Former Honda Element owner: Good, bad, mods, and Element 2.0 (Deep Dive)

Blake ‪@TheHowtoDad‬ has been a long-time Element enthusiast who has done lots of modifications including 3D printing cupholders that he sold to other Element owners. Here's an interview looking back over the years to honour his contributions to the Element community and hear the story how about how it all happened and what's next.
Blake's Instagram: / thehowtodad2

[@UltimateCap]

I bought an Element during the pandemic as I was working 18 hours a day and needed my own space during breaks. It has been a life saver. Then my father fell and broke his back. I drove to the hospital out of town and stayed in my element for weeks as he recovered. Saved me tons of money from hotels and I was able to be there for him. Now my father is unfortunately in the hospital again. He has stage 4 cancer and I am currently laying down in my camper kit element as I type and Watch this. It’s a hard time and I am very emotional but thankful. I will always remember this moment in time and how my element was there for me and my father.

[@silas_wong]

thanks for sharing how your element has brought you life when things have been hard! i'm glad you were able to maximize the element's potential during such difficult times. it must be difficult to walk through cancer with your dad. i'm hope that he gets the treatment he needs and that it works. thanks for watching as you navigate the complexities of life 🙏🏽

[@martymiller4300]

I drove a 2005 5mt 2wd Element for 100K miles. Bicycling around Northern California hauling bikes (KUAT hitch rack) and friends, flat load floor and clamshell doors make it the best bike car ever. That car was a Certified Used and they had thrown whatever tires were on it and put cheap Korean junk. Very noisy, several flats, all the cheap tire problems. Put Michelin (Tour Latitude were available then) on it and found out it was as fun to drive as a Civic. Crashed it hard in March, looked around and found a 2011 5at 2wd with just under 100K and paid BIG BUCKS for it, once again switched worn out Pirellis for Defender LTX and got quiet and smooth immediately. Love love love the 5 speed automatic lowers tach from 3K to under 2K at freeway speed. Now I drive like it’s the Crown Jewels because I don’t expect I could ever find another. Favorite Element story 3 of us had parked in the Embarcadero district and done GG bridge and Mt Tam, got back hungry and there was a burrito shop right there but what to do with the bikes. Slid the front streets all the way forward, put the other back seat up and got all three road bikes (about $15K worth of bikes) inside and locked. Instant bike locker. The only car there is as far as I’m concerned. More fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

[@silas_wong]

you got that right marty! i mountain bike and road bike and that is exactly what an Element can do :) not sure i've been able to find any other vehicle that can do that. good tires are def important too. i've found Toyo Open Country to work well. so glad you've found the vehicle that works so well for you!