Hi All...

Finally, I got to test my 03 AWD in the snow. It's like this. I live in So Cal & snowboard a ton ( every weekend you'll see me at Big Bear ). Anyway, my friends & I went today. As usual, I check the weather report before I leave ( possibly an inch of snow will fall today, a light dusting ). I get up to Cerritos, pick up my friends, & we roll out. As we're driving, we notice that the snow is right off the 15 Highway ( by the way, this is the one that goes to Vegas ). Hmm, thats kinda odd, but still not thinking much of it. So we start driving up to Bear. Highway 330 closed due to slides. Ok, alternate route. We start to go up the back way to Bear & notice the snow is getting thicker & thicker ( we had to easily have got 4-6 feet today ). Switch it into low 1 ( very slow going up hill ) & I got to say, I've never been more stoked about my Element than I was today. Handled like a dream on snowy ice covered roads. The funny part was that a Land Rover 4x4 was stuck, as well as a Ford F250 with the lift from hell. My "E" just rolled right past them. Well, they decided to close the road as we were halfway there, so we decided to go to Mt. High. The roads were about 50 times worse, & once again, the "E" did it's thing & cruised right up with no problems or hiccupps. So, if anyone was wondering how the "E" acted in terential snow, there you have it. Now, I know I said I live in So Cal, but you had to see all this white stuff. I grew up in South Boston & I haven't seen this much snow since the Blizzard of '78.

Later,
Chap

:)

Good to hear these stories. I was up in the mountains this weekend and tried out the E's capabilities as well. I, too, was impressed. I am having trouble getting used to a vehicle with a mind of its own as regards 2 v 4WD (I would like at least some indication of which mode the system is in) but it sure is slick in operation. I was playing around in a cleared parking lot that had thawed and re-frozen and I couldn't break the wheels free in several tries. Tires help a lot but I can say the E inspires confidence- the steering, wide stance, relatively low centre of gravity and good brakes all combine to make the E very stable. I am also impressed with the transmission - engine braking descending the hill is just right with O/D off .

And don't forget that with the A/T you can start in 2nd in slippery conditions. This reduces torque to the drive wheels, and reduces the chance that they will break free and spin.

paulj

first off, i must say that i hate big bear. the roads are allways closed. if you have to snowboard ( as i do) you must go to Mammoth! Secondly, Over the weekend i made a trip up to mammoth, my first roadtrip, i also im happy with the e's performance in the snow. I was goin on the 315 up to Mammoth. It was snowing like crazy. I must estimate like 1 foot every hour or so. So my firnd and i are driving up and about 1 mile away from the mammoth Village, theres at least 1 foot of snow. My buddy in his Mercedes ML320 stops and puts chains on, but i dont want to freeze my a$$ off so i keep goin. Theres like 1 foot of snow on the ground ( fresh Powder) and i make it up the hill in regular D ( drive) with no problems. I was super happy. WE get up there at like 1PM so after he finlly hets to the condo, we go out snowboardin. Then when we get home, shower and rest a bit, my friend thinks that it would be cool to go to the main parking lot and do some doughnuts. I agree , so we hop into our rides and drive up to the Canyon Lodge parking lot. There is another person doing the same thing!! it was fun watchin them do it in their Subaru WRX. So they finally see us and come on over. We talk for about 10 min, and then me and my friend decide to try it ourselfs. Now you might underestimate the ML320 as a overpriced auto, but youre wrong. It dod very well. I took a pic but i cant get it on this posting.. too big..

Cont

so anyway he managed to make a few good runs. Then its my turn. I start my ride up and pop it into 1st. I am bieng very cautious, b/c my ride only had 431 miles.. so i am kinda worried but i still managed to make a good run. I floored it and the tires went screeech and i got it sideways!! it was awsome. I wish i could post the pic... then the guys in the subaru come back over and are amaised my the element. They thought that the element had the 108 HP engine the scion had. so they were supprised. So we made a few more runs, then we went back home. When i got back to the condo i made sure it was all good. which it was. All in all it was all good and i am happy.

Hey Chap,
Was that with stock tires or what???

stockers baby, but again i have like 70 miles so theres like 99% tread remaining :)

Stock tires bro ( like Wrangler Gt's or something like that, I cant remember ). Already done the Mammoth trip 3 times this year cause that was the only place with snow. Bear Mountain roads have never been closed for me ( or atleast not in the last year i've been riding ). For me, Mammoth is cool few & far between. I'm more of a park rider, which Mammoth's park is kinda lame. Big Mountain, nothing can beat Mammoth, I will give you that. It just too long to drive ( from San Diego ) & a little pricey. Got the season pass at Bear & it's only 1 1/2 hours away.

Later,
Chap

yea i agree, its alot of $$$ and far, but if you stay a while its worth it. plus my friend has a condo up there so i stay fro free!