I will repair my 2008 for the foreseeable future as long as the repairs are easily identifiable. Just spent over $2800 to replace the suspension and related parts with kyb and OEM parts for my daughter’s 2003 with 122k miles. But if Its one of those issues that come up and no one can figure out and they end up chasing it by changing part after part to no avail I will sell it. Example 2008 with 84k miles, just experienced a loss of power on highway, revs started to decrease and then surge finally making me pull over at an exit and into a gas station. Filled it up, in case it was bad gas. Started right up and exited the gas station only to have it bog down and not rev more than idle as I tried to merge. No code or warning light. Pulled over and called a tow truck. Left the car on with AC while i sat there waiting for 2 hours. The shop got the car and could not replicate the issue. Picked it up and it drove fine on a short highway run. I researched and find a variety of answers and people who were at wits end trying to fix it. My shop says sometimes it has to get worse so they can determine what it is. But to me the car is now not dependable. I will not take it on a longer ride only around town until it happens again is identified and fixed. I will not pursue this for long. Suspension is easy, the steering rack is easy but expensive, a leak is easy but chasing the vtec or this surging under load is harder. I will not chase it by changing parts with no resolution. Then it is time to change this element for something else.

 

I once worked at a very respected independent repair shop that specialized in Hondas. There were occasions that we had a customer car for several days rigged with fuel psi gauge taped to the windshield and a real time scanner plugged in. We were instructed to use that car for all shop errands and hoped to duplicate the problem. Eventually we’d get the info that we needed.
What’s the definition of a used car? It’s a car that the current owner is no longer able or willing to deal with. Might be perfect for its next caretaker

 

I would say when you no longer have the energy and love to invest in the vehicle.
I realize you are asking for advice, but this is too personal a decision to let someone else decide.

 

Whenever this question comes up, I want to lock myself in the bathroom, stick my fingers in my ears, and hum.
I love my E, and I love being an Element person. It's practical, roomy, hard-working, built to last, adorably boxy, and very different from anything else out there. It's like this car was made for me. I don't know how to put a price on that. It's in beautiful shape inside and out, has no malignant rust, and only 105,000 on the odometer. It has needed a few things this year (starter, alternator, knock sensor) and I bought genuine Honda parts with longevity in mind. I don't drive much (5000 a year) and my goal is to see him clock 200,000. By my calculations, that will take 19 more years. We're moving into unprecedented territory, who thought these little toasters would be on the road this long? Over that span of time, even the best parts wear out. I keep an eye on the posts here so I know what to expect as he ages and how to keep him going.
Bottom line, I want to drive an E, and for as long as he can be fixed, I'm going to fix him.

 

When you are willing to accept there is something better and that you deserve it.

 

2007 EX low milage. Little stuff starting ... depends on any major issues.
If throwing good money after bad it sadly may be time.
There really is no real replacement for an E!

 

lets see some pictures of the rust underneath please

 

I've always marked it at the point where you no longer trust the vehicle to be a dependable driver. Rust defininitely speeds up that process. My dad's Land Cruiser has something like 600K miles on it and he's got the gas tank held up with ratchet straps, lines are rotting out, but he won't let it go.

I'm in the south where the cars don't rust, but my E needs an engine, and as long as it's not my only vehicle that I have to rely on I will slowly get all the parts together and make it happen. But if it was my only car, I'd probably move it on.

 

If you wouldn't trust it to get your teenage child to college and back, or if the rockers are so rusted that you couldn't safely jack it up on the side of the road, then it might be time to let it go.

 

I couldnt let go so I gave it to my mom whos still driving it. Its perfect for her needs and still in relatively good shape outside of the faded paint.

Wish theyd just remake the car with a better engine/hybrid drivetrain. The vehicle was a perfect everything car.

 

'Till the wheels fall off- and even then. I'll probably just press a new bearing in and keep going.

Realistically, when I can't fix body damage or rust.

 

My 2005 Honda Element EX 5 speed is my newest vehicle. I've had my other two vehicles for over twenty years. I've looked at other cars over the years and the combination of cars I have and the condition they're in has left other vehicles offering zero real appeal fir me.

