Honda Element vs Honda Fit as a dog hauler and track toy...wait, what?

I have a nice little BMW Z3 that I'm not really using as much as I had expected. I bought a car that I don't really need and it just sits in my garage most of the time. What I do need is something that would be easy to haul the dog around in and I'd also love to have a car with Honda reliability (I haven't been without at least one Honda in the garage since 1988) and something that I could have a little fun with at a track day that has cheap consumables. I don't need to go fast, and I dig funky oddballs at the track.

My dad had a 2009 Honda Fit Sport five speed and I absolutely loved it. I've also always had a thing for Elements, though I've never considered a 2WD one.

I could get a nice Fit or Element for what I can get for the BMW and still get some change back, though a low mileage Fit (68k or so) costs about the same as an Element with 150k. The Element comes with extra weight, but also has a K series engine.

I know that it sounds absolutely foolish to ask "What would you do?", because I doubt that any of you would consider any of this in the first place. But...please argue amongst yourselves in favor of one or the other.

Fit. It actually has an aftermarket so you're more likely to be able to easily source things like performance brake pads etc.

Fit, absolutely.

Element. Box flares. Tupperware livery.

never drove a fit. found the element to be too underpowered, but I loved everything else about it.

how about an RDX?

I have a friend way into dogs and the element is amazing with its rubberized floor and tough interior.

Not sure if want a track toy element. The driving position is wrong.

Could you even do a track day with the Element? I'd wonder if the organizers would worry too much about rollover potential.

Regardless, I'll put another vote in for the Fit. We had a 2008 and it was wonderful. Woefully underpowered, but a joy to drive. 38mpg was easy, 40+ was doable with little effort.

Klayfish wrote: Could you even do a track day with the Element? I'd wonder if the organizers would worry too much about rollover potential.

Yes. I emailed the owner of the company who puts on the track days with that specific question and he said yes.

DaveEstey wrote: Fit. It actually has an aftermarket so you're more likely to be able to easily source things like performance brake pads etc.

I'm sure that I can find good pads for the Element. Also, I think that turbo'ing the Element would be easier.

Not sure if this will help your decision, but I saw an Element on RT53 near Chicago freight training everyone. We were all cruising at 75, so that bastard was pushing triple digits.

I vote Element with Coilovers. Get it low and it is probably just an accord (or whatever the CRV/Element is based on) with some usable space. I love quirky stuff too though so I am playing up that side pretty hard here. Seriously though, think of the looks and conversation surrounding a track Element.

Do iT!

I love my element, but tracking it just doesn't make sense. You could lower it till the undercarriage is an inch off the tarmac, and it would still be far-and-away the tallest thing on the track. Not the right tool for the job.

I would like to see the Element's engine dropped into the Fit, however!

https://sportcompactwarehouse.com/tein-gsa76-1uss2-street-basis-coilover-kit-oem-front-upper-mount-oem-rear-upper-mount-not-edfc-compatable?gclid=Cj0KEQiAoby1BRDA-fPXtITt3f0BEiQAPCkqQRroYL-w6NhDuU8_OvrNYeudpCXtxC6wKsTEcKgvvkYaAp-8P8HAQ&fit_id=30596&Year=2003&Make=Honda&Model=Element&

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=527

http://www.tunersports.com/products.php?make=24&model=430&year=&category=15&manufacturer=&page=1

So many mediocre options!

Elements are cool for the interior usefulness. The back seats fold out and I think you can take them out completely. The rubber floors make perfect sense for a dog hauler too.

belteshazzar wrote: how about an RDX?

I just bought an RDX recently and love it. Same basic platform and size of the crv, but nicer interior and way more fun to drive with the turbo motor and fancy AWD system. The only real complaint I have with it is the gas mileage isn't that great, but it's a compromise I guess for AWD and turbo power. It should be fine for a dog hauler though. The back seats fold flat and makes for decent space in the back.

In reply to Spoolpigeon:

Can you get an RDX with a stick?

Scratch that. RDXs are still too expensive.

Left field: Mazda5 Sport with a stick. Sliding doors and low entry floors are better for dogs and the Mazda3 chassis underneath it is much better for track work.

I'd have to go with the Fit as well. They are pretty good as a B Spec car so you know it'll get around the track ok. If I were looking for a multi-purpose swiss army knife car right now, that would be high on the list.

If you want a dog hauler don't get something that sucks at hauling dogs

We have a 2005 All Wheel Drive, auto, Element. The car is a DD and has done 125,000 miles in five years, total miles just turned 180,000, and we are the second owner.

