I am thinking very seriously of buying a Honda Element, but I've read that the automatic not only doesn't accelerate very well, but you have to floor it to keep up with traffic flow. In your experience is this accurate? I hope not, because I really want one.

Myth

I have awd Y auto. it has no trouble passing on the highway. Not winning any drag races but does fine. For perspective, I was driving a 230hp dodge. I do not miss the power. Test drive one, you will see

It all depends on how fast you want to go. Its not a vette or a porsche, but it still goes. I can change lanes with the best of them in my E. I think its all a matter of preference and what you are used to driving. If you drive a camaro and go to a vw of course you'll notice the difference.

I have an EX AWD Auto - the heaviest and slowest of all the models and it's great fun to drive. It handles remarkably well, accellerates briskly, gets in and out of traffic very smoothly and while it doesn't make you feel like you're driving a sports car, it does have a very repsonsive, quick engine.

My last car was a Chevy mini-van with a Vortec engine that seemed to produce limitless power, particularly for overtaking. The Element isn't quite up to that, though not far behind. Most importantly, it's very engaging and involving to drive.

Take one for a drive - that will tell you a great deal more about its behavior on the road than all your reading could.

I have to enter a freeway uphill from a dead stop every morning and merge into the outside lane of traffic within 200 feet. Granted, the traffic is not always moving at 55 or faster, but it sometimes clips along and I have not yet had a problem getting up to spped and merging. I have not really tried to merge quicklly because I am still in the break-in period, but I anticipate merging very smoothly with plenty of room after the break-in.

As said above, though, the proof is in the driving for yourself.

I plan to test drive the E before buying it, but I wanted to hear from owners, too, and these responses were very reassuring. While I'm no speed demon, I want a car that can get out of its own way.

My present car is a 1999 Toyota Sienna minivan. Actually, I'm very happy with it, but I would rather have a smaller, more fuel-efficient car and one that I can find in a parking lot (l never realized how many dark green minivans there were until I bought one!). We bought the Sienna because we needed a vehicle that would accommodate our dog's crate, which is fairly large. It seems to me that the "E" would have enough space for the dog's crate, whereas most small SUVs would not. Also, my husband and I are inveterate "schleppers," and the "E" seems ideal for people like us -- we're always hauling something or other. And the absence of carpet is a definite plus as far as I'm concerned. Now I just have to convince my husband . . .

I also have an EX 4WD auto, and the acceleration is fine. I travel up and over a steep hill everyday on the way to work, and I can easily pass other cars that labor the whole way. Maybe it's the VTEC, but the power feels comparable to my 4 liter, 6 cylinder Wrangler. And on a recent highway trip, I looked down a few times and found I was going 85 without even realizing it. No complaints here on power or acceleration.

For what the vehicle is 160hp is pretty good. If you need more supercharge it a la' Jackson Racing. I'm sure they'e got a kit out for the Element by now. Probably get you up to 200hp on 6psi.

and they are both real peppy. The auto seemed *quite* adequate for any sudden speed needs; the manual was downright QUICK. I burned rubber in 2nd gear and in 3rd without even realizing it. So I think you'd be fine in either. In fact, my Dodge Stealth seemed a little sluggish on the way home after driving these cars. Good thing I'm selling it to get an E! :)

Good luck!
Steve

I have a DX 2WD 5-SPD - the lightest and cheapest of all the models. I have to agree with SteveO, you sometimes don't realize that you can burn the rubber on 2nd gear! I guess thats attributable to the low gear ratio of the manual transmission. Anyway, acceleration is definitely not an issue! 8)

[quote:4df8a0c315="Nesha"]you have to floor it to keep up with traffic flow.[/quote:4df8a0c315]

That's got to be one of the most inaccurate and exaggerated statements I've seen! I have the 4WD auto, and I don't have to floor it going up hill at 70mph! Whoever said that can't have driven one.

As far as acceleration, the LEV2 rating and its performance may force you to learn to change your driving habits a little. If you just stomp on the gas, there is a brief pause. I'm told this is to reduce emissions by not flooding so much fuel into the engine at once. But after driving it a couple days, you learn that you can still accelerate & pass quite easily. It's just a difference in handling & driving.

I drove a '99 Si for 3 years, a 2k2 Si for 10 months, then traded for the E. Power? No problem. The E runs great on the open road, the cruise control holds on the hills better than most of the other vehicles around me.

Can't imagine anyone thinking the E can't get out of it's own way - just ain't so... :roll:

my 5 spd ex can blow the heels off a hooker no problem... never learned to drive an automatic... :shock:

I used to have a Kia sportage. That thing was a dog but my EX flies. Excellent pickup. If anyone says it doesn't have go find out what they're comparing with.