I am lookinginto buying a E. But I am very scared.. Every car I have owned has been a Ford and I love them so very much. I was very excited to buy the Escape until I seen the new E. I love the way it looks . But after reading these posts I am a little worried about all the problems. I understand they are furst year models but I really dont want a whole lot of problems especially when I will be paying in Cash for it. I would just like to know how the owners really feel.. Was it worth it? Thanks

Looks to me like Honda quickly fixed the problems. Seems like most of the problems were with the earliest off the assembly line.

If you talk to anybody that has owned a Honda in the past, they have nothing but good to say about them. I have a friend that had two Hondas go over 300,000 and just bought a new Accord.

All I can say is --- if you love Fords, you are going to be ecstatic about the Honda Element. I have owned many Fords and liked them but in general they are not as good as Honda. In fact I will say the Honda products are substantially better and more reliable than Ford products.

BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT
The Element is a great vehicle - not only are you going to get something relieable - you become part of this vast family

:lol: :lol: :lol:

ORANGEE

Are you serious with this question???? Your worried about buying a Honda and having problems and you own a Ford!!!

Take my word get rid of your Ford and buy a Honda. I owned three Hondas and then purchased my first Ford product, this was the biggest mistake in my life. I am happy to be back with my past......a Honda

I appeciate everyones feed back. As far as the person who dose not like Fords and had problems with them I am sorry to hear that. My first car a 1981 ford escort with almost 280,000 miles on it. Ran like a champ. Since then I have had a 97 escort, 95 ranger, and currently a 2000 windstar... Never one problem. Anyways. I do beleive I will break from my shell and try the Honda. Thanks everyone

[quote:5399ab294d="Ciara79"]I appeciate everyones feed back. As far as the person who dose not like Fords and had problems with them I am sorry to hear that. My first car a 1981 ford escort with almost 280,000 miles on it. Ran like a champ. Since then I have had a 97 escort, 95 ranger, and currently a 2000 windstar... Never one problem. Anyways. I do beleive I will break from my shell and try the Honda. Thanks everyone[/quote:5399ab294d]

You sound like a person who takes great care of your vehicles. You should do well with your new Element. Post a picture when you get it!

Let's see, 3 Fords, all 2000 models, with the following:

Idler pulley $600
Radiator $600
Alternator $750
Clutch kit $1200
Ignition key cylinder $650 (ya, that's right, $650!!!)
etc
etc
etc

I've managed to dump all 3 and will NEVER in a million lifetimes give a nickel for another one of those pieces of **** on wheels

Oops, almost forgot, 3 transmissions at $1200 EACH!!!!

I laugh when I pass the Ford "wheeleranddealership"

I hope that little prick in charge of that mess eventually gets his red mustang that he keeps whining about on the commercials. It'll probably be the first Ford he ever owned

By the way, I dearly LOVE my ELEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!1

SO!! Yer a Ford Man and are gonna make the big jump, are ye? Well, lemme tell ya, you won't go wrong! I was a Mopar man since 1971 when I got my first Dodge Dart V/8 brand freakin' NEW. Never had a prob with the engine (except a valve job at around 40 thou) and kept it for 11 years. Had Mopar car after that, including a little Plymouth Colt with a penchant for squeezing out 40+ mpg!! But after so many years, I switched in 2001 to a Honda CRV and never regretted it. Had I not had the oppportunity to grab a E, I would have put more into the CRV to make it more bitchin' looking, even though it looked that way already.
You will not regret buying an E (unless you are a real stickler for gas mileage) because of the looks you will get, the people stopping you to talk about it, and the fact that you are a member on this board and part of this club and that all the nice people on here all stand by ya!!

Shaka!!

Ger

LOL this is SO the wrong forum to try and boast Ford pride. I'll never buy a Ford cause every single of them I've been around has had SO many problems. My parents will only buy American which is cool, but they always buy Ford and have problems constantly. I've owned 3 Hondas and loved every mile of them. My E is by far the best one I've had, I'm completely in love w/ it and get physically sick to think about somebody hitting me or somethin'. I almost got rear-ended 2 DAYS after I bought it, I must have been stark white.

I read a recent article where it stated Ford loses $1500 every time it sells a Taurus. Whereas Honda, Toyota and Nissan are actually making profits on the cars they sell.

