Honda Element right for me?

[transporterjr]

I like the Element and I know 3 people that had them. Biggest complaint was gas mileage. My friend had a early CRV and on road trips together, it was funny that our 02' Honda Odyssey van got better gas mileage (23.9 last trip, in winter with snow tires) and the new Odyssey does better.

None took them off road. Seems the 3" lift would be well worth it.

Anyways, there is a Honda tent option for rear hatch as well as a "cabana".
Tent-http://www.bernardiparts.com/Honda-Tent-Element-Odyssey-Pilot__08Z04-SCV-100B.aspx

Cabana - http://www.handa-accessories.com/element/tentpoles.jpg

It seems to me, removing the rear seats and sleeping on the floor (onto the tailgate) would be more comfortable than those fold down seats, but perhaps they are OK??

Or a roof top tent perhaps - http://www.autohomeus.com/gallery/honda.php

Happy trails,
JR

[abeaudin1971]

I'm quite happy with my 03. The AWD is decent, don't get me wrong it's not a subaru or a proper 4x4 but in the snow it's fine.
Fuel mileage isn't great but it is way better than my old double cab tacoma 4x4 (especially up here in canada with fuel now at 1.20/litre).

Over the last 35k kms, the only thing that really needed replacement aside from maintenance items was the throttle body - if you get an early one, make sure that the cruise control works.
If it doesn't, chances are the pulley that the cruise cable is attached to is broken. The remedy? replace the throttle body.

I'd buy it again if I had the choice - hauls the mountain bikes, hauls the climbing gear, hauls stuff home from home depot, hauls gear to SAR missions - it doesn't turn any heads but it's reliable as heck.

If you're looking to go roof top tent, the bar spread is pretty small but you can strip out the headliner and install a more permanent rack (I did)

[Amy H]

I have a 2011 Honda Element AWD AT. I bought it as a car camping rig for my 9 year old son and my two dogs. It has its pros and cons. Let me know if you have any other questions about an Element...

Pros:
all the seats fold flat making a nice bed area. I fold down my rear seats and put rubbermaid totes in the foot wells to add length, throw a custom foam matt over the whole thing and I have a full size bed with leaving the two front seat operational. I am also only 5ft 2, a taller person might have to use all the seats. I feel safe sleeping in my car compared to a tent here in WA especially camping where bears like to raid your food stash. At the beach, I don't have to worry about my tent getting blown away either. My car is my tent with alarm and key.

Ecamper...my plan was to have the Ecamper installed so we would have room for hubby.

It drives great as a daily driver and even in snow it handles quite well. My AWD hasn't kicked in but on my last trip up Mt. Rainier, I had no problems on the plowed roads where my friends with trucks slid around a bit even with 4WD.

Captains chair type seats are awesome and the large windshield is like looking out an RV

Easy to clean dog hair and beach sand out of it.

Room under rear seats perfect for camp stove, reflextic and first aid. Most SUV's have no storage under the seats. I have room under even when the seats are folded flat.

Rear seats come out completely!!! or flip up out of the way. I fit a stove box in the back fully intact. It fit...just had to worry about weight.

It has a lift gate and a tail gate. great little area to sit on at the beach or camping especially since we do not pack chairs.

Very safe vehicle...like 8 airbags in that thing.

Cons:

Not the best MPG for a SUV. As stated above, I get around 19 mpg in town and 24.5 on highway.

Payload is a low 675 pounds. With the dogs, gear and 3 people we max that out fast. Only a 4 seater...no getting around that legally either. Ya don't want people sitting in the crumple zone.

the interior plastic scratches up so easy

4 cyl...not very powerful driving up the mountains...sucks getting passed by old ladies in minivans.

Your driving a box that max speed is about 67 or your just hitting an air wall that eats your gas.

the windshield loves to eat rocks since it is so flat like a Jeeps.

ground clearance is about 6 inches with gear in it. One of the lowest I have ever owned. You have to watch out for pot holes and going over limbs. I did ok on the Oregon beaches but stuck to the hard sand.

