What accessories do you all think should be included, but aren't? I left out the keyless entry, because those of you with the 2004's EX's were lucky enough to have it already ;)

One of the great things about the E is that it didn't come "packed", so you could add options - IF you wanted them - at your leisure, and after shopping for a good price.

I added keyless, foglights and the exhaust tip trim, the dealer "gave" us the mud flaps. The keyless as "standard" on the EX made some sense - I had our E a day without it and the lack of ability to unlock the driver's door from the passenger side was infuriating. And... frankly... I only added the fogs as a result of winning a very nice gift certificate in an EOC drawing many months ago. I otherwise couldn't justify them at even the on-line discounted price.

Which surprises me a little about the poll results so far, with all the votes for making the foglights an included option. Yes, that's nice... the flip side of that is "OK, are you willing to pay $300 more at purchase time?"

:?

Yeah, the keyless was one of the first things to go into mine. What I can't figure out is who would add a tape deck? Nothing against you tape fanatics out there, I still use 8-Tracks (which were discontinued before I was born) and vinyl. I live in the snowbelt and get snow for at least 6 months of the year, the fog lights are almost a necessity for me, along with the AWD I can't live without (comes in handy when they don't plow and there's 4 - 6 inches of snow on the roads).

>What I can't figure out is who would add a tape deck?

Oh, I agree! :lol: But seriously, folks... :wink:

There are a lot of people who listen to books on tape. Compact Cassette (it's real name) was and is a horrible medium for music, but audio books are only just making the transition to CDs. The biggest reason? 120-minute cassettes had no equivalent in CDs until MP3 compression came along.

Mayble I'll wire up a spare 8-Track player somehow, throw in some KISS or Zeppelin and have a true one-of-a-kind audio accessory in a 2000 era car :lol:

[quote:40ccbd5ede=" "]>What I can't figure out is who would add a tape deck?

Oh, I agree! :lol: But seriously, folks... :wink:

There are a lot of people who listen to books on tape. Compact Cassette (it's real name) was and is a horrible medium for music, but audio books are only just making the transition to CDs. The biggest reason? 120-minute cassettes had no equivalent in CDs until MP3 compression came along.[/quote:40ccbd5ede]

My parents listen to books on tape using a walkman and the aux jack.


Just waiting till you can go to the library online and down load to you mp3.

bone

cassette player? why not an 8-track player or, better yet, a victrola.

Free cookies!

My dealership gave me free drinks and cookies

[quote:116bad7911=" "]Free cookies![/quote:116bad7911]

I got in trouble this past weekend for not bringing cookies to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Tons of liquor, but no cookies. Nobody told me it was my responsibility!

-brendan

I really wish the E came with the auto dimming mirror with a built in compass and outside temp gauge. Of course a built in GPS option would work too.

I bought the roof rack (frustrated w/ the abscence of adjustments) and the floor mats with my EXS. I really miss the adjustablity of a power seat, maybe some lumbar support for the driver's seat - more height adjustment would be nice. Otherwise, it's about perfect

I really miss the adjustablity of a power seat, maybe some lumbar support for the driver's seat - more height adjustment would be nice. Otherwise, it's about perfect[/quote]

Yep Harrisburg, your absolutely correct. The drivers seat needs more vertical adjustment. If you employ a cushion ,then the armrest is in another zip code. :cry:

[quote:fc04d472f7="Brendan "]
I got in trouble this past weekend for not bringing cookies to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Tons of liquor, but no cookies. Nobody told me it was my responsibility!

-brendan[/quote:fc04d472f7]

What the hell were you thinking!? :o

It could be that he has cookies disabled in his E, along with style sheets and javascript. It can be fixed under "Tools" >> "Internet Options...".

:P

[quote:6c75dd629d=" "][quote:6c75dd629d="Brendan "]
I got in trouble this past weekend for not bringing cookies to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Tons of liquor, but no cookies. Nobody told me it was my responsibility!

-brendan[/quote:6c75dd629d]

What the hell were you thinking!? :o[/quote:6c75dd629d]

Yeah, they just didn't give me the heads up. Easy access to cookies around here, even though I'm usually on a cookie-free diet.

-brendan

I miss the outside temperature gauge from my Ford.

Not putting a roof rack standard on a car that sells mainly to outdoorsy types is stupid.

Yes, more adjustablity of the driver's seat would be nice.

How about more left foot leg room for the driver?


Kaen

I only added the fogs as a result of winning a very nice gift certificate in an EOC drawing many months ago. I otherwise couldn't justify them at even the on-line discounted price.

Which surprises me a little about the poll results so far, with all the votes for making the foglights an included option. Yes, that's nice... the flip side of that is "OK, are you willing to pay $300 more at purchase time?"

:?

I totally agree. I would love to have the fog lights, but I don't think they are worth the money. I have them on my Subaru Outback and I hardly ever use them. Maybe people in the Northwest or some of the northern states have more of a use for them because of the fog.

I have fog lights on my Volvo and on the Windstar....I think we have used them twice (and that was just to see if they really helped or not).

All the seat controls....ditto the above.

The roof rack....all my other vehicles factory racks have been replaced by Yakima and/or Thule systems.

Seat covers/steering wheel covers....never use them.

Security system....I can't tell you the last time I locked my vehicle.

CD changer....I would rather talk with my passenger(s) than listen to music. Even when I am alone in the vehicle, I like the sounds of silence...it is great for thinking!

Armrest w/storage....personally I like having the cup holder/tray set-up that is stock with the Element.