My first car was a '67 Ford Mustang, which I dearly loved until a hit and run driver killed it, so I have a soft spot for the blue oval. However, I can't help but be a little disturbed by the recent (past) problems Ford had with the Exploder (Explorer) rollovers. We lost a gifted Dr. at my hospital due to one of those crashes. One of the reasons I purchased the Element was all the positive safety test info that I read and the reputation Honda has for quality. I'm actually a Mopar person and this is the first new car I've purchased that wasn't domestic.

I was so glad to get rid of my piece of **** Ford. 2000 Windstar with 62,000kms when I got rid of it and in the last year they replaced the transmission and the engine. No that is american pride for you. I was so happy to get back into a Honda again. Oh ya paid $32,000 for it new and when I traded it in 2.5 yrs later I got $10,000 now that is some resale value. I might as well have thrown my money in the garbage.

I've got a '97 Taurus which has served me well for the last 5 years and 100,000 miles.

Of course, I stopped driving it the day I got my E! :o

Don't hesitate to make the jump!

Cars:

87 Honda Accord LX-i. bought used as a beater daily driver when I worked in DC. bought with 95,000. Sold in 2001 at 316,000 miles. Still runs. I see the guy driving it around...

85 VW Gti- 230,000 miles. No problems. Loved it. Swore I'd NEVER buy a non-german car. Lost it to a hit & run driver. then bought...

89 Mitsubishi- 90,000. One tranny and over $9,000 in repairs over 18 months. Mitsubishi is translated as "piece of S**t"....sold for...

95 Acura Integra- 60,000 miles (VW did not have the new GTI out yet). Oil, tires, brakes. No problems. Got hooked on Hondas. traded for.....

98 Dodge Durango- 44,000miles (Honda did not have a mid-size SUV). brakes (at 18,000!) and front inner tie rods, bad wiring that almost lead to engine fire, 3 malfunctiong gas gauges (told me tank was full, was actually out of gas, stranded all 3 times) and a gas tank that was not properly secured to the truck and almost ejected on the highway. Wasn't too happy....Paid $34,000. Got $18,000 in 2000! sold for.....

96 Honda Del Sol- 33,000 when purchased. now has 80,000. no problems at all. Oil, tires, brakes. Why did I ever buy a non-Honda?????

Bought my E 4/1/03 to retire the Sol for weekend/nice day driving only. Have 5,300 miles. No problems. No rattles, squeaks, rocking, cracking, klunking or geneal mayhem.


So, Ciara79, BUY THE HONDA!!!!!!! Keep your money in the long run!!!

If you want an honest opinion, I've had 3 Fords (4 if you count a Mazda truck which is a Ford rebadged) and this makes the 3rd Honda I've owned. The first was an 84 Escort. 10000 miles on it bought in 85. Nothing but problems. I drove it to Key West one time it let me down 1000 miles from home. 18 years old and no money to get it fixed. Had to call my mom to wire me some money. Not a pleasant experience. I owned an 1981 Accord with 100000 miles on it and it did pretty well, but it was getting near the end of it's useful life. I owned 2 Ford Rangers and they were pretty solid trucks, and I would recommend a Ranger again to anyone looking for one. I owned a 97 Accord (used) and it did OK, but had this problem with a burning oil smell. No leaks to be found anywhere. The Element is the first NEW Honda I've owned. I have good experiences with NEW cars vs. USED.

As I've discussed in other threads, I'm a Ford TRUCK guy, and have been very happy with the reliability (owned a '66, a '79 and the '89 I've got now). I and other family members have owned a few other Fords (Mercury Sable, Taurus, Contour, Tempo) and had very poor reliability.

I'm thinking about moving to the Element, but it's a big decision. I can't keep both because of $ and parking spaces. How can I not have a truck????? Well, I think I'm going to do it anyway.

Found On Road Dead[/b]

My Element is a truck. Anyone who thinks differently is sorely mistaken. :lol:

but not quite...

I gave up my 1990 Mustang 5.0 convertible for the Element, but I'm still waffling on letting go of my '79 F-150 4wd, too

It a gas guzzling beast, for sure, but for hauling junk and really dirty things, I'd rather not have that in my E. I would say at it's most functional, the E would be closer compared to the utility of a van, not a pickup...plus if I want to tow something big or climb over something big, it's nice having a beast arrrr, arrrrr, arrr

just my .02 cents

Ciara79 hey about your dilemma check out the reviews and reports on the Escape.. it is one of their biggest mistakes to date.. it is having alot of problems. Now you recall the rough tumble Hyundai had.. well Hyundai now passes Ford, GM & Chrysler in reliablity and customer satisfaction..

