[Karaoke Massage]

When I gave my mom my sweet baby Cosmo to replace her blown up MPV, I went looking to replace her and saw a Honda marketplace full of incomplete vehicles. I wanted AWD, decent mileage, utility and some towing capacity and Honda simply did not offer me a single vehicle that fit the bill. With a heavy heart I went looking elsewhere and ended up with a 2010 Subaru Forester. In a lot of ways it reminds me a lot of my Element. I have rubber mats everywhere, and the ergonomics are super friendly. I get anywhere between 5-10 better MPG while still feeling like the car has go. Yeah the interior volume isn't as high and I wish the seating surfaces were more like the E's.

Oddly the Forester isn't ugly, but it may as well be for all I would care. The utility, safety and reliability make up for any aesthetic issues I might have had. Just like on my beautiful (on the inside) Cosmo. At least I know my mom will have a great car for many years down the road. I wonder what we'll replace it with though... :-(

 

[lizzurd]

Bull crap.


CR-V's a girl's car, anyway, just like the RAV-4. Oooo, did I just say that? :-D

OUCH!

After winter i am going back to an Accord EX.

Going from a girls car to an old mans car.

:roll:

I drove the E for a couple days this week.....The driving position felt really weird after getting used to the CRV.

 

[Dallan]

04 EX with 120,000 miles. I'm keeping this baby till she blows up!

The E will be akin to the VW bus someday...

 

[DJEMBE]

Too bad so sad....

I have almost 100,000 miles on my E and I'm going to drive it until it can't be drove no mo. My 2005 plastic panels are now collector's items, so, yay.

 

[rydbyk]

Wait...whuh??

I just bought an Element!

I pick it up with Ecamper conversion tomorrow.

Interesting timing I guess??
:shock:

FYI:
2003
AWD
65K miles

 

[Heather]

This is beyond depressing! I just replaced my 2006 AMB with this 2010, but I hoped to always have the option to upgrade! I had a feeling it was coming - I just don't know how those of us who are die hard E owners don't matter! I 2nd the unwanted stepchild comment!! :-(

 

[Beckysdad]

I am so happy I picked up my 2011 EX AWD TRP on 11/30. Ever since I traded my 2007 TRP two years ago, I have regretted that every day. I will just have to keep it forever now.

 

[chozn4service]

This is another link annoucing the same thing. The handwriting been on the wall since 2008, Honda has never even hinted at a second generation Element. I still love my Element and plan on driving it for many years to come. ;-)

Chief

I think when we were at East Liberty and asked them about the Second Gen and the plant officials were tight lip, we all knew something was up. Then, for the guy who had us in the conference room for lunch, and was conducting the Q&A tell tell me, "If you want an Element, you better buy one now" was a sure sign the the Element was coming to the end and had run its short course.

From The Precious to Too Precious. I'm happy were I am and thankful for the memory and fellowship of the past with my Element.

Peace, Chozn has left the room. Someone hit the light switch on the way out.

 

[lizzurd]

I do ever see the E being a collectors item myself but thats just me. What i plan on seeing is another 5 years plus of almost trouble free ownership.

With just over 74,000 kms (45,000 miles) I have an o2 sensor replaced under warranty, one brake light bulb and when i get time i will be replacing a few heater control panel bulbs. My head light bulbs are almost 5 years old....I used to be lucky to get a year out of them.

 

[RaveBox2.0]

,

Honda Should've Marketed It More during the Whole, CUBE, Xc Craze.
& Honda is Notorious for having ODD looking vehicles, my lil' RUCKUS being one of them.
I don't really know where they could've went with the design anyways. Anyone have any pix of some NEW similar Concepts???

 

[perfdata]

Initial Intentions Changed, The E Still Meets My Needs

I saw a parking lot full of E's in Moab in March 2005, every third car. Out there for a bike ride, the perfect vehicle for hauling expensive wheels.

