I went to visit the Element at the dealership, and was very happy with what i saw. I will most likely be buying one within the next couple of months, or when my current car breaks down, whichever comes first.
Overall it was great. Leg room was a little tight driving (I'm 6'5), but not to the point of being uncomfortable.
The biggest problem i saw was this:
I was kneeling on the spare tire cover, trying to put the back seats up from the rear. My knee was just to the left of the handle for the spare cover. As I put all my body weight on that knee (I'm 250 lbs), I heard a cracking sound. When the dealer and i took the cover off to look at it, we noticed that the plastic crossbars on the bottom side of the cover had cracked. I'm pretty dissapointed in this. Has anybody else experienced this?
I'm thinking if I do buy an element, i'm going to have a diamond-plate cover custom made to replace the plastic one...

Humm, never ran across that problem, yet. I can see that happening. When you use the cover as a table (with the table kit), they say the weight limit is about 50 some odd pounds.

I would say, start with the cargo tray, it is rubber, but it might spread out the weight a bit, and it is custom fit to the back.

I thought about using the cargo tray. That would probably do the trick, the only drawback is that i'd prefer something that looks like the natural floor, not an add-on like a tray. but in this case i may just have to go with function over style...

Well, the add on cargo tray does not look that bad. It is not smooth like in the pictures, it has some texture to it, like the diamond plate you are talking about. It is no where near as strong, but it may just do it for you. It does fit behind the seats, so the only issue I can see, is if you take out the seats, or flip them up, out of the way, you have a tray in the back, not a level floor. The tray does not secure down, it just sits in place.

That thing is so cheesy - what the Hell was Honda thinking there?

We need a better solution.

I am sure that once enought Elements get on the road, there will be plenty of after market things available, and I am sure that the back floor will be something that they will address, but not yet. They are going to wait till more and more Elements are sold before they come out with something.

Remember, we have some of the 1st ones out there. While it would be great to have everything, and now, it just won't happen.

I would say if sales keep going for the Element the way they are, there will be plenty of add ons that we can find in the next 6 months or so. I am sure one of the 1st is going to be something for that floor.

When the dealer saw it, she basically said "Well, looks like something honda is gonna have to redesign for next year's model..."

I agree. I'm sure plenty of aftermarket stuff will be available, it's just gonna take some time...

and like everyone else, we want it, and we want it NOW

OMG, that cover is so cheap !

that is shocking especially since the ads talk about people STANDING In the back through the rear moon roof to change.. humm...

now I am not a small person, and I have been hoping all over mine.. so far I had not experieinced this, and i think i would be disgusted by that as well..

perhaps a melding of minds there could be a way to reinforce the crossbar under the tire cover. Any takers on that idea???

RE trying to make the cover stronger: The cover is designed to be supporte dmy the spare tire - note that it is contoured for same. Keep the tire inflated to 60lbs and it should be just fine. The only other way would be to leave the tire out and make a cover with a thick beam!

wayland: so it is possible that the tire was not in the compartment or not fully inflated, that could be the reason??

loserflame: was the tire missing, or not fully inflated on the element you were checking out, where the tire cover snapped?

Humm, in thinking, a quick redesign for the cover might be to put some metal on the underside, such as the old x tire iron. That might have worked to make it a bit stronger, or give it more support.

I know I have my spare inflated fully, and the cover does seem a bit weak.

I am sure that Honda will correct this with the next version of the Element

Same thing happened to me when I was kneeling on the spare tire cover... crack. Definitely, very unfortunate. It’s the thin (flimsy) reinforcing webs on the underside of the cover. It was not a fluke… easily reproduced… with ever weakening results, I’m sure. My spare tire is the standard limited duty affair… and it’s fully inflated. I’m thinking that if I put a filler/spacer of some kind on top of the tire to help support the cover, I’ll be okay. Probably wouldn’t have to be very thick. I’d sure hate to stand on the center of the cover with no spare under it! PS, I weigh about 180 lbs.

Otherwise, I really like this car… (52 yr old male, Shoreline mist EX)

Same here. The tire is full and I had a small crack sound while I was knelling on it to hand a seat up for some space. So far that is the only fault I have found with the car. Perhaps Honda will be kind enough to replace it if enough people report it to their dealers. I plan on adding a stiff foam pad under mind to help spread the support.

szacherau: I would like to know if the foam pad does help.

Please everyone do be sure to notify your dealer & honda about the tire cover, this should be something they put on a recall list for!

I plan to fax Honda with a list of concerns or questions that have been popping up (mentioned onthis site) and I will let you know of the reply, if any, that I receive.

