# Honda Element: Yeah or nay **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123 "2004-03-02T16:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/1 "2004-03-02T16:33:00Z")
With the recent onslaught curses being thrown on SUV’s as of late and my willingness to be alittle more frugal I was looking into something that may be a little more earth friendly while still holding a good amount of utility. Conundrum: I drive a Chevy Avalanche Solution: Drive something smaller, better fuel economy, and yet hold a utilitarian, sporty type appeal. [The Honda Element](http://images.usatoday.com/money/gallery/2002-ny-auto/1-element.jpg) : USA Today, Consumer Reports, and Car and Driver all rate the Element very high across the board. It is a great little sporty conveyance. Anyone have any experience with these…do you like the look…? I like the amenities: > [@](#): > > The urethane-coated utility floor is practically impervious—it resists scratches and keeps the dreaded clean-up from being quite so dreadful. I like this…as my wife and I do a lot of hiking and mudding around…Well I do the mud thing 🙂 I have an old CJ in the garage for hauling little things with the trailer…but I’ll need a beater truck to haul the boat… Best part: With the relative equity I have in the Avalanche…the Element fully loaded will only run me right around 5K. 🙂 I don’t see where I could go wrong… ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/2 "2004-03-02T18:00:21Z")
The Element is hideous. It looks like a breadbox on wheels. All that plastic molding makes me wonder if Rubbermaid had something to do with its design. The price, however, is low - it seems you get a lot of bang for your buck. From what I gather, Hondas are pretty reliable, too. I like the way the rear seats fold away. I also like how the side doors open. I agree with you with regards to the vehicle’s flooring - very neat. By the way, I think the Avalanche is ugly, too, so there you go. Verdict: The features and specs are pretty cool. The vehicle looks stupid, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lao\_Tsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/3 "2004-03-02T18:05:02Z")
As much as I respect Juanita’s opinion, I have to say I LOVE the Element. It’s not your typical jelly bean car. It’s fuel efficient, comes in AWD, and it’s appearance is the result of its functionality. If I didn’t love my Tacoma, I’d have one. I may yet. IMHO FWIW ---
**Author:** ![Jamlad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@Jamlad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamlad)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/4 "2004-03-02T18:22:48Z")
A recent Element thread: [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242384) I own one and think it is an excellent vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/5 "2004-03-02T18:23:07Z")
Most of my friends talk about how ugly the Element is whenever we see one. We thought the Aztec was the ugliest thing on wheels, but the Element usurped the title. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/6 "2004-03-02T18:23:18Z")
I see a lot of them about, as they were released early in Silicon Valley/San Francisco. They look ugly to me, almost embarrassingly ugly. But if you don’t mind the appearance I am sure they are decent enough vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/7 "2004-03-02T19:05:30Z")
Ugly has been covered, but their appearance is…um…“striking.” Hondas are reliable cars. SUVs are prone to roll over. Any research on how The Element fares in this arena? The Passport seems to be good at staying on its feet, maybe Honda engineered some stability into their newest abomination? (There. I said it. Ugliest damn thing on the road…after to the Aztec.) Hondas (the coupes/sedans) enjoy wide popularity with car thieves, as do SUVs in general. This may develop into a problem for owners of The Element. Of course, the Rubber-Maid factor may serve somewhat as a theft deterrent. ---
**Author:** ![dublos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@dublos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dublos)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/8 "2004-03-02T19:27:36Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Anyone have any experience with these…do you like the look…? I’m coming up on my first full year owning my 2003 Element. It is Awesome. Yep, it’s boxy. It’s got that rubbermaid thing going on with the floor. It drives more like a car than a truck. It’s the first vehicle I’ve owned with ABS… that’s a really weird sensation the first time that kicks in. I went for the blue, but I think the green’s cool too. ---
**Author:** ![Thirty-Nine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@Thirty-Nine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirty-Nine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-element-yeah-or-nay/232123/9 "2004-03-02T21:51:59Z")
[Maddox](http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=ugly_cars) (who fights joy the way the Straight Dope fights ignorance) did a piece with the element in… Hope you can take it in a good natured way! At least it got a better rating than the other three cars 😉