2005 Element - Fun/Safe Unique

Research - Was looking to replace a mazda protege5 wagon that was having several issues even though it was still under warranty (25k miles). I needed something reliable but flexible to haul items but not be wasteful in emissions or gas guzzling for daily driver duties.

Shopping / Test Drive - Upon getting used to the looks in person I got to take several out on a test drive. I wound up choosing the manual as it gets slightly better mpg but was more fun to drive. It was surprising it handled just like a car and I was never scared of big SUV instability that you get from an Explorer.

Delivery - I got a 2005 Rallye Red EX AWD w side air bags model with the 5spd. My other choice was the blue color as they went well with the still skeptical gray bumper covers. I found out they now have a version in 2006 with the bumpers painted and now wish I waited. As with Honda choosing a car is easy. DX/LX or EX. All have popular expected options and makes shopping dealers much easier (go through the Internet depts and just get Out The Door quotes).

Safety - this car will be used as primary family driver (hubby, wife, kid and dog). Though it has the suicide doors as they call them Honda has done their homework and made this car very sturdy and safe. I guess this fits their current focus in safety as they have more 5 star rated cars than any other auto mfgr at this time.

Got Dogs - Element was made for them. I used to have to clean each of my cars out if we travelled with the dog but now it's a breeze. I get the leaf blower and just blow out the interior (can't get any easier than that). Any spills or messes he makes are easily wiped up with a wet cloth.

Big on the Inside but not on the Outside - The Element looks quite large and the interior is cavernous. What is surprising is this is only marginally bigger than a Honda Civic meaning it can fit in tight spots and easily navigate city traffic. Even backing up is an easy task. But I wound up buying 2 stick on blind spot mirrors and attached them to the big side mirrors to give more visibility for anything behind me.

Handling & Road Performance - Excellent Driving Manner (though this is a tall suv like vehicle it handles just like a car and at highway speeds I do not feel scared for my life and others nor worry about rollovers just from a flat tire). It also has a powerful 4 cylinder engine (after owning over 5 Hondas I've come to the conclusion that Honda makes the best 4 cylinder engines in the business - everyone else is vying for 2nd place or slapping turbos on them just to keep up). The 2.4 is rated around 160hp / 160lb ft tq. It has no problem hauling us up 7/8 percent grades in 5th gear in the Blue Mountains when travelling on vacation. This is surpising as in normal trim it weighs north of 3,500lbs). I can easily keep up with the much more powerful but gas guzzling v6/v8 suvs out there. And cornering is a breeze as it maneuvers just like a car making me feel much safer at highway speeds.

Transmission (5spd Manual) - On the weekends I'm a track addict and have an old Porsche that I flog around. As such I've always bought manual transmission equipped vehicles. The Element is very well designed and after the initial curiosity of the shifter begin up so high it makes perfect sense that it is there as you almost don't have to let your hand leave the wheel (it's like on a rally car). Shifts are smooth and well healed, the gearing is well spaced. I did on one occasion drive an automatic and it shifted well.

AWD - Since buying this I've done some minor off roading to get around some campgrounds and beaches. We also just recently gotten our first foot of snow (finally). I woke up early as I could just to get out on the unplowed roads and even tried several times to get it stuck but I couldn't (I'm from Chicago and used to get through roads in my old '85 Honda Prelude that you'd not think were possible).

Emissions & MPG - MPG (I am currently getting ~ 22mpg in mixed driving [more city though]). I'm also learning how to better conserve by not accelerating as quickly, coasting down hills and for very long lights (which is often here) just shutting the engine off (I pay attention and make sure I'm started back up in time to move). I found I can get 4-5 more mpg using this method!.

Interior - I'm a function over form type personality and after getting past the looks the interior flexibility and not to mention surprising comfort just put the icing on the cake. This Interior Flexibility allows me to haul very large items (such as young maple trees (removed the rear sunroof), another engine for a car i'm converting to race, an entire swing set, etc. Lowes & Home Depot trips are no longer a concern. It's also a really nice kid hauler as spilled juice or food is a very easy clean up with no carpet cleaning or stains. Plus since the rear seats are stadium style my son can see and not be as bored when we are driving.

Radio - I'm addicted to XM now as they have big 10 conference broadcasts (I'm an Iowa Grad) of which living on the east coast I don't get any exposure to unless I'm lucky to catch a game on ESPN. The stereo is very good but I'm not an audiophile to judge it (never had a stereo as powerful as this one).

Surprising Benefit - Long Distance Driving King: This has to be the best long haul vehicle [8 hour drives] we've owned as the seats are comfortable, the rear seats recline back where passengers can choose to read a book without an annoying interior light reducing your night vision or individually recline to rest in the back (even great is my son's booster seat will recline back with the seat allowing him to sleep very comfortably without having a pillow for him to sleep against. Also, the surplus storage room, multiple cup holders and nooks and crannies store items easily.

1st Year Ownership - the Element has over 10k miles on it by now and there has been no concerns or quality problems. I wound up installing a set of driving lights to help with night vision.

No Car is Perfect and this includes the Element: Here's some annoyances but they are greatly outweighed by the benefits:
- Tight space in parking if you have to get someone out of the back seat as both doors have to open and they close you in so you and the rear seat passenger have to get close together
- Manual operation of sunroof and rear pop out windows only (I have to crawl in back to open them and close them on hot days [don't want it to get rained in] - I put on some window visors that block rain from entering the rear and front windows to help with the problem).
- 4 Seater Only (on one occasion I had to haul 4 passengers and the rear seats only accomodate 2 passengers even though there is room.
- Rear Seats up creates blind spots, if you put up a rear seat it creates a blind spot but that was easily fixed by the stick on blind spot mirrors affixed to the side view mirrors.