[transporterjr]

I bought it as a car camping rig for my 9 year old son and my two dogs.
.

Man they kids drive young out there in Washington! Well at least he has the dog to watch over him

Awesome report and 1st post BTW.

[Martinjmpr]

It has a lift gate and a tail gate. great little area to sit on at the beach or camping especially since we do not pack chairs.

Yeah, the Element is one of the few SUV-type vehicles out there that still has a by-God tailgate.

About the only thing I miss from having a pickup is the tailgate. So useful! I understand why SUV makers went for the "soccer mom liftgate" (it's cheaper to make, simpler to design and allows short people easier access to the cargo area) but dammit, I really like tailgates!

[Amy H]

Man they kids drive young out there in Washington! Well at least he has the dog to watch over him

Awesome report and 1st post BTW.

LOL... nah..I do the driving. My son saw the Ecamper and thought it was a car with a tree house, so I bought the Element for him in that way. We ended up bailing on the Ecamper on the Element due to payload issues, but I still love the idea of a pop up. Thanks for the compliment about my first post on here. I am a member of the Element Owner's Club and have spent hours searching for my perfect camping rig, picking people's brains and trying things out on the road. I hopped over to this forum to search out other camping rig options.

[Amy H]

Yeah, the Element is one of the few SUV-type vehicles out there that still has a by-God tailgate.

About the only thing I miss from having a pickup is the tailgate. So useful! I understand why SUV makers went for the "soccer mom liftgate" (it's cheaper to make, simpler to design and allows short people easier access to the cargo area) but dammit, I really like tailgates!

Well you could alway mod your YJ to a drop down tailgate. If I had a jeep, that would be the second mod I would do after a Ecamper.

[Cat Jockey]

I used to drive a 1985 Toyota MR2 on light 4x4 trails. I always wanted to turn my MR2 into a rally vehicle. If that is all you are looking for, light 4x4 trails, an Element is your ticket. I know I have seen pop-ups available for the Element.

If I have to park at the trail head and walk the rest of the way, so be it.

You don't need to be silly now. Just get yourself a cheap 250cc dirtbike off of Craigslist and carry it on the hitch. Problem solved. If you are not looking for a serious 4x4, I would guess the element is pretty sweet, considering the internal room and aftermarket things for camping that are available. I would guess that you could trick an Element out pretty good for heat, cooking, etc.

Hell, if I were looking for a camping rig that I don't need to do serious 4x4, I would probably by a used Pontiac Aztec. AWD and you can get one cheaper than an Element.

Get a used Aztec and save some cash ...

This was the first cheesy vid Google gave me. The tent was a factory option. Wherever this guy lives, it is windy and I have no doubt that this can be done quicker ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAaXOT1AupY

Another vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QYmwKcGtos

I would probably take an Aztec over an Element, but mainly because of price and the fact that Pontiac made some solid vehicles and Aztecs are no longer made and cheaper that an Element. Of course, owning a '66 2 door hardtop Bonneville years ago might make me biased towards Pontaics ...

[Martinjmpr]

I would probably take an Aztec over an Element, but mainly because of price and the fact that Pontiac made some solid vehicles and Aztecs are no longer made and cheaper that an Element. Of course, owning a '66 2 door hardtop Bonneville years ago might make me biased towards Pontaics ...

Didn't the later models of the Aztek come with a special compartment near the driver's door for the bag you'd have to wear over your head to keep your friends from recognizing you when you drove it?

[transporterjr]

That reminds me when I was trying to upgrade a rental car on a business trip, since the Mustang convertible was more than I planned.

Agent: ""We have a Subaru wagon"
Me: "I really don't need a wagon to carry this kayak paddle I have"
Agent: "I can offer you a Pontiac Aztek"
Me: " Don't you have to pay me to drive that?"
Agent: "I have a ford Taurus"
Me: "Stop! I'll take the Mustang."