Ok, I'm wondering why some folks have bad scratching problems and others have none.

The DX and EX have different plastic body panels. Maybe this poll will help figure out if that has something to do with it.

(Hope I'm doing this poll right...)

Well, I don't know if this helps, but I have the EX, and no problems with the body panels. YET!!!!!

I did notice at the Detroit Auto Show that the DX cars had more pronounced scratches than the EX's.
Good idea for this poll.

I screwed up though. Forgot that you can't view a poll's results unless you have participated in it so people who have no scratches yet or are considering buying an E but haven't got it yet can't check the poll results.

I should have added a 3rd option that said "I don't have any scratches at this time"

Any way you can modify a poll after the fact?

e-j

Your right, cuz I don't have any scratches yet.
Knock on plastic. Ah, I mean wood!

Actually people can view the results by clicking on the bottom under where you vote.

Modify a poll......humm, T-Mac, can you help out on this one?

Thanks RML, your right about the "view results"

Duh...

Completely missed the "view results" link. Cool - guess the poll is okay as it stands (though I still wouldn't mind a "ain't got no scratches" option).

Thanks -

e-j

I'm like you Element J, I didn't see it at first either."view results"
Maybe larger graphics?

Can't vote, no place for EX/no scratches.

I have on at least a couple of occasions tried to scratch my EX exterior plastic with my fingernail and have not been able to. Is this possible on the DX? Has anyone tried it on a DX and EX side by side?

I tried scratching a DX last time I was at my dealer. It seemed *much* easier to scratch than my EX and the scratches were much more noticeable.

That does not seem to be verified by this poll, though.

e-j

I found a very light scratch on my EX and I freaked. I rubbed it with my finger and it went away! Are these "magic" panels I have??? :D

I have an EX and no problems after a week of ownership....we will see after our first road trip Easter Weekend up to Chicago.

I have had a few scrathes on the inside....but those were all caused by my nails or keys....no biggie....I bought the E because it is a Sports UTILITY automobile.

e-j

You wont be able to tell if DX's scratch more than EX's based on your poll. You have no way of identifying the percentage of users on this forum who own a DX or an EX to determine the proportion of DX owners with scratches and EX owners with scratches.

I have black bumpers on the car I'll be selling when I buy my Element and I can't say they look their best after 6 years. But if I bother to put protectant/polish on them, then the small scratches disappear and it looks OK. I'd expect that the side panels will be the same.

I feel that the EX is more popular than the DX. Not knocking DX owners in any sense but I have seen a 3:1 ratio of EX:DX at the dealerships. So of course if more people own the ex more people are going to scratch the ex. Plus even if all people who own the dx scratch it, the total still may be less than the small portion of ex owners who may scratched theirs. I have an EX and have had it for nearly 2 weeks and have no scratches.

The reason why there are so many for EX is because *most* people by EX's and not DX's...just my .02

Im sad about how the interior and exterior panels scratch, I consider it a massive over sight.

Hi everyone, I am a new owner of a blue DX I love my new Element and have been reading this board for a few days. Lots of comments have made me nervous about the purchase Like the scratching.I tryed to scratch the panels with my long nails and it wasn't a problem.
I'd also like to add a friend just purchased a four runner and says her panels scratch easily. :shock:

The panels on my EX suck. They are scratched more and more evevytime I look. We need to get Honda to replace them with a stronger version.

OR..tell them we are going to tell future buyers how they are screwing us.
If there was an easy fix to the scratches then that would be different.

But there isn't. This is coming from the moron(me) who was just outside trying to smooth out the scratches with a hair dryer (advise from another moron)

I about cried on my first scratched panels, but after 10 minutes I remembered I bought this to use, not to keep as a show room piece. I guess scratches will happen. Suck it up and move on.

Hey everyone. I noticed the first time I washed mine..an EX...that they were scratched. I thought the brochure for the 2003 said scratch defying panels..Oh well. Anyways...10 months later...I have alot more scratches. Does it bother me? Nah I got over it after I saw the first few. At least the Sunset Orange parts of the car are scratch free.

8700 miles later, not a scratch on my DX panels.
I haven't used any protectant on them, either, but bought some Mother's Back to Black that I will apply after buffing off the white wax overflow.

One scratch in the back where I closed the garage door on it. Fixed it w/ a Bic lighter and it's hardly noticable. No big deal, the panels are replaceable.

Jesus christmas, its a UTILITY vehicle!! Whats with the scratch paranoia?