Element or Pilot ?

[Diver D]

I'm new to the list and am just about ready to purchase a new Honda. I have my eye on the Pilot, but I really need the Element for practical purposes. I am an avid Scuba Diver and need the extra convenience of the Element to carry wet scuba gear. After a long day of diving, it is easy to just crash out in the car at the dive site. This will save me money in the long run from hotels. I also have a day job that has me driving alot. For financial reasons the Element is the car, for luxury reasons the Pilot is the car.

I did like how smooth the Pilot drives as compared to the Element is a little more bumpier.

Is there anything else I should be aware of with both cars?

Thanks in advance for all the assistance.

Diver D

[80honda]

Pilots are for moms that need to carry 7 children around.

[Buellwinkle]

Split the difference and get the CR-V, it's bigger, more comfortable and rides smoother and only about $1-2K more than the Element.

[BoomerGer]

Yeah, I traded in a CR-V for the Element. CR-V had better gas mileage and was more my "size". E is slightly bigger, not as good gas mileage, but boy do (did) the stares come when I first drove it. Now, 2 years later, the E gets not as many stares (I do have flames along the high belt line, so that gets stares) and other E owners no longer wave back at me, because the E has become not as unique anymore.

[psschmied]

You might want to compare the costs of operation, insurance and depreciation.

When I did SCUBA, my car at the time was a Corolla Liftback. Transporting drained gear was never an issue, as my dive bags were all of water-resistant materials. So far as being able to crash in the E goes, I would say that stock, it is fine for a short night, but I can't see that as better than doing it in a Pilot or a CR-V. It may be easier to clean up the interior of the Elemnt than that of a Pilot after a dive trip, but seat covers and mud and snow mats would minimize the difference.

If cost were no object and I did a lot of camping and/or diving, I'd seriously consider the Ridgeline. The bed is truly washout, and it has an actual trunk. Add a Sportz type bed tent and you'd have a nice minimal footprint base camp. I'm interested in seeing what 3rd party RV options get offered for it.

[4hondaowner]

We loved our Pilot for as long as we had it. As said by other writers, it's a luxury vehicle for hauling the kids and goods around. I like the comments written by psschmeid. You should look closely at the Ridgeline.

[Buellwinkle]

Which is really cheaper to own? It appears that the least deals on Pilots are better than the E. Is the real fuel mileage very different?

[Jim Smoot]

Ugh! I have the same problem. I love the '05 E but am waiting to see what the rumoured painted panels on the '06 will look like. Then do I wait to see if there'll be a hybrid? By the time I'm absolutely ready to buy, the E will be french-fry oil powered and equipped with it's very own Honda Asimo chauffeur!
:shock:

[wolfcreekads]

I'm an Element owner considering a Pilot. No kids, no soccer games. Right now we're a 2-car family. Our hauler is a VW Eurovan Weekender. But we're going to sell that this spring and trade the Element in for a Pilot.

Why? Towing capability and passenger room. The Pilot tows 3500. The Element 1500. The Pilot holds 5-8 people (5 comfortably), the Element 4.

We love our Element, by the way. It's been a flawless vehicle.

[4hondaowner]

I know my wife would love to have her 2003 Pilot back in the garage instead of CR-V.

[Flomobile]

I test drove a Pilot, but didn't like the drive. It was cushy, but it felt too much like driving around in a Dodge Caravan. There was zero fun factor. Biggest downside for me was the lack of a stick shift.

The 8 passenger seating is interesting, but my wife has a Mazda5 that seats six, and has a stick shift. I couldn't see any reason to buy a car that was less enjoyable to drive than my '01 CR-V, got far worse mileage, and felt like a barge. I traded my CR-V auto for an Element EX-P AWD manual. I've had it a week so far, and I love it. It's not as cushy as the CR-V, but the drive is far more fun IMHO. It's about halfway between a CR-V and a Jeep Wrangler, but without all the Wrangler's downsides.

If I had any need for a larger vehicle, I might consider the Pilot again, but it's just too conservative and mushy for my tastes. I'd probably buy a CX-9 before a Pilot simply for the more engaging Mazda driving experience.

[Chasboy]

CR-V has significantly less cargo room than the E, and is not as roomy, seat wise, tho' it has room for 5.
My E rides beautifully, especially on the highway. Mileage is good, topped 25 yesterday.
Choice is very personal. I wanted simple instead of luxury, and the E's sound system is easy to take.
It's gradually becoming my favorite car, and I've owned a few since 1967.
Chas

[Meli]

I've finally bought my E and am never looking back - that's how satisfied I am. You're wanting it for all the right reasons and there's nothing bad about the E except that you may want to put a gas-lock on there. To me, when I drive it, it's very smoother and somehow, for some reason, it has better mileage than my '92 Honda Civic that I just traded in. That's really interesting. :o :twisted:

Also - the car, as I'm sure you know, is very easy to clean up. Before the initial purchase, I've researched it as thoroughly as I can legally and I tell you, not one bad thing about it (than the little gas thing I just mentioned). I think you'll be a very happy customer like the rest of us. :D