It was the quirkiest, most practical vehicle ever made. Relatively tiny footprint on the road. The roof was like a couple feet above your head. The rear passengers sat above you and looked down on the front seat. Massive rear leg room too. The seats folding up against the wall was brilliant. Turned into basically a truck, but really high shell.
It was ruined by stupid stuff:
- Rear seats were really low on the floor. You were a mile from the front seats, but on 6+ hour road trips, having your knees near your face got really uncomfortable.
- It was loud, creaky, plasticky car. Not to be unexpected
- I test drove a FWD manual, loved it, but eventually went with an auto AWD. Big mistake. 5-speed auto wasn't enough for how little power it was. The manual was much better to drive.
I desperately want them to come out with a new one. Same idea, but fix the NVH, power, and ergo issues in the rear seats.
I've even been casually looking at old ones. if I could get an AWD, manual one, with low miles in great shape, for a decent price, I'd do it. Now that has the RDX, the Outback is really just for me to commute in. Which I don't do much of anyways, since I work from home now.
Please assplain the color coded seemingly contradictory statements. Kthx.
I haz confused.
When the seats are really low to the floor, your legs are bent upwards. It's like sitting on a curb. Your knees are a lot closer to your face. When you have normal seats in a car, your knees are more like 90 degrees bent. In an element, it's more than 90 degrees.
So the floor is higher in the rear. But the seats are very close to the ground. And they're far away from the front seats.
It was the quirkiest, most practical vehicle ever made. Relatively tiny footprint on the road. The roof was like a couple feet above your head. The rear passengers sat above you and looked down on the front seat. Massive rear leg room too. The seats folding up against the wall was brilliant. Turned into basically a truck, but really high shell.
It was ruined by stupid stuff:
- Rear seats were really low on the floor. You were a mile from the front seats, but on 6+ hour road trips, having your knees near your face got really uncomfortable.
- It was loud, creaky, plasticky car. Not to be unexpected
- I test drove a FWD manual, loved it, but eventually went with an auto AWD. Big mistake. 5-speed auto wasn't enough for how little power it was. The manual was much better to drive.
I desperately want them to come out with a new one. Same idea, but fix the NVH, power, and ergo issues in the rear seats.
I've even been casually looking at old ones. if I could get an AWD, manual one, with low miles in great shape, for a decent price, I'd do it. Now that has the RDX, the Outback is really just for me to commute in. Which I don't do much of anyways, since I work from home now.
I think a new one, maybe EV would be epic. I'd seriously consider one.
That's a vehicle that would translate really well to being an EV. I would definitely be interested.
Please assplain the color coded seemingly contradictory statements. Kthx.
I haz confused.
I've ridden in one as well. The floor in the back is higher, so while the view from the back seat is over the front passengers, your feet are also another few inches higher.
I guess I get it now.
Those suicide doors are cool. Didn't realize these things had that.
Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm
I don't understand anything anymore.
That's a vehicle that would translate really well to being an EV. I would definitely be interested.
Right?!? Seems like a fantastic opportunity for Honduh.
it's a perfect EV vehicle. I had the opportunity to drive an Element SC with a quite a few times back in the day, they actually drove rather well and feel like a Civic in size (a 2004 Civic, not 2022) on the road but are huge inside. They are great vehicles. I even kind of like the look, so ugly it's cute.
Hell, people are chomping at the bit to buy cars with hideous plastic cladding now, the Element and Asstec were just ahead of their time.
Detroit wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:43 pm
Right?!? Seems like a fantastic opportunity for Honduh.
it's a perfect EV vehicle. I had the opportunity to drive an Element SC with a quite a few times back in the day, they actually drove rather well and feel like a Civic in size (a 2004 Civic, not 2022) on the road but are huge inside. They are great vehicles. I even kind of like the look, so ugly it's cute.
Hell, people are chomping at the bit to buy cars with hideous plastic cladding now, the Element and Asstec were just ahead of their time.
08 fuel crunch killed them… It was still peak Honda at the time. Unlike now
Detroit wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:43 pm
Right?!? Seems like a fantastic opportunity for Honduh.
it's a perfect EV vehicle. I had the opportunity to drive an Element SC with a quite a few times back in the day, they actually drove rather well and feel like a Civic in size (a 2004 Civic, not 2022) on the road but are huge inside. They are great vehicles. I even kind of like the look, so ugly it's cute.
Hell, people are chomping at the bit to buy cars with hideous plastic cladding now, the Element and Asstec were just ahead of their time.
The Asstec basically introduced the concept of overlanding which is popular now these days with the 4runner's or any body on frame toyota suv's, wranglers, now even first gen cayenne's have entered the chat. Would be nice if the aztek joins the bandwagon
max225 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:52 pm
I really like clamshell doors for some reason.
The only downsides to them is that one door relies on the other for latching and it can make ingress/egress tricky in a tight parking spot. I remember a couple times in my extended cab Sierra where the front passenger inadvertently slammed their door shut before the rear passenger door was closed, causing it to bounce off the body.
With that said, it is a glorious use of space and I wish more manufacturers would offer models with the design. My only guess is crash standards eliminated their feasibility. I think it was fantastic for Mazda to include them on the RX-8.
Temping 2nd fun vehicle if it doesn't go for stratospheric prices.
