This 1969 Chevelle SS 454 has a… hey, wait a minute! A 2003 Honda Element EX AWD, on Barn Finds?! I know, this isn’t a dusty muscle car, hidden away for decades, one that just needs to be cleaned and it’ll start right up and is priced at $1,500 as it should be, because that’s what they cost when we were young. This is a barely two-decade-old Honda crossover wagon. But, it’s a nice one, and it’s an unusual and interesting vehicle, despite what a lot of you are thinking right now. It’s posted here on craigslist in – where else? – the Portland, Oregon area, and the seller is asking $5,800. Here is the original listing, and it’s Rocco B’s fault; he sent in this interesting tip! Thanks, Rocco!
23 years old isn’t the usual threshold for showing a vehicle here, otherwise this interesting AWD… thing, SUV/wagon/crossover/whatever, qualifies. At least as far as being out of the ordinary. We don’t always show vehicles that were found in barns, just like another website doesn’t only show vehicles that need to be “trailered” home. As long as the majority of vehicles shown here fit the Barn Finds theme, I think it’s ok to show something weird like this Element.
Weird is good in my world, as you know, after almost a decade, so of course I grabbed this tip that Rocco sent in when I saw it on the list. “What’s with the weird body panels not matching, Gilby?” Well, think sort of a Saturn plastic-composite idea to help cut down on dings and dents. Plus, it just helps with the weird factor. Honda came up with the Element in the late 1990s, and the first one hit auto shows in late 2002 and then hit showrooms in DX and EX trim. This being the higher trim model, it has a rear sunroof that we don’t get to see, sadly. It also has AWD, and that’s a feature that makes it worthy, in my opinion. Almost anything with AWD or a convertible means that it’s unusual enough to be shown here, but that’s just me.
Honda made the Element in Ohio, and they were manufactured until 2011. Another cool feature that we don’t get to see on this one is side doors that don’t have a B-pillar. A five-speed manual would make this one really interesting, as far as a 2000s dog and people hauler goes, but this one has a four-speed automatic. The interior is made to be hosed out with urethane flooring and, supposedly, “stain-proof” seats, but these have stains on them.
As with a lot of craigslist ads, the engine looks like a rear seat. Yes, the seller didn’t bother to pop the hood to show Honda’s 2.4-liter DOHC inline-four with 160 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through the automatic to the front wheels or to all four when needed. This example is said to run and drive great, and it’s been in the same family since new. This looks like the one to have if you aren’t looking for a coveted manual version. Any thoughts on this unusual Element?
Good writeup, Scotty. I’ve always liked the Element. Not surprising, since I owned a quirky, boxy Nissan Stanza “Prairie Wagon” at one time (as did you).
Thanks, Ron and Pat! I should have kept that Stanza, that was a great vehicle and fun to drive, in a slow, top-heavy way.
I love my 2006 Element and was really hoping Honda would reinvent it for their EV. There’s no other vehicle like the Element đ
Great job Scotty and Rocco! Keep the variety coming.
Was the awd available w 5sp in these ?
Yes
Whew, that’s great to hear, thanks, guys! I’m sure there will be a few folks on the other side of the fence, and that’s ok, too.
Stan, they were available starting in May of 2003, according to this Honda spec chart.
https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/release-a210260c9e9f42523fce50004c34c6b4-2003-honda-element-specifications
Thanks wouldn’t mind a little 5sp. buggy like that for skiing âˇď¸
Great write up Scotty..I was glad to see this on here . I always liked these but unfortunately they were out of my price range years ago. And then we had a third child so the 4 seater wouldn’t have worked I’ve always liked boxy vehicles. ( I had a ’90 Trooper, if thats not boxy then I don’t know what is. Thank you for writing this up, I saw it on Fast Finds and was hoping to see it.
My apologies, also wanted to say thank you to Rocco B. I saw this on fast finds and was glad you found it.
“Other side of the fence”, you say? Sounds like my cue, and this won’t be any different. The Element(al),, now I realize the irony of someone who loves Rambler/AMC has the audacity to bash ANYTHING, but come on, this, to me, always pushed the limits as to what Americans would buy. As if we didn’t learn our lesson from the Aztek, Honda gave it a shot with the Element, as generic a car as one could get. Styling of a box, nothing more. The concept is brilliant, and perfect for a commuting deal, where styling is not an issue, pure “Element” of travel. I know someone with one of these, ton of miles in true Honda fashion( up to 200K anyway) and I’m sorry, be a nice day in the Badger you’d see me in a Honda Element. As crazy as my old man in a “Platz”.
