Honda Element
 

This car is coming out sometime this December. If I like the test drive I think I'm going to have to have one:D

http://element.honda.com/images/bann...oto_08_mid.jpg

It has some really interesting features like suicide doors, the rear seets fold down and then to the sides to make it have capacity like a pickup.. I figure the looks would grow on me eventually.

As long as you're not racing it on the streets, nearly slamming into a group of kids, then hey, what an awesome rigg.

Only YOU would know that! LOL, just messing with you.

Re: Honda Element
 

Ktsnake!

This car is NOT pretty! LOL It looks like it was made by Mattell or Tonka.

ZA

i agree, ZetaAce!!!!!!!!!

I don't care about looks but functionality! I like the fact that I can get this much cargo space:

http://element.honda.com/images/bann...oto_09_mid.jpg

And the suicide doors are nice...

http://element.honda.com/images/bann...oto_10_mid.jpg

Wow, that is a lot of space!! Cargo room is always a must.

But then again, the Escalade has a lot of space too and it's preeeeeeetty. :)

http://us.autos1.yimg.com/autos.yaho...3/ESCALAD8.jpg

Edited to add: Yes, I know the Escalade costs about 3x as much! lol

Are you serious, kevin??? You actually like this pile of crap?

Honda is looking for a quick buck - aka pontiac aztek or the new ford explorer sport. Vechicles for the individual that can't decide if they want an SUV, Truck or Sedan. Maybe you should consider the Toyota Highlander instead.

U-g-l-y you ain't got no alibi, this honda is ugly!

http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...rachlos040.gif

I also am not a fan of this vehicle... yuck! :)

For my Intro to Media Advertising class I just finished a media plan/buy for the Element. We had $25 million to spend for a 4 month campaign that hit all major media types. I've done so much research on the Element that I'm sick of it, and the vehicle isn't even out yet!

It doesn't surprise me that ktsnake likes it though, since college guys are the Element's target audience. Honda wanted to start getting gen y to be Honda buyers for life, so along came the Element. Honda actually went to the X games research and get in the minds of gen y guys. From this, they decided to include features such as suicide doors, wipe down seats and floor, an MP3 player and video-game auxiliary jack, fold down seats, lots of space (enough to fit some type of surfboard a certain way), and a bunch more things guys would like. But I still think its ugly.

If you want to learn more, check out Honda Element Web Site.

i think everyone needs to stop looking at buying imported cars, trucks and suvs. I dont know about this honda element, i think there are several vehicles that can do the same thing. also, is there some reason you need all the space? is there anything you need a lot of cargo room for?

It may be Honda but it's made in Ohio I believe.

KtSnake- I think chopper's point is Buy American! LOL Am I right Chopper? I have a shiny non-American car, so I don't have any comments about that. ;)

Nwsigkap - I'm glad to know I'm not in the target audience for the Element! LMAO

ZA

It is American. I am sure that it is built by American Honda Motor Co. at the plant in Marysville, Oh. The U.S. is the only major SUV market in the world because SUV's use more gas and gas is cheaper here than anywhere except where we import it from. Yes, American Honda's parent company is based in Japan, but what about Daimler/Chrysler? Ford owns Mazda, so is Mazda now American? Ford owns Volvo and Jaguar as well, are they American? BMW X5 is made in S.C. and I think that the 3 Series is as well. The M Class Benz is made in Alabama. I think that American made is where the car is made, not where the parent company is located.

I've had bad experiences with American cars.. I had to have my old Blazer's engine rebuilt at only 120,000 miles. After that the car kept falling apart piece by piece.. I'm at 120K on my Toyota 4Runner now and have to replace the brake pads, CV boots, just normal maintenance.

Generally speaking foriegn cars are more reliable than domestic.

my experiences have been different, my dads car has over 200,000 miles on it, still running strong, i beat my firebird into the ground and it took it like a champ, just your basic maintainence like brakes, oil changes and what not.

