So many members have told us/me that this site was partially responsible for their decision to buy an Element. So, we're curious to know....

Did Element Owners Club (this site) have an affect on your decision to buy an Element ????

Thank you for your participation in this study.

I did lust aftrer an E of my own after I first saw it, but through this site I fell in love!

The most helpful forums helped answer questions, gave real life E experiences, and offered words of warning/wisdom with the first year model issues.

So I voted....Yes, this site helped me decide to buy!

Thanks again Tom....this site rocks :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'd already decided to buy an E before I found this site, but it sure made waiting for my E bearable. It can be directly blamed for all the accessories I decided I just had to have after reading up. :roll:

This site wasn't a direct influence on me in buying an E, but it sure helped in swaying me towards an E. This site was also a great resource in figuring it all out once I decided that this was the car for me, as in what is decent price to pay for it, 5spd vs. Auto., Dealers to avoid, Extended Warranty, etc, etc.

Speaking of which, I'll be picking up my new 4WD SOP EXS Auto at the end of this week. I'll be sure to post my experiences with my purchase/dealer when it's all signed and done.

Thanks to this site and all the members for their informative posts.

It was one look in the Globe and Mail that did it for me. It was reviewed on the front page of the Automotive section and I fell in love. The bf and I went down to look at it that night - Thursday and I spun a deal on the Saturday. I think it was the Sunday that I found this site. It was a whirlwind weeend at the end of January.

I was seriously interested in the E. This site quelled any nagging concerns.

Ya but I bought my Element on December 15th and test drove it on Dec 17th, 2 days after it hit the shops. I would have used this site, but alass, I found it after I bought my E.

We'd already decided to get an Element, but this site has been invaluable as a resource.

My first post here was about considering the Element vs another vehicle I had liked (a Kia Sorrento).

I asked about some things that were of concern to me, and got answers from Element owners. I also said I'd have to test drive one and knew what to look/listen/feel when I test drove it because of this site.

Then I went and bought Lucy from someone who posts here on EOC.

So, yes, I'd say EOC was a big factor in my purchase. :wink:

Another choice for Poll:

Saw it in a magazine / newspaper article way before they came out

I can't remember which (Parade or Consumer Reports) that I first saw an article about the Element, but that was where my interest was first piqued. Went out on the internet and checked it out, but I don't think this site existed then, or else google didn't find it. Then I kinda dropped it until our Honda Civic had another die-in-the-middle-of-nowhere and had-to-tow-it episodes. Researched further, and then waited until we could find one Feb 28th that a dealer would actually sell to us.

We did have to decide between an Xterra, Forrester or an Element. Review articles on the internet helped us there.

I found this board 4 days later.

This site was absolutely crucial in my decision process. This is an interesting poll! More votes and comments would be really helpful here. :D

I purchased my E about 2 weeks before I found out about this site. This site and all the of its members really did help me with decisions on audio equipment and to really get to know my E. My real buying decision was because I had to get out of a unreliable car while I still had equity in it and Honda was the only one who would give me a good trade in. My other choices were Protege5, Mazda6, Acura RSX and the timing was right when I saw the E on the lot, i really loved the look of the thing and weighing out my options, it did not take me long to decide that the real value, functionality and bang for the buck was the E on top of Honda's offer to me.

i found the site after we bought our e.
i spent about 4 months going around and around about what i wanted to buy (after getting the serious hots for the element when i first saw info on one).
had i found this site sooner, i could have possibly saved myself some mental anguish.

I knew i was going to buy the element when i first heard that it was coming out last year... But i learned valuable things about the E on this website and it was very helpful as an E owner..... Thanks and keep up the great work.

I bought my Passat 2 years after shopping around and nearly buying an A4. When I saw what people were doing to their VWs on ClubB5.com, and that I could transform the car into something very close to an S4 - I was sold. That and the community was close and has saved me serious dough on repairs and accessories!

When I saw that similar boards were up for the Element, it was a huge relief. The people here are a lot more reasonable that say ClubSi.com, which is important. Seeing what info was already available, the discounts and info I could get online sold me. Also, seing that noone really had any first-model year troubles was a BIG selling point.

voted: No, I was sold the moment I saw it.

