Honda Element Review
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Favorite feature: |
Every single thing. Absolutely amazing. |
Least favorite feature: |
Inflated prices of the options and dealer markup |
Advice to buyer: |
Buy now, before Honda raises the 'introductory' pricing |
Detailed review: |
Most comfortable vehicle at any price, at least for a 220 pound, 6 foot, 3 inch guy like myself. This baby is HUGE inside.
Finding something I can fit in is always a major challenge. My Isuzu trooper seems tiny after sitting in the Element. I've had big Ford Trucks, Chevy Caprices, and Dodge full size vans. None compared with the open spacious feeling you get in the Element. Headroom is the highest I have ever seen in a stock vehicle. Wanna wear your cowboy hat?. No problem.
The seating position is absolutely perfect. Upright with the weight going to the bottom, where it belongs, not to the lower back, as with most vehicles. That postion allows much longer drives without fatigue, as any UPS or bread truck driver will tell you.
Actually these are kind of like a Mini Step Van in their design. I drove bread truck for years and was amazed at the similarities to Step Vans, including seating position and steering wheel positioning.
Nothing is as easy to get in and out of as the Element. It stands about 6 feet tall, yet sits low to the ground. no bending or stretching. It is very polite to the ladies, unlike many utility vehicles
The second I sat in the Element, a huge smile grew on my face. I said to myself 'this is a whole new ball game in vehicle design'.
In my opinion Honda has hit a bigger home run then they even realize. Once the masses discover how comfortable this is, it could be as revolutionary as the first Honda Civic to future designs.
I'm a nortorious cheapskate when it comes to buying new cars, but immediately after my test drive, I knew I had to have one.
I bought a 4WD AUTO EX and 'negotiated down' to full MSRP.
Beware, at least here in Oregon, dealers are jacking these up close to $5,000 with 'additional dealer nonsense'. And they are hard to find. I checked the stock of literally every dealer in the state, trying to locate one in my favorite color 'sunset orange'. Hah, I was lucky to be able to locate an unsold EX Auto 4WD at all!
They would disappear as soon as they got them in. And forget the side air bags, I couldn't find one dealer who had even yet seen an Element equipped with them.
This is as perfect a vehicle as I have ever seen. It does everything right. |
Also considered: |
2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2003 Ford Explorer
2003 Acura MDX
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Vehicle purchased: |
2003 Honda Element
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| About This Reviewer... |
Name: |
Ed Oz |
Location: |
Williams, Oregon |
Other vehicles owned: |
None
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Review submitted: |
June 22, 2003 |
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