KtSnake-

Isn't that a question of how well it was maintained or maybe external factors? My parents had a Blazer (1986) and racked up over 250K miles on it. When they finally got rid of it, it wasn't because it was failing, it was because they wanted something else. Any car will fall apart with poor maintenance, even a Mercedes. (I'm not saying you didn't maintain yours! :))

I really don't have any opinions on foreign v. domestic, because like I said I drive a foreign car. The car I owned before it was American though, and I had no problems with it.

ZA

except for Korean cars - hyundai and kia are Junk! Worst cars in the world.

btw Jeff, who owns Saab? I think it's GM but i could be wrong. If the big American companies didn't buy out all these smaller foreign companies they definitely wouldn't have a considerable market share that they currently enjoy.

Hondas and Toyotas are such good cars... but they still have nothing on the class and performance of European cars...

Anyway, this thing... Element... whatever... DISGUSTING! Get a car that is functional and attractive, NOT THIS UGLY THING!

that thing is UGLY. almost as ugly as the aztec and ptcruiser. if any of my friends ever bought one of those things.....ugh

Elements are very cool, but I'm stuck deciding between a CR-V and a Pontiac Vibe.

Whats up with all the new super ugly box cars. I saw that new Hummer and it looks horrible. I guess people always want something bigger and better. I was watching MTV cribs and someone had one (cant remember who) and they were saying that the hummer only gets 10 miles to the gallon. :eek:

Trouble with the Hummer is that it has a hard time fitting into garages with other cars. I think the main appeal of the Element is its utility. Suicide doors, no carpet.. (I always thought carpet in cars was a bad idea). Just generally a functional vehicle.

Ford only owns 33% of Mazda and I hope they never have more than that because I like my Protege just the way it isn't and don't want it to become unsafe and inefficient. Maybe when somebody can show me an American car that gets 40 mpg and isn't a death trap or putt-putt, I'll buy one, but until then I'll be a Mazda girl. :)

(Can you tell my family has 3 Mazdas?)

whats an American car?
 

hi There,

I've worked at all three Big Japanese auto manufacturers in the US. They are all within a 10 minute drive of my house. What I remember best though is the whole Buy American movement that was happening when I was working at Nissan. There was this poster that asked what is American. Is it the Cadillac that's made in Australia, the Fords that were made in Mexico, the Nissan trucks made in Tennessee, the Hondas made in Ohio, or what. Ford and Toyota have a jointly owned plant up in Fremont, California (may be closing I believe and moving out of country) so the Fords and Toyotas that come out of there are they Japanese or American? If Ford closed everyone one of its business, affiliates and all, in the United States and just stuck with the European manufacturing it still wouldn't go bankrupt andstill be one of the major car companies in the world.

If you own a Honda check your VIN number. If it begins with a J its manufactured in Japan, if it begins with a 1 then its American made. If you own the Odyssey its only made in American so I'd consider that an American car.

The Japanese companies have been building plants all over the United States and employing hundreds of Americans to work in those plants. yet you go to Detroit and the American manufacturers are shutting down plants and laying off workers. Many of these plants manufacturing jobs are being shipped to plants overseas where its cheaper to do jobs. So which companies are truly benefiting Americans? At least with cars I don't think you can say to buy American because do we know what is an American car anymore.

Within the Greater Toronto Area i can count 5 major car plants, 3 of which are 'American'. If you drive a Ford Windstar it is made in Oakville Ontario and only in Oakville. The Chrysler M3 is Made in my hometown of Brampton Ontario. These are both 'American' Cars neither of which is assembeled in America. In a global economy like this one it is hard to buy 'Domestic'.

Re: whats an American car?
 

Actually ford has plants in dearborn Michigan, somewhere in kentucky (dont remember the city, but thats where my wrecked explorer was made) and cadillacs arent made in australia. GM owns a company in australia called holden i believe, one of their cars is the platform for the new pontiac gto. maybe the reason american car companies have plants in other countries is because they have operations there and they sell cars there.

also, you cant make the argument that jobs are being lost here b/c plants are moving overseas. gm and ford sales dropped 18 percent last month, i think that plays a role of people losing their jobs. for example, ford cut jobs a few years ago at one of their plants that makes trucks b/c sales fell and there was less demand, so they cut back labor. it happens to ford, GM, Toyota, honda, the business cycle is the business cycle, it doesnt matter who you are.