I surf and i need all da room im 6'6 i needed leg room i loved the sunset orange pearl color loved everything about it the seats make into a bed what else could u ask for easy to clean i was sold as soon as i saw it!

I have to agree w/ MrCLoWnY. I wanted it last year (again, I talked someone else into buying right when it came out) I had to wear my hubs down into getting it this year. He was saying we were going to wait until 2005 right up until the day we bought our E. :twisted: Heh heh... girl power! *bats her eyelashes*

If I would have known about the Elements problems.....like rocking seats, cracking windshields, clunking doors and the louzy service I would have bought a Ford Escape or even bigger Explorer....because this element and its problems is bugging me......have been to teh dealer 4 times to get the rocking seat fixed and it is still rocking, they damaged my car while trying to repair my seat and were very rude to my wife, who got mad because of all the wasted time in the garage with a brand new verhicle...

I hope Honda people are reading this and working on their quality of verhicles and costumer service!

I had not found this site when I purchased but it has been invaluable since. Thanks for the great site I truly enjoy it here. This is my first and I dare say only online community. GREAT SITE

yes. very much so

I thought it said that I'd bought my E before I saw this site (so the site didn't influence me) - once I'd voted, I realised that it said "Didn't buy.."

Guess I should have voted "didn't need convincing to buy an E - love at first sight".

So, add one more vote to "love at first sight" and subtract from "didn't buy..."

After I got the E, I found this site, and it's great! I might have got a 4WD... maybe... and I almost certainly would have got a better deal if I'd seen the site first!

I have never bought a new car before, but fell for the E. Reading here how much everyone enjoys theirs, and being aware of the glitches/shortcomings already experienced by others, has been tremendously helpful.

My obsessing on this site has armed me well for the dealers!

jen

This site definetly influenced my descision to purchase an E. I had no Idea there was such a strong following of owners dedicated to keeping the E community informed and providing valuable information to those in search of their perfect E.

Kudos! :D

Fell in love with the E when one parked next to me about 8 months ago. I told my family that this is the vehicle I wanted. The only problem is I didn't think it would be 'practical'. I started looking for a new car in early December and almost settled for a minivan. The E kept popping up, so I did some research, found this forum and decided on the E.

I was sold on the interior space, (legroom, cargo room,...), the floor(have 2 dogs, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Golden Retreiver) and Honda reliablity, as well as the price.

:D I was sold the minute I saw it. Detroit Auto show on TV. I knew right then I wanted one!! :o

It was only after my purchase that I found this and the other 4 sites I visit. This one is my favorite though.. :D

E ON!

Kerri
AWD EX SOP E (LIL H2)
Mastiffs On Board

Thank goodness my wife has some sense and didn't like the Freelander. After reading the good and the bad on this site I purchased the Oriole Orange :D

Yes, the site influenced my decision to buy. Until 3 weeks ago, I though the E was very ugly. But then I saw it at the Atlanta auto show and saw how much room it has. I was interested in and came close to buying a Hyundai Santa Fe, but I kept researching the E, found these boards, and saw how much everybody loves theirs. Finally went for a test drive this week, and I came home with my new EX 2WD FBP on Sunday.

I wanted one as soon as I saw it on line. Looking at Hybrid Civics I came across it. When we picked up the Civic I strolled (fast) to look at it up close all was lost at that point.
However this site has helped me greatly I dont even remember how I came across it.

Yes, the moment I saw this site, I ran out and bought one...and every accessory I could find. (There, you can sell that to the site sponsors). Truth be told, I bought the E and then found the site. Had I found it first, it certainly would have been a selling point to know that there's a resource/ community like this available.

I was bit by the "E" bug the second I saw it! The EOC just reaffirmed my decision! :P

Thanks to everybody here! :lol:

i was sold at the moment i saw it (just took five/six months to get the money :roll: ) but the element site did affect my decision to get an extended warranty i.e; the cracking windshields

and whoever puts that decided not to buy the element, why would they still be looking at the forums?!?

i was dreaming of the element before it was even created, so it was mine, and i was chasing dealers to get mine..

i found this site, rather it found me, before i officially adopted mine, and i sincerely enjoy this site!!