Now Hyundai though beating all of the American Manufacturers still is not a Honda.. but I want you to realize the comparison is not isolated to Ford alone, that you may have gotten lucky and I am thrilled for you, but take a look at the various reviews out there and you will see Ford GM & Chrysler have had a long standing record of not being reliable!.

But check out both, drive both, and listen to what people ahve to say.

I am sure you are aware the Escape is also the Mazda Tribute. Consumer Reports gives it a below average reliabillity and states the interior space is good, it is fairly nimble in handling but stiff and noisy ride. he v6 is lively ome interior appointments look and feel cheap.

Consumer reports has not recommended it due to the problems it has already presented.

Oh and a note on the Escort, that is the ONE car they did make well.. now why did they stop??? Look at their new economy vehicle the Focu, another Aspire/Festiva mistake eh?? What a shame. Such is life..

again good luck!

I bought a Hyundai Excel new in 1988 (my first new car purchase I was 20 years old). Bare bones car, with a 4 speed manual! I had that car for 5 years and put 134000 miles on it. Not the most reliable machine. I had to replace the AC Compressor, the starter, the alternator twice, had to replace an engine seal behind the timing cover that caused it to leak a quart of oil a mile. It did its job, though, and it got me through some fun times, like the time of putting 5 people in that thing on the way to see a concert. I had a lot of memories in that car. HOpefully the Element can give me some more memories, even though I'm 10-15 years older now.

[quote:6acd4b795c="wr70beh"]I bought a Hyundai Excel new in 1988 (my first new car purchase I was 20 years old). Bare bones car, with a 4 speed manual! I had that car for 5 years and put 134000 miles on it. Not the most reliable machine. I had to replace the AC Compressor, the starter, the alternator twice, had to replace an engine seal behind the timing cover that caused it to leak a quart of oil a mile. It did its job, though, and it got me through some fun times, like the time of putting 5 people in that thing on the way to see a concert. I had a lot of memories in that car. HOpefully the Element can give me some more memories, even though I'm 10-15 years older now.[/quote:6acd4b795c]

wow took that excel the long haul, that is awesome.. and from what you went through you see my point about with all those problems, and sure Hyundai has come along way (way to go Hyundai) of course they are not perfect but for their flaws they still rank above GM Ford & Chrysler!!

Enjoy your E!!

Never ever has a foreign car been in our driveway until now. Mostly Chryslers and after a decent amount of problems over the years we were predicting a subaru buy for our next car. Guess what? There is now an Element in my driveway. I'm really happy with this decision. Nobody talks about the VALUE aspect of this car. We were in the market to spend almost $10,000 more, but why? ABS brakes,Air bags,AWD,AWD,AWD,Sound system w/mp3 and it is so great looking.If this car fits your needs you'ld be crazy not to buy it. Plus Honda's hold their value better.When they realize who is buying this car they will repackage it and raise the price.

I've owned teo Ford vehicles over the years. A Mustang GT and a Windstar. Although I did not have any major problems with either of them they do not compare to Honda when it comes to over-all reliability. I owned a 93 Civic SI that I drove harder than any car that I have ever owned. I sold it after six years and 160 000 kilometers. I was shocked at how it had held it's value. I have also owned an 87 Accord EX that I'm still driving today. This car looks like a bomb hit it. It has so much rust on it that I refer to it as "Urban camoflage". This car's value doubles every time I fill up the tank but I will not get rid of it until it dies a horrible death. It is mechanically sound. My Element will be arriving in a few days and I will be parking it right next to the Accord.

Honda and Ford are not even in the same league.

Get the HONDA! :lol:

I own both an Escape and an Element (the Escape is my wife's).

We love them both (I love the Element more, she loves her Escape more).

Hard to get an unbiased answer from this group (why I don't post here much) as I'm sure it's hard to get an unbiased answer from a Ford Escape group.

Anyway, I posted the following comparison of the two back in April. Nothing much has changed since then, both cars have been great.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1357

I agree that it is hard to get an unbiased opinion here. I believe that every vehicle has it's strengths and weaknesses. The issue here was that someone was questioning the quality of a Honda. Having owned many vehicles in the past (both domestics and imports) It is my opinion that Honda is far supperior when it comes to reliability. They also have a much higher resale value. When it comes to parts and repair costs....Domestics win hands down. I just feel that Honda, Toyota and Nissan pay attention to the little details that the domestic manufacturers over look. Again, I have had no majour issues with the two Fords that I have owned in the past but I have had absolutely no issues with either of the two Hondas that I owned.

cheers 8)