We call the car an 85% solution. The capacity to load "stuff" in the back end with the rear seats folded is really a "plus". The second set of rear opening doors does not really work when parked next to anything. The step into the rear seats works for younger passengers, my parents made the car available to us when their friends could no longer gracefully get into the car. But everyone loved the "stadium" seating, limited to two back seat passengers.

Ours gets 18-22 MPG, the aero dynamics of the car at 70 plus might be a barrier. As for normal maintenance with oil changes every 5000 miles the only issue we have ever had required a valve adjustment. The Exhaust valves had tightened up and the car would not idle when cold.

Track one of these, I would not. But I would ask if they will let you on track with a X3.

We just picked up a 2005 BMW X3, 3.0i. This I would track. The car is basically an E46 with room for stuff and it flat goes. As a plus they were built with a stick, rare but out there.

David

The Mazda 5 sounds good but it sounds like you've made up your mind. The element sounds like a quirky choice like you want. What k series motor and transmissions options do they get exactly?

Here's a loop. mazda6. wagon... v6... manual trans.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2017&zip=06033&transmissionCode=MAN&transmissionCodes=MAN&showcaseListingId=416219468&mmt=[MAZDA[MAZDA6[]][]]&vehicleStyleCodes=WAGON&modelCode1=MAZDA6&sortBy=distanceASC&makeCode1=MAZDA&startYear=1981&showcaseOwnerId=573857&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&listingId=416773805&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2017&zip=06033&transmissionCode=MAN&transmissionCodes=MAN&showcaseListingId=416219468&mmt=[MAZDA[MAZDA6[]][]]&vehicleStyleCodes=WAGON&modelCode1=MAZDA6&sortBy=distanceASC&makeCode1=MAZDA&startYear=1981&showcaseOwnerId=573857&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&listingId=420109784&Log=0

If you really want a honda, get the fit.

jr02518 wrote: We just picked up a 2005 BMW X3, 3.0i. This I would track. The car is basically an E46 with room for stuff and it flat goes. As a plus the were built with a stick, rare but out there. David

That's an interesting alternative that I hadn't thought of. Thanks.

I can't comment on the Elephant, as I've never driven one, but I do own a 2011 Fit that I have tracked. With the rear seat folded down, it is cavernous, and unless you own a whole flock of Newfoundlands, your dogs will be happy. It easily gets high 30's on the highway (low 40's if you don't drive like me) and has been bulletproof reliable.

A couple of years ago,I took it to an HPDE weekend when my turbo Miata was suffering boost control issues I couldn't work out in time. I figured since I'd spent years mouthing off about how a low powered car was ideal for learning to drive smoothly and fast, I'd put my money where my mouth is and take the Fit. It's entertaining on the street in a momentum car sort of way, so what the heck? The stock front pads had 80% left, and the stock OE tires were getting a bit low, so I figured I'd run them off on the track since it was October and I'd be putting the snows on shortly. With the low power, I figured the brakes would be fine.

The brakes lasted 3 laps before I had massive pad fade, and they were completely gone by early Sunday afternoon. However, $55 at a nearby NAPA and I was back in time for the next session. The outside front tire suffered unspeakable torture, and the outside edge simply disappeared. I spent the weekend rotating tires, and had enough tire (well, in the centre at least) to get home.

How did it drive? It was hilarious! Massive body roll and grinding terminal understeer. I tried "slow in, fast out". The "slow in" part was good, but "fast out" wasn't in the cards. Because of the body roll, the inside front tire would simply light up when I applied "power". I did eventually derive a compromise that worked for the tires, brakes and handling. Sound like a miserable weekend? Not at all - I had a complete giggle. I did spend a lot of time making sure I stayed out of everyone's way and the corner workers dubbed it the MisFit, but it was hilarious good fun.

If I was to do it again, it would need proper brake pads at a minimum, some suspension work to tame the body roll (it desperately needs a rear sway bar), and proper tires (without so much grip as to make the body roll a problem). Bear in mind I was running in the advanced group with some pretty fast cars. For the last session of the weekend, some of the run groups were lumped together, and the organizers put me in with the joint novice/intermediate group, wherein I was pointed by an E46 M3 and an E34 M5 (both driven by novices). That was fun! In subsequent events, I found people remembered me as the "crazy Fit guy" far more than they did for my very fast, very yellow Miata!

With proper prep, it would be a reliable and usable HPDE car, and an extremely useful daily driver.