How many miles is too much? Honda Element.

[jyl]

Looking at Honda Elements for daughter. Would you be scared off by 2003 with 107K miles? What about 150K?

This is mechanically a Honda CRV.

She'd drive it maybe 5-7K miles/year. First car, so not looking to spend much. Thinking $10K max.

[Bob Kontak]

Main thing I would research is transmission issues.

I know Accord and Odyssey had issues (just - and a while) before 2003 wrt transmissions if they were not serviced religiously.

Easy check is to see if it has a trans filter a DIY dude can change out. Older ones did not.

Use nothing but Honda fluid.

At 107k timing belt/ancillary timing parts/water pump should be brand new unless there is something radically different vs. legacy motors.

Otherwise it's still a pup.

[impactbumper]

If it is taken care of nothing to worry about in terms of reliability. However to answer your question, every mile is too much in a Honda Element.


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[onewhippedpuppy]

Should be good for well over 200k. Far better than some of the other stuff you have posted about for your kids.

[jyl]

You mean the idea of a 15 year old MBZ? Yeah, I think the Element makes the most sense. For her.

[vash]

my sister's is a stick shift.

she absolutely drives the poo out of it. commutes, multiple trips. it is bombproof.

i think it has too little horsepower to do any actual damage to itself. passing a slow moving vehicle is a commitment. and it needs to be really slow.

i think my sister's is AWD?

[Scott Douglas]

I'd say you need to downshift it and get the rev's up if you think it's too slow. Just MHO.

[rumlyne]

My wife's daily is a 2003 awd Element. We've had it since new. It has 227K
on it now. Not counting a few batteries and struts the only things that
have failed are 1 starter and one A/C comp. The damn thing still has the org.
O2 sensors and cat!
Oh, it's AWD.
I used to think it was ugly til those cubes and kia things came out.
Prior to the Element we went thru 2 Accords. We've never put less than
200K on any of them. Never had a major problem with a one of them.
Just remembered, the first Accord had the cam gear break off at 277K.
that's when the second one came home.
When it comes to basic people movers HONDA RULES!!!

[jyl]

Thanks!

Picked up a orange 2007 AWD Element EX with 116,777 miles, one owner, all service records, airbag recall done, clean Carfax, everything works, only one slight cosmetic issue on interior trim. Will need new tires in a year. Drives very nicely and will hopefully serve her for the next ten years. She'll only drive it 5K miles/yr for the next 3-4 years of school.

This is an interesting car. Very basic for a modern car, minimal doodads, utilitarian and spacious.

This summer, she and her little brother will take the car to the camp where they work, in the mountains about 20 miles outside of So Lake Tahoe. Either I or my wife will drive down with them from Portland. During the summer, the car will mostly sit parked since they will be working six days/week. I'm slightly concerned about the battery going flat. I'm going to replace the battery and look into one of those small solar panels that you keep on the dash and plug into the accessory port. Problem is the ports are only live when the ignition is on, so I either need to make them always on, or wire the panel directly to the battery.

I've also stocked the car with a roadside repair kit (emergency light, air compressor, tools, etc), tire pressure gauge, flashlight, AAA card. Yes, I'm a nervous dad. Yes, I realize the only thing she'll ever use is the AAA card.

[FLYGEEZER]

wife had a 2003 with 220,000 miles. Starter went south and was very expensive fix,all labor, intake gotta come off. Other than that, no issues. Shoulda kept it!

[sand_man]

Thinking one day, I'll add an Element to use for car camping (trackside). I've been intrigued by them for a number of years.

[Scott Douglas]

John - You might want to check the battery tray to see if it can hold a larger battery that what is in there, if it's the stock size now. I know our '13 CR-V has a large motorcycle battery in it but can accommodate a bigger one. That is the only thing I can think of other than the usual changing of the fluids to get a good baseline on the maintenance if you don't have the records of when things have been changed.
I think this is a great car for a new college student as she'll be able to haul all her stuff with her when she goes off to school. Kind of wish I'd had one when I went to school. My BMW 1600 got real cramped with all my stuff in it.

[ted]

Originally Posted by impactbumper

Every mile is too much in a Honda Element.

it is practical shaped like a toaster.

[jyl]

I'll check on the battery. Ideally a bigger battery, but anyway a new battery, will be installed before she heads to California.

Do we still like Optimas? I read something about them not being as good as they used to be.

[Charles Freeborn]

An Optima is a waste of money in a car where size and weight aren't an issue. Plus they only last a few years.
Take it to Gibson Auto and Electric in SE and see Don. Straight up guy - knows Honda well - races one. Tell him I sent you.

Friends have an Element. We call it "The Brick". they love it. Very practical car for hauling stuff. Ugly as a .... well.... brick.... but a good car.

[jyl]

Ok, I will. Thanks! But I'm not going to have him hotrod the Element!

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by jyl

Will need new tires in a year. Drives very nicely and will hopefully serve her for the next ten years. She'll only drive it 5K miles/yr for the next 3-4 years of school.

I'd suggest replacing the tires now. If they only have about 5K left in them now, the braking distance is diminished. There's less tread depth to absorb sharp objects and cause a flat. I see a full size spare tire for that car doesn't appear to be practical. Plus new tires ride nicer and are quieter. Don't milk the garbage miles out of the tires that are on there. Consider a make/model that is commonly available if you do it, too.

Make sure all the belts and hoses are healthy. Maybe add bluetooth to the car...

[KevinTodd]

I always thought Elements were completely stupid vehicles, then we used one that belonged to one of my pastry chefs to do a catering event. The very next week I sought out, found and purchased a Silver '06 model. We've had this thing since, and it's proven time and time again to be one of the overall best vehicles I have ever owned in terms of utility, comfort and dependability.

It's great on the road, swallows up tons of cargo, has excellent visibility, and generally does exactly what I need it to do.

The only maintenance has been the usual--brakes, tires, fluids--and a couple of recalls--including the Takata airbag situation.

Our businesses are in very close proximity to our home, so after all these years we still only have 75k miles on it, but it continues to answer the call of duty--and will continue to do so as we have no plans to sell it. I also used it as a DD for a few years between other vehicles--especially when it was rainy and I didn't want to take the 911 out of the garage.

I'm hoping Honda will eventually bring it back into production.

[jyl]

Reviewing the service records. Mileage is 116777 now.

1 open recall. That might be the trailer hitch wiring, but the car doesn't have one. I'll go check. Edit: no, that is the airbag, which was done subsequent to the CarFax.

Oil changed about every 10K. Most recently in February, 1600 miles ago. Edit: I think 10K is the recommended interval, seems kind of long to me.

Airbag recall at 116669. Front brake pads/rotors at 99.695. Clutch pressure switch and a compliance bushing at 93857. AC clutch and recharge at 91956. Alignment at 80012. Auto trans service, rear diff service, hepa filter at 74371. New battery at 62923. Drive belt, PS fluid at 57734. Brake fluid at 51507. Front brake pads/rotors, rear brake pads, air and hepa filters, auto trans and rear diff service at 44000. Assorted "maintenance" (undescribed) before that.

I was not clear about the tires. They have appx 2X the wear bar depth remaining.

Edit: comparing the above to the recommended service schedule at https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/om/E10303/E10303O00210A.pdf to figure out what should be done now. I ordered a set of LED bulbs for the interior, since the most likely cause of a dead battery (for my daughter) will be leaving the dome light on.

[Steve Carlton]

So, 4/32" total tread or 6/32"? The wear bars are at 2/32". Sounds like a few things are due to make it ship-shape, like a cabin filter and brake fluid flush. 10k service interval is okay for synthetic oil. I'd have a specialist go over it.