I love my Element. People ask me all the time if I want to sell it. It was my Dad's car, and it was one of the only things he left me when he passed so it'll be with me forever.
I love my 2007! I bought it last year with only 11,000 miles on it! The original owner only drove it 1,000 miles a year and kept it garaged for 10 years. It’s 12 years old now and I only have 48,000 miles on it!
Most elements I can find are around 6k-7k (june 2020). Did find a 2003 for 4k that needed some work. Talked her down to 3k and since Im a mechanic by trade the parts didnt cost TOO much and ended up at 4k total after repairs. I LOVE this car.
Def pays to be a mechanic if you buy an older E. Especially up north. I have replaced the whole suspension front and back. PB Blaster, Piece of Pipe, Impact and my cutting wheel were my friend..lol Oh, and blood.
sept. 2020 I purchased a estate sale one owner 2005 with the original DOT dated 2005 tires! 83k miles! It had a all fluids change but no other service records . 3k miles later it is a fine driver and my mpg has been a low of 22 and a high of 26.4. This was a granny car from a family members estate and I doubt if it is typicle . Owning a Element was on my bucket list!
I have a 2003 Element I bought new. I now have over 250,000 miles on it and have only just started to have to replace original parts. Starter, radiator, some suspension parts and drive shaft. I was a mobile DJ for 15 years and I could put enough equipment in mine for a 250 person wedding ! Awesome car ! I still love it.
Same with my 04 EX AWD. It has fog lights and double arm rests as well. I will drop a new engine in it when the time comes. New cars and suvs are garbage. Most of them are insultingly ugly as well. They look like they were designed by retarded but evil psychopaths. Most have underpowered unreliable engines and garbage CVT transmissions and are full of unwanted "safety" features such as auto stop start. No thanks.
I've owned my 2006 All black Honda Element for about 1.5 years now, paid 6.7k. Got it at under 170k now I am over 205k. This is an absolutely amazing utility vehicle, arguably the most versatile vehicle created. I have absolutely thoroughly enjoyed everything I have done in and with mine. My favorite feature is the tailgate. However, there is one major problem - its well under powered. The a/c really strains the engine and drastically decreases gas mileage. If they had put the same V6 that they put in the Odyssey's this would be perfect.
It's possible your Element has something wrong with it. I have a 2003 and while I would not describe is as fast by any stretch I would also not at all describe it as underpowered. I drive with the AC on quite a bit and don't even notice it. Get a tune-up and maybe check your compression or something. This doesn't sound right.
We had one for 10 years. Orange with black plastic trim. Best car ever. We called it the Fun Car. Kept it in perfect shape. Lost it in black ice crash. Now we feel sick whenever we see an orange one. I can't understand why Honda didn't market these things harder. They sold twice as many as predicted at first.
I just bought one in august 2018 - Element 2009 110k. Of all the cars I've had, I love this the most. Oddly too. It's not a quiet ride, it also is marginal on gas (19-20 mpg-ish, give or take), ive had better stereo systems, and vehicles with higher clearance. But...I love it. The amount of room is awesome. I went camping, pushed the seats entirely down and blew up a full size air mattress, then slept in the element for three nights. Im 6'4", I slept better in that then I do at home. The rubber floor is perfect. Sure everything shifts everywhere when you turn but also I have kids and it is perfect, so much better than carpet. I love how the trunk space opens and the possibility for cargo space when you detach the backseats and attach them (via built in carabiner) to the windows. The element has zip, good acceleration power. Mine is 4wd all the time. It's great in all weather conditions. And this lil engine will probably last another 10 years if keep up the maintenance. I bought it because i know it will last. Do some internet research, read the forums, see how many element owners love the durability and longevity of their vehicles. That's why i bought a used 2009 element in 2018. I think it is a great vehicle, perfect for my needs and reliable. I'm hoping to have it for another 7-10 years.
I bought 3 of these little toasters. The "08 ex was my son's baby. He is a musician with huge bass amps and instruments that he hauls to concerts. Unfortunately, a speeding car cut him off when he was entering the exit. The little toaster flipped twice, and landed upside down. Thankfully, it held. The roof and sides protected him and left the passenger area intact! He crawled out unhurt. The car was totaled. He found a 2010 a few days later with about 100,000 miles. It sold for 10 grand. So we are on our fourth Element. They are perfect little treasures, and safe too.
