Honda Car Forum

How does the Element do in the snow? I have driven the CRV and it is fine,
but the Element seems so tall and wide.

Thx,
Steve

In article <ewswb.29908$Xw5.16381@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com> , "Steve"
<corvallis@prodigy.net> wrote:

> How does the Element do in the snow? I have driven the CRV and it is fine,
> but the Element seems so tall and wide.
>
> Thx,
> Steve

Don't buy the Element. Honda built is to compete with the Toyota Scion xB.
It's poorly designed and in my opinion would turn over if you took it too
fast around a sharp turn. The CR-V and Pilot are much better vehicles and
any intelligent engineer would agree with me.

Thanks for the tip. I am looking at the Element only because I can get 2
people, 2 bikes, and 4 sets of skis INSIDE the vehicle. The only other AWD
vehicle that can do that are mini-vans. Why ... because I am lazy and
don't like hanging all my toys on the outside of the vehicle.

The Honda salesperson (female) showed me how to do tight turns at 20 mph ...
and how the ABS brakes work. I just want to make sure I buy the one she
DIDN'T drive because I don't plan on repeating those experiences.

I noticed the Element also got a poor rating on side impact collisions.
Finding a Element with side-impact air-bags has also been challenging.

In all seriousness ... thank again for the tip,
Steve




"Bill B. Johnson" <billbjohnson555@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:billbjohnson555-2411031152030001@pm1-broad-94.snlo.dialup.fix.net...
> In article <ewswb.29908$Xw5.16381@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com> , "Steve"
> <corvallis@prodigy.net> wrote:
>
> > How does the Element do in the snow? I have driven the CRV and it is
fine,
> > but the Element seems so tall and wide.
> >
> > Thx,
> > Steve
>
> Don't buy the Element. Honda built is to compete with the Toyota Scion xB.
> It's poorly designed and in my opinion would turn over if you took it too
> fast around a sharp turn. The CR-V and Pilot are much better vehicles and
> any intelligent engineer would agree with me.

We got to drive our Element this weekend in the snow 8+" Minnesota. It
handles fine! Actually felt as though there was more control than either our
Suzuki Vitara or my Trailblazer. Having been a SUV user for the last 20
years any of them will tip if driven to the extreme.....

Steve if you are serious about a balance of safety vs value saab and audi
both exceed at side impact. If you are looking for a decent balance
(trade-offs) of utility safety and value the element might work for you.

Botom line one can make a list of vehicles that have some fault or another
but I know of many many other cars on the road that I wouldnt get caught
in, The Element is not one of those.

"Steve" <corvallis@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:9Euwb.29924$RT5.8259@newssvr32.news.prodigy.c om...
> Thanks for the tip. I am looking at the Element only because I can get 2
> people, 2 bikes, and 4 sets of skis INSIDE the vehicle. The only other
AWD
> vehicle that can do that are mini-vans. Why ... because I am lazy and
> don't like hanging all my toys on the outside of the vehicle.
>
> The Honda salesperson (female) showed me how to do tight turns at 20 mph
....
> and how the ABS brakes work. I just want to make sure I buy the one she
> DIDN'T drive because I don't plan on repeating those experiences.
>
> I noticed the Element also got a poor rating on side impact collisions.
> Finding a Element with side-impact air-bags has also been challenging.
>
> In all seriousness ... thank again for the tip,
> Steve
>
>
>
>
> "Bill B. Johnson" <billbjohnson555@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:billbjohnson555-2411031152030001@pm1-broad-94.snlo.dialup.fix.net...
> > In article <ewswb.29908$Xw5.16381@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com> , "Steve"
> > <corvallis@prodigy.net> wrote:
> >
> > > How does the Element do in the snow? I have driven the CRV and it is
> fine,
> > > but the Element seems so tall and wide.
> > >
> > > Thx,
> > > Steve
> >
> > Don't buy the Element. Honda built is to compete with the Toyota Scion
xB.
> > It's poorly designed and in my opinion would turn over if you took it
too
> > fast around a sharp turn. The CR-V and Pilot are much better vehicles
and
> > any intelligent engineer would agree with me.
>
>

You have the TWD or 4WD?

riverrat wrote:
> We got to drive our Element this weekend in the snow 8+" Minnesota. It
> handles fine! Actually felt as though there was more control than either our
> Suzuki Vitara or my Trailblazer. Having been a SUV user for the last 20
> years any of them will tip if driven to the extreme.....