Here as well. Just kneeling in the rear to flip up the seats. CRACK! I couldn't believe it. Owned it 1 day and this. I was considering cutting a plywood to fit and covering it with carpet to match the floor mats. If it works it should spred the weight across the lid rather than allowing it to flex too much at 1 point.

I am ordering the bike tiedown cover. It is stonger (I am told), but you can't make it into a picnic table.

Billrouse,

You may want to check out the H and A site, http://www.handa-accessories.com/element.html

They have the details on how to install something. From what I have seen, the internal bike rack goes on to that spare tire cover, it does not replace it.

That spare tire cover doesn't fit - it's too filmsy ! It lets down the rest of the vehicle. I will change it out to something - if I have to have something customer made, but those things crack right off.

In my area, they don't have any E's in the showroom. Now, isn't that unusual - a car that the inside sells it, yet there are none opened up in the showroom. I thought right away it may be because if people start crawling around in there that spare tire cover is going to crack, snapple, and pop - even with kids on it.

I think if this tire cover problem is expressed properly to your dealer & honda it will be a recall item and we can have it replaced.. so do keep sharing you experience but also be sure to share them with honda & your dealer too!

I picked up my Element last Wednesday night (Feb 5). When my sales guy was showing me how to operate everything, he actually warned me about the floor over the spare. He said they've had two customers report cracking.

Sad thing is, I'm not so sure this is a recall-type of issue. They'll most definitely address the problem in future models, but since it's not a safety issue, it might be cost prohibitive. Recalls are usually done only after it's decided that it would be cheaper to fix the cars than to pay out insurance and other claims.

So much for the rugged interior / exterior. Between easily scratched body panels and cracking floors, the Element seems to need some bugs worked out.

I just had my call from Honda about my purchase which is mostly to rate the dealer. They did ask if I had any comments so I gave them the details about what many have seen with their spare tire cover. Wonder if they will do any thing with the statement.

yeah more often then not recalls are for safety concern, but there still is a chance.. the worst they can do is say no, right? it is worth a try!

Collectively if there is enough of a complaint they might do something.

[quote:385152c5ae="szacherau"]I just had my call from Honda about my purchase which is mostly to rate the dealer. They did ask if I had any comments so I gave them the details about what many have seen with their spare tire cover. Wonder if they will do any thing with the statement.[/quote:385152c5ae]

That's what we need to do. These covers are getting broken before the E' s get off the lot. There's a glaring need for a replacement part !

The book tells you not to have over 20 lbs on it when used as table.
The table in my CRV is very well built. ITs look like if the tire was up
a little, the cargo lid would not flex enough to be damaged. :?

I did the same when i received the satisfaction survey call I also remarked about the issue i have heard about the weak tire cover and a few other minor things.. minor things do add up.. so make sure you let them know.. the more of us who do so the more likely things will be remedied.

Question? If the factory provided spare were replaced with a full size tire would that tire fit under the tire cover, and if so, would it provide needed support for the weak tire cover?

DrAlbertLee,

I have not measured, but I would say that a full sized spare would not fit. I have looked at the spare as well as the storage area, and the mini is about all that would go in there. Good thought though.

I was thinking of building a risor for the back. What I mean is a piece of wood cut to fit the rear cargo area with legs. The legs would sit on the edge of the cover where it is stronger. This would allow for storage underneith and would protect the cover. Also, you could attatch fork mount bike racks to the wood allowing you easily carry two bikes using a regular mount rather then honda's. :twisted:

[quote:ce6d1e3ef3="RML"]I would say if sales keep going for the Element the way they are, there will be plenty of add ons that we can find in the next 6 months or so. I am sure one of the 1st is going to be something for that floor.[/quote:ce6d1e3ef3]

Anyone else seen this $290 diamondplate replacement for the spare tire cover from Car Specialties? Other than no longer being viable as a picnic table, this looks quite promising. I'd assume it to be quite sturdy, although I'm a bit surprised that the cover doesn't feature any kind of cross members or bracing underneath:

http://element.carspecialties.com/products/tire_cover.html

where to buy some of the urethane materiel, then i would make a new cover out of birch multi ply, and recess the top just enough to put on some flooring that matched. seems if done right, one could even re use the latch in the stock cover. would make much more sense. honda should have supplied that cover as cast aluminum or even potmetal me thinks.

best
D.

Yep, the optimal solution, IMO, would have a sturdy metal plate or framework covered with the matching textured urethane flooring material. That way, you retain the look and mess-proofness of the rest of the interior but you also get something sturdy enough to hold a coupla hundred lbs.

