I was wondering if anyone new of a place in the IL/WI area to get my E dirty. Legal. illegal, whatever -

Nevermind - I found one. It's only a half mile trail between some corn fields but it sure is fun. It taught me just how low the clearance is on these things. But I didn't get stuck.(almost) Go slow - and keep moving! It's definitely better to go when it's muddy - easier on the under-carriage. Also - the emergency brake isn't as effective in the Element as it is in other vehicles - it seems to be light in the rear and it's harder to swing the back end out while hitting a sharp turn. Looking forward to trying that in the snow.

Again - don't go too fast! I hit some ruts a little too fast and bottomed out, ripping the plastic housing under the engine just behind the bumper. No real damage - but damage nonetheless. It was also dry dirt - so wait until after it rains - much smoother and more fun. I'm probably pushing the limits on this little truck, but I can't help it. I've done it three times in the past 2 days and my E is covered in mud and i don't plan on washing it for a little while. I am ...happy. :lol:

I'm trying to make sense of the 'light in the rear' and 'harder to swing the back end out'. Are you comparing this to a pickup or other rear wheel drive SUV?

Since the Element is basically front wheel drive it understeers. The police chase manuver of doing a 180 by swinging the rear around doesn't work. Maybe you could get a bit of oversteer by making the front wheels spin, thus triggering rear wheel power. In addition the rear suspension is designed to increase toe in when braking, hence increasing directional stability. Usually that is good, especially when driving in snow.

I approach ruts with caution. Where possible I try to straddle them, keeping my tires on high ground. In the same spirit I prefer to take ridges and ditches at an angle.

paulj

Thanks for the reply - i was referring to pulling the emergency brake while taking a sharp turn. Having a lot of experience with this completely unnecessary but albeit fun excursion, it just seemed to me that the Element is more reluctant to "skid out" than other vehicles i have done this with (Pathfinder, among others).

Actually, this technique can be very helpful in certain situations. In my sitation i was coming down a steep slope that hap a sharp right turn at the bottom. I was probably going 15 mph and I pulled the E brake in attempt to swing the back end around to make a sharper turn without slowing down to much and trying to stay on course. It didn't work the way i wanted to and i plowed into some tall weeds. It also doesn't work on wet roads. I'm used to my old Accord being able to do a 180 on a dime on a wet parking lot when i crank the emergency brake and turn - not quite so easy with the Element.

...it just seemed to me that the Element is more reluctant to "skid out" than other vehicles i have done this with ...
And this is a BAD thing???

I only use the hand brake for parking, so I am not familiar with this manuver. The rear suspension may be making all the difference. You might enquire on a Civic forum to see if the racing types there can do such a trick with the current Civic line (which has the same geometry).

My impression is that the Element has a tight enough steering radius that you shouldn't need tricks to get around obstacles. However most of my rough road driving has been on rocky roads where slow and sure is best, not muddy stuff where I might need to keep up my momentum and revs.

paulj