@@lyndamchone2950 I've read several stories of Elements getting hit from behind, t boned and side swiped. I almost wonder if envious people are doing it on purpose. People are so mean spirited nowadays (not all but many).
Yea I work at a Honda dealership near the Detroit area and when we got a used element on trade It didn’t even get out of service yet before someone drove up from Cleveland to buy it, without even test driving it, and apparently he had 1 element at his house already
Love my 2007 with only 61K on it.....Wouldn't trade it for anything. Great car. Can haul my 3 wheeler recumbent and darn near anything else !! Get one while you can
I have had a 05 Element for about 10 years. Has 240,000 miles. Runs well is in the shop getting a new radiator right now but we have done very little other than maintenance since we bought it. We drive it on a muddy dirt and gravel road to our cabin. Will go about anuwhere. Ours is AWD. Does great in winter. Starts great in cold weather. Obviously we love our Element.❤
Some people just like getting different a different vehicle. Between 2003 and 2016 I owned 4 different Honda S2000s. Not one thing wrong with any of them. Different situations caused me to sell, then buy another. I was approached by people to sell my '02, then my '06....so I did because I was offered stupid money. So congrats Lyn Sheppard on owning 4 Elements. I just bought an '07 SC yesterday. It was meticulously maintained by its owner. Runs and drives like new even though it has 108k miles on it.
gundism.....my definition of a shitbox is something you hate owning. Element owners are some of the most loyal vehicle owners out there. My wife and I love this unique and amazing vehicle! And so do our 4 Boxers. The perfect vehicle for pet owners and campers.
It took me 3 years of patiently waiting but I found a 2008 Element SC with 130K miles and one owner. Not a scratch on it and garaged so paint was immaculate. Not a door ding anywhere. I have two large Golden Retrievers and this vehicle is perfect to take my pets to the lake, vet or traveling. I have carried small furniture I purchased and building material. I am very pleased with the versatility of this Element. If a new 2021 is introduced I will sell my 2008 and buy a brand new one. Be sure and buy rain tires on this vehicle as I get a lot of tire spin on the front when I accelerate on rain slick roadways.
I wouldn't. I'd hang on to the 2008. Nothing they make today is made with quality. And the engines are even more underpowered plus they are full of intrusive and annoying "safety" features. I would hang onto the older ones as though my life depended on it!!!
I LOVE MY ELEMENT!! It has everything I need...easy parking, amazing turning radius, big great windows, sits a little higher on the road, fits everything, great for moving, easy cleaning......for dogs, mountain bikes, spilled protein shakes! 22mpg on average, not bad for this size SUV. Very good to me and also fun to drive with a 5 speed! People in the back seat have lots of leg room! My 6' foot friends were very happy. Dorky, but so damn efficient.
I hated the element when it first came out. Around 2009, one of my wife's students let me borrow hers for a road trip to DC where I had to get my wife and stepdaughter who had ankle surgery. I fell in love with the versatility of the Element and I bought a 2008 from the original owner in 2017. It's quirky but I LOVE IT!!!!!
I own a 2008 Honda Element and I just love it! Fun car to ride,has some good zip..Fold up the seats on each side and place a thick foam in the back, push the front seats forward , and take a nap! The room you have is Amazing! While lying there ,look up and you feel like you are in a Large van!. . This vehicle blows my mind!.
Yes! Not too much bigger, though. The compact size and incredible turning radius is part of what made this vehicle a gem. Look at the new Mercedes G-class; evolution done-right albeit crazy ridiculous price. Just think how the Element could have evolved over the last 6 years.
They don’t need a larger version, they should just remake it pretty much the same size but offer a stripped down model for use by people in manual labor jobs to rival the Ford Transit.
Vehicle Hunter two options with a manual, swap to a 6spd from an SI or RSX-S and play with the gear ratios. Or swap the 5th gear for a 5th gear from an 8th gen Accord manual. Both would return better gas mileage. Lighter wheel/tire combo would help as well.
My '04 has been the mountain bikers dream. I've hauled power recliners, '65 inch big screens, lawn mowers, paintings, and people in my Uglium. Honda never reached out to me as an owner to ask about improvements. I looked every year for those improvements and they never came.
