Honda Shopping
Jun. 5th, 2008 09:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hrjSo I tested out three models: the Fit, the CR-V, and the Element -- those seeming to have the best likelihood of fulfilling my space requirements without getting into serious monster vehicle territory. And this time, I actually did bring the harp along for test-packing. (In addition to needing a vehicle that can manage it, it served as a useful measuring stick for the camping gear. The harp stands about 5 ft at longest dimension and the longest camping gear that I pack runs about 6 ft, so I could estimate the rest.)
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cellio noted, the Fit is a close cousin of a Tardis. Despite a very petite exterior, with the rear seats flattened out, the harp was quite comfortable even directly behind the driver's seat in normal position. Unfortunately, very little additional cargo length could be squeezed out on the passenger side by pushing the front seat forward. That means that all the poles and bed-lumber would need to be strapped to a roof rack (rather than just the tent ridge-pole). And overall things would be as tight as they were in the Camry, which I'd put up with as a temporary condition. Still, a very neat little vehicle.
The CR-V, surprisingly, was a complete non-starter on cargo space. In terms of space, it's sort of an anti-Prius: looks enormous on the outside but the interior is designed to minimize cargo space. The second row of seats "tumbles" forward, thereby taking up about a foot of the otherwise available interior length behind the front seats. It was too short even to fit the harp in, much less any of the longer camping gear.
The Element. Ah, the Element! Here is a tourney car indeed! The simple version of converting the rear seats for maximum cargo area is to fold them up against the sides. The more drastic version involves removing them entirely, which is a relatively simple operation. (And since they remove independently, storing them in my camping gear cabinets would be easy.) Amusingly, the salesman didn't know they removed entirely -- I had to convince him of it and point out the mechanism. With the rear seats out of the way, the harp fits behind the driver's seat with about half a foot to spare. And with the front passenger seat pushed all the way forward (and therefore not able to serve for an actual passenger -- at least one with legs) I can get a full 6 ft of available length. The cargo area is very boxy in shape (which is efficient) and since the vehicle is intended for "sport" purposes, the flooring is uncarpeted (which makes loading and unloading easier).
Having done the cargo evaluation (and put the harp back in my own vehicle), I did a test-drive in the Element. I'm not exactly the worlds most picky driver. It handled very naturally. Everything worked the way it was supposed to. The driver's seat was quite comfortable. Everything was vastly adjustable.
On the down side? The Element is, technically, an SUV. It gets rather good mileage for that category, but overall about 7 mpg less than the Fit (and than the hypothetical official mileage of my current car). On the other hand, given that I don't do any regular commuting (and given that my normal driving habits seem to squeeze out about 5 mpg more than the "official" rate) I think it's something I can live with. The vehicle doesn't come with available built-in GPS, so if I want that, I'll need to get a portable unit -- which all in all isn't the worst of options. It also doesn't come with available hands-free phone set-up. On the other hand, my phone habits aren't such that this would be a hardship, even given the new CA law requiring it. I can always just pull over and call back. On the up side, unlike the Toyota "bundled option packages", Honda believes in an a la carte option menu, so I can add on the handful of things I like without having to take things I have no interest in.
I told the salesman off the top that I'd promised myself I'd sleep on it before committing to a purchase. I have an appointment to go back tomorrow after work and -- short of anything drastic happening to change my mind (which would include their failure to track down either of the colors I'm interested in) -- plan to come home with a new Element.
As
cellio noted, the Fit is a close cousin of a Tardis. Despite a very petite exterior, with the rear seats flattened out, the harp was quite comfortable even directly behind the driver's seat in normal position. Unfortunately, very little additional cargo length could be squeezed out on the passenger side by pushing the front seat forward. That means that all the poles and bed-lumber would need to be strapped to a roof rack (rather than just the tent ridge-pole). And overall things would be as tight as they were in the Camry, which I'd put up with as a temporary condition. Still, a very neat little vehicle.The CR-V, surprisingly, was a complete non-starter on cargo space. In terms of space, it's sort of an anti-Prius: looks enormous on the outside but the interior is designed to minimize cargo space. The second row of seats "tumbles" forward, thereby taking up about a foot of the otherwise available interior length behind the front seats. It was too short even to fit the harp in, much less any of the longer camping gear.
The Element. Ah, the Element! Here is a tourney car indeed! The simple version of converting the rear seats for maximum cargo area is to fold them up against the sides. The more drastic version involves removing them entirely, which is a relatively simple operation. (And since they remove independently, storing them in my camping gear cabinets would be easy.) Amusingly, the salesman didn't know they removed entirely -- I had to convince him of it and point out the mechanism. With the rear seats out of the way, the harp fits behind the driver's seat with about half a foot to spare. And with the front passenger seat pushed all the way forward (and therefore not able to serve for an actual passenger -- at least one with legs) I can get a full 6 ft of available length. The cargo area is very boxy in shape (which is efficient) and since the vehicle is intended for "sport" purposes, the flooring is uncarpeted (which makes loading and unloading easier).
Having done the cargo evaluation (and put the harp back in my own vehicle), I did a test-drive in the Element. I'm not exactly the worlds most picky driver. It handled very naturally. Everything worked the way it was supposed to. The driver's seat was quite comfortable. Everything was vastly adjustable.
On the down side? The Element is, technically, an SUV. It gets rather good mileage for that category, but overall about 7 mpg less than the Fit (and than the hypothetical official mileage of my current car). On the other hand, given that I don't do any regular commuting (and given that my normal driving habits seem to squeeze out about 5 mpg more than the "official" rate) I think it's something I can live with. The vehicle doesn't come with available built-in GPS, so if I want that, I'll need to get a portable unit -- which all in all isn't the worst of options. It also doesn't come with available hands-free phone set-up. On the other hand, my phone habits aren't such that this would be a hardship, even given the new CA law requiring it. I can always just pull over and call back. On the up side, unlike the Toyota "bundled option packages", Honda believes in an a la carte option menu, so I can add on the handful of things I like without having to take things I have no interest in.
I told the salesman off the top that I'd promised myself I'd sleep on it before committing to a purchase. I have an appointment to go back tomorrow after work and -- short of anything drastic happening to change my mind (which would include their failure to track down either of the colors I'm interested in) -- plan to come home with a new Element.
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Date: 2008-06-07 05:46 am (UTC)The tricky thing -- since they have to call me back in to install the roof rack and other accessories when they come in -- will be dealing with the 12-foot tent ridgepole and uprights for the A&S Tourney next weekend if I can't put them on top. But I suppose diagonally and sticking out the front passenger window with a warning flag will do in a pinch.
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Date: 2008-06-08 06:42 pm (UTC)S