Model year differences for Honda Element - Page 2 - Tuner-Junction

scottigee · #21 (**permalink**) August 23rd, 2006, 08:34 PM

Thanks John (jadkar) - *PM'ed*
John P - start an xB vs Element thread! And post more in general! The Prelude guys will love Abbigail!

So SCORE! Wikipedia rules! Just stumbled on all this info...

Cliff Notes:

All Models

Powered by K24A4 (also found in Accord, CRV)
156hp @ 5500, 160 tq @ 4500
Modified CRV chassis
Front Drive or Real-Time AWD (hydraulic rear torque bias during front wheel slip only)

2003

Colors Available: Sunset Orange Pearl, Shoreline Mist Metallic, Satin Silver Metallic, Nighthawk Black Pearl, Galapagos Green Metallic, Eternal Blue Pearl
DX and EX available
Recall: Uneven windshield flange surface (free replacement windshield)
AWD comes with large rear sunroof

2004

New Colors Available: Fiji Blue Pearl
Colors Cancelled: Eternal Blue Pearl
LX, DX and EX available
Front seats improved
Armrest added for Passenger's captains chair

2005

New Colors Available: Cargo Khaki, Rallye Red
DX Cancelled
Side Airbags an option
XM Radio and MP3 cd player added as standard features on EX
Darker plastic body panels instituted
Navy blue plastic body panels available on Shoreline Mist Metallic and Cargo Khaki
Wheel covers on LX changed to mimic alloys

2006

Colors Available:Rallye Red, Nighthawk Black Pearl (all others cancelled)
Colors Added: Tango Red Pearl, Tangerine Metallic, Kiwi Metallic, Atomic Blue Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic
EX-P (fully painted) available for +$500
5spd standard on EX-P with a 4spd auto optional

Not sure if that's all accurate but that's what Wikipedia says

jover · #22 (**permalink**) August 23rd, 2006, 08:37 PM

Hey Scott!

It's good to see that you're inching closer to the dark side.

If you are planning to take the EL off road to lug around drunken hookers in the woods for snuff films, I recommend getting the AWD version.

Otherwise, save your money and get the 2WD if you're only planning to use it for softcore porn. I drive my wife and kids around in it, and it's got enough room in there for toys, bikes, and all sorts of crazy stuff really.

The suicide doors and adjustable seats make it really convenient for me to toss a bunch of ikea furniture in there as well as groceries from Costco.

I really don't know about torque, hp, or specs. However, I do know that it costs about 40 bucks to fill up the tank, and you can clean up barf, splooge, and just about anything from the seats and floors because they are made of some sort of teflon/rubber mesh. I know that the next gen models are out, and some of the 1st gens are on sale in some lots. I'm 100% satisfied with my 2wd base model. Good luck finding one for a great price!

#23 (**permalink**) August 23rd, 2006, 10:10 PM

Its ashame they dont get better mpg like the Xb, I know its a smaller motor in the xb and only a medum size bit less room. But its cheaper better mpg and only smidge less room maybe no neat doors like the elements got. But if price is a factor seriously consider the XB...... I wanted a element when I retire the rsx to full project but the element just doesnt get good enough mpg. Im trying to find a daily that decent on gas.... Im considering the XB. I wanted a fit but i cant do its rear end.....so blah.

puopjv · #24 (**permalink**) August 24th, 2006, 12:03 AM

Get the EX!

I like the alloy wheels, the mp3 player/aux input and moon roof.

puopjv · #25 (**permalink**) August 24th, 2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotboost98

Its ashame they dont get better mpg like the Xb, I know its a smaller motor in the xb and only a medum size bit less room. But its cheaper better mpg and only smidge less room maybe no neat doors like the elements got. But if price is a factor seriously consider the XB...... I wanted a element when I retire the rsx to full project but the element just doesnt get good enough mpg. Im trying to find a daily that decent on gas.... Im considering the XB. I wanted a fit but i cant do its rear end.....so blah.

yeah the mpg of the element is disappointing. It seems like honda could do better, reduce the weight or put in a more efficient engine.

What I like about the scion xb is that its stylish, gets 35 mpg on the highway and it drives like a car not a suv.

#26 (**permalink**) August 24th, 2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puopjv

yeah the mpg of the element is disappointing. It seems like honda could do better, reduce the weight or put in a more efficient engine.

What I like about the scion xb is that its stylish, gets 35 mpg on the highway and it drives like a car not a suv.

Well I think they put the k24 in to move the awd model...and to give it a semi decent power to weight ratio... I know my rsx S gets better mpg than that k24 lol.. I know the displacement factor plays a roll in how much fuel for each cylinder but still.......25/31 for the rsx looks alot better than the 20s for both mpg around town and freeway on the element and not the high end of 20s either if I recall correctly.... If I wanted something that did horrible on gas id get a crv over a element....

I want my next car to run on regular this gas problem isnt getting any better. The xb looks more pratical and promising for me right now over an element..... I couldnt touch a new element for 16,500........Its 16,500-15,900 for the way id like my XB to be. Forget there rims ill get some nice aftermarket 15s later, when the factory tires go. I dont feel like any more high car payments for awhile. 20s+ for a new car just is to much of a car payment that I dont want to do. I dont like to by my cars used.

scottigee · #27 (**permalink**) August 24th, 2006, 01:18 AM

Yeah I definitely want the EX 5spd AWD. I plan on making good use of it offroad. Not the challenging bouldering offroading but on dirt trails and snow, etc for all kinds of outdoors stuff. NoVa doesn't have the great skiing that SoCal had (Mammoth, Big Bear, and occasionally Tahoe trips) but there's a ton of camping type areas with rivers and stuff, and I did feel like I could have used AWD this winter heading up to the ski hill.