I always liked the vehicle and finally found an 08 SC with 78k mi a few yrs back.......jumped on it and like you.......I'll never sell it........I'm 63 and have had about every car out there........I love love love this car.......it just fits me for every occasion !! I can camp.......drag a washer and dryer around......tow my jet skis all while driving easily with comfort........love it !!!
@@VehicleHunter Im on my 2nd element and I bought the SC 2nd time around. I prefer the orginal style as its more robust. SC suspension is harsher and sits lower+18 " wheels. But does look cool tho. Very reliable as they are an Accord. Never fixed anything yet on my 2 elements yet with over 200k combined
Got a '03, 184,000 miles & runs great. But ran over a deer & now replacing the rear end due to the deer getting caught under the Element . Honda quoted $2,000 & told me vehicle not worth it. My garage got a rear end from salvage yard for $ 350! They told me the Element was worth it & I would easily get another 100,000 miles out of engine!!
I had 2003 ex (orange), 2006 ex (blue) and now 2011 ex (black) with 71,127 miles. I absolutely LOVE Honda Elements and so disappointed they are not made anymore. Great vehicle on so many levels!
do you still have one 5 years later? i'm looking at them for the cargo space; me and my kid play sports so this would be useful. but i'm not good at repairing cars so i'm worried about that.
I have an 04 element I bought new that currently has 486,215 miles on it. I bought it brand new in May 2004. Been very reliable! I’ll have to make a short vid and put it on my channel
I have an 03 Element, and I absolutely love it! My husband and I love that we can fit our entire family and all of our camping gear in it. Not to mention we have never gotten stuck with it, and we live in Montana where usually you will either get stuck in snow or mud. We also get amazing gas mileage with ours when we are keeping it at the recommended speed for optimal mileage. Even going 80mph/128kph we don't do too awfully bad through the mountains.
I have two dogs and they have no trouble hopping into the back of the vehicle. My Element has almost 200, 000 miles on it. I haven't had a single problem with the vehicle.
I owned a black 2006 EX AWD. I installed factory fog lamps which were cool. It was also amazing in deep snow. Minuses - mine came with the optional self decaying/ripping driver seat. It was also a little heavy for the engine as far as power and fuel economy. But, I loved it and would get another.
I own a 2007 Element LX, bought new from the dealership. It is my favorite car of all time. I've done a few upgrades (Rear power outlet, driving lights, trailer hitch with wiring, replaced head unit). It recently got me up and down the nearby canyons during heavy snow where everyone else was doing 20mph with flashers on. With no other cars around me, she'll do 45 through just about anything. It's also the best car I've ever slept in, due to the way the seats fold down into beds. FYI, there was/is a recall on the gauge cluster, for the reasons shown in this video (e.g. speedometer and/or tachometer gauge become remarkably wrong). Also, there's a recall for each of the front airbags (They're takata), and the factory wiring harness for the trailer hitch (Miswired, can hide a left turn signal when breaks are engaged). I had the dealership take care of all four of them for me, no charge. She's got 165k on the odometer now and at the rate she's going, she'll get to a quarter million before I can't fix her anymore.
Had an 06 and 08, both AWD... they are "very" light duty with minimal road clearance. Camperized both. Ended up going back to an Astro Van! Astros have more interior room and easily twice the payload and get almost identical mileage. The E is quirky and unique. Our advice, buy an astro.
I bought one brand new 2005 for my son to practice driving in high school, and he drove a bit during college. Now the vehicle is 15 years old with 150k miles on it, still running fine.last year I have to replace the alternator and the lower front arm , cost about 900 bucks and last month I used it to haul a 75 inch tv from Costco. I love this car.
I put two bicycles, fishing gear, backpacks and all my wife's necessities--lots of stuff--in our AWD Element. The Element reminds me of a VW bus in that it is simple, reliable, and extremely versatile. Our Element has a five speed transmission, which I prefer. Never giving up the Element. Oh, I get 26-27 miles per gallon. I keep the rpms below 3500.
