Blue Monoceros In His Element.

[tugrik]

I finally got around to posting pictures of the new Element. For those friends of mine who've already given me heck for "buying an SUV", please keep in mind it gets 26mpg, it's shorter than most full sized sedans and is narrow enough to park in compact slots. It's a micro-SUV, and the only reason it even gets the SUV tag is due to the 4wd and roofheight.

The reason I picked it was it's the only vehicle that met all three conditions: enough roof height, good gas mileage and I can sleep in the back of it at BurningMan. So far it's been a ton of fun.

Comments

[shadowolf.livejournal.com]

I'd say there's a 4th reason, too- It's H2-lite!!

Re:

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

*tries to look innocent*

[goldwing.livejournal.com]

Love how new vehicles shine! The "patchwork" armor is a bit different, but I like it! Too many cars nowadays look the same. Glad you found something to meet your needs, Tug.

[octantis.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to take some pictures of the interior. That's what really counts, eh?

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

Willdo tomorrow... but keep in mind I don't have any wide-angle lenses (yay 1.6x FOV crop sensors on the D30).

Where'd ya run off to anyhow? Whenback? I'll let you drive the thing if you want. Oh, and where'd you leave the radar detector? :)

[nerfcoyote.livejournal.com]

When I was looking for a car last summer yotie suggested I get an Element. I was rather fond of the Odyssey minivan that the Quakes used and I could change in the back for mascot gigs.

diadexxus and Petorawolf did get me to test drive a Toyota Matrix and a Mazda Protege (wagon). I decided economics were kinda crazy at the time, and it was either dump all that savings on a down payment, or repair my existing car. I opted for the latter. Maybe next summer I'll get something new.

I wanna make decals for Yippee Coyote and/or Critters by the Bay, but it would be nice if I had a car I'd feel good about putting such a decal on.

[smackjackal.livejournal.com]

Actually, thinking about it I don't think that I've ever really heard anybody call the Element a SUV. More of a lifestyle vehicle than anything else. Why? Well, it's smaller than my Subaru WRX which is a pretty small car to start with. It is far smaller than Hond'a previous small SUV the CR-V, only seats four including the driver and gets 24mpg on the highway; all very unSUV like things. Being a SUV hater who owned a Honda CR-V and didn't think of as being a SUV I think of the Element as being even less of a SUV than that. It really is more of a market focused station wagon.

If you'd gotten an H2 I would have given you no end of grief about buying a pointless gas guzzling, family killing, richie-rich loke-at-me-and-my-fat-wad-o-cash rolling boat of ugly style. The Element is no great looker itself but does have the advantage of being somewhat unique in the market and form-following-function appeal to it Vs. the function being bent into appealing form that most mid to STUPIDlY HUGE sport utility vehicles seem to be. ( Like the goddamn Cadillac Escalade/Escalade EXT or the Lincon Nadvigator...Er...navigator. )