I am glad to see how helpful folks are here, and the information is amazing.. it has to be the element of people this site attracts to have such a wonderful enviroment.. thank you all!

Site did not influence my purchase cuz I didn't find it till after. I would surely be lost without it now though. What an unbelievable source of info it is.

I wanted one the first time I saw it! The site enabled me to be more objective about the decision. A huge help in that regard! Ordered mine today...er, make that yesterday! :D Thanks!

8)

and whoever puts that decided not to buy the element, why would they still be looking at the forums?!?
GOOD POINT!
Wonder if they could chime in and let us know why they're still here??!! :lol:

This site did convince me to buy an Element but it also almost convinced me not to buy. All of the posts about cracking windshields, rattles, etc. made me at first think no to the Element. Based on my unofficial survey I decided these problems were a small percentage of Element owners. When I would ask people with Elements if they had have any problem with the windshield, they'd just look at me like I was E.T.'s ugy brother. Was a classic example of hearing only the bad. How many people who own Elements go to the trouble to look up an Element web site to report they've had no cracks or rattles. Very few I suspect. I also suspect people have such a high expectation when purchasing a Honda that when there is a problem it is magnified. Anyway we bought and are completely satisfied. I will however be watching the windshield for a while.

I wish I had known about this site before I bought my Element. It would have made my purchase even easier (if it could have possibly been easier)

Oui

We haven't bought our E yet, but because of this site, we have made the decision to buy an E. We're just deciding on what accessories to put on it and what color to get it in and then we'll start our wheeling and dealing. :)

this site is helpful in confirming that you are getting a good deal when buying and knowing what to look for and expect with the vehicle. reading posts here definitely has saved me time and money, while enhancing the experience of getting to know the element!

it never ceases to amaze me that mfgs don't do sites like this and that they don't post on them. actually i have seen MiniUSA post on the Mini sites but you seldom see it!

kudos to all involved!

So far I have gathered a lot of great info from previous threads and answers
to questions I've posted. The E is now at the top of my list and I can't wait
until the fall when the wifey goes back to work. If everything goes well and we
don't have any money draining catastrophes between now and then I should
buy mine sometime in the September to October time frame. This site and
the helpful folks on it are a big reason why. The wait is going to be unbearable.

I was already in the market to purchase a new vehicle. After I first saw one and then done a test-drive at my local Honda dealership I was hooked. This site alone help reinforce my decision and also help me be aware of the fault the Element may have i.e. windshield etc. Overall all very happy, obsess and broke.
If I park next to another element is because of pride, commonality also another E owners is less likely to open and slam their door against mine.

My friend was actually considering getting one so she went and test drove one. I tried to steer her away from it because I though it was one of the ugliest vehicles I had ever seen. Once we went inside, I fell in love with the interior but she decided that a CR-V fit her needs better.

I couldn't get the vehicle out of my head, so I kept doing more research on it. That is how I came accross this website. Upon reading all your posts I decided I really wanted one. Then I went on my own test drive and was dissapointed with the blindspots, and the whole windshield issues convinced me for about 3 days that I didn't want one. I literally went through EOC withdrawal for those 3 days. Then I decided that I just couldn't stay away from the vehicle and that I would just have to learn to drive more cautiously and that I would just take my chances with the whole windshield issues.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I took delivery of my vehicle, and I could not be any happier!

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I took delivery of my vehicle, and I could not be any happier!

HA, HA, HA! ! ! !
Another convert! :lol:
Welcome to the club Blackdog1! 8)

Well, actually I was excited about the E when I first saw it at the Honda dealership. I started to do some research on it and that is when I found this site. The EOC was the final key in convincing me that the E definitely would be the right choice for my family and me. As I was doing my research on the E, I also learned what a fun place this EOC site really was. Not only does it bring me great information, it also makes me laugh a lot. There are a lot of humorous people here. I think Brendan is a great asset to the site as well. He chimes in every so often and his dry sense of humor really adds to the forums.

I think Brendan is a great asset to the site as well.

