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Never hose out a Honda Element

fifthelementcamping.com

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Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#71

Post by jacquesm »

numbsafari wrote: post #66
jacquesm wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They did in fact update the engine (at least once). I tried finding one here in Europe but they are pretty much impossible to come by unless you want to import one from the USA which has a ton of problems for a car that is not officially carried here.

I put 250k miles on an '08 before, very reluctantly, selling it to a kid for his first vehicle. The '08 had been "updated". But they never offered it with factory installed nav, despite having a very "ahead of its times" sound system. It also had terrible gas mileage. Sure, it was less aerodynamic than a Mac truck, but Honda could have revisited it. Much like my dearly departed Vanagon, there's nothing new like it on…

I have a VW Transporter that started life as a taxi cab. 9 seater, rubberized floor. I put a longer 5th gear in it and removed the LNG system (ridiculous taxes otherwise), it's pretty economic and can haul a ton of stuff. The whole neighborhood here uses it :)

It being an ex taxi bi-fuel I bought it super cheap with low mileage.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#72

Post by [deleted] »

kllrnohj wrote: post #22
devy wrote: post #12

It looks like this is a Honda Element fan site. But I wonder if floor panel rusting is a design flaw, how come the lawyers haven't all jump on the class action suit bandwagon...

Unless Honda advertised or recommended hosing it out, what would lawyers go after? As far as I know Honda themselves didn't advertise this, it was some odd public myth that spread rapidly

[deleted]

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#73

Post by djrogers »

kube-system wrote: post #19
chrisseaton wrote: post #4

I don't get it - would you would think you can hose out a consumer car like this, with the fabric seats and all that plastic trim? I've hosed out Land Rovers, but they're clearly an off-road vehicle designed for wading.

Wranglers have fabric and plastic trim, and they specifically advertise that the floor can be hosed out. The difference is that it has drains (and floor != seat).

They do not advertise that (at least not in North America) - the carpet will get ruined.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#74

Post by qbasic_forever »

luma wrote: post #10

I'm curious how this is currently the top story on HN. A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle is not able to be inundated with water without serious consequences, much like the overwhelming majority of passenger vehicles made before or since. Who is the audience for this?

The Element is actually kind of interesting because you would think it and the similarly boxy Scion xB would have been popular cars for young folks. They're utilitarian and oozed hip marketing directly at active younger kids--load it up with mountain bikes, camping gear, etc. and go have fun.

But in reality these cars were incredibly popular with senior citizens and older folks. It turns out they had amazing visibility with the boxy upright design and seniors felt safer driving them, plus they were spacious inside and easy to enter and exit. The marketing was kind of misplaced and younger folks didn't care for them at all.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#75

Post by ourmandave »

ramesh31 wrote: post #67
luma wrote: post #10

I'm curious how this is currently the top story on HN. A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle is not able to be inundated with water without serious consequences, much like the overwhelming majority of passenger vehicles made before or since. Who is the audience for this?

> A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle The Honda Element was a very special car. I never understood it until I spent time with a friend who has owned one for years. They have a cult following for good reason. You can fit full size furniture in the cargo bay, while still parking in a compact spot. With people piled in the back, you can easily carry 6 passengers at double the MPG of a f…

I currently have an '06 and would love to upgrade to an '07 or later.

Except the cult following (of which I am a member) and current used car prices means I'll be driving it for the foreseeable future.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#76

Post by frosted-flakes »

bloomingeek wrote: post #44

Early 70's and before pickup trucks could be hosed out, but when you were finished you needed to "broom" out the excess water. These were the trucks which had regular floor mats, just leave the two doors open for a little while to air out the cab.

They probably didn't have any floor soundproofing either, or even carpet, which simplifies things significantly. I was amazed at how effectively the mass-loaded vinyl soundproofing and carpet deadens road noise when I drove my car with bare metal floors recently. I would never buy a car without it.

(The sunroof drains got disconnected and the floor was completely flooded. With the sound deadening mat under the carpet there's no way it would have dried out on its own, and it took me a few days to get it all dried out, so I drove it in the meantime with no carpet.)

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#77

Post by frosted-flakes »

anamax wrote: post #25

I remember being told that hosing out an Element would ruin the electrics, that they aren't sealed. Rust too eh.

It would take a while for rust to develop. My car (2003 VW Jetta) had the floor completely saturated for well over a year, but when I finally found the leak (sunroof drains) and removed the carpet to dry it out, there was very minimal rust.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#80

Post by kyleee »

kipchak wrote: post #36

Honda described the element as having an easy to wipe down utility floor, and waterproof seat fabric. I think somewhere along the line that merged into waterproof floor in peoples minds. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5505836ae4b015246aa27...

"somewhere along the lines" probably largely meaning via lieing salespeople and i'd guess some early clickbait articles by enterprising outlets who figured the "just hose it out" line could get some clicks/money
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