LOL! I'm happy to hear that. I drive a Mazda 626, and its a pretty spiffy car, considering it was a hand-me-down. I'd be *really* unhappy to think my car came from the same place as a scary-unsafe-piece-of-crap Tarus (which I find to be driven by the worst drivers in the WORLD!) Given the choice over a Kia or a Hundayi and a Ford, I'd have to go with the K-car. I'm not a fan of American cars at all. My family had a Buick. The thing was the largest piece of crap ever.

The Boyfriend's parents just traded their '00 Maxima for a Caddilac CTS :rolleyes: They're such nouveau riche wannabees. They shoulda put that 35K on a Mercedes or a BMW or a Jag - those don't drop as severely in value as a regular old piece of GM crap

american cars arent all unsafe and inefficient, thats kinda of false assumption. also, show me a foreign car that gets 40 mpg thats not a hybrid, b/c there is no mazda that gets that much at least in the city, and i highly doubt all your driving is done on the interstate

out of the three, you selected the most unsafe and unreliable. ford is proven to make better cars than kia or hundyai. also, my dad drives a taurus with over 200k on it, still running strong, my moms buick has over 100k and hasnt had any problems besides normal maintainence. my firebird never had problems and was running strong till i traded it in. and cadillacs can hold value, just depends what kinds.

Actually, I do get 40 mpg overall...fair mixture of city/highway. I'ts a 1.6L 103-hp 5speed. I'm not saying they're all safe and inefficient - but there isn't one that is safe AND efficient like my car.

I was in 3 accidents in a 1992 Protege, none of which were my fault, and my car was hardly damaged while I saw a Mustang and an Escort get wrecked. The Civic in the 3rd one was fine.

Had another collision, my fault unfortunately, in a parking lot with a Marquis, it had $300 damage, I had a 3-inch scratch.

I'm thrilled with Mazda's value and I can see no reason to spend more and get less with an American car.

You know Mazda is redoing its entire line of cars? No more 626
:( When the boyfriend decided to get a new car he was looking at the 626 but was wary of it because they're getting rid of it.

He got one of those sexy new Altimas instead. I love Nissans - they are practically indestructible. His 89 Maxima went 220K miles and 12 years before it got traded - its probably still running somewhere.

Yeah, it is the "6" now, it doesn't look too bad but definitely isn't the same as the 626...my dad has one and it's decent. We have a Tribute as well.

The only real complaint that I have with my 626 is that the battery poles are reversed from most cars, thus making it a bit more difficult to find a battery. Other than that, its a great car :)

Juniorgrrl - I'd take a Caddy over a BMW any day of the week and TWICE on Sundays (especially the Cadillac Roadster that's coming out, that's just a hot car). The 3 series BMWs are TRULY for the 'nouveau riche wannabees'. That's just my opinion, people.

Za

PS: Ford owns Jaguar and Aston Martin, and I don't know anyone who would pass up one of those.

C'est Vrai! Thank-you. If you plan to shell-out 30-40k on a lower-level luxury car go for the audi A4 or Saab 9 3....

sorry, i forget who said that Hyundai/Kia and safer than Ford...wow, i don't know about you but i don't see many older models of the former sill on the road...

Maybe its just the fact that they still owed 15K on their other car (when it was worth less than that) because she HAD to have a Caddy. Why? Because her son needed a new car and bought a shiny new Alitma. (The black interior on that thing is *sexy*). They're just all about spending money to look good, and everyone else thinks they're a joke. Yet, she had the nerve to utter (in reference to a possible engagement ring for me) "I suppose she wants platinum" as if to say that I'm a princess who is wanting way too much. :rolleyes:

Wanting platinum doesn't make you a princess, that just means you have good taste, chick! :) lol

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

Jaguar SLK is the way to go.