[NJLibertarian]

So, I was planning to buy a new car in the fall. I had decided on a RAV4, which I really like, but I wasn't, you know, dying for it or anything. Then, one day a couple weeks ago, I saw an Element on the road. I thought, "How hideous! Why would anyone make or buy a car like that?" When I got home, I had to look it up on the Internet, to see if I could find the answer to my question. The more I read about it, the more I fell in love with it. I have never been in love with a car before. But...the price! the gas mileage! the room for dogs and bikes! the fact that you can sleep in it! the interior that is, like, impossible to damage! I was SO hooked. I started looking in every parking lot to see if I could spot an Element, and when I did, I spent about 20 minutes walking around and around it, looking in the windows, hoping the owner would come out, etc.

Peeking in windows in parking lots is just a tease. So of course I had to go visit a dealership, just to look at an Element and pick up a brochure, not to test drive or anything, because I'm not buying till the fall so what do I need a test drive for? When I got there, it was a slow day and the salesman just happened to have a 5-spd waiting right there, so of course I ended up test driving it. I LOVE the stick shift on the instrument panel! I thought it would be weird, but it is just COOL. There is not a single thing about this car that I don't love. It is, like, the ultimate shrine to automotive practicality! Now that it is built, it seems amazing that no car company has ever done this before. Leave it to Honda...sigh...

Anyway, I could have easily waited till fall or even winter for my RAV4, but waiting for an Element is an entirely different story! I have practically memorized the brochure, as well as -- and I am ashamed to confess this -- spent hours on the Internet looking up stuff about it (including half an hour writing this, when I have a zillion other things to do). I even dreamed about it. I HAVE to have a 5spd 4WD, so that will force me to wait a little longer, but I seriously don't know how long I can hold out. The reason I was waiting in the first place was because I wanted to pay off my credit card and a student loan before going for the new car, but now I am having these serious thoughts about how maybe those things can wait. The thing is, I COULD afford to buy it sooner; it just isn't very smart financially.

So, my reason for writing this long, rambling post is that I want to hear from people who are in the same boat as me, OR from people who will help me justify buying it sooner, this summer rather than fall! I mean, if I don't have it this summer, I will miss out on getting to do all those cool summer things with it -- hiking, camping, beach, etc. What do you all think?

P.S. I want orange.

 

[SPACE E]

It seems our obsession with the E is a little unatural. At least in my case!

 

[jayharley]

Mine is a similar story. I currently drive a 1989 Dodge Raider (actually a Mitsubishi Montero). I bought it new and it has served me very very well. The time has come to buy a new car. I wanted a 4WD but not a giant, overly expensive one. I also looked at the RAV. I liked it but it does not look "tough enough" to me.

A few months ago, my wife comes running in to the office with a picture of a car which would be perfect for us. Guess what? I fell in love with the Element. Totally practical and wild looking. Also quite "tough" looking in a all utilitarian kind of way. I also wanted a rough and ready car that would last me at least 10 years with minimum upkeep.

Last week I went to the local dealer and bought a silver EX automatic. I should be able to pick it up mid May. I cannot wait.

 

[lon777]

This little car is as habit forming as a drug. But it sounds like you're intelligent and want to do the "right thing". Don't over extend your credit, we would really hate to hear of your E being re-po'ed. BTW I have the 5-speed, and that shifter is most excellent!!!

 

[za9ra22]

I went to my Honda dealer just to look at an Ody - my van wasn't quite refined and luxurious enough. I laughed at thew E with it's rubber floor, rubber seats and spartan interior. Then I drove one. It took 5 seconds to realize it was perfect, and even less to decide to buy.

I was tempted to wait until the 5speed EX comes out - for all of another 5 seconds.

It's not at all the car I thought I'd buy - but its every bit the car I knew I wanted!

 

[Turtle]

I knew I wanted an Element from the very moment someone at my work showed my a pic of the Honda Model X. I fell in love. Woroking at honda, there are alwas paper passed around with possible new models and what not. When I saw this, I truely hoped that is would be made. Im soooo glad it did. When we got our first one ina t work, I got yelled at for spending 30 minutes looing at it instead of working on cars that were waiting.

 

[StLouisPenguin]

I have been obsessed since I test drove it 2 weeks ago....I can't stop thinking about it....my husband actually said to me today "You are going to love your new Element more than me, aren't you?"

I had to laugh it off and say..."Of course not" but I have fallen in lust with the E and can't wait to have my very own.

I was impressed with the look of it...not like every other SUV on the road today....plus for what we were looking for, a small SUV that was still comfortable in the city and the woods, that was relaiable, etc. etc. etc.....I felt the choices were a bit limited....Rav 4, Liberty, and CRV.....I really wasn't craxy about my options....they all seemed like luxury sedans with 4wd.....not what I was looking for and the prices....don't get me started.
I also looked at the Xtera....when did the prices go up so much??? My friend bought hers the first year they came out and I know they hers didn't cost 28,000 fully loaded.....so we were at a Honda Dealer, looking at new Civics (we have a 1990 Civic)...and I made my husband go for a test drive in the Element.....now I am hooked, and can't wait to go get my E next week!

