Back in November I won a bid on a 03 Element AT 4WD for a whopping $3100 (before the $600 in fees and taxes). 202K on the clock and mostly clean looking. Previous owner(s) had pets, kids, and smoked, the signs a evident as I have been fixing things and finding new surprises under coverings.
It's so nice to finally own my dream car, the original toaster. I'm simple, I know. The forums have been a fantastic resource since I picked up the car, taking care of a check engine light for the VTec part and more. Since the purchase I've put new shocks and struts under it, sway bar brushing and links on the rear, fresh oil and filter, LED light strip in the trunk, new longer gas struts for the rear door and that's probably half my list of what I want to do before taking it on adventures in the PNW this year.
Because sadly a week after winning the auction I got a call from my spouse on the east coast that his next station for the Navy is Japan. Our move date is still undetermined, but sounds like fall of this year I'm going to have to leave my newly acquired E behind or sell it. I have hopes to store it and have my immediate family take it out for a drive from time to time or go camping with it, but 5 years is going to be a long time (and maybe by then Honda will have refreshed the Element and have new ones available by the time we return). So I'm going to enjoy the heck out of it while I can and maybe even go a little over the top and get a poptop for it before I go.
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It's so nice to finally own my dream car, the original toaster. I'm simple, I know. The forums have been a fantastic resource since I picked up the car, taking care of a check engine light for the VTec part and more. Since the purchase I've put new shocks and struts under it, sway bar brushing and links on the rear, fresh oil and filter, LED light strip in the trunk, new longer gas struts for the rear door and that's probably half my list of what I want to do before taking it on adventures in the PNW this year.
Because sadly a week after winning the auction I got a call from my spouse on the east coast that his next station for the Navy is Japan. Our move date is still undetermined, but sounds like fall of this year I'm going to have to leave my newly acquired E behind or sell it. I have hopes to store it and have my immediate family take it out for a drive from time to time or go camping with it, but 5 years is going to be a long time (and maybe by then Honda will have refreshed the Element and have new ones available by the time we return). So I'm going to enjoy the heck out of it while I can and maybe even go a little over the top and get a poptop for it before I go.