I’ve got an 05 with 49500 (yes it’s true) in khaki.
Fun write-up Scotty. As you note, these were unusual and interesting, a bit quirky. My current mail carrier has one. Good to see it written up, and to (two decades later) ponder its place in the automotive landscape.
The fact that these remain in HIGH demand and are priced accordingly proves their desirability and impact on the automotive scene. unpainted panels were quirky, and (IMO) looked better when they were painted. I’d love to have a five speed SC version, as it was the coolest looking one!! IIRC, they weren’t really designed to be hosed out, but maybe some experienced owners can provide their insight! GLWTA!! :-)
I owned a 2007 Honda Element EX and to this day it was my favorite car that I ever owned. Some may say that they are ugly but what they don’t understand is what you clearly don’t understand at all is that these are like Swiss army knives, the back seats can be folded flat along with the fronts to make a bed,or can come out or even hang sideways via a carabiner clip sewed in the bottoms for cargo space. The floor is all rubber for hose out cleaning and the seats all came with wetsuit materials for easy cleaning. Also many were all wheel drive. These do have a niche following. Final generations were even offered with a dog friendly package that included a dog ramp.
Between 1985 and 1991, Honda had a part time 4WD version of the Civic station wagon called a Wagovan. It was the forerunner of, and was replaced by the CR-V and eventually this vehicle. These 4WD Civic wagons are sought after and are somewhat of a cult classic. I read once where Honda aimed the Element at the âactive youthâ market- surfers, rock climbers, etc. However, a large portion of their sales were made to senior citizens, so much so that they acquired the nickname âEldermentâ. I live where seniors are plentiful, much like Elements (I understand that they are fairly easy to get in and out of, due to their ride height).
Son and his wife own two (one for each), one is a manual with over 250K miles. It’s starting to need more repairs, mostly age-related things. I’m going to link him this one for consideration, although he’d likely be more interested in another manual.
Very good writeup! I took a used root beer colored SC for several test drives a few years back. They drive very well, lots of utility, big sunroof was a nice feature along with the bulletproof. There is a strong cult following for the Element that keeps pricing a bit high. I was I had purchased the SC but went a different route with a post diesel-gate Jetta TDI wagon…fun for awhile but the DSG transmission grenaded on my last payment…even after following the service interval.
Bought a new one in 2004. Ran it gently with great maintenance until 2023 when it lost all compression on #2. The ignition switch failed at 130000 but i removed all the wafers so it would function.
A very wise dealer told me NOT to hose out the interior — the airbag electronics are under the seats!!
I expected more mileage out of it, but it was generally a great car. 5 speed manual with all wheel drive. Gas mileage was awful, probably due to unusually high revs at highway speeds. 4000 rpm at 80 mph. Never got over 20 mpg.
Theres a kit to add a 6th gear, but it only drops the revs 8 per cent. I went with bigger tires to improve the mileage a little bit
Listing update: I didn’t think this would last too long, the seller has removed the listing. Did one of you grab it?
I owned two of these, an EX and a SC. I purchased the EX because I simply liked the box style to carry my furniture displays (manufacturers rep). I also had bicycle stands in it so that I could transport road bikes without having to lay them on their sides. At 105,000 trouble free miles, I traded it in for an SC, which I kept for another 105,000 miles before trading it in on a new 2013 Subaru WRX hatch. If I could find one close by at a reasonable price, I’d grab it. 210,000 trouble free miles!! I would need an AWD model just like this.
My daughter was still in school when these appeared. She called them the Rubbermaid car. They are unique and very versatile. My sitting in one led me to believe their driver template was a 7foot tall midget. All headroom and no legroom. Maybe there’s an exotic way to adjust the seat.
That reminds me! There was an online ‘hack’ about making the tilt steering more adjustable. I remember doing it so I could read the gauges with the seat adjusted for my tall torso. https://www.elementownersclub.com/threads/cant-see-the-instruments-modify-the-steering-wheel-tilt-mechanism.32150/
I bought one in 2004 as a “house vehicle”, dogs, hauling, etc. remarkable car, kept it 8 yrs, wish I had kept it. but your assertion that one can hose it out, uh, no. you cannot. I believe wiring ran under the floor mat and the dealer told me to NEVER do that, it was a rumor that was patently false. I even drove mine up the martha’s vineyard one summer. it was delightful and the seats were fine on the long haul. I think this one is sold, seller took down the advertisement.
