My old Tahoe is failing and I’m afraid it’s time to trade. Looking back through these posts I had specific criteria in mind while reading what you all have: haul all my gear (obviously) AND, when I’m not doing video it needs to comfortably haul my three border collies! All the raves about the Honda Element got me wondering so I did a search, and look what I found here! http://automobiles.honda.com/element/reviews.aspx

I guess I can do without 4WD—I only used it about four times last year, but my question to you Element owners is this: Do the windows in the back go all the way down so my dogs can stick their heads out? :)

Hey Lorinda!

I'm Austin, Bill Davis's Australian Shepherd.

I can confirm that my dad's Element is REALLY cool to ride in!. He likes it because he can literally take a hose and clean it out after we've been somewhere dusty or muddy.

I like it more when he takes the rear seats completely out, cuz it leaves a LOT of glass exposed so I can watch the world go by, but I understand that that's a lot more complicated than just simply hooking the seats up with the carabiners - and I'd rather go with him more than having him HAVE to mess with pulling the seats.

About the only thing that makes me crazy about the Element is that sometimes he pulls the interior floor panel out to use it in "picnic table" mode with the optional legs, and a few months ago, he didn't notice when part of a sandwich fell down there behind the spare tire.

Everytime we went any place for a few months, it drove me CRAZY because I could smell the food down there and I couldn't get at it!!!

Unfortunatly no, the rear windows don't roll down. They just crack open to allow air flow. But Dad's not a big fan of letting me hang my head out during driving for a couple of reasons, one being that he had a friend when he was young who did a bunch of freeway driving like that with four legged buddy, and the wind blast messed up the poor dogs eyesight. Refer: http://www.expertvillage.com/video/5...el-windows.htm - (OK the "doggles" thing is just WEIRD. But still.)

My advice? Go for it. The cool stuff far outweighs the imperfections!

YMMV (your mileage may vary) - but it'll typically stay between 20 and 25 mpg!

Enjoy.

Nice meeting you, Austin! Sounds like you've got it made there, buddy. Next time ol' Bill drops some food down the crack just give him heck. He'll get it for you. :)

I should have mentioned that my dogs are getting old and don't get around well anymore, so all I do is cruise around the farm and neighborhood (still rural, for now) letting them patrol from the rig. That's why it was so important for me to put the windows down. In the Tahoe the back windows only go about four inches, and my dogs aren't quite tall enough for that to be much fun.

On the other hand, it looks like it would be easier getting them in and out of the Element. My back isn't enjoying lifting them that much and they're too unsteady for a ramp.

Thanks, Austin, for the great review, and tell Bill I said "thanks" as well!

Edit: I've seen dogs wearing doggy goggles before. Mine would have a fit, but some dogs seem to think they're cool!

Hey Lorinda, (I wrestled the computer back from Austin!)

Since you mentioned that your boys are on the old-side, I should note that the Element has a pretty significant ground clearance - great for off-roading, but it makes it a bit tougher for an older dog to jump in.

People too, actually. We added the optional sidebar step tubes when we bought it since Linda's mom was getting frail and she found the extra step very useful in help her get up and down.

So when you go for your test drive, you might want to bring the kids along and see how they handle getting in and out.

Just a thought.

Take care.

a Honda
 

2008 Honda Odyssey EX-L w/RES. the dvd and video inputs were great!
took it on a trip to DC, and on the way back took turns watching the footage
on the monitor, AND captured it to a hard drive thanks to the power outlet in the
back.

that sounds niceee

VW Diesel all the way.
 

2002 VW GOLF TDI. Great milage 47 around town and up to 55 on the open road.

I took the rear seats out and I've got plenty of room in the back for lots of gear and luggage for long road trips or short hauls.

My dog used to like it too. I'll have this car for quite a while.

Bryan

If you're getting 55mpg in that car you need to call up General Motors and sell them the technology. Who needs a Prius.

Never pass up an opportunity to post photos.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../Honda_USA.jpg

2006 Honda Big Ruckus, 63 MPG (city).

Here's my link to my scooter page:
http://web.mac.com/bobdiaz/Site/Scooters.html

Bob Diaz

Agreed. I pictured Austin in a chair at Bill’s desk, but now I’m starting to wonder if they share a laptop on the floor. :)

Bill, here’s close-ups of my crew. I get to vacuum often to keep the hair off my gear. (It's dogs or gear--never together.) Also thought I’d throw in a pic of Riley’s wheels since that’s the topic. ;)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/ljeanne/4in1.jpg

Now, we'd sure like to see Austin at work on the computer...or in his Element...

I saw a recent report on a test of an Audi 1.8 TDI driven on a mixture of roads in England from commuter traffic to the M1 (?) motorway. They acheived an overall mileage of 50.3 in something like 1000 miles of driving. So it seems likely that VW could do something similar. Now if diesel just wasn't 70+cents a gallon more than regular gas.

I drive a Pontiac vibe.

One of the promotion fliers for the vibe had someone hauling a Canon XL2 (I use a XL-H1 but it was close)

This wasn't the selling point on the car but it didn't hurt it.
Mainly I got it cause of good gas mileage.

2007 Toyota Tundra Crewmax.....

gas mileage sucks, but it tows a trailer like a beast, the crew does not gripe that there is not enough legroom in the back, and with the truck bed there is plenty of room for luggage, gear, and coolers.

we also have a 2004 explorer sport trac. I only use this for trips to the oil leases since it has 4WD, and not as much space, but is still a pretty good option if the MRS takes the big truck.

Even with gas at 4 bucks a gallon, I still think it is necessary to have a big vehicle....call me nuts, but not having to listen to a gripy crew is worth less MPG

'04 F250
 

I drive an '04 F250 with the big extended cab and the long bed. Gas mileage sucks (around 12-14) but there's literally nothing I can't haul with that truck. Put a heavy duty battery in it, get a powerful inverter, and I can run any and all video/audio equipment off my battery. I actually ran a full 24 channel tracking studio (sans outboard gear) off of my truck battery for about three hours one day. I'm also in the process of developing shockmounts in the bed for my sticks so I can run my camera in the bed of the truck while I drive (primarily for sporting events). I'm also involved in rescue and fire-fighting, so there's plenty of room for that gear as well and I can stick a loaded stretcher in the bed for getting a patient out of the boonies where the ambulances don't come...

Gas hurts, but the truck is a beast and I wouldn't trade it for anything--except a newer one or an F350.