Don't forget the rear spare tire cover also makes a picnic table if the legs are still in the compartment. Seats come out super easy, pull a strap and pull one lever and they just swivel right out. Lots of cool features, hard to cover them all.
wow you give me hope, I have a 2003 w/ 135,000 miles! I love my element so much it's never gave me any problems, the one thing I've never liked is the thick plastic that holds the front windshield... It's a total blind spot I've been about to hit sooo many pedestrians because the thick plastic blocks them :(
I have a 2004 Element with 215,000 miles on it. It still purrs and only needs to have the seats restitched. I keep one seat up and have plenty of room for my two dogs.
I LOVE my Ele..BluZen...'03 149k pd 5K.. purchased a year ago. Looking forward to campinizing, it. Too many ideas to choose from, but totally enjoyed camping in it last summer. I've owned two other Nissan SUV's, but Ele is sooo versatile 💙💖💙
Still have my 06' with just over 100k miles on it. No issues at all, have only had to do your typical maintenance. It's really sad they discontinued this car, such a perfect utilitarian design.. I'd pick another one up in heart beat. My only complaint is it isnt the best car for bad weather. The design catches wind and seems to hydroplane easily. I've had some close calls, but eventually learned to get in the slow lane and drive slow if theres any amount of water on the road.
I don’t unfortunately, ended up having a blown head gasket and with all the miles on the original engine it wasn’t worth the $$ to repair…the box had been retired as my daily driver so I had to part ways. It was a sad day for me…Damn I miss that car! ☹️
I found my 2011 Element Black EX about 20 miles from me. I see at least one every single time I head out in it or my 2007 VW Bug. LUV 'em both to pieces. I owned a 2006 Orange EX in 06 but traded it for the 2007 Yellow VW Bug. the 2006 was crap on gas, check engine light kept kicking on with less than 4000 miles. Well my 2011 I got nearly a year ago has 130,000 and the mpg went from 15 to 23!! I hope I can keep her for years to come.
Original owner here with 2003 EX model with 281K miles and still going strong. Not sure about the people here saying Honda is bringing back the Element. Seems that rumor comes around every year yet we never see a new Element.
I love my element!!! A few years ago someone scratched a cross into my drivers door right after I got it fixed in a hit and run! Sooo annoying. The cross was never truly able to get fixed so it’s just a black cross I have. I guess when you work in a city you never know what crazy stuff will happen. Still makes me sad though 😫
They should have kept the plastic panels. The utility aesthetic is appealing and appropriate for this kind of vehicle. Easy to clean. Somewhat Jeep like. Sort of like a modern day VW bus.
The black panels are a bitch to maintain and keep nice looking. Very time consuming. I have 2 Elements. One with and the other without all that black. It does look very good tho when it's detailed 😀
I like the panels as well but prefer the dark gray ones to black. Mine is orange with dark gray panels and the gray compliments the orange beautifully. I think black ones are bit to harsh looking on most of the colors.
@@samuelspade889 Why not get it done? The recall fix is free. Safety and piece of mind is priceless. I have 2 Elements and both were done for free at a local Honda dealership.
You will likely never see a vehicle like this again. Basic, price, functionality, repairability, and unique styling albeit controversial. Its cousin, the CRV, has turned into nothing more than a raised Accord. This was a true compact sports utility vehicle based on the Civic platform. It is heavy for its size; a lot of plastic and suicide doors required extra heft in the midsection. It is sad that Honda didn't listen to their customers and continue its evolution. Tax, title, license for my '04 Ex was just over $27K. I never bought a new one because I didn't see enough improvements in the 9 years of its existence. I would have gladly paid 30K for an extra 20-hp, slightly improved design, ergonomics, and payload capacity.
First off the Element was made for 9 years. 03-11. Secondly it sounds like your 04 was very expensive. $27K. I have 2- 08's I bought used and they both were about $22K brand new.
Bought mine brand new 2008. Never giving it up. The door configuration is awkward in tight parking spots for rear passengers that don't get it. Worst thing about driving it is no dedicated foot rest for my left foot, just the flat floor. And it is a bumpy ride. But I love it.
They're everywhere in Asheville NC.. that 'cheap' plastic holds up forever. Plus the Element, out of production in 2011, has plenty of parts in the pipeline since it shares a chassis and driveline with the still-produced CR-V. Bought our AWD EX new in 2004.
We have a green and a blue 03. Very handy and reliable. Drove mine from RI to Florida and back. One has 157,000 and the other around the same with a rebuilt engine. A bit sluggish at lower speeds. Front seats both ripped. Probably sell one for a car with better mpgs.
