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Never hose out a Honda Element

fifthelementcamping.com

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Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#131

Post by insaneirish »

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.

I have never owned an Element. I have never considered buying an Element. I would say I have above average awareness of the car market and am a competent DIY mechanic.

With that preface, I have recommended an Element to multiple acquaintances on account of (seemingly) being able to hose out the inside!

Whatever the root of this perceived 'capability', the dissemination of it was remarkably effective. If you asked me why I thought this, I would say that my recollection was that the official marketing campaign highlighted it as a feature.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#132

Post by thwayunion »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #102
abxytg wrote: post #81

Why is this car beloved? It's so terribly ugly, and it doesn't have any redeeming features you'd expect from a 4x4 (space, cargo room, clearance)

Honda is great at delivering cars that do exactly what people actually need or want. The Element had huge interior space and was thoughtfully designed to be ultra-utilitarian. Most consumers don't actually need a gigantic 4x4 with huge ground clearance to drive to their camp site once a year, so they didn't include those things. Honestly, the number of people who need high clearance 4x4 off-road vehicles ever is extr…

> Most consumers don't actually need a gigantic 4x4 with huge ground clearance ... the very capable Subaru Outback can actually conquer most casual offroad trails these days.

This is funny, because after I read "unnecessary ground clearance" the outback is exactly the car that came to mind! Most of the cars in that class (RAV4, Rogue, etc.) have lower clearance.

(I totaled a sedan on a logging road due to insufficient clearance and replaced that car with a Forester, which has the same clearance as the Outback. I generally concur that the Forester/Outback/Crosstrek strike a good balance for most off-roading needs, but the extra clearance is unnecessary for probably 99% of purchasers. Particularly the Outback which seems to be a super popular family car.)

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#133

Post by MegaButts »

markdown wrote: post #84
mmaunder wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only time I hosed out a car is my uncle's car when it ended up in the ocean. Was low-tide and tons of seagrass on the boat launch. Lost traction and just slowly slid all the way into the ocean. Actually turned out OK after a serious fresh-water bath and carefully drying out everything. Hosing out a car under normal circumstances is insane. I recently worked on a Dodge 12V diesel 1994 truck. Removed all interior carpe…

My dads Toyota Hilux was a rustbucket when he bought it 20 years ago. Still runs "fine", despite lots of use in the intervening years carrying highly corrosive NPK fertilizer on the farm. A bit of rust isn't anything to be scared of so long as you know it's there.

Old Toyota trucks were basically indestructible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Yy5P6FUes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBN3IuVCxl8

That said, it's generally good advice. You just chose one of the most overbuilt, reliable vehicles of all time - not great for generalizing to other cars.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#134

Post by 14 »

peteradio wrote: post #123
Aeolun wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Engine starts, car moves. Good enough for me.

I had a Jeep Cherokee where the only thing separating my feet from the road was the carpet. Would that satisfy your standards?

that is when you pull the carpet lay some cardboard over the hole and put down some fiberglass and sell the vehicle. Old car salesman trick

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#136

Post by irrational »

tokai wrote: post #89
irrational wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you see the metal under the drivers seat? Every car I have owned has had wall to wall carpet, including under the seats.

you remove the seats?

LOL What? Do you seriously remove the driver's seat when you are car shopping?

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#137

Post by WalterBright »

jacquesm wrote: post #35
caycep wrote: post #8

that's sad...it would be the perfect vehicle from a form factor standpoint to do this. Would that they could just spend the extra production bux to put extra rustproofing and drain holes in it for this...

That's not that simple, actually. Drain holes by themselves are going to allow moisture in to the car as well, and being holes the edges will need to be protected, usually drain holes will have some rubber insert for that. But then they are no longer flush, so some water will pool. I've welded plenty of car bottoms where moisture had done a very thorough job of rusting things out, drain holes are typically a fantasti…

Everything on a Boeing airliner has drain holes in it, usually at least 3/8" in diameter. Boeing really does not want accumulations of water in its airplanes, as it causes corrosion and can form ice and it's heavy.

The drain holes in car doors are usually too small - they'll get stopped up with bits of grit and leaves. I drill them out larger for Seattle weather.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#138

Post by cplusplusfellow »

insaneirish wrote: post #131
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.

I have never owned an Element. I have never considered buying an Element. I would say I have above average awareness of the car market and am a competent DIY mechanic. With that preface, I have recommended an Element to multiple acquaintances on account of (seemingly) being able to hose out the inside! Whatever the root of this perceived 'capability', the dissemination of it was remarkably effective. If you asked me…

In 2003/2004, when the Element was initially marketed to the US market, I specifically recall seeing ads that indicated I could do such. Nearly bought one for that reason. Bought a Civic SI instead.

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#139

Post by blamazon »

aabajian wrote: post #90

If you want a hoseable vehicle, buy an FJ Cruiser. I take my dogs to the car wash (it has heated water), and hose them off without taking them out of the back.

There's a fun fact about the FJ cruiser and I know a lot of folks on here will enjoy pointing it out to others just as I do:

Three windshield wipers!!

Re: Never hose out a Honda Element

#140

Post by SmallBets »

Funny seeing this as an Element owner, who is just dealing with the hell of having the catalytic converter stolen. With the relatively high ground clearance, these are absolute magnets for catalytic converter theft. Estimate to fix it with OEM parts ~$6k! Waiting to see if insurance totals it.
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