Aww, shucks.

He chimes in every so often and his dry sense of humor really adds to the forums.

I do pretty well, as long as I don't mention paint....twice...

:)

-brendan

Brendan? "Dry" sense of humor? Perhaps. "Subdued" might be more like it. But, just so you know, he pees his pants just as often as the rest of us do! Don't let him fool you!

I first drove an E when I had my accord in for an oil change. They handed me the keys and said to take it for a ride and tell them what i thought. It looked funny and felt a bit strange until i took it down the road. It was fun to drive, had great visibility and a good sound system. I was not ready to purchase a vehicle at that time ,but I came back several times to be sure I would like the E once i bought it. It has been a good experience.

Brendan?...just so you know, he pees his pants just as often as the rest of us do!...

Depends.

;)

no idea what you're talking about!

...was my reply, when 'Bald Eagle' brought it up first time and shortly after i bought my e

the possibilities...would i only have known earlier, how could i possibly survive without my daily EOC visits???

It helped me buy.

I had a few questions and concerns that I wanted answered from an objective source, not just the dealer, who didn't necessarily know the answer anyway. After looking at this board, I was comfortable enough to buy.

Thanks,

Extensive lurking before buying helped alot! (So did the price difference between the E and the Pilot, for almost identical uses!) :) Thanks for "sharing."

THANKS LilSilver for reviving this thread!


I didn't know about this site until after purchase. The sales dude mentioned it and I just kind of smirked. A car is a fricken car, right?

Anyway, I hated this car when I first saw it. A GGM at the grocery store. When the driver got in, I figured he was some kinda GI JOE wanna be.

Anyway, when I had to replace a car, while reading reviews the E just kept coming up as the right car. Size, price, milage, (no V6?), and decided to buy after seeing interior and driveing it.

No, but if not for the EOC I wouldn't have known about the optional armrest, which I installed {it's my wife's car} and now my wife owes me, as she's in love with it.

This site definately played a role in my car buying decision! :)

I began researching cars in January, three months before my Accord lease was set to terminate. The Element was not on my "shopping list", since I had never seen one or even heard of the car. I conducted some on-line searches, discovered this site, and became intrigued with the E after seeing one in a showroom and reading about them here.

As many of you have experienced, the "intrigue" quickly changed into "obsession", and it was during this phase that I began using the website. It fueled my excitement for the Element and provided me with some great insight about the car from the many owners who post here. This was invaluable!! The biggest thing this site did for me was to calm my phobia of buying a "doofusmobile" or "nerdwagon". :shock: This "club" swayed my way of thinking into viewing the E as "cool", unique, fun, practical and not something everybody in the world is driving.

Thanks T-Mac for creating this site, which I've gotten a great deal of enjoyment from these last few months! :grin:

I was almost sure that this was the car for me, but I still could have been swayed, but then I started checking out this site. Mostly just to get an idea for problems and potential mods. Soon I saw the community of E owners and was sucked right in. Was this site an influence, Yes! I don't know that I would be an owner today without it.

The J

Hello. My name is WartHog, and I am an E-owner.
I've had my E for two weeks.

(Chorus: Hello, WartHog.)

My story is similar. I knew little about the E, except that it looked sort of 'goofy'. Somehow (I don't recall how...) I stumbled on this site, and the obvious fun that everyone was having was infectious.

Decision factors:

Reading the real-world 'crash test' results showing E's suffering relatively moderate damage in crashes that would have devastated many cars.

Honda's reputation for quality and longevity, and my own prior experience with an Accord.

Very low depreciation. As someone just pointed out on another thread, I could buy a brand new one at 1.9% for lower payments than a year-old at used car interest rates.

Firsthand accounts of the E's comfort: 'I'm 6 ft 5 in tall and weigh 350 lbs. Just drove my E coast-to-coast in 4 days non-stop and arrived wide-awake and well rested, clean-shaven and neatly pressed!'

My discovery of the E's rather odd optical illusion: it simply 'looks' a lot smaller than it actually is. In pictures and from a distance it seems about the size of an econobox. But, park it next to a 'regular' SUV, or stand beside it, and it seems to be much larger than you thought. Climb inside and... Holy Mackeral! Your in an amphitheater on wheels. (How do they do that?)