I own one of these and yes the 24 mpg seems underwhelming. Until I look at other alternatives. I was for example looking at some similar year Subaru wagons and they only get about the same. And with much less cargo space of course.
The Honda element tends to have a lot of drag on it from the squareness. That's the trade off. 2008 Ford edge gets 17 city 24 highway, of course it's with the 3.5 v6 naturally aspirated engine. Which car is more practical? The element
24 on a good day, maybe. Try 21.5 on avg. windshield water leaks because of rust under windshield is very common. you need to fix it before it molds. Mine molded and it was murder getting rid of the irritating smell!
Don't call the doors, "suicide doors". They are "barn doors". Look how far back the back seat is. My 140 pound Bernese Mountain Dog can turn a full circle between the front and rear seats before he lies down to sleep. When he sits up with his butt on the floor, his head is between the two front seats. Cool. The reason for the "plastic everywhere" is utility. You can sponge wipe everything!
I work at a large car auction and I see maybe 2 or 3 elements come through a week. They all have high mileage but they never sit for long here. Never more than a week. I used to have a 2007 element and I wish I had kept it. It was awesome and only had 61k on it.
The windshields do that - you can get it replaced, and do it asap. Insurance will cover it. I have power issue and shorts in mine because the prior owner didn't realize the windshield was leaking, and the water goes into the dash. prevention is the key lol.
The 07 gauge console is actually very easy to access and you can reposition the speedometer and rpm gauges and make them correct again. Might be a good video to make. I have to do it every few years. 164,000ish and still going. I love it!!!!
I used a touch of gorilla glue 3 years ago and haven’t had any problems. Looking to add an Apple CarPlay head unit and maybe a 2 inch lift. Love this car!!!
In 2021 it's nearly impossible to find a decent one. Picked an 08 up with 240k on it. For a steeper price. But in Very good condition.. high mileage isn't an issue for me.
I still drive and love my 2005 Element everyday. 220k miles, original A/C, engine, trans. 21-26 mpg. The bed is very comfortable and I made a custom bed sheet for it. Best $20k purchase ever.
230k on my 05 element. It is the most functional vehicle I have ever seen. I put it in the shop twice. 1 alternator, 1 starter. It's been worked very hard and it doesnt care. I will drive it to death!
I have a 2004 Honda Element with 200,7000 miles on it. I haven’t had to make car payments for 10 years. The chief benefit to owning a reliable, long lasting vehicle.
ive had a 05 5speed and 07 auto SC both 2 wheel drive and consistently get 23-25 mpg. They are a BIG vehicle and for a 4cyl thats not bad. They are basically a Honda Accord. Very reliable.
Saw one like new for 8k. Absolutely pristine. Paint, interior, everything. A 2008 SC with 160k miles. Offered 7k cash and they stopped answering my calls. It was long gone shortly after. You can’t even haggle with cash nowadays. Shame
I got my honda element for 10k(including the 120k repairs and whatnots I had to get) 117k miles, creampuff car. I bought it in Vegas so repairs and the car were substantially cheaper. A few months after I bought it, I had to take it to a dealership since my engine light went on (it was just because I topped off the gas tank) and there was a letter in my car from the dealership wanting to buy it from me for quite a bit more than I bought it for. They sell way too damn well in colorado lol
There's tons on the Northeast side but that's because no one really likes the look of them here,you can literally drive for days and not see one anywhere except at the dealerships.
@@mikemclaughlin3306 You are lucky. People around my area are like starving ravenous dogs where these things are concerned. You can't get to one fast enough before someone beats you to it esp if it's under 100 miles one way. And they are all at least 2k over Kbb.com dealer prices as well. Especially if they are under 200K miles. Only the ones over 200K miles are priced semi reasonably.
@@ES-mc3cc If they do bring it back, the body style will be ruined, it will have an even more underpowered engine, a "1.6 L turbo" abomination most likely and with a garbage, designed to fail, CVT transmission. And it will still be minimum 30 grand. Guaranteed. Oh, and I almost forgot, it will be full of annoying and intrusive government forced "safety" features such as auto stop start. You couldn't pay me to take one of these POS off the lot. They can keep them.
