Does anyone have a solution to the armrest dilemma? The driver's side storage armrest accessory by Honda does not seem to be big enough to be utilited by the passenger and I would REALLY like to have one on the passenger side. I thought (sometimes scary) that I could pull up the drink caddy floor console and add a big locking console/armrest.

Does this seem to be a viable solution to the problem? My Element has not come in yet so I don't have any dimensions to go with.

The Armrest is too low. It needs to be raised a couple inches for it to be helpful.

Come on Honda.

For some of us.........shorter people, the arm rest is great. I can finally use one when I drive. :)

I would say be careful thinking about pulling up the center console, your parking brake is there. If you don't want/need to use it, you have a bit more room to work with, but otherwise, the area would be small to install something.

Does anyone have some pictures of the armrest/storage compartment? I only can find pictures like the one Honda has on it's site. I would like to see a few more.

Thanks

To get an idea, and install instructions, you can check out http://www.handa-accessories.com/element.html

I have seen the instructions but what I was hopping to see is real pictures of the storage inside, a picture of the arm from behind so I could see how wide it looks and a shot of it in the up position.

i think armest/storage will be very helpful..

The armrest/storage is helpful. I will see what I can do about pics of it.

Thanks RML

Thanks for your input, I will have to watch out for that darn brake. Please let me know if you have any more suggestions.

I love the driver's side armrest with storage. It not only perfectly lines my arm up with the manual shift, but it has been wide enough for all of my passengers as well. There is a small gap between the passenger seat and the armrest, but it has not seemed to bother my passengers, as of yet.

When my acccessories are in, the armrest storage is one of the things I did get. I will take photos of it, if RML does not beat me to it, smiles.

It does say on the h-and-a site that it is not to be used with Manual trans, Elementowner, are you speaking of the standard one or the storage one.. that kinda makes me wonder.

I just checked out h & a website and saw the note you mentioned. I have both the manual trans and the storage armrest and have yet to see any reason why they shouldn't be together. Of course, the dealership didn't mention any reason either (but then again, I knew more about the element than they did).
In fact, I think the positioning of the armrest is one of my favorite things about the E (it's those little things that make me happy)(':D'). The only possible annoyance is reaching down to the center console to lift the parking brake, while the armrest is down (it is pretty wide), but I have already gotten used to raising the armrest as soon as I stop the car.

I will definitely let ya'll (oops, now you know where I'm from) know if I find any other problems with the storage armrest and man. trans.

Elementowner,

Well, let me guess you are not a Yankee :wink:

well not all southerns are bad eh, grin.. :wink: Elementowner, heck you have an Element that proves it right? Yes please keep us posted about the manual with the storage armrest!

It does look nice, sob, i look forward, sob, to mine coming in.. :cry:

Yeah raising the armrest does become a natural habit.. i know i have those kinda tendencies too. Now do you hit the emergency parking brake every time you park? I used to have a habit of that (many moons ago) but have not had an issue with the vehicles I now have... including the Element.. would love your input.

So where abouts, down yonder, do ya'all hail?

Let's see, as far as the parking brake, I don't know if I could ever break that habit. When I park, the brake comes up. Simple as that.

As for where I am from, these days I hail from Dallas (grew up here as well) schooled in San Antonio, and born in Minnesota. If its not one extreme, its another. Maybe that's what attracted me to the Element. :wink:

I plan on posting some picks of the manual w/armrest storage - but first I have to finish working.

cool I will look forward to dem pix... and Texas makes sense for some reason I have really liked every person I have met from Texas, and NY talk about extremes, but my closest friends always seem to come from those specific two states creepy huh?

cool well take care of texas, ciao!

Sorry these pics took so long - seems I'm always working. Enjoy the pics of the armrest, hope everyone gets their own. I will add some more pictures as soon as I find somewhere scenic enough in Dallas (could take a while). ':?'

http://homepage.mac.com/mwboyd/New_Car/PhotoAlbum6.html

Elementowner: great pix.. thank you.. butttt how about opening it and taking photos too, smiles.. i wanna see the insides of it.. ya know.. throw a cd in there to so we can see the overall dimensions!

looks like it is excellent with the stick, that just does not make sense why it would be suggested to not have this with a stick, hummm...

thank you again, great pix!

Does the storage armrest sit higher than the standard one? It is really the only thing I didn't like about the interior. I'm a pretty big guy (6'2") and the armrest lowered to the same height as my leg. So technically I could just rest my arm on my leg. The armrest was useless. I saw the storage bin, and thought it might sit higher. Otherwise, I might have to void the warantee on my driver's seat, and drill a new mount for the armrest. :-)

Keymonkey,

sorry, it uses the same hole as the regular armrest.

It basically removes the mount, and you put in a new base to attach the new armrest.

Elementowner, Nice photos but I was wondering if you would reduce the resolution for those of us who don't have DSL connections. Those 2272 x 1712 shots don't show up that large in the slide show anyway. took me about 5 min. to download on my measly 48k connection. Thanks :wink:

Sorry, Sharp, sometimes I forget how the world of 48k works. Give me a little while and I will cut them down. :?

Keymonkey - the armrest angle is adjustable (at least mine is) - my father is 6'5" - I'm a measly 5'8" :lol: - either way - we both found the armrest to be incredibly comfortable despite the difference in height. I would definitely recommend the addition not only for the comfort, but the storage space is invaluable as well.

GYPSYTDA - so you want some action pics, huh? Well, I'll see what I can do. :wink:

[quote:668f31124e="keymonkey"]Does the storage armrest sit higher than the standard one? It is really the only thing I didn't like about the interior. I'm a pretty big guy (6'2") and the armrest lowered to the same height as my leg. So technically I could just rest my arm on my leg. The armrest was useless. I saw the storage bin, and thought it might sit higher. Otherwise, I might have to void the warantee on my driver's seat, and drill a new mount for the armrest. :-)[/quote:668f31124e]

I'm only 6'1", but that armrest is way too low. The salesman on the Test Drive said that's the only recurring complaint he gets during test drives.