But then again, the diamondplate solution does look purdy! 8)

within the E that would provide a peice of the urethane materiel big enough to cover the spare deck. id just take it from a wrecked one and cut it out. =)

ill put that on my list along with a spare rear passenger seat.

best!
D.

To overcome the flimsy cover, it has been suggested earlier in other discussions that you slip a tarp under the cover. I have a $2.00 tarp filling the space between the tire and the cover. This stops the deflection when standing on the cover. Then if I need a carry something dirty in the back, I've got a tarp at hand.

The simple solution is to just fill in the empty space with something useful.

I weigh 280 and after I placed the Sams club foam puzzle pad in place it helped.

[quote:ce6d1e3ef3="RML"]I would say if sales keep going for the Element the way they are, there will be plenty of add ons that we can find in the next 6 months or so. I am sure one of the 1st is going to be something for that floor.[/quote:ce6d1e3ef3]

Anyone else seen this $290 diamondplate replacement for the spare tire cover from Car Specialties? Other than no longer being viable as a picnic table, this looks quite promising. I'd assume it to be quite sturdy, although I'm a bit surprised that the cover doesn't feature any kind of cross members or bracing underneath:

http://element.carspecialties.com/products/tire_cover.html

Anyone pick one of these up? I noticed the price has come down quite a bit. It looks pretty nice, i.e. welds, folds, finish.

I'm curious how they are in person.

Their radiator cover looks nice as well.

::drool::

Drawbacks: Price ($200) and weight (16 pounds--yikes!). I'll bet it wouldn't take much to make it accept the table legs.

They do seem to do nice work. But the front crossmember cover seems like a solution in search of a problem.

When the dealer saw it, she basically said "Well, looks like something honda is gonna have to redesign for next year's model..."

I agree. I'm sure plenty of aftermarket stuff will be available, it's just gonna take some time...Being a fiberglass kind of guy, I'd put a layer of glass and resin on the panel's backside. It would look like sin but it would reinforce the panel very well.

::drool::

Drawbacks: Price ($200) and weight (16 pounds--yikes!). I'll bet it wouldn't take much to make it accept the table legs.

They do seem to do nice work. But the front crossmember cover seems like a solution in search of a problem.

Good point on the weight issue Dan I didn't see the reference to how much it weighed. I've got to think though that the stock cover can't be too far out of its weight class.

Thansk Rodaniel, I immediately thought of that product but couldnt rememember where!
Car Specialties[/b]?
http://element.carspecialties.com/products/tire_cover.html

Well, the add on cargo tray does not look that bad. It is not smooth like in the pictures, it has some texture to it, like the diamond plate you are talking about. It is no where near as strong, but it may just do it for you. It does fit behind the seats, so the only issue I can see, is if you take out the seats, or flip them up, out of the way, you have a tray in the back, not a level floor. The tray does not secure down, it just sits in place.

I have the Honda cargo tray and that thing is great. It has a 1" to 2" tall ridge (lower toward the drop gate) all around it which is invaluable for catching liquids. Twice I've had the kids spill something back there, and had no worries.

Besides being functional for wet stuff it's also great to help ease loading into the rear. If I have a large object or something heavy to load I'll pull the tray out onto the tailgate, put the box or whatever on it, and use the tray to slide it into the back. Not only is that easier than pushing something heavy it has also kept my tailgate from getting all scratched up.

I finally weighed the stock cover. It's 10 pounds. So the Car Specialties cover is, depending on your perspective, a mere six pounds heavier, or a big fat 60% heavier. BTW the link is now http://element.carspecialties.com/products/tire_cover.asp

I'm going to write to them to suggest they add brackets for the table legs and perhaps anchors for a cruciform lug wrench. Under those circumstances, I'd buy one.

Edit 11/14/05: Got a nice reply from Car Specialties. They said they're not doing a great deal of R&D at the moment but like the ideas. Could be worth checking their site again in a few months.

I finally weighed the stock cover. It's 10 pounds. So the Car Specialties cover is, depending on your perspective, a mere six pounds heavier, or a big fat 60% heavier. BTW the link is now http://element.carspecialties.com/products/tire_cover.asp

I'm going to write to them to suggest they add brackets for the table legs and perhaps anchors for a cruciform lug wrench. Under those circumstances, I'd buy one.

Thanks for the weight Dan. I like your tweaks. With those mods, and powdercoated black, it'll go great with Box4rox's cargo box.

It'd be a great setup.

Hey,

I too noticed the cheesy cover when putting my motorcycle in the back. My solution was to use 3/4" plywood, painted to match (grey) and used sand in the paint for non-skid. The result was a factory lookng cover with great strength for about $30 and 5 minutes with a jig-saw.