Joined
·
115 Posts
Hey y'all! I am a first-time Element owner- indeed, a first-time HONDA owner- from Asheville NC. I have been driving a '95 LeBaron convertible for the last 10 Western North Carolina winters. It's not a bad car but it is hands-down the WORST car on snow or ice I've ever owned. So this year I said, "enough's enough!" and began car-searching.
I wanted something with 4WD or AWD.....something JAPANESE, since I was tired of all the troubles which seem to be inherent in American cars, or at least the ones I've owned. And something with LOTS OF ROOM inside, since I was tired of trying to haul much of anything at all in my LeBaron with its small trunk and small passenger compartment. I like Subarus, but the Outbacks and Foresters just didn't thrill me- too wagon-y. Neither did the AWD vans available- too van-y.
Then I ran across an ad for the Element. I'd not seriously thought about one, thinking them too expensive and sort of a novelty car, I guess. But I did some research- Hey, Car and Driver likes them! So do Click and Clack, the Car Guys! So does Consumers Report! So does....pretty much everyone!
So after looking on-line all around North Carolina and the surrounding states, and on eBay, I found my one-owner, carefully-maintained 2005 EX in a small local lot. Test-drove it in the snow, went back to the lot and said to the guy, "let's talk."
I love my E like I've never loved a car before. It's exactly what I wanted and needed. So far I've put OEM rubber mats and cargo tray in it. I've got one of the armrest/consoles on the way.....after that a CAI is on the list, and then I should be good to go. I'll be spending a lot of time on this forum!
Here is a picture of my new love-
![]()
I wanted something with 4WD or AWD.....something JAPANESE, since I was tired of all the troubles which seem to be inherent in American cars, or at least the ones I've owned. And something with LOTS OF ROOM inside, since I was tired of trying to haul much of anything at all in my LeBaron with its small trunk and small passenger compartment. I like Subarus, but the Outbacks and Foresters just didn't thrill me- too wagon-y. Neither did the AWD vans available- too van-y.
Then I ran across an ad for the Element. I'd not seriously thought about one, thinking them too expensive and sort of a novelty car, I guess. But I did some research- Hey, Car and Driver likes them! So do Click and Clack, the Car Guys! So does Consumers Report! So does....pretty much everyone!
So after looking on-line all around North Carolina and the surrounding states, and on eBay, I found my one-owner, carefully-maintained 2005 EX in a small local lot. Test-drove it in the snow, went back to the lot and said to the guy, "let's talk."
I love my E like I've never loved a car before. It's exactly what I wanted and needed. So far I've put OEM rubber mats and cargo tray in it. I've got one of the armrest/consoles on the way.....after that a CAI is on the list, and then I should be good to go. I'll be spending a lot of time on this forum!
Here is a picture of my new love-
