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Honda Element

Yahoo Message Number: 18484
I have been thinking about a new toad. Maybe an Element Does anyone out there have one. If so, what are the pro's and con's.
We knock around on dirt roads, but don't off road.

Thanks,

Avery Sloper
2000 32' Allure
#30487

Re: Honda Element

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18486
From: "motorhome992000" avelle@...>

Quote
>I have been thinking about a new toad. Maybe an Element > Does anyone out there have one. If so, what are the pro's and con's.
We knock around on dirt roads, but don't off road.
If you don't mind stick shift, you might consider towing a Subaru ... all of which are all-wheel-drive and can be towed (if stick-shift) with no speed or distance restrictions, fuse pulling, etc. We've towed our ~3,200 lb Subaru Forester thousands of miles and have driven it off-road for hundreds of miles (remember the Crocodile Dundee commercials?). It's not as 'off-roadable' as a true 4WD (e.g., Jeep), but it's more comfortable on the highway and isn't as likely to rollover as a taller vehicle. *Consumer Reports* gives it great ratings and it has terrific front and side crash test results. I'm a big Honda fan (we owned a 240K mile Civic and presently own a 152K mile Acura (Honda) Integra), which we used as a toad for several years. But, wanting to have off-road capability, we bought the Forester rather than the Honda CR-V 'cause I didn't like the older model CR-Vs lack of power and strange driving position (improved with the newer models) ... and I hate tailgate mounted spare tires. The Subaru's all-wheel-drive system is also reportedly much more effective than Honda's, by the way, on slippery roads and off road.

Anyway, I didn't answer your question, but I did give you an alternative to consider.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

(still for sale)
\

Re: Honda Element

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18489
We've had our Element since March of '03 and can't say enough about its utility as a toad, touring car, SUV, camping and fishing vehicle. We've put twice as many miles on it as our MH (not including towed miles), and it's on its second set of tires (this time off-road types). It has a tailgate which extends its length a few feet which is important when hauling longer stuff such as a boat. Its rear moonroof is handy for sticking fishing rods out of when going from place to place; and while we haven't used the 4WD feature much, its short wheelbase is great for getting out of tight places. These features may seem esoteric to the average driver, but if you're camping/fishing/hiking/birding nuts as we are, you'll love this vehicle. It gets about 20-25MPG.
OK, there is one negative: When towing, the accessories have to be on to keep the steering free. This drains the battery over a day's tow, and eventually kills it unless its a deep-cycle type. To keep this from happening, (according to Honda) you either have to 1) remove the accessory fuse while towing, or 2) provide an additional charging path through the MH pigtail.

Dick & DeVonne
Allure #30519

Where are we? See: http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=388
Quote from: motorhome992000

Re: Honda Element

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18491
Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
] > motorhome992000 wrote:

> I have been thinking about a new toad. Maybe an Element > > Does anyone out there have one. If so, what are the pro's and

con's.

Quote
We knock around on dirt roads, but don't off road.
>

> Thanks,

> Avery Sloper
> 2000 32' Allure
> #30487
>
>

> Were looking forward to this thread as we are considering an

Element

Quote
as well. Thanks for starting it.

Ron & Joyce 98 Allure 30185

Please check if your honda, can be towed on all four. We when to
get a new 2006, and after some mix up. We were told by honda.com You can not tow the 2006 on all 4. So we got a 2005, which we could tow.
This is what happen to us. so get it in write first, on any new honda 2006. Capt. Dan 200 A. # 30498

Quote

>

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>

> * Visit your group "Country-Coach-Owners > >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Country-Coach-Owners>" on

the web.

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> * ">Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > >Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?
subject=Unsubscribe>

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> * >.
>
>
>

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Re: Honda Element

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18499
Quote from: motorhome992000
> I have been thinking about a new toad. Maybe an Element > Does anyone out there have one. If so, what are the pro's and con's.
We knock around on dirt roads, but don't off road.

Thanks,

Avery Sloper
2000 32' Allure
#30487
We tow a 2005 automatic and it's a great little car. As far as not being able to tow four down with a 2006, I can't answer but I don't think Honda has changed the transmission. Best is to ask to see the manual for the 06 and it will have the procedure and warnings for towing.
John