The way that armrest is positioned it's like not even having anything there for most people :roll:

Here is an advantage for you tall peoples out there, with the armrest dillema... You can attach more storage on top of the armrest, and double your storage capacity as well give yourself more comfort...

there are tons of after market armrest storage things out there, and most certainly they can be worked to attach to the accessory armrest storage honda has...

just a thought!

when I test drove the EX model that had the storage armrest, that is one accessory that I have to have when I buy mine. It is wide enough when my hubby was driving it, I as a passenger, was able also place my arm on it as well. There is a bit of storage in it as well that works fine for me. Worked for me, was comfortable but when Honda comes out with an armrest accessory for the passenger, I would have to purchase that and get it installed as well.

for those who has seen up close and in person the storage armrest, and those who already have it.. from what i see in images it does not appear there would be room for the passenger seat to have an armrest as well.. or is that an optical illusion.. very curious, thank you!!

Gypsytda,

There is in fact, not enough room to have 2 armrests installed. You might be able (depending on height) have both the driver and passenger use the same armrest.

RML thank you that is kinda what I suspected!

Elementowner, thanks for the pics. It will help in my decision to ante up to the armrest upgrade. For long trips it looks like you could put a little pillow on top for extra comfort.

I am like totally obsessing on my accessories and I am still about 3 weeks out before my EX arrives. So far I am going to get the air deflector, keyless with security, those little plastic window visors and ..... this is the biggy, I am going to have them take out the subwoofer and put in the storage compartment that is standard in the DX. I am a NPR listener and rarely listen to CD's so a subwoofer would just be a waste.

OkieBug: I am curious about the storage replacing the subwoofer you are planning to do, did you find an option to place there, or are you ordering parts from Honda? rather curious ...

when we were looking at the element that was the one difference we did not like that the ex did not have but the dx did.. but we did get the ex.. so i am intrigued to hear about your plans.. Thank you!

well... I told the dealer when I ordered that I did not want the subwoofer and could they "swap" the subwoofer and panel that comes with the EX, with the storage compartment that comes with the DX. The dealer said they could and I even had them write it on the sales agreement. It looks as though the size of the compartments are the same and it would be a pretty easy swap... thats if there is a extra DX around to swap it with. This won't be a deal breaker if they can't swap but I could press the point and maybe get a free install on the armrest.

I was wanting to do the same thing with the wheels, swap the EX alloy wheels with the basic DX wheels but my husband and friends say I am crazy. I like the utilitarian look and the alloy wheels are a bit too snazzy for my liking. I will probably wait until I pickup my Element to decide on this one.

OkieBug: cool & thank you.

Alloy wheels stay with those, alloys are always the better bet.. you can always find some after market ones that have a "rougher" look to them but definately stick with the alloy, you will NOT be sorry!

Enjoy & I will look forward to hearing how all this goes for ya!

>I was wanting to do the same thing with the wheels, swap the
>EX alloy wheels with the basic DX wheels but my husband and
>friends say I am crazy. I like the utilitarian look and the alloy
>wheels are a bit too snazzy for my liking. I will probably wait
>until I pickup my Element to decide on this one.

I agree with you about the wheels. I've preferred the steel wheels since first seeing them on the "cut-away" Element photo in the brochure. Totally utilitarian & totally appropriate for the E. I just bought a set on eBay for $100 including shipping and will "downgrade" as soon as they arrive. Am going to keep the alloys stored in case I sell or trade the E at some point.

Be aware that preferring the steel wheels puts you in a very tiny minority of E owners - most folks think they are majorly ugly.

element-j, I showed my husband your website to prove to him I have not completely lost it. Our tastes are very similar. I bet you even did the "back and forth" thing (EX?/DX?) on the build your own element section on the honda site to check out the different wheel styles.... well maybe not, I am a bit OCD. I must have camped on Gypsytda's site for about a week before I ordered (by the way G, thank you).

Your comment about the wheels made me not suprised at all that you selected the shoreline mist. I picked that color for the same reason you did, the interior color selection. It is hard work to be non-descript and boring.

OkieBug: You are too funy " It is hard work to be non-descript and boring." that made me chuckle thank you

and also thank you for enjoying the site i have, hope it helped somewhat..

i looked at the shoreline also, but i could not quite tell if it was more beige (whichI don't like) or perhaps a champagne (which might be interesting).. I was afraid the blue would blend with the composite panels too much.. I love the contrast, thankfully it is a perfect compliment, they show off just right!

Shoreline Mist color is kind of like Sunset Orange in that it changes color a lot depending on what light you see it in. Sometimes it looks gold, sometimes bronze, sometimes light, sometimes dark. I like to think of it as the color of sand since the beach is where I intend to be taking my E as often as possible.

very cool.. (element-j description of shoreline mist)

I'm not sure about the Element, but on many vehicles with 4 wheel disc brakes, using the parking brake helps to adjust the rear brake pads. It works a ratchet type of adjuster located in the rear disc caliper assembly.

It should say more about this in the owner's manual.

bigmo, very interesting i will check on that.. thank you.

Those DX rims are ugly; listent to your husband OkieBug !

Just once.


Just Kiddin

Hello i have a question about the armrest why wont it fit if it has maual tran. Is the emerg break in the way? Does anyone with the 5 speed have the larger armrest installed? Hope someone has the answer.:)

We have it and it fits fine. I have no idea why Honda says it doesn't fit manual transmission models.