So, I'd had my Element for three years, and while I enjoyed it, I decided it was time for a new ride (reasons below).
I traded my '06 Silver EX-P AWD MT for a 2010 Fit Sport with the paddle-shiftable 5-speed automatic.
Basically, my reasons were as follows:
1. The Element has a poor design for the footwells, specifically the lack of a drivers footrest. I tried rigging something, and the UrsaMinor footrest didn't look like it would solve the issue (too vertical). With a stick shift, I couldn't stretch my left leg in the space where the clutch pedal was located. It sounds petty, but it was something that was really making it uncomfortable to drive.
2. The Element's fuel economy isn't good. I was averaging 19-20 mpg. Since I believe that gasoline will be shooting right back up when the economy gets back into gear, it makes sense to unload a gas-hog while folks are still willing to buy one.
3. Since moving away from the snow, I don't need AWD.
4. For heavy duty hauling, I have friends and acquaintances with real pickup, and pickup guys are always flattered to haul something.
5. It just wasn't fun anymore. The Element handles just like you'd expect. I got tired of feeling it getting wallowy on curvy roads, and missed the zippy handling of a compact car.
There are some things I'll miss, namely the easy to clean interior, the flip-up seats, and the stick shift. I drove it for three years, and I was sorta attached to it.
I did consider a few other vehicles along with the Fit:
1. Nissan Cube: This one was really close. It's got a very spacious interior (I'm 6'1, 190 lbs), and feels very refined for the price. If you haven't driven one, it's a shocker how nice it is. On the downside, there's no manumatic option, the cargo space isn't so great with the seats up, and the handling felt kinda mushy (very French, which makes sense given the Renault control of Nissan).
2. Scion xB: It sucked. The interior was cheap. The steering felt numb. There was no telescoping wheel, and the wheel was too far away. I was VERY surprised and disappointed by this one.
The Fit won out by being fun to drive, especially with the paddle shifters, having a very versatile interior, and the promise of Honda reliability. And fun to drive is no joke - it's way more entertaining than any sub $20K car has any right to be! I can take it down curvy mountain roads, kick it down into sport shifting mode, and it's almost like having a 4-wheeled sportbike, slicing through the hairpins like a knife.
And, I still have about 84% of the Elements cargo capacity with the seats up (21 cubic feet vs 25), and 80% of the cargo capacity with the seats folded flat (57 cubic feet vs the E's 71 with the seats up).
So, the E's been fun, but for me the Fit is Go.
I traded my '06 Silver EX-P AWD MT for a 2010 Fit Sport with the paddle-shiftable 5-speed automatic.

Basically, my reasons were as follows:
1. The Element has a poor design for the footwells, specifically the lack of a drivers footrest. I tried rigging something, and the UrsaMinor footrest didn't look like it would solve the issue (too vertical). With a stick shift, I couldn't stretch my left leg in the space where the clutch pedal was located. It sounds petty, but it was something that was really making it uncomfortable to drive.
2. The Element's fuel economy isn't good. I was averaging 19-20 mpg. Since I believe that gasoline will be shooting right back up when the economy gets back into gear, it makes sense to unload a gas-hog while folks are still willing to buy one.
3. Since moving away from the snow, I don't need AWD.
4. For heavy duty hauling, I have friends and acquaintances with real pickup, and pickup guys are always flattered to haul something.
5. It just wasn't fun anymore. The Element handles just like you'd expect. I got tired of feeling it getting wallowy on curvy roads, and missed the zippy handling of a compact car.
There are some things I'll miss, namely the easy to clean interior, the flip-up seats, and the stick shift. I drove it for three years, and I was sorta attached to it.
I did consider a few other vehicles along with the Fit:
1. Nissan Cube: This one was really close. It's got a very spacious interior (I'm 6'1, 190 lbs), and feels very refined for the price. If you haven't driven one, it's a shocker how nice it is. On the downside, there's no manumatic option, the cargo space isn't so great with the seats up, and the handling felt kinda mushy (very French, which makes sense given the Renault control of Nissan).
2. Scion xB: It sucked. The interior was cheap. The steering felt numb. There was no telescoping wheel, and the wheel was too far away. I was VERY surprised and disappointed by this one.
The Fit won out by being fun to drive, especially with the paddle shifters, having a very versatile interior, and the promise of Honda reliability. And fun to drive is no joke - it's way more entertaining than any sub $20K car has any right to be! I can take it down curvy mountain roads, kick it down into sport shifting mode, and it's almost like having a 4-wheeled sportbike, slicing through the hairpins like a knife.
And, I still have about 84% of the Elements cargo capacity with the seats up (21 cubic feet vs 25), and 80% of the cargo capacity with the seats folded flat (57 cubic feet vs the E's 71 with the seats up).
So, the E's been fun, but for me the Fit is Go.