2004 Honda Element

My love affair with the Honda Element began with a trip up the California coast. A friend and I stopped at small town boasting handmade pottery. We pulled up behind a brand new Honda Element. I thought, “What is that? Oh, my gosh, it’s a HONDA! “ After I searched high and low and found the owner, he gave me a tour of the car. I had been looking for a new car for years as my Accord was 20 years old but couldn’t find anything that grabbed my imagination.

I have now owned my 2004 Honda “Ellie Car” for 5 years and I love it! I run a split cable out of my “cigarette lighter” outlet that powers both my satellite radio and my IPOD. I also power my cell phone and my GPS out of it. There is also another “cigarette lighter” outlet in the back of the car that powers the TV and the auto coolers when camping! As a single woman who travels most of the time, it is a solid and secure feeling car and has never given me a moment of trouble. If I could change one thing it would be the way the seats fold up and block the rear window views. I can see out with the rear view mirrors but I wish they folded under the body. I always have them up so I can fully utilize the cargo space.

The back tailgate enables me to easily get groceries in and out. The way the side doors open gives me an unusually wide opening to move chairs, cabinets and boxes that would not fit through the door opening of a regular car. The fold down seats can give you anything from a place to sleep to enough packing space for a three month trip. Did I mention there is a moon roof that is removable for that house plant that is way too tall to move any other way? And you can wash the whole thing out with a hose!

Living in California, I have been able to use the “cabanna” which is an attachment you can buy to change at the beach or at a horseshow or anywhere there isn’t a restroom near. The “curtains” you can also get as an attachment are great for using at gatherings and meetings where cars can stay overnight. Lay out the seats, fluff up the pillows and covers, pull the curtains, pop a cold one, get your IPOD out to read a book and you’re set for the night!

One of my favorite memories was being on location in Utah and attending the “Highland Games” there one summer. After the games were done one night, I set up my “Ellie”,got my dinner out of the cooler and watched as the full moon rose up over the Wasatch Mountains. What a view! The reds, the purples, the shadows! Priceless!

I would recommend this car to anyone who is on the road or off the road consistently. Also anyone with pets, kids or anything else they need to haul around will find everything about the vehicle to their liking. With great gas mileage and easy upkeep, I would recommend it to anyone who travels or does a lot of outdoor recreation.And I definitely recommend it to anyone who finds it amazing how much stuff needs to be put in a car just from work to home! I won’t buy another car until the Honda Element goes hybrid!