"Mr. Al" <albesure@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bfnnfs$bm1$1@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...
>
> Right now I have a Civic, but feel a little uneasy when winter comes, so
> thats why I was thinking about an suv.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Al
>

i bought the element a few months ago. this thing is the mos maneuverable
vehicle that i have ever driven! the view out in any direction is superb.
the layout of the driver controls are an issue if you have big hands. my
hands hit the windshield wiper stalk on occasion. the tilt wheel gets in
the way of the speedometer when it is all the way down. this is more of an
issue with my height and the way i have the seat height set.
the AWD. hmm... i am a little disappointed so far with it. they call it
'real time four wheel drive'. the power goes to the front wheels until they
slip, then they send a little power to the back. i haven't driven it in the
snow yet, but i have driven it hard in the rain. very nice in the rain. i
drove it down a gravel road and tried to imitate [insert your favorite Rally
Cross Champion]. it seemed to spin the front tires nonstop. i think the
threshold of front tire spin to rear tire power input is a little too large.
i would have liked to see the power go to the rear tires a lot sooner. it
seems to me that, in the snow, you could theoretically get stuck until you
mashed the gas pedal.

well, just some thoughts. maybe i am wrong on all counts!
--
bob z.

"people with less brain power than you are doing more difficult things
everyday"©