Meanwhile, the counterpoint chorus of 'Windshield cracks! Windshield cracks!' and the undertones of 'Oh, Momma, the gas mileage ain't what I expected' added an air of sobriety (and veracity) to all the euphoric glad-handing.

The gleeful fun and comaraderie of enthuiastic owners painting their dashboards, changing the color of the panel lights, and swapping pictures of their tires and mud flaps.

By far, the most important thing was reading the testimonials from owners who were even surprised themselves at how much they loved their E's more and more as the weeks and months went by.

You just can't ask for better press than that.
- - - - -
Epilogue

Yes, 'TIRES and MUD FLAPS' I said, for Pete's sakes.

But wait, there's more: E-ers are standing in line for tickets to drive halfway across the United States so they can take a tour of a car factory in the middle of (and I'm not kidding about this) OHIO!

Whatever delightful madness it was that consumed those who dared to dwell within the World of E, I knew not...

But, I had to have it, too!

I have wanted one since the moment I saw one....but this site has been a great help in my decision that it was the right time and how to get the best deal on one.
Also....add-ons and names for my Element...and all sorts of important info.
:-)

I bought a motorcycle with a very strong owners association on the internet. So this place was a big added bonus. I must have told the salesman about this place 10 times and gave the web address 3. The tips and fixes on both boards is great!

When I was looking for a vehicle for my business I needed something that was versatile yet got half way descent mileage. Cargo vans were out as they are gas guzzlers and built on 70's tech. So then it came down to the Rav4 and the E. Once I started reading more and more and found this site I was hooked and never looked back. Yep, looks a little strange maybe even ugly to some but to me the E is perfect! :grin:

Bought first then found the sight. But, I didn't fall in ln love with with it untill I drove it. I got to take it for the weakend and didn't want to give it back.

I bought my Element first and then I found the EOC site. It was like frosting on my cake. Great vehicle! Great site!

I thought about buying an E, and doing the research found this site. I still wasn't sold till got the 50 cent tour and test drive. This site has been extremely helpful, the members are so giving, I've learned so much!
Thanks Everbody

bought it without a test drive. from what i read about the vehicle and what i saw in brochures, etc., i knew it would suit my lifestyle perfectly. i love it.

Absolutely! Funny, we had never considered an Element until we sat in one -- for no particular reason -- in the showroom. We were instantly intrigued. For the next several days, I was looking for as much information as possible. That is when I found this site -- had more information than I knew what to do with! :-D

Love the site, love my E even more! Only had her for 10 days now!

I was already interested in the E; looked up forums and got even more excited about the community, enthusiasm, stories, and what people have done to their boxes/crates :grin:

Most definately. I'd already investigated the Element and was PRETTY sure I was going to get one. Once I found this site, I was sold. Thanks to all of you!

So many members have told us/me that this site was partially responsible for their decision to buy an Element. So, we're curious to know....

Did Element Owners Club (this site) have an affect on your decision to buy an Element ????

Thank you for your participation in this study.


I need to change my vote to: No, I was sold the moment I saw it.
Sorry....:twisted:

This site helped seal the deal on an Element for many reasons. It helped me find my dealer, and gives me good ideas on a daily basis for what mods to do. Plus, any troubleshooting can be found here. Love this site.

Having found this site in the run up to buying, this site confirmed all the good things I saw in the element, made me aware of the stuff owners didn't like, and all of the DIY's. A great site where I learn something new almost every day.

Yes it did !! I was doing some research on cars, before picking out one. I looked at several makes. When I came across this site, the deal was sealed. The amount of information, and user support was the deciding factor. The candid posts of users/ owners, there likes/dislikes, did the trick for me.

It also had me thinking about Turning in My 03 CRV for one. In the end I decided to keep the CRV and just get the new E. Well that did not last long! Falling in love with the E, and an incentive from the dealer, gave me just what I needed to make the deal go.. So now we have 2 E's !! :) I almost went for the ridge line. I was in a quandary over it for about 20 min. at the dealer. But in the end the E won, and so did I !


