Bye Bye MINI hello Element?

[Mellow Yellow]

What do folks think of this.... anyone own one... have driving exp in one?????

[pokkis]

Never see as such funny looking bike, if you were refering that :D

[Mellow Yellow]

funny funny.... :p

[Jack Michaud]

at least it's not the Aztec.

[Mellow Yellow]

well... I have to be so careful with the MINI... as far as scratching it, etc when I go to the hills... mind you the MINI is great in the snow... but I'm thinking of something more practical... that I'm not going to mind roughing up a bit....

[kamran]

The "looks" is controversial, but I studied a lot of reviews as a friend was asking me to help her buy one of these for her, and they were mostly very upbeat.
The space inside this vehicle is unbelivable...add the superior Honda engineering and reliability and fair price...and then the question remains,...do I like how it looks?

P.S. far more practical than a MINI for sure.

[D-Sub]

two words:

UG

LY

;)

but..if its practical, has low emissions, gets good mileage, is reliable and has the room you need inside without taking up the entire road...?

[Mellow Yellow]

seems either folks hate the look or like the look!

Shred said get an STI.... I say STI.. mmmm ...goood.. but then I turn and look at my new house... and wifes new car and feel a pain in my wallet...

I know.. I'll get the breadbox.. then hope in a few years the STIwagon make it to the states.. :D

[D-Sub]

I love the passat wagon, but theyre too expensive

whats an STI?

[Mellow Yellow]

STI ~ Here (http://www.subaru.com/servlet/showroom?model=IMPREZA&trim=WRX_STI_SEDAN&command=overview)

[D-Sub]

oh. blech:)

no room to put anything!

[mirror70]

Looks more practical than my Elise.

[Gecko]

My plan is to buy one of these, I've driven one here a few times and it's very nice...they are also made about 15 klicks from my house

[Jim Callen]

I think they're hideous. and if you want to see a funny article written about it, check this out: http://www.maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=ugly_cars

[Mellow Yellow]

that site is funny... oh well... I bought it anyway... :D

[Frappe]

Looks more practical than my Elise.
Sweet Christ on a bicycle! you have an Elise? :eek:

On that note, I agree that the Element looks really silly, but it's become a really popular ski-car. It's...hip!

Personally, but maybe it's a Northeast phenomenon, I love Subaru's as winter-cars. Especially the newer ones.

Gecko - Nissan Cube?

[mirror70]

Originally posted by Frappe
Sweet Christ on a bicycle! you have an Elise? :eek:

No. (http://www.cf-cars.com/images/14.jpg)

Ok, maybe. (http://www.cf-cars.com/images/IMG_0348.JPG)

;)

[D-Sub]

anyone else hear "do I make you hornnnyyyy?" when they look at that pic?

[Gecko]

Originally posted by Frappe


Gecko - Nissan Cube?

Yup...These are rather popular ski/snowboard vehicles here in Japan. 4 people can ride in comfort with all their junk. They ain't super fast (nice Elise) but with all the plowing done in NE (my next likely duty station) I figure that it'll get me to the mountain in comfort and rather cheaply gas wise

[Jack Michaud]

Originally posted by mirror70
No. (http://www.cf-cars.com/images/14.jpg)

Ok, maybe. (http://www.cf-cars.com/images/IMG_0348.JPG)

;)


So which is it?? That is one rockin' car.

[johann]

Heh, I must say the orange looks hot. My friend has the red.

Have you gotten past the 1k miles so you can hit the 2nd cam yet?

Those things are a pain to get into at 6'2.

[mirror70]

Originally posted by johann
Have you gotten past the 1k miles so you can hit the 2nd cam yet?

Those things are a pain to get into at 6'2.

Haven't hit 1k yet, but I can assure you that the 2nd cam is awesome :-)

Getting in isn't so bad, getting out is. The 3ft deep door sills don't make it easy. I think a detachable steering wheel may be the first mod.


So which is it??

Come to Worcester and find out ;)

[ur13]

Originally posted by Mellow Yellow
well... I have to be so careful with the MINI... as far as scratching it, etc when I go to the hills... mind you the MINI is great in the snow... but I'm thinking of something more practical... that I'm not going to mind roughing up a bit....

So you own a Mini? I am considering buying one but the issue of driving it in the snow was my main concern. Do tell more about the Mini in snow and/or what you don't like about the car.....any lingering issues, etc.

I've read lots of good things about the mini, but want to hear a real owner's opinions, especially a fellow carvers.

thanks

[johann]

mirror70:

I thought that the manual said you couldn't hit 6200 rpms before 1k miles or it voided the warrenty.