The Element is one of the better Honda offerings that they mistakenly stopped producing. Our family had an â06 âBoxy Ladyâ that one of my daughters bought used, lasting her through college and several years afterward. I bought it from her when she married and wanted a larger vehicle. The â06 was then given to my youngest daughter to transport her through the rest of her college days and a few years in her young working career, including a move to Kansas from college in WI and our family residence in IL. She eventually traded it for a â16 Honda CRV, enjoying it until two kids carjacked her in KC, MO this past Spring, replacing it with a â23 certified low mileage Passport, continuing with the reliable Honda product line. I would bet the â06 Element is still on the road continuing to provide reliable transportation for its owner.
Extremely versatile vehicle. I have had two. I have made over a dozen 1,100 trips with my latest one. A toaster on wheels!
LOL!
My daughter wanted to decorate her Cube as a toaster for a Halloween costume.
I think that the comments here prove that the marketing folks were wrong. These boxy, affordable vehicles – Element, xB, and Cube – were originally marketed as a unique vehicle for young first time car buyers.
When older folks started buying them, that attitude quickly changed. There will always be a market for roomy, reliable and inexpensive vehicles, no matter the age of the buyer.
When it came time for my oldest daughter to have her own vehicle, the only one on her mind was a Cube, so that’s what she got. It was cheap to buy used and served her well for years. She recently sold it and bought our Flex – another box on wheels.
Former Element owner. great car. Here’s a couple of buying tips. My Element had a 5 speed. Though fun, it was pretty busy at highway speeds. My car also had the ‘full paint’….no black fenders. And that trim level cost more to insure.
I always liked them but wanted to put an Accord V6 in one, if possible, with a manual would be a blast….Hard to find now without 250k..or WAY too expensive. Honda should have kept them. I’d still like one as a winter beater…
Youâve got to be kiddingâŚ. No? Maybe I should post my 2003 Ranger.
I’ll bet that 2003 Ranger will get a lot of comments too. 31 and counting as of now.
We do not discriminate here.
I looked at one at the 2003 auto show, I thought it was the ugliest thing I ever seen.I ended up getting a new leftover EX and in 2004. It was the most amazing versatile vehicle I ever owned. I packed it with tons of flea market stuff all the time. Slept in it a number of times. In winter it never got stuck in snow. Aside from a couple of starter motors and some front end parts it and the usual stuff it just kept chugging down the road. It had 162000 miles on it when I finally traded it in
Ps
Oh yeah I still was the ugliest thing I ever saw
Tony- You shouldnât be so hard on yourself. There is help if you want to improve your self-perception. Perhaps start with not looking in mirrors⌠đ
Fugly then, fugly now.
Iâll take an Aztek instead
Change the name from barn finds to auto trader.
You can always skip right on by the ones that don’t appeal to you.
Now come on this Honda thing really isnât worthy. It belongs on auto trader. I bought the MGTC that BF listed last week and itâs not the first BF car Iâve bought either.
Now come on this Honda thing really isnât worthy. It belongs on auto trader. I bought the MGTC that BF listed last week and itâs not the first BF car Iâve bought either.
I have purchased a vehicle on BF as well. I appreciate the variety here, especially the single owner and low mileage examples, irrespective of vintage. If a viewer here, who may never have seen this vehicle otherwise, winds up purchasing it, how is that any different from you and I? Does a vehicle have to be X years old to qualify for BF? What about the big trucks, airplanes and boats? Are they illegitimate? I wouldnât give you a dollar for an MGTC (or a 2003 Ranger) or many of the other vehicles featured here, but thatâs what makes this site interesting. And has been said, you are free to skip over those listings that donât appeal to you. As an example, I pass by Cadillac listings, as Cadillacs hold no appeal for me, and the comments oftentimes turn into a novel. You should try it.
Itâs needs to be in a barn out of sight
Whatâs the deal with these people who complain about other people having opinions? If I donât like a particular car you want me to be quiet? You only want to hear people who agree with you? How about You scroll past? I was being facetious about posting my Ranger by the way.
I was here for the Honda Element- I have a close friend looking for one. Why would I scroll past it, as I did on the MGTC, when it holds interest for me? I probably only open about 25% of the listings on BF, as many people likely do. You certainly are free to express your opinion about any posting (vehicle, etc) that you choose. But ignoring those posts that you have no interest in seems like such a simple solution, as opposed to complaining about the content of this (free for you) website.
I am really surprised how much interest there is in a rig like that,I thought posting it was a joke but Iâm wrong. I didnât say it were a piece of crap like so many people say about some cars I like. (pinto Vega corvair) And it is twenty years old. I will heed your advice. But scrolling past an MGTC? Didnât you ever read The Red Car by Don Stanford?