In article <9Euwb.29924$RT5.8259@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com >, "Steve"
<corvallis@prodigy.net> wrote:

> Thanks for the tip. I am looking at the Element only because I can get 2
> people, 2 bikes, and 4 sets of skis INSIDE the vehicle. The only other AWD
> vehicle that can do that are mini-vans. Why ... because I am lazy and
> don't like hanging all my toys on the outside of the vehicle.
>
> The Honda salesperson (female) showed me how to do tight turns at 20 mph ...
> and how the ABS brakes work. I just want to make sure I buy the one she
> DIDN'T drive because I don't plan on repeating those experiences.
>
> I noticed the Element also got a poor rating on side impact collisions.
> Finding a Element with side-impact air-bags has also been challenging.
>
> In all seriousness ... thank again for the tip,
> Steve

Steve,
You might want to check SUVs made by other companies such as Toyota. I've
seen some really huge SUVs made by various companies that seem to be well
designed at least on the outside. I know very little about the mechanical
abilities of vehicles other than the Honda vehicles.

billbjohnson555@nospamhotmail.com (Bill B. Johnson) wrote in message news:<billbjohnson555-2411031152030001@pm1-broad-94.snlo.dialup.fix.net>...

> Don't buy the Element. Honda built is to compete with the Toyota Scion xB.
> It's poorly designed and in my opinion would turn over if you took it too
> fast around a sharp turn. The CR-V and Pilot are much better vehicles and
> any intelligent engineer would agree with me.

This is unfair and inflammatory. I recently took two test drives in
an Element while my brother was shopping for a new vehicle. The
Element is as well built as any other Honda; I did not see any
compromises to make it compete with the Scion other than the
questionable styling. It is well designed and has a number of
thoughtful features that fit with the purpose of the vehicle.

It is certainly no more likely to turn over in a corner than a CR-V or
a Pilot and is IMO a better value than either of those. In fact, it
has a rather low center of mass for a vehicle with that much cargo
space. The handling and character of the Element remind me of our
Subaru Forester, which suggests it will be excellent in the snow.


John Ours
Intelligent Engineer

We have the 4wd. Minnesota you know.
Weve had ours for 2 months and have made 2 6 hour trips sp far along with
numerous local miles. Absolutely no compalints. Seems to me Bill has issues
with square shapes in general.
"John Ours" <johnours@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a2a85e45.0311241959.73cead24@posting.google.c om...
> billbjohnson555@nospamhotmail.com (Bill B. Johnson) wrote in message
news:<billbjohnson555-2411031152030001@pm1-broad-94.snlo.dialup.fix.net>...
>
> > Don't buy the Element. Honda built is to compete with the Toyota Scion
xB.
> > It's poorly designed and in my opinion would turn over if you took it
too
> > fast around a sharp turn. The CR-V and Pilot are much better vehicles
and
> > any intelligent engineer would agree with me.
>
> This is unfair and inflammatory. I recently took two test drives in
> an Element while my brother was shopping for a new vehicle. The
> Element is as well built as any other Honda; I did not see any
> compromises to make it compete with the Scion other than the
> questionable styling. It is well designed and has a number of
> thoughtful features that fit with the purpose of the vehicle.
>
> It is certainly no more likely to turn over in a corner than a CR-V or
> a Pilot and is IMO a better value than either of those. In fact, it
> has a rather low center of mass for a vehicle with that much cargo
> space. The handling and character of the Element remind me of our
> Subaru Forester, which suggests it will be excellent in the snow.
>
>
> John Ours
> Intelligent Engineer

>Don't buy the Element. Honda built is to compete with the Toyota Scion xB.
>It's poorly designed and in my opinion would turn over if you took it too
>fast around a sharp turn. The CR-V and Pilot are much better vehicles and
>any intelligent engineer would agree with me.

The following is a direct quote from the Car and Driver Feb. 2003
edition:

"So how does all this work? Well. Really well. The Element tackles
sinuous back roads the way Kelly Slater surfs 20-foot waves — so
easily and composed you can hardly believe it. The Element's driving
characteristics belie its odd looks. Despite its tall frame and
mail-truck appearance, the Element's low floor, wide track, and stiff
suspension — which is firm but not harsh — turn it into a sporty
machine. Through tight turns and quick transitions, the boxy Honda
stays relatively flat, performing like a Doberman trapped inside a
Great Dane's body. On the skidpad, our test vehicle pulled a very
impressive 0.78 g, which beats the CR-V's 0.72 g and even ties the
last BMW 330i we tested "

So much for Mr. Johnson's "expertise"

Check out some of the threads on the Message Board at Element Owners Club
for more on this from existing owners: http://www.elementownersclub.com

"Steve" <corvallis@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:ewswb.29908$Xw5.16381@newssvr32.news.prodigy. com...
> How does the Element do in the snow? I have driven the CRV and it is
fine,
> but the Element seems so tall and wide.
>
> Thx,
> Steve
>
>