Ashtray....well, they make great change holders and are easier to get your fingers into than the ridiculous little cookie-holder next to the driver side door!

The attraction of the Element to me was that the basic package Honda offered was, to quote Goldilocks: "Just right".

:roll:

Oh yeah, definitely. And the footwells.

-brendan

I want this one to appear over my head from time-to-time: :idea:

I've read that Honda intended the Element to appeal to young, active, single men.

It doesn't appear to be selling many to that demographic. The average age seems to be in the 40's. Now here's the problem: I may see my self as a young, devil-may-care guy at home in an action-mobile, but my wife appreciates the creature comforts that are anathema to the Element's image. Things like heated seats and powered lumbar supports. Electrically operated sunroof. Lighted vanity mirror.

Maybe Honda should create a new premium line. Luxuriant. Accessible. Excessive. They could call it the Element EX-LAX.

-- Bill (I'm only half in jest - I would have bought those add ons.)

[quote:8c48d9bcc5="nightcap965"]...Maybe Honda should create a new premium line. Luxuriant. Accessible. Excessive. They could call it the Element EX-LAX...[/quote:8c48d9bcc5]

Hehehe! Good one, nightcap! ;)

it's a pity...

no light in the glove compartment :(

no standard roof rack :(

no coat hangers :(

no heated seats (not even optional) :(

no wide-angle safety mirrows :(

no cooler (rabbit-)mesh :(

no standard fog-lights :(

no standard side-steps :(

no diesel or tdi or hybrid engine :(

...still excited about my e :D :D :D

i decided when i bought my e in november that when i get my tax return i'm going to get myself some fog lights.


can't wait to file this year. :)

One of the great things about the E is that it didn't come "packed", so you could add options - IF you wanted them - at your leisure, and after shopping for a good price.

[...]



One of the reasons I don't like Toyota is the millions of packages they offer with the cars. Go to carsdirect.com and try to configure something you want without making the car cost twice as much...

I've really like that about Hondas... and although I wasn't considering a Rav4 from my previous experiences, I tried to configure one at Carsdirect just to compare.... really annoying.

I also preferred the Odyssey over the Sienna... and in the latest Consumers Reports they said the same thing; one of the "cons" for the Toyota Sienna was that Toyota offered a "confusing" array of add on packages.

As a side note, the problem with this survey is you can only select one thing... yet it's called "accessories that should be included" and not "accessory".

I bought the roof rack (frustrated w/ the abscence of adjustments) and the floor mats with my EXS. I really miss the adjustablity of a power seat, maybe some lumbar support for the driver's seat - more height adjustment would be nice. Otherwise, it's about perfect

The lumbar support has always been a big negative for me... I have two Hondas and need a lumbar pillow in each one. Sadly, in the Odyssey, my knees are bashed up against the dash board when I use the pillow. Happily, I still have several inches in the Element!

I cant believe no one else has come up with this yet, but Im really upset that I cant get central vacuum in my E. It wouold be most handy after taking the dogs to the beach.

Alas, I must settle for wiping or vacuuming at home. Pity.

heated sideview mirrors
fog lights

What accessories do you all think should be included, but aren't? I left out the keyless entry, because those of you with the 2004's EX's were lucky enough to have it already ;)
ZosoRules1, can you add Heated sideview mirrors to the poll?

There are many options each of us would have liked included as standard, but Honda has to sell to the majority of users... Majority of users wouldn't use Fog Lights, or a Roof Rack. I know I don't need a roof rack, but would like Fogs...

It would add too much expense to build different options based on where the E is shipped. Fogs, racks, heated seats/mirrors to the Northern states and none of that to the southern states... economics wouldn't work and people that didn't need those items would be complaining that they paid for things they would never need/use.

I would prefer to see the Element come with the following standard:


Xenon Headlights as an option
Sirius or XM Radios
Fog Lights
Driving Lights (if Xenon's are not offered)
Seats with lumbar support
Proper center console with storage... something as seen in Domestic Trucks/SUVs. That is where Honda needs to be looking for some ideas. The options out there are not really very good and none truly fit with the interior.
Now, would I be willing to pay extra for the above? Absolutely! Xenon's to me should be standard on every car. Doing that will obviously reduce the cost to the consumer from well above $1,000 to well under $500.

Obviously some have already added to their E's aftermarket they would be willing to spend the extra upfront and have it built into the cost. Some manufacturers do listen to the buyers and when an option gets purchased by the majority it does eventually become standard... but Honda isn't even offering many of the things we are buying as even options, but aftermarket dealer purchases. Do they track those sales? You would think so... but in 3 model years the only things they seemed to have listened to were the keyless entry and Front Side Airbags being added as standard on the EX.

I didn't answer the poll because you can't choose more than one item so the poll really can never be accurate.h

big captain seats, like in the window van mods
heated mirrors
more room for left foot
more room between gas and brake pedals (my size 13s with boots make this an issue)
lights in floor area and glove box
roof rack (i've never really used one except to haul a christmas tree home, but this IS a wish list)
more powerful engine
front seat consul to store all my stupid junk that i should throw out
a neat little rack in the back storage area for golf clubs (THE SEASON WILL GET HERE!)
fog lights for the annual trip to Maine
outside temp reading like a lot of fords have

Would I pay for all these things? Lets face it, the price point on the E was why I even considered looking at what I thought on first seeing was a bit odd.

Love my E and understand that it isn't a car for everyone and a series of compromises were made to bring it to market at the price.

oh, and more adjustment in the steering wheel, too.

and sliding rear seats!

Rear windows that roll down!