneaky Pete
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:38 |
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I’ve always kinda liked the Element, but the gas mileage is not very good. Something like 16/24 if I remember correctly.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:39 |
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My wife and I test drive one when we were looking for a replacement for my old rav4. We hated it. The interior felt like a school bus and there were too many strange and pointless quirks:
You have to unbuckle your seat belt to open the “rear doors” because the front seats belts are in the second doors pillar.
The back seat is huge but it only has 2 seat belts
The steering wheel is at a goofy angle
For as big as it is the visibility kinda sucks.
for Michigan
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:41 |
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Drove one across town once. Impressive get up and go, reasonably comfortable, and decent dynamics (for a CUV). That’s about as much as I know.
plak424
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:43 |
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This is just my opinion but I would say go with a newer subaru outback instead. Both cars are regarded pretty well by owners but from recently trying to help a friend find an element made me realize how ridiculously priced they are on the used market. I wasn’t able to find one for a price that I could justify paying for a car as old as they were.
Under_Score
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:48 |
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I never knew these were available with AWD, but with a quick cars.com search, I’ve found some AWD ones, even around here. They’re good, but backseat access is awkward; the front door has to be opened first.
John_Harbinson
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:49 |
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My auto shop teacher’s wife has one, they’ve owned it since new. Not sure what year it is, but it’s got a shade over 200k, 4wd, manual transmission, and still on the OG clutch. It’s never skipped a beat, and it never will as long as you keep up the regular maintenance (supposedly). She hit a deer last year, and a new hood, front bumper, and front crossmember where the grill and everything are bolted to, were less than $500, so they’re cheap to fix, as well. Really easy and straightforward to work on, and they look neat lifted, which is how I’d do one up if I had one. They’re not suuuuper expensive either...
Clown Shoe Pilot
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:49 |
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Drives fine, and super useful. Mrs. Shoe Pilot used to have one and really dug it. I kinda wish we still had it for Home Depot runs and whatnot.
E92M3
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:53 |
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Very versatile, but meh.
smobgirl
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 12:58 |
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Dated a guy who owned one, back when they were new. He lived at the beach, and that is an awesome vehicle to have and clean when there is sand everywhere all the time. It also fits a ridiculous amount of things that larger vehicles cannot fit (if you need to haul around a set of timpani, this is the vehicle for you). If you don’t fit those criteria, I wouldn’t knock it off the list but I wouldn’t put it at the top. I found it fine to drive and easy to park but they do get terrible gas mileage and don’t have great clearance. I can’t speak for the AWD ones but the 2WD model he had was impossible to kill.
And I think they’re delightfully quirky looking, especially with the contrasting panels, but that’s just me.
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 13:02 |
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Super practical interior, almost like a bigger Fit, there’s just so much usable space in there... but it’s NOT a luxury vehicle, and it means it. Loudish and not super comfortable, the fuel economy is OK, but they take a hit from being brick-shaped. Typical honda reliability, except early AWD ones had problems with the rear axles and diff (they were too spindly for the job) but later ones fixed that and most older ones ended up being repaired under warranty and the dealer installed the updated, stronger components when they were. It’s a quirky thing, the Element, and very useful (three sheep easily fit in the rear) for hauling odd things, but you have to be OK with the quirks.
Leon711
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 13:16 |
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I can’t offer a balanced rational argument on these because they were never sold in the UK. So I’ll pitch the Renault Twingo at you.
What if I told you that you could get a subcompact that was rear engined, rear wheel drive? Or that you could stick 8ft long pieces of lumber in it and still close the trunk?
Just look at the interior!
What if I said you could get exceptional fuel economy from its small turbocharged motor?
It’s basically a five door 911!
shop-teacher
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 13:29 |
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They have tons of room inside, but they don’t get great gas mileage. If you plan on using the back seat with any regularity, you will hate the suicide doors.
boxrocket
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 13:34 |
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Meh.
Yes, if you plan to use it like an enclosed truck, it’s pretty good at it, though with too much stuff in it the I4 feels overwhelmed, especially when coupled to the AWD. The lift-over height over the rear bumper can be a bit problematic depending on cargo. They’re fairly reliable, sharing mechanicals with several other Hondas. They certainly have their quirks. I, myself, have never been able to find a comfortable seating position in one, and find their noise isolation to be about one step higher than a cargo van.
If you don’t need AWD, consider a Transit Connect instead. The powertrain isn’t the most potent, but it works, and the vehicle’s versatility is almost unparalleled for the money. It comes in basic cargo-schlepping “Van” form, and passenger-ready “Wagon” form.
Alternately, if you don’t need as much room, a Kia Soul might fit your needs. Again, not AWD, but fairly practical.
If AWD is essential, a Toyota Sienna has had AWD for some years. The Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute are similarly-sized to the Element, and don’t carry the “Honda-tax” price premium. If you’re willing to throw gas mileage out the window, a Ford Explorer Sport Trac has a lot to offer, especially with a bed cap, and the mechanicals are the same as a Ranger and other contemporary Explorers, so readily available and rather inexpensive.
That One Kid in HS
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 15:37 |
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Pluses and minuses.
Very very ultra reliable
Not the best gas mileage
Kind of underpowered
Ultra practical
You can remove the back seats!
Only seats 4
Clamshell doors can be a pain
Not the best road manners
I think it looks awesome
practical than any suv or van
Retain value super well
Perfect “beater” throw shit anywhere and not care vehicle
Nymphicus Hollandicus
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 17:06 |
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My ex girlfriend’s parents have one. It was pretty roomy so if you need room for bikes, skis whatever, they’re fantastic, if you can deal with the crap fuel economy for a 4-cylinder.
I test drove an ‘08 5-speed with 155k and I found it fun to drive, but even with a broken a/c compressor, it was 6k so yeah the Honda-tax still applies.
ranwhenparked
> Leon711
12/27/2015 at 19:48 |
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Stop taunting us! Daimler has said again and again that the ForFour will never, ever, come to this side of the Atlantic, under any circumstances.
Because American consumers don’t want small cars that actually fit their needs and lifestyles, apparently.
wafflesnfalafel
> Sprinty
12/27/2015 at 22:00 |
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I thought I wanted one and nearly bought one. My sister-in-law has one and likes it. Super functional, reasonably reliable, cool looking. Three issues - all the ergo is made for short people even though it has a ton of room, worse than expected gas mileage, windshields break from rock dings more frequently than in any other car I’ve seen.
TownaceNoah
> Leon711
12/27/2015 at 22:19 |
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I WANT ONE. The eight-foot lumber standard has always been my basic requirement in a small car. Until recently, it was easily met by a reasonable selection of candidates. Now, almost none.
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TownaceNoah
> ranwhenparked
12/27/2015 at 22:21 |
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In America, carrying eight foot long lumber requires an F150.