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
Temping 2nd fun vehicle if it doesn't go for stratospheric prices.
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
Single owner, southern car, documented maintenance, yea probably due for head gaskets soon, but damn...I'm not sure there's a nicer one in existence. PLUS, 06's are a bit special because they had a few improvements (including a quicker steering rack from the STI).
Temptation is real on this. Only saving grace is it'll probably go for $20k in today's market = for me.
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
Single owner, southern car, documented maintenance, yea probably due for head gaskets soon, but damn...I'm not sure there's a nicer one in existence. PLUS, 06's are a bit special because they had a few improvements (including a quicker steering rack from the STI).
Temptation is real on this. Only saving grace is it'll probably go for $20k in today's market = for me.
Well it isn’t on bring a fortune or daddy dougs site … so it may be a bit more reasonable
Detroit wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:17 am
Single owner, southern car, documented maintenance, yea probably due for head gaskets soon, but damn...I'm not sure there's a nicer one in existence. PLUS, 06's are a bit special because they had a few improvements (including a quicker steering rack from the STI).
Temptation is real on this. Only saving grace is it'll probably go for $20k in today's market = for me.
Well it isn’t on bring a fortune or daddy dougs site … so it may be a bit more reasonable
These things aren't well known compared to WRX's, so they're usually pretty beat by this stage. The fact that this one isn't and it's so rare it could either be a steal or go for a fortune.
Temping 2nd fun vehicle if it doesn't go for stratospheric prices.
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
From Seller:
The head gaskets have not been touched, but honestly it hasn’t really needed it. I haven’t ever had any oil burning issues with the car, so it hasn’t really been a concern of mine. I made sure to always stay on top of my oil changes every 3,000, so have done everything I can to keep it healthy! Let me know if you have any more questions!
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
From Seller:
The head gaskets have not been touched, but honestly it hasn’t really needed it. I haven’t ever had any oil burning issues with the car, so it hasn’t really been a concern of mine. I made sure to always stay on top of my oil changes every 3,000, so have done everything I can to keep it healthy! Let me know if you have any more questions!
Entire cooling system replaced makes me think there's a HG problem. This happened to Hoovie on his network TV show. Bought a saabaru aero, dealer said we tested the HG, he drives it home to his mechanic, who points out the new cooling system and upon looking closer it did need HGs.
That post probably read like shit, but the is real with this one.
Edit: nvm just read the add. Radiator replacement wouldn't scare me. It could have just been dirty or dented up and with the cost of a new one why not replace it.
Last edited by CaleDeRoo on Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Temping 2nd fun vehicle if it doesn't go for stratospheric prices.
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
Was there any Saab in these things other than the badges?
Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm
I don't understand anything anymore.
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
From Seller:
The head gaskets have not been touched, but honestly it hasn’t really needed it. I haven’t ever had any oil burning issues with the car, so it hasn’t really been a concern of mine. I made sure to always stay on top of my oil changes every 3,000, so have done everything I can to keep it healthy! Let me know if you have any more questions!
Oil changes <<>>
Oil Consumption <<>>
hEaDgAsKeTs aRe FiNe
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
Was there any Saab in these things other than the badges?
Specific shock tuning, more sound deadening, and an upgraded Subaru steering rack, but no REAL saabness to be found. Not even ignition switch relocation like the 9-7x
Love these, and this particular one looks clean af. I’m a little surprised to see an entire cooling system replacement as well as the turbro by 102k miles and no HG service …. And car is being sold at 104k miles … only thing to watch out for
Was there any Saab in these things other than the badges?
Different head/tail lights/wheels slightly different interior things.
Detroit wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:08 pm
From Seller:
Entire cooling system replaced makes me think there's a HG problem. This happened to Hoovie on his network TV show. Bought a saabaru aero, dealer said we tested the HG, he drives it home to his mechanic, who points out the new cooling system and upon looking closer it did need HGs.
That post probably read like shit, but the is real with this one.
Edit: nvm just read the add. Radiator replacement wouldn't scare me. It could have just been dirty or dented up and with the cost of a new one why not replace it.
From what I can gather, head gasket failure manifests itself as leaking oil under the engine. This thing has had nearly every seal replaced, seriously questioning if the headgaskets are toast but trying to fix it by replacing everything else first.
Still have the wants, just not keen on the idea of buying a car then needing to work on it immediately. I don't have time for that.
wap wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:39 pm
Was there any Saab in these things other than the badges?
Specific shock tuning, more sound deadening, and an upgraded Subaru steering rack, but no REAL saabness to be found. Not even ignition switch relocation like the 9-7x
Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm
I don't understand anything anymore.
Detroit wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:51 pm
All of which I consider to be a drastic improvement over the WRX at the time, which is why I've always liked these.
The uniqueness factor is cool too IMO. Major CC Credit.
Yep, which is why I've always thought one of these would be a neat modern affordable "collectible". Would be fun to have a nice one in the garage to take out on nice days and whatnot.
has the RDX, the Outback is really just for me to commute in. Which I don't do much of anyways, since I work from home now.
it's a perfect EV vehicle. I had the opportunity to drive an Element SC with a 
quite a few times back in the day, they actually drove rather well and feel like a Civic in size (a 2004 Civic, not 2022) on the road but are huge inside. They are great vehicles. I even kind of like the look, so ugly it's cute. 
for me.