[Jack Michaud]

next time you buy a new car, make sure you get one with less than 10 miles on it. then after you sign the papers, start the engine, warm it up, drive off the lot and redline it!!!

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

[mirror70]

The dealer didn't mention anything about that. I will check the manual later though.

Of course, if the motor blows a couple of years from now and they try to deny the warranty, they don't really have a leg to stand on.

[Tommy D]

Originally posted by Jack Michaud
next time you buy a new car, make sure you get one with less than 10 miles on it. then after you sign the papers, start the engine, warm it up, drive off the lot and redline it!!!

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Umm... after warming her up first.

I pulled my engine apart after 160000 miles of street/track/autox use, and all 4 cylinders still had prominent cross-hatching, with no signs of wear. I did not break in my motor as described in the above article. Indeed, I kept it below 4500rpm. (This was easy ... 1000 miles in 3 days....mostly highway.)

I attribute the strength and longevity of a motor to proper maintenance, care, and synthetic motor oil; Mobil 1, baby!

A lot of the above article makes sense, though I suspect the results are because newer engines are built to better tolerances rather than how they are 'broken in.'

[johann]

http://tinyurl.com/4z4wg

of if you want to know where the silly long link goes :


http://www.puresportscar.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1210

[Jack Michaud]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6339

[Mellow Yellow]

Major standard equipment: Electronically adjustable suspension, electric memory seats, navigation system, leather and wood interior, auto/manual ride height control, <b>rear seat ski-snowboard sleeve</b>, Breitling in-dash clock, CD changer

crap.. if I would have only know about this deal yesterday.... oh well....

[Jack Michaud]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6339

Originally posted by Mellow Yellow
Major standard equipment: Electronically adjustable suspension, electric memory seats, navigation system, leather and wood interior, auto/manual ride height control, <b>rear seat ski-snowboard sleeve</b>, Breitling in-dash clock, CD changer

crap.. if I would have only know about this deal yesterday.... oh well....

Don't forget the all wheel drive!!

[johann]

bah the ski sleeves are over rated. They seem to be more hassle than they are worth.

Then again I live out of my car so mileage may vary.

[D-Sub]

wow. now that I go look at that thing...

heh. I almost want one. I drive an older explorer right now. horrible gas mileage and its starting to f up on me.

might have to test drive an element at some point!

[D-Sub]

gas mileage seems unimpressive

[Frappe]

Come to Worcester and find out ;)

Worcester, MA?

I'm there. Er, that's a figure of speech. I'm actually an hour or two away.

[klaucke]

Have you done any DE's or autocrosses with the Elise? I'm a big fan of the Lotus idealogy, I wish more sports car companies would drop the luxury and get on performance.

Edit: Is that thing really under 2000lbs, seems like it could be optimistic for a safety complying vehicle.

[Dan]

I've driven the Element when living in Seattle, where it's available as one of Flexcar's (car rental by the hour) standard options. It is amazingly roomy inside - I was driving with a friend who plays in a jazz band, and he was saying that their whole setup (drums, instruments, speakers) would fit in the car. However, I was hideously embarrassed to drive it around - for me, it shrieks "old man's car." YMMV - if you don't mind the looks, it would be a really handy snowboarding vehicle.

[johann]

elise:
they had to get a special waivers to start selling hte elise in the states cause of the bumper and some other things.

I don't really feel all that safe in one. There's just somethign wierd about driving by a guy on a bicycle and looking up at them.

They handle well(understatement) and have lots of go juice though.

mmm prolly not under 2k with me in the car, heheh, but curb weight is under 2. seriously tiny car.

[Gecko]

I read someplace that in order to sell in the states they had to add some extra junk to make in more "Luxury" that in turn increased the weight

[Mellow Yellow]

well I did trade the Cooper S in on the Element. All I can say is woohoo.. all of my gear and then some fits inside. Big plus over the MINI (of course I did not buy the MINI to serve as my boarding car.. it just turned out that way!)

Old mans car... nah... and if it is.. oh well...

[Marilyn Cambers]

Mellow --

I think the element is cool looking -- not real keen on the 2-tone weirdness of it, but saw a black and gray one yesterday that looked awesome! What color did you get?

I am bummed you got rid of the Mini S -- they are a blast to drive!!

You gonna drive the element to Montana? :p How many more days?????

Marilyn ;)

[Mellow Yellow]

Got a burnt orange one... I'm ready for halloween!

84 more days till' Montana... :D

[D-Sub]

mellow, once you get a feel for it, report back on the build, ride, quality, etc... wouldya?

Im still a bit turned off by the gas mileage...21-24? thats not so hot, but I guess for an "SUV"....