Dom

This site helped me to see that there was actually hope in modding an E!

And I have done so!

:)

I wanted the E before seeing this website but it did help convince my parents (who helped pay for part of the car) see the goodness of the E. What the EOC really did for me was show me how to mod the box and make it my own.

Yes, but I bought an Element anyway!!!!!!!

No. I discovered this site after I bought the Element.

if it wasn't for the EOC and this forum I would probably never have bought an E. I was interested in it, but wary of potential issues. The information here, combined with the comfort of knowing that this site could provide me with almost any answer I needed settled the deal. I even used the site to find the price I wanted to pay, and how I would go about getting it.

The EOC is the bestest! :)

I would not have bought the E without this site. The dealer was knowlegdable but this site blew him out of the water. The main thing was realizing all the mods that were available, that I could get a brush guard, and that this car wasn't a flash in the pan like many other cars that aren't in the mainstream design (i.e. - Aztec)

Absolutely. I probbably would have anyways but it was a huge source of information and insporation. I liked the various personalities and pics. I especially liked the mods. The level of knowledge and helpfulness of the people in the different categories here was a huge relief. I am a DIY dype of guy and if I need help or have a question it is great to know that help is right here. I love this site.

No, I decided to buy the E before finding this site, but after reading posts here, I am reassured that it was a good buy.

I test drove the Element on a Monday night, fell in love! Went home and googled about them. I then came across this site and read others comments about theirs. Seeing basically everyone here felt the same way as I when I first test drove. And how alot of others wouldnt trade it in for another vehicle, so I decided to take others advise and my own gut instinct and go buy it. So I went back, and drove it home Wednesday night.

I did not know this site was here until I was already in the process of a purchase.

I had spent a few months comparing a few vehicles; minivans, small suvs; used and new. A coworker had bought an HHR and thought it was nice and wanted me to do the same. I admit I looked into it, but the insurance rates for it were crazy! Plus it just didn't seem as practical.

I was looking for reliability (although I see some questioning that here), SAFTEY was a huge concern since I will be on the road transporting rescued IGs across a 5 state area, and insurance and maint costs.

There was a study that came out last year and was posted on CNN (I do not recall the actual source at the moment) that it was one of the top 5 small suvs in reliability. And I also needed to face the fact that I could not afford anything that costs any more than the Element.

I needed it for practicality for the tasks I require from it and it seems to fit the bill almost perfectly.

I started out looking at Jettas and Altimas, then my father -in-law suggested an Element that was also on the lot. He said it suited me better. I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I own a 72 Volkswagen Beetle. I see the Element community as the Bug community of my generation. Anyway after researching the E I came across this site and it felt like home. So I went the next day and bought it.

I started out looking at Jettas and Altimas, then my father -in-law suggested an Element that was also on the lot. He said it suited me better. I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I own a 72 Volkswagen Beetle. I see the Element community as the Bug community of my generation. Anyway after researching the E I came across this site and it felt like home. So I went the next day and bought it.

Cool! Welcome aboard. :D

-> No, I was sold on the E the moment I saw it.

It took me 3 years to finally get my E. I fell in love with the E first back in '03, then I found the site, then I bought the E. :)

I saw a post of dealer invoice outta Chicago. This helped me immensly in my price negotiation. I had 2 dealers pitted against one another. Went w/John Eagle in Houston. The salesman, Louis Byrd was completely above board. Even finance was a pleasure to deal with, a first for me. Stay away from Treadwell honda and just say NO to dealer - client "mandatory" "arbitration" agreements. I saved 1600 bucks

No, I took a test drive first.

And ironically, my wife was actually more excited for ME to the the E than I was at first... I love it, but I don't really NEED the space, and a sedan would be more effecient...

But my wife said she's never seen me so comfortable or looking so HAPPY driving before (and I already like it!).

I Googled and found the EOC...

Had I found EOC first, I'd not have taken a night to think about it, and then decide now wasn't the best time for a new vehicle. In ten months though... Oh yeah.