As for MPG I'm ok with it. My commute is about 20 miles each way so ~$6/day to get to work and back. I can deal with that. On the longer trips I'm going to want all the space and creature comforts the element has over and xB, and I'll have someone to split gas with.

So yeah, thanks guys! I'm thinking I'll be ready to buy early next year so until then I'll just keep digging up info and posting it here.
i also joined www.elementownersclub.com. Looks like a strong E club with members who really use their elements

jadkar · #28 (**permalink**) August 24th, 2006, 02:04 AM

The problem with the gas mileage is the gearing. The thing seriously needs a 6th gear. Fifth is way too high, I used to climb all sorts of wicked hills near my house in fifth without downshifting. At 80mph I was close to 4K RPM.

Also, I think the air bag info is incorrect. I had them on my 2004 as a 490- option. I think in 2005 they became standard.

scottigee · #29 (**permalink**) August 24th, 2006, 09:58 PM

Interesting.
Here's a thread about adding a 6th gear from a TSX Pretty cool mod...but looks complicated.

Good tip on the airbags...I wouldn't doubt that some of that Wikipedia stuff is a tad off.

JADsKAR · #30 (**permalink**) August 26th, 2006, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottigee

Yeah I definitely want the EX 5spd AWD. I plan on making good use of it offroad. Not the challenging bouldering offroading but on dirt trails and snow, etc for all kinds of outdoors stuff. NoVa doesn't have the great skiing that SoCal had (Mammoth, Big Bear, and occasionally Tahoe trips) but there's a ton of camping type areas with rivers and stuff, and I did feel like I could have used AWD this winter heading up to the ski hill.

For what you are describing, the E is perfect for you. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED that thing and oddly enough, I was really opposed to getting it when we first started looking at it (the milk-truck-styling was not something I was digging, but it quickly grew on me). The thing I liked was that after driving it, I totally thought it drove like a car (and trust me, I'm not your typical chick driver

) I took that thing around turns and couldn't believe the handling for something so boxy... and chirping the gears at stoplights always seemed to turned some heads. John will vouch for me driving like a well-trained maniac

Anyway, esp. if you're planning on loading it up with lots of camping gear and even taking naps in that thing, it was awesome. We fit everything from our 2 road bikes to our supplies for our hardwood floors in it. I can't say one bad thing about it, which is funny, since I never wanted it in the first place. It was a sad day when we say goodbye to it

puopjv · #31 (**permalink**) August 26th, 2006, 08:38 PM

So when are you getting it?

JADsKAR · #32 (**permalink**) August 27th, 2006, 07:46 PM

Since my last post, I was thinking about any problems we may have had with the Element and I forgot to mention something...

About 6 months after we had our element, John was driving on a highway and a rock kicked up and cracked our windshield. Since it was winter at the time, we didn't bother getting it replaced right away, just in case it happened again. As we were driving around with the cracked windshield, we noticed that probalby 3 out of 5 elements we saw had cracked windshields also. Maybe it's the angle of the glass and the grade which Honda used, but there seemed to have been a rather common problem with the windshields cracking easily. If you do some research on the Element forums, you'll probably read about that too (we did at the time and we found alot of people complained about it). People even complained to Honda about it but nothing was ever done. I'm not sure if in the later models the grade of glass was ever changed, but it may be something worth asking the dealer about when you go to get it.

scottigee · #33 (**permalink**) August 27th, 2006, 11:23 PM

I had heard that there was a windshield recall, though probably unrelated. Maybe a bug deflector would divert any incoming rocks. That's a good thing to watch out for - thanks for the heads up.

I'll probably look more seriously at getting one around January based on my predicted cash flow. Although if we start getting some weather around here in November/December I might have to start looking early.

ellyka112 · #34 (**permalink**) November 26th, 2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezeedee

well to narrow it down a bit... do you want a b20 or K20? (or is it 24?)

whats your budget?

It has a k24 and it comes with awd of fwd.......Stick or manual......etc the list goes on I dont know all the difference it body tweaks if its had any yet.

akira12 · #35 (**permalink**) May 20th, 2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotboost98

sitck or auto sue me.....its a k24...........

Yep, I know it's a K24. And I know it comes in auto or manual. Thanks. I guess I'll just keep bumping until an Element owner runs into this.

phuonguyen05 · #36 (**permalink**) July 12th, 2011, 04:48 AM

I dont know all the difference it body tweaks if its had any yet.

binhthuong · #37 (**permalink**) September 12th, 2011, 12:50 AM

Since it was winter at the time, we didn't bother getting it replaced right away, just in case it happened again. As we were driving around with the cracked windshield, we noticed that probalby 3 out of 5 elements we saw had cracked windshields also. Maybe it's the angle of the glass and the grade which Honda used, but there seemed to have been a rather common problem with the windshields cracking easily. If you do some research on the Element forums, you'll probably read about that too (we did at the time and we found alot of people complained about it)

quynh12 · #38 (**permalink**) September 25th, 2011, 06:46 AM

Since it was winter at the time, we didn't bother getting it replaced right away, just in case it happened again. As we were driving around with the cracked windshield, we noticed that probalby 3 out of 5 elements we saw had cracked windshields also
Wholesale

luckya123 · #39 (**permalink**) September 27th, 2011, 02:36 AM

Maybe it's the angle of the glass and the grade which Honda used, but there seemed to have been a rather common problem with the windshields cracking easily.