I couldn't be more dissapointed with the handling characteristics of my new Element. I have owned three CRVs, and everyone has been wonderful. I bought the Element on the Honda reputation. Now I warn anyone who's contemplating to purchase to make another choice. It handles admirably on smooth pavement. On a rough highway, it reads every seam, bump or irregularity on the road. I experience tire noise and vibration on coarse surfaces, tire nibble up an down grades, and shimmying when going around slight bends on the hiway.When you get this thing on a stretch of highway that is wavy, it literally bounces along. This isn't just a fluke, either, because I have driven another new Element to make sure that mine was not just in need of repair or adjustment. They all ride this way, at least the 4WDs. My dealer said that it was just the handling characteristics of the car, although they did notice and admit that all of these were present when they drove my car. Seems the regional rep had never driven one before, nor had the service manager. I know that your temptation, since you want one of these things so bad, will be to convince yourself that I am overly critical or my expectations are too high. Believe me, I have driven Hondas and Toyotas for most of my 30-plus driving career, and never have I ever given handling a second thought - they were always superb. Now, when I drive my new Element, I can feel all of life and nature coming right through my steering wheel. It is aggravating and distracting, to say the least.
I can only call the Element's handling extremely unacceptable. No engineer with adequate R&D time would have ever let this thing out the door. I am so disappointed that I am going to seek to trade it - at considerable loss to myself I am sure. I just can't see driving something every day that reminds me of how I have been taken. Honda should never let this thing out the gate knowing the handling characterisitcs it has. I am sure that many people have not spoken of it because they either don't want to admit that they've been taken, or ignorantly think that a $20 thousand auto is supposed to handle this way.
My advice to you - buy a CRV, or look at the new Kia Sorrento. or a Matrix. Stay away from the element until generation 2 comes along.
I can only call the Element's handling extremely unacceptable. No engineer with adequate R&D time would have ever let this thing out the door. I am so disappointed that I am going to seek to trade it - at considerable loss to myself I am sure. I just can't see driving something every day that reminds me of how I have been taken. Honda should never let this thing out the gate knowing the handling characterisitcs it has. I am sure that many people have not spoken of it because they either don't want to admit that they've been taken, or ignorantly think that a $20 thousand auto is supposed to handle this way.
My advice to you - buy a CRV, or look at the new Kia Sorrento. or a Matrix. Stay away from the element until generation 2 comes along.