Bought one 16 months later and in 4+ years hauled bikes in it three, yes 3 times. Oops.

But after making it my work vehicle and having the only one within 50 miles it's perfect for hauling computers and inventory and everyone loves it. I have had a lot of fun doing mods and will drive it into the ground as I have my others cars. If I get 15 years out of it like I did my Civic I'll be happy and I don't see why I can't.

I'm almost more troubled by the fact my next car will not have a real (manual) transmission.

 

[psschmied]

Honda's stuck in their own version of Catch-22. They can't afford a faster major redesign cycle because their product isn't popular enough, and its not popular enough because it's never had a major redesign.

Considering the number of boxy vehicles that have appeared since the introduction of the Element and Honda's competitions major upgrade cycle of 4-5 years, it's hardly surprising that consumers haven't been queuing up to buy Elements. If you compare how far Kia and Hyundai have come in the last 9 years as far as making vehicles people want to buy and building them well, Honda looks like its been standing still. Fancier exterior finishes and interiors on a 9 year old design doesn't make it a sales magnet.

The stubborn reluctance of many EOC member to accept the idea of ANY change to the 2002 body, probably didn't help.

Strangely, the latest Honda TV truck commercial feature the Element in the lead-off position. Combined with making the announcement it's being dropped after this production year may eke out a few more unit sales short-term, but will assure that the line can be shut down very early in 2011.

 

[jdiane]

It is a very sad day. :-( Stupid honda. :x If you dont market a vehicle, then it doesnt sell, so you dont have enough numbers invested in it to make a new version.
well, we kept an accord running for 19 years, our acura is now 12 years old and runs very well, so hopefully we can keep the E going for at least that long...:roll:

 

[scorsone]

Well, I must say that as one who loves the original utilitarian design of the E I was very saddened by the mid life refresh that gave the E a less unique and less utility look. I think Honda really missed the boat by not beefing up the E. A more Utility less sporty version would have had those jeep patriot/compass drivers look long and hard at Honda. Pairing a stronger engine and the more advanced 4wd system from the Ridge would have sparked a huge surge in Honda.

 

[DJA]

Sad news

I was driving in the E when I heard the report on the radio; it made me sad. We'll drive it for as long as we can and then be very sorry when it's gone. This has been one of those vehicles that becomes a family friend. There is truly nothing else from the current Honda lineup that I would even consider.

Farewell to the Element... :-(

 

[Perro_Loco]

:-( I haven't been on here since I had to trade in my E for a lower payment and I was really hoping they were going to give it a 2nd gen. I'm not surprised though seeing that in the last couple of years they tried to turn into a square CR-V, it doesn't even come in a manual anymore :| I guess when the time comes I'll be getting a 2nd gen Mazda5 instead...

 

[YachtRocked]

Not a problem

I kept my last vehicle, a Ford Ranger truck, for 14 years. I'm the millionaire-next-door type.:grin:

 

[biocube]

I see many other oldtimers like me have been drawn to the thread...

I was thinking next year was the year to trade it in, as I'm at 150k.

But seeing how there is no more, and even more so no more manual tranny, now I think that this is going to be a 400k car.

or at least until something equally functional (yes..MT..AWD...space for bikes and dogs) comes along.

 

[2010E]

From Autoguide Comments:

Calgary Chris: "Good it’s an ugly lemon. The only people that like it are those weirdos over at the Element Owners Club."


This guy is wrong about one thing, the E's not a lemon...it's a PEACH!

They'll be replacing it in 2013 with something new...we'll see what it's like...it just won't be called 'Element'.

So now, who's baby will eventually be the last Element standing?:shock:

 

[doryman]

Well, my E is still pretty new and, if my pattern holds, I'll keep it for another 6 or 7 years. I expect by then I'll be buying some AWD-solar powered-hybrid-flying-saucer thingy, or perhaps a home transporter ala Star Trek, so I'm not too bummed out.