2003 Honda Element - Love this versatile workhorse
As someone who is active (camping and biking), the Honda Element is versatile and gets the job done. From hauling bales of pine straw for yard work to traveling with a tandem bicycle inside, the Element never disappoints. It is easy to maneuver, and it is as other Hondas, dependable. We have hauled appliances, used the cabana/camping features in the pouring rain and stayed dry, and have hauled two mountain bikes on the inside plus our gear. Our big guy friends are always surprised when they get in the back seat. They are never cramped! On really curvy mountain roads, it can seem a bit unsteady, but I have never lost any traction. The fact that it is now 14 years old, there are features I would love to have. One of the reasons I have loved it is the wonderful sound system, and it had an... (more)
As someone who is active (camping and biking), the Honda Element is versatile and gets the job done. From hauling bales of pine straw for yard work to traveling with a tandem bicycle inside, the Element never disappoints. It is easy to maneuver, and it is as other Hondas, dependable. We have hauled appliances, used the cabana/camping features in the pouring rain and stayed dry, and have hauled two mountain bikes on the inside plus our gear. Our big guy friends are always surprised when they get in the back seat. They are never cramped! On really curvy mountain roads, it can seem a bit unsteady, but I have never lost any traction. The fact that it is now 14 years old, there are features I would love to have. One of the reasons I have loved it is the wonderful sound system, and it had an MP3 jack way back when! But now the CD player skips a bit at times. One other drawback is that the trailer hitch doesn't easily accommodate a 2" hitch. Even with an adapter, most 2" compatible trailers wouldn't fit well on the Element. The A/C never has really come on strong and cool in the Southern heat. However, like other Hondas I have had, if you cut it on lower, let it get cool, then try blasting the A/C, it tends to work much better. I have always taken it in for regular service, so I have never had huge problems. One expects that with a 10+ year old car. And I haven't been a huge mileage gatherer, so even at under 150,000 miles on an '03, that really isn't too many. Given the age of the car, you have to give it to the quality of the vehicle. A lot of people say an all-wheel drive car is going to give you problem. So far, so good on that front. And Hondas had something called "real-time AWD" which kicks in when it needs to. Never has it let me down. It was a real performer when I lived through five Maine winters. When I bought it, it was one of the first in my town. I had to pay full MSRP. It had to be ordered. I have never regretted that--ever! I told a dealer trying to get me to trade to have a new Element on the lot and I would. I will keep it until it dies. I love the vehicle!
There were ten of us ladies (all 50+) celebrating a friend's birthday at her 700-sq-ft. cabin with one bathroom in the mountains of Northeast Georgia. We camped in the Element, and it rained all weekend. We stayed dry inside using the camping gear and slept like babies. And everyone was in awe of our cool sleeping arrangements! On Saturday afternoon/evening, we drank over 12 bottles of wine. A... (more)
There were ten of us ladies (all 50+) celebrating a friend's birthday at her 700-sq-ft. cabin with one bathroom in the mountains of Northeast Georgia. We camped in the Element, and it rained all weekend. We stayed dry inside using the camping gear and slept like babies. And everyone was in awe of our cool sleeping arrangements! On Saturday afternoon/evening, we drank over 12 bottles of wine. A good time was had by all.
Versatility--seats come out or fold up. Great visibility. Comfortable. Good sound system. Honda dependability and quality.
Versatility--seats come out or fold up. Great visibility. Comfortable. Good sound system. Honda dependability and quality.
Only OK gas mileage (not great). A/C and defrost temperament. Towing features only OK (though makes sense given the vehicle size). Road noise. No passenger arm rest. Door locks had some problems. Only four seat belts. It limits that fifth back seat passenger. It does not like the cold. It still runs, but you can just tell.
Only OK gas mileage (not great). A/C and defrost temperament. Towing features only OK (though makes sense given the vehicle size). Road noise. No passenger arm rest. Door locks had some problems. Only four seat belts. It limits that fifth back seat passenger. It does not like the cold. It still runs, but you can just tell.
2003 Honda Element - The coolest SUV you'll ever drive
Many people treat their vehicles like pets, and if you were to adopt a Honda Element, it'd be the golden retriever of vehicles. You can always depend on it to get you out of a sticky situation. Say you want to go camping, but your wife hates the outdoors, just plunk the seats down and in 15 seconds you've got a bed with a moon roof that allows you to sleep under the stars! You can't find these guys on used car lots often, too many people want to keep them, and it's no wonder, when is the last time you saw an Element on the side of the road broken down? I'll bet it hasn't happened. The main thing that I like to remind people when they're using my vehicle is that it's shaped like a box; it's going to drive like a box on wheels. You can't expect it to fly around corners like a sport... (more)
Many people treat their vehicles like pets, and if you were to adopt a Honda Element, it'd be the golden retriever of vehicles. You can always depend on it to get you out of a sticky situation. Say you want to go camping, but your wife hates the outdoors, just plunk the seats down and in 15 seconds you've got a bed with a moon roof that allows you to sleep under the stars! You can't find these guys on used car lots often, too many people want to keep them, and it's no wonder, when is the last time you saw an Element on the side of the road broken down? I'll bet it hasn't happened. The main thing that I like to remind people when they're using my vehicle is that it's shaped like a box; it's going to drive like a box on wheels. You can't expect it to fly around corners like a sports car or power you up a hill like a heavy duty truck. In the rain, especially, it's little bit difficult to keep it steady when compared to a compact car. However, the water is generally no match for the mighty Element. When my Element was eight years old, we got caught in a flash flood through which it carried three people, two large dogs, and three cats to safety through rushing waters. Even if it is a little squirrely on wet roads, it is a lifesaver of a vehicle.
I camp in my Honda Element very frequently. It came in handy on a stretch of the Appalachian Trail between shelters. I parked on a mountain road, notified the Rangers my vehicle would be there overnight, and got dropped off on another part of the trail. That day, I hiked nine miles to my car, popped the seats down and slept with the moon roof off half under the stars and half protected from... (more)
I camp in my Honda Element very frequently. It came in handy on a stretch of the Appalachian Trail between shelters. I parked on a mountain road, notified the Rangers my vehicle would be there overnight, and got dropped off on another part of the trail. That day, I hiked nine miles to my car, popped the seats down and slept with the moon roof off half under the stars and half protected from the elements by my Element.
The vehicle is the most versatile of toys, going from a place you can sleep to a place you can play in seconds. The interior is so easy to clean, just put the seats up and sweep it out. If it's sticky, grab a hose. High air intake. The seats are very easy to manipulate into any of the positions they can be in as well as simple to remove and replace. The rear seats are elevated, giving back seat riders a full view of the windshield, reducing motion sickness, and calming children.
The vehicle is the most versatile of toys, going from a place you can sleep to a place you can play in seconds. The interior is so easy to clean, just put the seats up and sweep it out. If it's sticky, grab a hose. High air intake. The seats are very easy to manipulate into any of the positions they can be in as well as simple to remove and replace. The rear seats are elevated, giving back seat riders a full view of the windshield, reducing motion sickness, and calming children.
More difficult than a compact car to control on wet/snowy roads. It drives like a box on wheels, definitely not aerodynamic. Not super comfortable for very long road trips; the seats can feet hard after a while. Cup holders are very low compared to driver's seat. No center console.
More difficult than a compact car to control on wet/snowy roads. It drives like a box on wheels, definitely not aerodynamic. Not super comfortable for very long road trips; the seats can feet hard after a while. Cup holders are very low compared to driver's seat. No center console.
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