So totalled is about the only way I see of changing out of my E. I'd likely get a Porsche Macan S, other than that I'd probably have to find another manual E.

 

Oh, and it lives in the garage.

 

This question has been on my mind a lot this year. I think there are two paths: A) it's no longer fit to be on the road, or B) it's no longer a fit for you. I would be comfortable sending anything in category A to a scrapyard, so the remaining good parts can find their way to good homes. Anything in category B ought to be made available to the community, IMO. As others have said, there's probably someone willing to deal with problems that you're not. Unfortunately I think a lot of Es end up in the junkyard prematurely, just because it's the easy path.

 

I think E's end up in junk yards mostly due to accidents. Even fixable ones with fairly minor damage get totaled because they are old and not worth very much. As you said, "the easy path." I am delighted to see a resurgence in their popularity. I see new folks buying their first (or second or third...) E and joining EOC every week. Prices have gone up since I got mine just two years ago. That bodes well for us insurance-wise. Rust is also an issue where I live (in Ohio). Road salt is corrosive. Regular fluid film application and car washes that spray off the underbody can only do so much.

The few people I know personally who have sold an E still in good shape did so because they needed more than 4 seats (having third kid, for example) or wanted a more luxurious ride than their E could provide.

 

I solved this problem by cracking up my 2005 SOP EX. My intention before the crash was to keep putting money into it as long as I was spending less than what car payments would be. Got about 4500 from insurance, turned that around into a 2007 Kiwi. There are a few minor issues but it still beats not driving an Element. I should probably change my model in my EOC profile.

 

I assume it's be scanned for codes multiple times, if so, what were the codes, if any...

Sounds like "Limp Mode" but such behavior and symptoms can go down several different, frustrating paths - Many on here should be able to assist... \m/

 

I've seen and located tons E's that have been in accidents, only purchased ones with zero accidents - Wild how there have been so many with accident history out there for sale... \m/

 

I thought I’d keep my 2003 bought new way back then when I was a new widower, and my life was in flux. It was perfect for hauling my stuff due to two or three moves, and relocating my two boats. In 2007 I met my current wife, and we settled down in a house with a two car garage.

After a few years, I was getting the infamous clunking noises from the back end, and was chasing down replacing as many bushings and associated linkage parts, yet the noises persisted. By then, my awesome tires still had plenty of tread after 80,000+ miles (!) but were so old that nobody would even rotate them anymore. I also realized that all four struts really needed replacing, too.

But I still loved that little beast, and how faithfully and reliably it had served me. Still, the bug to be driving a sportier car like I had in the past was too much to resist when Fiat brought the 500 Abarth to the U.S.! Sadly, that kicked my Element to the curb outside our garage, where I had to move it every time it snowed. It still got used to tow the boats, but less and less often.

Eventually, I traded the Abarth for a higher performance vehicle, and reluctantly included the Element in the deal. The body and paint were still in remarkably great condition considering its age by 2020! And I’ve spotted it locally, which warms my heart. Honestly, if we had more garage space, I swear I’d still have it. Never had a more useful and reliable vehicle that was so fun to drive, and that introduced me to a whole world full of lovable nuts like us!

 

Do you still have the Abarth, how is it?

 

I had two VWs, drove the first one and had non stop monthly critical repairs to do, bought the second one and combined the two to make one running car which didnt last a year....

Old friend of mine had a good VW from the 70s, simple car but still parts were a bit pricey, drove it into the ground then bought a new VW Golf GTi, it got wrecked so he bought a temporary car, a 99 civic and could not believe how little it cost to run that car, just oil changes. All the "maintenance" he had to constantly pay for on the GTi he now realized were breakdowns and not routine maintenace at all. He is now a staunch japanese car owner, will never go back to VW again.

Same thing at an office I worked at before, they had all been talked into getting VWs by a couple of the VW fans there and now they have all moved onto Japanese brands, same reason.

 

When i was younger i bought a new mustang. The air vent did not work, i brought back and then the other didn't. This happened over and over. After the warranty ran out a machanic told me the car only had one outlet. Never bought another american made car. Only Honda's.

 

Never!