I totally understand your dilema....my hubby is getting his MBA and we weren't going to spend $20000 on a car....we were looking to spend around $16000 (our Honda dealer has 8 leftover 2002 Honda Civic EXs)....but I worked on our household budget and realized that we can afford the extra $65 a month on our car payment...my husband thinks I am crazy....but then I pointed out that he married me after all )

 

[DXBoy]

The statement about just a little bit more $$ on the monthly payment I think gets a lot of people in trouble! People end up spreading themselves too thin in other areas! Just my 2 cents...

 

[StLouisPenguin]

Ummmm I'm not worrying about getting into trouble....I am just cutting a few things out of my own personal budget....to us any car payment seems like a lot since my husband has never had one (his parents bought him his car and I haven't had a car payment in 4 years)

Honestly I know the E's car payment will be no big deal....after all we paid for a $15,000+ wedding on our salaries in just 10 months! We just imagined having a $320 car payment and now it is going to be $385....I just have to cut out my starbucks...oh well....I guess I will finally have to learn how to use the snazzy cappacino maker we got as a wedding gift! My E will be well worth it!

I think the hardest thing for us is that we are used to having zero debt....any car we buy is going to
be an "UGH!".....at least this way we are getting used to having a little debt before we buy our house next year.

Thanks for your concern!
Diane

 

[Macromonkey]

I too hours and hours of ribbing, and coments about my obbsession.

I was looking for Bigger cars (I was driving a Toyota Carolla, and being 6'4 and shoulders like a line backer...it wasn't a good fit) I was looking at the bigger hatchbacks, like the Vibe and even the Dreaded PT Cruiser. I was a little conserned to even look at a SUV because...I am not really a SUV kinda guy.... :roll:

I dont know how I heard about the E (must have been fate) but i decided i was going to take a saturday and go out to testdrive a Pt Cruiser and an Element. Then I could decide if I wanted to buy one in a couple months.

I saw the E....and *BANG* instant Love....I even loved that Toy Pool smell from the floors.

I decided I NEEDED one even before the end of the test drive, Ended up driving around the parking lot with the salesman trying to find a 4wd Blue EX.

He had one on order and it would be a month....I went nuts for that month...looking at the websites, any accessories site, Heck i scoured google for any referance to Elements it could find (maybe I should have put honda in there the first few times)

I think honda did something when they crafted the E....its a part of our collective psychies that makes us go Gaga over it.

 

[StLouisPenguin]

Let's talk obsessed....I was checking my dealers online inventory yesterday and saw that they just received a new shipment of Elements.....so I decided to go for a Sunday drive over to the dealer (20 min drive) to check them out!

I had never seen the Green E so it was worth the drive.....but I guess they sold it Saturday night because it had a big RED SOLD sticker in the window.....but I was very happy to see that they had Blue Elements on the lot...last week we were going to have to buy the one in the showroom....waiting a week was worth while to have a brand spanking new one!

 

[SPACE E]

Think maybe they have subliminals etched in the plastic?

 

[mortaaay]

I too am obsessed with this car. I am waiting for the 4wd 5spd and it is driving me nuts. I almost purchased teh automatice but fate has helped me with my surpression, the auto I was going to buy had all kinds of toys I didn't want and was out of my budget so now I await my Black EX 5spd 4wd. Once or twice a week I drive out of my way on my way home from work just to go past the Honda dealership to see what's there. This past weekend they had 3 brand new elements in... I really Hope I can wait for the 5spd 4wd.

 

[jdef]

So, I dumped a 2002 Acura RSX-S *and* a 2001 BMW 330Ci convertible for my Element. Both of the ex-cars were Car and Driver Top Ten picks. I don't miss them one bit (although I will get another convertible at some point, probably a used Z3). Now that I've added new, bigger tires and XM SkiFi in the Aux port, and a Garmin Streetpilot III on the way, I am in automotive Nirvana.

Blissed out in the 80's this past weekend.... 8)

Peace,
-jdef

 

[dave-k]

The original post in this story sounded so familiar it was a little scary. I was ready to put money down on a Rav4 when I saw the Element on the web. A near perfect fit to the size/power/MPG/price/fun balance I was looking for. Since I'm only interested in a 5-speed 4WD with side airbags, I'm stuck waiting.

One thing that I'm beginning to wonder about is whether it'll be worth it to hold off for the next iteration (Fall '03???). I doubt there will be major changes, but perhaps we'll get some adjustments to address the roll out quirks (scratch resistant plastics anyone?). If you're looking for justifications for waiting, maybe this is something to think about while you pay down those loans.

 

[ibutchman]

Even though I totally love my Element, do yourself a favor and pay down those loans.
I was always told that if you want something, really, really want something. Wait 1 month. then if you really still want it, wait another month. And at the end of 3 months if you still want it, buy it without hesitation, because you want it with all your heart.

 

[NJLibertarian]

It is so nice to be among people who sympathize. My coworkers are getting pretty damn sick of me talking about the Element! I am excited all over again today because I spotted an orange one in a parking garage. I am sick, I know it.
Waiting is going to be so difficult, because I have a week's vacation at the end of June that I was already planning on using to take a little road trip. Wouldn't that be so much better if I had my Element? Not to mention, every weekend in July at the beach. Ugh, maybe the dealers will make it easy on me by not having the one I want in stock. (Though I could ORDER it, of course...)