Cousin Bought an Element

[aaaantoine]

Just a little reminder why these hideous things sell.

What's funny is as I walked towards my uncle's house I saw the car and said "aw man that thing's ugly...". I'm just glad I made no comments when I went in to the house. I could have offended her.

But think about it. What other car company sells a vehicle with an interior that can be hosed down? GM had the Envoy XUV, for a good $20k more than the Element sells for. They also had the Aztek, which was a similar concept, both in form and in function. And pick-up trucks, well, in general it's not a good idea to keep a dog in the outer compartment of a moving vehicle.

Edited July 3, 2006 by aaaantoine

[Paolino]

Yeah, this guy I went out with a month ago had an Element... he said he LOVED it... it was the fugly orange one. He is 26. The car is hideous.

Not to mention another guy I went out with like 4 months ago... he had one. He was 38. He said he LOVED it. The car is hideous.

The only positive thing I can say is that the car is VERY deceiving... the interior volume is incredible... you get in, and the car feels twice as big as it looks on the outside. But... the car is hideous.

[Satty]

They're hella-useful, very practical, but a bitch toi drive if you're taller than 5'9.

[zhawk]

You mean the Element is actually a car? I was certain that it was just the leftover boxes that Honda had from when they shipped parts.

I don't care how useful it is, I agree that its hideous.

[91z4me]

Did the dog make a mess and the owner say "Hey I want a car that looks worse than that!"?

[Flybrian]

A friend of mine bought an Element for a day out to the beach. Oh wait. Its actually an Igloo cooler. Sorry, I confuse the two.

[ShadowDog]

If ever there was a vehicle one could say only attracted buyers interested in what could accurately be described as an appliance, the Excrement...er...Element practically comes in a box off the shelf in WALMART.

[CARBIZ]

Recently when I was walking through a large parking lot, I spied an Element and then 3 vehicles over was an Aztek. I asked my partner, who is Brazilian and really knows nothing about North American cars, if he liked either one.

He stood about 15 meters from the two, looked them over and declared that he thought that one might be a newer version of the other. When I explained that critics absolutely loathed the Aztec but heap praise on the Element, he expressed surprise.

I have a Husky and I wouldn't be caught dead in an Element. It isn't fit (no pun there, either) for a dog to pooh in.

The entire interior of the HHR can be easily wiped down. But since when is an old carpet or towel not easier to clean? I've had dozens of different vehicles and never had a problem with my dog hopping in the back.

[DetroitNut90]

All the Elements sold around here are driven by old people who either don't want or can't afford anything more substantial. I think I've only seen 2 being driven by people under 60.

I imagine that they do have impressive cargo-carrying abilities, but that doesn't stop them from being an eyesore.

[aaaantoine]

I don't know why I'm surprised that there have been 7 responses already and none of them positive. Where are the Honda sympathizers? ...Where's siegen?

[Paolino]

I don't know why I'm surprised that there have been 7 responses already and none of them positive.  Where are the Honda sympathizers? ...Where's siegen?

Want something positive? If you cover the radio, you can take a hose to the interior--it's just solid plastic... including the floor.

[ocnblu]

Where else can you get so much space matched with so much economy and AWD?

[pow]

I don't know why I'm surprised that there have been 7 responses already and none of them positive.  Where are the Honda sympathizers? ...Where's siegen?

Personally I think it's a successful design. It's unique and unlike any other car, but it still looks balanced and finished.

[trinacriabob]

Pardon my ignorance, but I can't visualize this car. Is it sort of like the Scion box? If so, that's U-G-L-Y.

[regfootball]

Where else can you get so much space matched with so much economy and AWD?

aztek. same / better real world mpg, cheaper transaction price...more space. more comfort.

better looking...sorry about the plug

Edited July 4, 2006 by regfootball

[regfootball]

what a mess

Edited July 4, 2006 by regfootball

[trinacriabob]

That looks like Eurotrash

[Turbojett]

Here's how low the Honda Element rates on my radar:

When I first read the title of the thread, I was thinking she got a skateboard, and was perplexed as to what the dog had to do with any of this.

Edited July 5, 2006 by Turbojett

[aaaantoine]

It's a 2006 or 07 Element - with painted plastic panels (for better or worse... I'm thinking better, but not by enough).

Someone in the house said, "Oh yeah, she got a new car. A Honda... something."

I'm thinking, "Please don't be the Element. Please don't be the Element."

So she walks into the house and they ask her, "What kind of car did you get?"

Even she stalled for a bit. I'm still thinking, "Please don't be the Element. Please don't be the Element."

She says, "A Honda. Element."

My stomach sank. But I guess I can understand her reasoning.

In response to Turbojett: So Honda makes skateboards, now?

[76ChevyTrucker]

All right, I have to say that the Element looks like a polished pile of horse $h!.....I cannot stand them. I'd rahter have me, and my dog in the bed of a regular pickup (most dogs don't jump out of pickups if they're well-trained) cruising down the road.

[balthazar]

No one needs to hose out their interior. No one. People are told this is a benefit, a neccessity, and they believe it. It's ludacrious.

The element where half the body is cheap black plastic is the farthest mass-produced.... thing from "finished" available. It's the vw Thing of the new millenium.

[nyscene911]

Maybe people buy elements to get the Red Stripe effect?

"You sir. You are very, very ugly."

*Puts him next to Element*

"Look, you are BEAUTIFUL!"

[zhawk]

Maybe people buy elements to get the Red Stripe effect?

"You sir.  You are very, very ugly."

*Puts him next to Element*

"Look, you are BEAUTIFUL!"

Sounds like Hondas new marketing campaign is here.