[Jennifer]

I'm trading in my 99 honda civic this week for a new honda element EX. What honda model (chassis) is the element based on? Are there any negative surprises anyone has found following the purchase of this car. Are you happy with your purchase? What eccessories are good to get.

Thanks Jennifer

 

[DahuiHawaii]

you can look forward to many comment's and showing ppl daily tours of your E! 8) I think i have surpassed 100 tours now lol and :wink: maybe 40 thats a mini hummer comment!

 

[Figgy]

You will be very happy.

It won't hurt to let the dealer know that you are aware of windshield problems in some of the 2003 production run, and use that as leverage to get a really good price or to get them to give you a special guarantee to replace your car if it has the problem.

It's always good to have extra arrows in your quiver when you negotiate on price...

 

[BigKahuna]

Talked to my service technician Saturday while I was getting my Civic's 40k maintenance about Elements and problems. She indicated that they had some problems with the outside plastic scratching so easily, but not a single windshield problem. Maybe it needs to get colder then what we experience here in South Florida. 8)

 

[Ed]

Negatives: Expect 8 mpg less. Clean bugs form windshield at each fill up.

Positives: Bicycle rolls right in. Back it in. Put up the tailgate use snap straps (attached to the rear seat loops) to cinch the head tube into the left rear corner. This takes about 15 seconds Hemet and gloves fit in bungie nest on back of driver seat (this takes longer than putting the bike in.)

Accessories: Front seat covers, steering wheel cover, carpet floor mats, Chrome exhaust tip cover. Buy Online.

Ed

 

[BigKahuna]

[quote:a7f52373e8="Ed"]Positives: Bicycle rolls right in. Back it in. Put up the tailgate use snap straps (attached to the rear seat loops) to cinch the head tube into the left rear corner. This takes about 15 seconds Hemet and gloves fit in bungie nest on back of driver seat (this takes longer than putting the bike in.)[/quote:a7f52373e8]

Got any pictures of this to share?

 

[boneheadz]

I know you did not ask me but could not resist.

 

[firetruck41]

Good pic Boneheadz, curious, what is the net for and how is it attached?

 

[Ed]

I have no technology, but here is a description:

Use the most 'toward the front of the car loop in the seat cover' to hold the top tube near the seat. I found some rope in a plastic tube Da Kine thing on sale at REI this spring. I think it has something to do with attaching a snowboard or a ski to something. It is about 8 inches long and has a one handed metal latch (like you might find on a dogs leash) and a chrome ring that makes a visible and convienient latch target. Once this is attached both hands are free. But I close the tailgate before attaching it anyway.

The head tube cinch is a 1" strap with a plastic latch. The strap is attached to the seat loop closest to the back of the vehicle. It takes two hands to gently cinch/snap the head tube into the corner. Be gentle here or you will warp the front wheel!

These two fixings are enough to keep the bike where it wants to be in normal driving. In an accident/rollover this could be a disaster! The bike only weighs 20 lbs... and I don't drive 500 miles an hour... but maybe I should get the plastic latch out of the head tube fixing using a carabiner and shock cord... and do something to hold it to the side/floor. Something running from the carabiner (that holds the seat up) to the latchpoint for the seat that is against the wall would add about 4 seconds but should be easy from the helmet access drivers cargo door...

Anyway thanks for asking enough questions to motivate a safety improvement.

Ed

 

[boneheadz]

[quote:91abecc653="firetruck41"]Good pic Boneheadz, curious, what is the net for and how is it attached?[/quote:91abecc653]

I put caribiners on the four corners. Two attatched to the floor hooks, two temp. attatched to child restraints. Load everything then unhook child hooks and attatch to the floor. The idea is to keep the cargo from sliding into the dog. My site has a front few. You could leave the net attatched to the child restraints. cargo won't slide and you can access it from the hatch.