Honda Element - underpowered and noisy or not?

Discussion in 'Element' started by hondacivic, May 16, 2004.

  1. hondacivic

    hondacivic Guest

    Greetings,

    I've been reading a number of usenet and magazine articles to get the
    scoop on the Element's engine and highway wind noise, and I'm reading
    all kinds of opinions.
    One magazine says that the main major downside with the Element is the
    amount of wind noise at highway speeds, in the 60 to 70mph range even.
    I've also read how people are very suprised to find it so quiet for
    such a boxy vehicle.
    On a side note, I've also read that it eats tires and to avoid the
    noisy Good Year tires (I'd probably slap on Michelins if that's
    possible, I think it's nuts of trust the unworthy Good Year brand).

    So, my question to Element owners. What about wind noise at around
    70mph. What about wind sensitivity? If it's windy out, does it gets
    pushed from side to side a lot, because of the boxyness?
    What about performance? I've read that it actually outperforms many
    V6 SUV's, at 8.4 seconds from 0 to 60 (pretty darn good!).

    When you remove the back seat, what's the maximum length of a flat box
    (an Ikea desk in a flat box for instance) that fits?
    What actual gas mileage have people been getting? I'm reading you
    should expect 25mpg on the highway, that's kinda all right at best I
    think.

    Thanks for any feedback in advance.
    I've owned 3 civic's in the past, and find Honda engineering
    outstanding, and I look forward to drive a Honda again.
     
    hondacivic, May 16, 2004
    #1
  2. hondacivic

    M.C. Tee Guest

    goto a dealer and take one for a test drive on the highway, then you know
    for sure =)
     
    M.C. Tee, May 16, 2004
    #2
  3. hondacivic

    Neil Guest

    wrote in @posting.google.com:
    I'd have to think... we have the roof racks with bike racks installed
    right now and they whistle. (It's the roof rack that's whistling; we took
    the rubber strip oout when we installed the bike racks this spring and
    now we can tell how fast we're going by the pitch :) But I don't
    remember it being particularly noisy.
    It gets pushed around a bit more than it's predecessor, a 2000 Civic. I
    thought it was less than one would expect looking at it, though.
    Haven't had any problems passing competitors - erm, other drivers - on
    the highway.
    I want to say it's approximately 6' but I don't know off the top of my
    head.
    It's a fun vehicle to have, especially coming from a history of small
    cars (Civic, Saturn SL, Accord, VW Golf). It's easy to clean out (you
    can't just hose it out but it's almost as easy) and it's different. And
    I'm 6'2" and I fit into each of the seats without any issues. Very
    important...

    -Neil
     
    Neil, May 16, 2004
    #3
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