First Drive: [FUGLY] 2003 Honda Element

[NFS4]

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/73408/article.html

 

[Gunbuster]

it's just begging for a hello kitty edition

 

[murphy55d]

Paint it yellow and it looks like the short bus.

 

[gopunk]

looks like it could be a european police wagon

 

[ObiDon]

No, it's not sleek, but the Element's targeted buyers probably care more about functionality than fashion.

Obviously they forgot to do their research. Haven't they seen what ricers have been doing to Honda's cars?!?

Anyway, it's begging for a Woody conversion.


Edit - Wanted to add that although I did not read the entire article, the few phrases that I caught seemed like total ass-kissing. Either that, or Honda PR wrote it...

 

[Cheesemoo]

i dont think so tim

 

[Thegonagle]

A similarly equipped Honda CR-V will only be a few hundred to a thousand dollars more. I think most people will just go for that. I, on the other hand, would get an Element just to piss off everyone else who thinks it's fugly. And hey, it's cheaper and might just look OK in black.

I'm considering the coming winter and I want another 4WD vehicle. I might just go find another old beater Subie this year.

 

[ElFenix]

is the shifter dash mounted? who the hell thought that up? the new Si does that too, doesn't it?

and why does it look like its made of garbage bags?

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is the shifter dash mounted? who the hell thought that up? the new Si does that too, doesn't it? and why does it look like its made of garbage bags?

A lot of people diss the honda for putting the shifter on the dash, but it REALLY is easier and better to use.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I actually kind of like its pug-ugliness. At least it is distinctively Japanese, and has an appealing cartoonish quality.

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is the shifter dash mounted? who the hell thought that up? the new Si does that too, doesn't it? and why does it look like its made of garbage bags?

A lot of people diss the honda for putting the shifter on the dash, but it REALLY is easier and better to use.

Alfa Romeo Spiders were like that for quite a while.

 

[geno]

Hmm, offspring of the Aztek? They don't share anything in common other than both designs are ASS!

 

[Jzero]

I said this in another thread about the Element...I hate feeling like a target market.

But as a 22-year old who is into surfing, kayak surfing, camping, rock climbing and other outdoorsy-like stuff, I just friggin love this thing. It reminds me in some ways of the Land Rover Defender that I so love, but far more practical. Not having to car-top my kayak, or worrying about getting mud or seawater all over my interior b/c of the bare floor is pretty cool.

I guess I fell for the Element hook line and sinker, and when I'm ready for a new car in 3-4 years, hopefully it will still be available

Edit: and I think ObiDon's idea of a woody conversion is brilliant.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster
it's just begging for a hello kitty edition

Bahahahaha!!

 

[CraigRT]

I wonder why they put the rally style shifter on this thing.. it's quite obviously not sporty...

I can understand the reason behind making that thing, if it has the big H on the hood, someone will buy it and if it's rugged like this thing looks to be, it should even sell relatively well... but i would never buy something that looked like that. damn.

 

[vi edit]

and I'd buy this over a CR-V or a Forrester because?????????

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
and I'd buy this over a CR-V or a Forrester because?????????

because it'll be trendy, and many women will want it

 

[NFS4]

I'd buy a recall-prone Ford Escape before I'd buy this POS. Hell, I'd buy a V6 Kia Sorento for $22,000 which comes nicely loaded at that price before I'd buy this thing.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: NFS4
I'd buy a recall-prone Ford Escape before I'd buy this POS. Hell, I'd buy a V6 Kia Sorento for $22,000 which comes nicely loaded at that price before I'd buy this thing.

Not me. This is one of the few SUVs that actually has some personality, and no doubt, in typical Honda fashion, it will be highly reliable and have very good resale. In the unlikely event I were looking at a $22K SUV, this would be on my short list.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Don_Vito

Originally posted by: NFS4
I'd buy a recall-prone Ford Escape before I'd buy this POS. Hell, I'd buy a V6 Kia Sorento for $22,000 which comes nicely loaded at that price before I'd buy this thing.