Yes. I was waiting for a Honda Civic Hybrid to come into the local dealership and started to check out this site. I liked the site so much that I test drove an E and bought it. Oh, I liked the E a lot too.:D

I really enjoy the site. But to be truthful after spending some time reading what The E owners have shared I have begun to think twice about getting an E. I came to the site to learn about the E. And while most like their E,s, I have been taken back by all the problems I am reading about. I have read a lot of reports of windshield problems ,wind nose, large variations in the reported gas mileage, issues with interior walls scratching easily, problems with engine noise in new and older models. These and more makes much to think about!

opps! Entered the wrong answer on this poll.:oops: I was sold on the Element the second on saw it on the showroom floor! I went in to look at the new CRV and walked out knowing I was going to buy an E! This board has reaffirmed my decision each time I read it!:D

No, the EOC was an EXCELLENT bonus I found out about (thanks again to poor_mans_hummer) through an ebay item after my purchase. I've wanted an E since they came out, just had to kick the kids outta da houz before the "smaller" space was practical. I had to search for mine to get what I wanted, but, it was well worth the effort as I am having more fun with this vehicle that anything I have ever had (well, except for my Bug, but that's a completely different story....... :-o)
Wife's starting to gripe about how much I'm spending on my E. HHMMMM, maybe it's time for a new wife? (just kidding, Dear) :oops:

This site did have a positive influence on my decision to buy my E. In my decision process, I found forums for all the vehicles I was considering, and looked at them very carefully...I looked mostly to see if there were any common problems with the vehicles, but also for comments from owners regarding utility, how they drive, gas mileage, etc. I understand that web forums give people a venue to complain & question every last little detail about their vehicles, but it's pretty easy to spot common issues.

I knew that I liked the E for its utility & space, but if I had seen lots of threads on exploding engines or vehicles falling apart, I would have steered clear of the E. So while this site didn't draw me to the E, the information on the site was a factor in my decision.

Sites like this can really help people that are considering a vehicle purchase, but people just need to be aware that by the nature of the forum itself, they are going to hear about every last little issue that anyone is having with theirs, and those issues may not be common to most owners.

for all the info given in this great site!!

no i had allready bought the E' and found this site but it has helped me with some questions about the lil box..:D

This forum definitely helped me in my decision. Initially, I couldn't choose between an Element and a Scion xB. My interest for the E increased when I checked out the EOC camping/platform bed threads. I stopped by the local Honda dealer and test drove a used E and a xB. When I realized how much more space and versatility the E had, I was sold.

Wow, how did I miss this poll???

I would say that this site was a big factor that helped me decide. I would have probably bought the E anyway but it was this site that I found before my final decision on which small SUV I wanted. I came from a car with a pretty decent online club site and when I found this site I felt at home.;-)

I found this site right *after* I purchased my E. =) But what sold me on it was the test drive. Several friends have Es and were trying to talk me into getting one, but I thought they looked funny (I know, I know, I'm converted now!) and couldn't possibly be as fun to drive as my Subaru. But when I took the wheel and zipped out of the dealer lot, I was totally sold. =)

I wanted to buy one before they came out... i then graduated high school (03) joined the USAF... after a deployment... i purchased my 1989 supra for 2,500$ it ended up costing me close to 10k just keeping it running. I then purchased my 04 LX SOP MT... then i found the site

i was between a matrix and element. the element just happen to come across my way recently. It was a better choice, there seems to be more of a culture for it.

Nope, I hadn't even HEARD of this site until after I bought my E. Truth is that that I didn't even know Honda made anything like an Element until I went in the showroom to see the CR-V salesperson and saw an E in the showroom. Dumped all plans to buy a CR-V (luckily) and signed papers for the E minutes later. Really glad I didn't get the other vehicle. The more I see of them, the more I hate the things - probably wouldn't have bought Honda at all except for the Element waiting for me in that showroom.

If there's no Element waiting for me in the showroom next time, it's bye-bye to Honda.

I wish I had know about this site before I bought my 2005 EX CBP AWD E. Just bought it used from a dealer and am really happy with it. I'll have to post some pictures soon. I have looked daily since at this wonderful site to glean all the good information I can about owning an E. :EOC: