Zack, you're content is genuinely great. I've switched from other larger RU-vid channels to watch your reviews. Your content is consistent and always interesting. You always seem to review cars I enjoy too. Wired ones lol. Anyway, this channel is really going places, but please never forget your roots. Take care boss. Thanks, A very happy viewer.
I just bought a metallic blue 2006 Honda Element three weeks ago, and your previous review of the 2005 Element played a large role in convincing me to take the Element plunge. I absolutely LOVE my E and think it is the perfect vehicle. Thank you for the great, real car reviews. One thing though, if I was letting you use one of my vehicles for a review I would make sure it was spotless inside and out. Spend an hour to detail the engine bay and at least clean out the cup holders! Keep up the great work and keep Shooting Cars!
I love that you review older vehicles like this. Mainstream stuff of “The All New All the Time” is all well and good but for those of us who want used vehicles, I appreciate you’re content and the time you take to make these vids. Keep on keepin on man!
The element really needed to have the 6 speed manual. When you cruising at 70 mph in 5th gear, the RPMs are sitting well above 3,000. That kills your gas mileage even further, plus the extra weight of the AWD system. Actually, they made 160 HP pre 2008; afterwards they switch to the drive by wire system and added a MAF sensor which boosted HP to 166.
You can add the 6th gear from a TSX to the Element Transmission but you either have to pay someone or be good with a wrench to do that lol. It is such a good upgrade though, especially when cruising in 5th at 80MPH is 4k RPMs
Hey, this is the first video I’ve watched on your channel and I’m genuinely impressed with the content I just watched. Good review my car friend! Will be back for more!
2003 honda element 280k miles, still going strong. Even if the engine gives out, going to just swap it. Never going to get rid of it, Super practical, like having a mini pickup. I even fit one of my motorcycles in it one time.
The most versatile car I’ve ever owned. Had an “05 manual up until last week. After 18 yrs i finally had to trade it in on a Passport. I love the Passport but I do miss the Element, which I Calle “The Toaster”. Great review.
I had an 04 ex awd from 2010 till now bought at 68k now 315k... love it. Got my daughter one with 180k.. totaled and rebuilt twice by me, sold at 260k... cars are utterly reliable and useful. Just bought a 04 awd manual with 168k... plan on running to 300k+.... best car I've ever owned. Camped, road tripped, moved, towed boats and motorcycle... really great cars.
Fun review. I have a 2006 Element (orange) AWD manual with only 50k miles. My oldest loves it, but my youngest thinks it is the ugliest thing on the road. Ha.
I used to think the same thing when I was little, lol I was like what is that weird looking thing!?, But now I own one for the past 14 years I'm happy with my element and it just hit 201,000 miles
Great review! As an owner of an ‘05 Element w/ 5spd I appreciate the extra love you give. EVERYONE who rides w me is so surprised to find it’s a manual transmission. I wouldn’t want it any other way. You are correct to say they are great for pets…the split door entry w the back seat space is awesome for big dogs, like my Old English Sheepdog to hop inside easily. Plus if you hang just one side of the rear seats up it allows space for a dog to walk to the rear to lay down or turn around to lay or sit for the ride along. Thx again for the positive Element vibes and love.
Funny, just the other day I was thinking about asking if you might want to review my 2003 Element with manual and AWD (and seats that don't have a cover). Then this pops up.
These are so practical. This reminds me a lot of the FJ Cruiser, same rugged/basic interior, cladding, and half doors. The styling is a little ungainly but people who buy them love them. It's funny how Honda's sticks stick out of the dashboard. I never knew these had a split tailgate. This one looks really good, the plastics aren't faded.
Just lost my 03 automatic to hail damage. Replaced it with a 06 all wheel drive 5 speed manual with 169K from california. I tow it behind my motorhome. Honda needs to being this back with a little more power and also maybe a hybrid version.
Love these things. Have one for my business and personal use. Just wish they used a better engine. But i have the 5 speed so it's still fun end enough to get around town. Would recommend and definitely would but again. Nice review 👍
In 2 days, I'm going to check out a 2003 Element EX AWD 5MT with only 106k on the clock. I worked at a Honda dealership for 14 years, and these things are LEGENDARY. People who have them, LOVE them, and will keep them forever. They usually have TONS of miles on them, and the manny tranny is rare as hen's teeth! Fingers crossed!
I love my Blue 2006 AWD 5-speed manual Honda Element LX. The first time I saw an Element was in one of those back of seat airline magazines on a fight from Jacksonville to Burbank. It was an early 2000's article about the New York Car Show featuring the upcoming new Honda model called the Element. It was love at first sight and I thought to myself how it fits my lifestyle perfectly. It took 3 1/2 years to save money to buy one cash. I wanted an orange 5speed AWD but had to settle for a blue one. If I really try I can eek out 25MPG but more often than not I get 22MPG, not great milage but it was much better than 16MPG I was getting on my then 16-year-old 6 cylinder 1990 Isuzu Trooper. I only have 84,000 miles on my Element and plan to keep it as long as possible
I lost my ‘04 last year in wreck. Same color. Seeing that thumbnail was a gut punch 😭😂 great vid man! Def getting another when prices go back down haha
Great review I love the depth and focus on the car. Keep doing stuff like you are, I don't like reviews that don't cover enough, this is a good review that covers everything most people would be curious of. I just subscribed. Hope to see more other videos on random older cars. Would be interesting to see you to a 99-04 mustang v6 manual review, and/or the GT. Also a manual Ford F150 from 90-99, or a manual Ford Focus 2000-2009ish
I've been looking to buy one for a while and they sell before I am able to get to them. I am looking to move in a month or two and should be able to find one outside my region.
The element is such an interesting suv. At first I hated them the styling was just too ugly to me. But I now own a 2005 Cargo Khaki AWD 5 speed element and I love that thing. I bought it to turn into a small camper van and have been slowly modifying it and doing small repairs to it.
Have an Atomic Blue 2006 Element EX-P with 4x4 with sunroof/ moonroof. The unicorn would be having my model with manual, but I live in Los Angeles and manual would be horrible. I noticed with yours you don’t have the deluxe sound system. Guess it must be an EX thing. Where the center bottom cubby is at on this model, the EX has a large subwoofer located. It thumps like crazy. I’ve owned like 10 Hondas in my life and the Element is def one of my favs.
I wouldn't really say it competes with the xB as an Element owner. The xB is more of a city people mover, while the Element is a very utilitarian outdoorsy vehicle. It's also much bigger.
I am an automatic transmission 2006 Honda Element. Mine is the EXP trim level was painted fenders and under the shifter is actually a subwoofer. The subwoofer. One advantage of having the shifter coming out of the dash is census really no center console someone Parks too close to the driver-side I can climb in from the passenger side
Test drove one of these 2006 Elements when they came out in Virginia. Backing into a spot next to the dealership bldg, I very slightly bumped the rear fender. The rear fender cracked into like 4 pieces! Sorry, Honda, no sale.
I own this model. The stick version I good, but the axle ratio is very short.....3000 rpm at highway cruise. But be warned...throw out bearing noise will crop up long before the plate wears out...not a killer, but the labor to remove the transmission is colossal. I just put up with it.
If only my honda element was in better shape,mine is rusty on the tellgate and the differencial has past away since like 10 years ago,but I still got a super radio for what it looks like(with a sub in the middle pillar,the sound is,for me,always suprisingly good for the year,but it’s still a 2004 truck)
Hard to believe that manual transmissions were very prominent back in the 2000s. Hell, I would say the 2000s was the last decade of the manual before dual clutch became the standard.
As someone from Aus/NZ, it's always interesting seeing some of the offerings that the Japanese car makers provide in the North American market. Great review, Zack
This is sad.. and FWIW, I swapped out the [very rusty/heat shields long-gone/rear flange about to go] factory cat for an aftermarket ~$350 RockAuto (Walker) cat on my '03 AWD EX Manual Element.. then complimented(?) it with an all new system (albeit non-OE Bosal) and [factory(?)] Denso O2 sensors - then ON TOP OF THAT - installed a [via FB recommended] ~$250 Casey Horner cat shield. While I wish and feel a factory cat * should be * a life time part [with good care and maintenance], selling off that factory cat for ~$650 purchased [for me anyway] a full/fresh system (plus I scuffed & high-temp painted new components for .. longevity(?) .. bought me some peace of mind hoping a would-be thief would either: - see the freshly silver-painted cat guard hardware and/or - the freshly silver-painted [cheap/aftermarket] cat - and then move on to a better target.
No. The manuals have "more snort" .. if that makes sense.. even so - not like these are "dangerously slow" lol.. One can still get a speeding ticket in one. .. then FWIW, I stripped out all rear seat + hardware on my '03 5-speed AWD EX Element - and learned that removing weight translated to an [albeit slightly] zippier-feeling vehicle.