Not me. This is one of the few SUVs that actually has some personality, and no doubt, in typical Honda fashion, it will be highly reliable and have very good resale. In the unlikely event I were looking at a $22K SUV, this would be on my short list.

I'm sorry, but I have better things to spend my money on than a $22,000 lunch box. For $22k, I could have myself a CRV EX which is already fully loaded:

2002 Honda CR-V Mini SUV
EX AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)

$21,726 including destination charge

 

[PlatinumGold]

Not me. This is one of the few SUVs that actually has some personality, and no doubt, in typical Honda fashion, it will be highly reliable and have very good resale. In the unlikely event I were looking at a $22K SUV, this would be on my short list.

So this ugly POS has personality and the Avalance is what again vito??

I don't see HOW you can possibly defend this one and completely rag on the Avalanche.

 

[Jzero]

I'm sorry, but I have better things to spend my money on than a $22,000 lunch box. For $22k, I could have myself a CRV EX which is already fully loaded:

2002 Honda CR-V Mini SUV
EX AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)

$21,726 including destination charge

What's the difference? Sounds like the 2 are comparatively priced. One is targeted towards the "I need an SUV because I don't want a mini-van" set and one is targetted towards the "I need an SUV because I think I'm outdoorsy" set.
You say CR-V, I say Element.
You say Tomayto, I say Tomahto.

I think the CR-V is boring and it looks and behaves like most any other mini-SUV. If it didn't have the big "H" on it, I'd probably not even look at it. But I'd rather buy a car I actually LIKE not just because I think the Honda is better than comparably priced other manufacturers.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Not me. This is one of the few SUVs that actually has some personality, and no doubt, in typical Honda fashion, it will be highly reliable and have very good resale. In the unlikely event I were looking at a $22K SUV, this would be on my short list.

So this ugly POS has personality and the Avalance is what again vito??

I don't see HOW you can possibly defend this one and completely rag on the Avalanche.

Huh? I don't recall ragging on the Avalanche (though it is certainly possible). The Avalanche, on paper, actually appeals to me as a concept - the problem, as it often is with GM vehicles, is the execution. The Avalanche didn't HAVE to be cartoonishly overstated and covered with ribbed gray plastic, and it might have appealed to me if it were toned down a bit. I know that Bob Lutz has laid down a mandate for less plastic cladding on GM cars, and I believe the Avalanche is now or shortly will be available sans cladding, clearly a good thing.

The Element (which I don't love, but I kind of like) is something different, as opposed to the CR-V/Navajo/Escape/RAV4 cookie-cutter cute-ute mold, and that's what I like about it. I like the PT Cruiser for the same reason. GM, to their credit, has recently tried to be bold and different in their designs, but to me their efforts at nonconformity have generally fallen flat (as witnessed by the Avalanche, the upcoming SSR Roadster, and, most notably, the Aztek). Those cars have personality, but so does Burt Reynolds - personality alone does not guarantee likability.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Jzero

I'm sorry, but I have better things to spend my money on than a $22,000 lunch box. For $22k, I could have myself a CRV EX which is already fully loaded:

2002 Honda CR-V Mini SUV
EX AWD 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M)

$21,726 including destination charge

What's the difference? Sounds like the 2 are comparatively priced. One is targeted towards the "I need an SUV because I don't want a mini-van" set and one is targetted towards the "I need an SUV because I think I'm outdoorsy" set.
You say CR-V, I say Element.
You say Tomayto, I say Tomahto.

I think the CR-V is boring and it looks and behaves like most any other mini-SUV. If it didn't have the big "H" on it, I'd probably not even look at it. But I'd rather buy a car I actually LIKE not just because I think the Honda is better than comparably priced other manufacturers.

There's a BIG difference.

The Element can only seat 4
The Element weighs more
The Element gets worse gas mileage
The Element is not as well equipped
The Element has less cargo room
The Element's rear side windows are blocked when the rear seats are folded (must fold up against windows)

Lastly,

The Element looks like child's lunchbox on wheels

 

[stev0]

fugly is right