5 ms·

I'm curious how this is currently the top story on HN. A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle is not able to be inundated with w

by luma 5y ago

I'm curious how this is currently the top story on HN. A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle is not able to be inundated with water without serious consequences, much like the overwhelming majority of passenger vehicles made before or since. Who is the audience for this?

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Douger 5y ago
And yet we've clicked on it!
everly 5y ago
It’s mostly the Mandela-esque effect of everyone seeming to remember it being a supposedly washable interior. Plus the Element sort of has an outsized place in American popular car culture, not unlike the Pontiac Aztek. That’s my best guess anyway. Hard to explain but it makes sense to me seeing it here.
- function_seven 5y ago
  Yeah you nailed it. Until just now I thought you could hose these things out. I thought that was the entire point of the plastic interior: hoseability. Like public bathrooms with central drain and continuous tile from the floor and up the wall. I've never owned an Element—I hope that if I did, I'd figure out the truth of this myth—but it's definitely a very common one.
numbsafari 5y ago
> entirely unremarkable family vehicle That’s blasphemy right there. It’s the best of a group Of vehicles designed by Boomers for millennials that ended up only being bought by Boomers, since discontinued for no good reason. Honda’s major sin here was not updating it with modern electronics or a more efficient engine. It is smaller than the current CR-V. Such a shame.
- jacquesm 5y ago
  They did in fact update the engine (at least once). I tried finding one here in Europe but they are pretty much impossible to come by unless you want to import one from the USA which has a ton of problems for a car that is not officially carried here.
  - numbsafari 5y ago
    I put 250k miles on an '08 before, very reluctantly, selling it to a kid for his first vehicle. The '08 had been "updated". But they never offered it with factory installed nav, despite having a very "ahead of its times" sound system. It also had terrible gas mileage. Sure, it was less aerodynamic than a Mac truck, but Honda could have revisited it. Much like my dearly departed Vanagon, there's nothing new like it on the market.
    - jacquesm 5y ago
      I have a VW Transporter that started life as a taxi cab. 9 seater, rubberized floor. I put a longer 5th gear in it and removed the LNG system (ridiculous taxes otherwise), it's pretty economic and can haul a ton of stuff. The whole neighborhood here uses it :) It being an ex taxi bi-fuel I bought it super cheap with low mileage.
- bloomingeek 5y ago
  I agree, the Element was a great vehicle, I think it was a little overpriced, but it is a Honda. I would love an updated version now that I can afford one.
- HWR_14 5y ago
  > vehicles designed by Boomers for millennials As I recall, they were designed by Boomers for younger versions of themselves, and priced for Boomers wanting to feel young again. That, of course, necessitated ads theoretically aimed at millennials
- drums8787 5y ago
  I'd buy an updated Element in a minute. Meanwhile I'm holding on to the one I have. And I'd never hose it down.
freetime2 5y ago
I have never owned, or even considered buying a Honda Element. But I have heard the rumor that they can be hosed out, and I know they have a bit of a cult following, so that was enough to arouse my curiosity. I clicked the link, had some previously held misconception dispelled, and saw some images of a rusted out element. All in all I was not disappointed.
ramesh31 5y ago
> A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle The Honda Element was a very special car. I never understood it until I spent time with a friend who has owned one for years. They have a cult following for good reason. You can fit full size furniture in the cargo bay, while still parking in a compact spot. With people piled in the back, you can easily carry 6 passengers at double the MPG of a full size SUV or van. The handling is tight and smooth; nothing like an SUV or truck. The clearance is equivalent to a Wrangler. And Honda reliability means these things are still on the road in perfect condition at 300k+ miles. I could go on and on, but suffice to say the Element was not "just" an unremarkable family vehicle. It absolutely nailed a utilitarian niche that no other vehicle has come close to before or since.
- ourmandave 5y ago
  I currently have an '06 and would love to upgrade to an '07 or later. Except the cult following (of which I am a member) and current used car prices means I'll be driving it for the foreseeable future.
- bombcar 5y ago
  It is 20 inches shorter than a minivan. But, it's also basically a minivan with the rear cut off.
qbasic_forever 5y ago
The Element is actually kind of interesting because you would think it and the similarly boxy Scion xB would have been popular cars for young folks. They're utilitarian and oozed hip marketing directly at active younger kids--load it up with mountain bikes, camping gear, etc. and go have fun. But in reality these cars were incredibly popular with senior citizens and older folks. It turns out they had amazing visibility with the boxy upright design and seniors felt safer driving them, plus they were spacious inside and easy to enter and exit. The marketing was kind of misplaced and younger folks didn't care for them at all.

by luma 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

Douger 5y ago

And yet we've clicked on it!

everly 5y ago

It’s mostly the Mandela-esque effect of everyone seeming to remember it being a supposedly washable interior. Plus the Element sort of has an outsized place in American popular car culture, not unlike the Pontiac Aztek. That’s my best guess anyway. Hard to explain but it makes sense to me seeing it here.

function_seven 5y ago
Yeah you nailed it. Until just now I thought you could hose these things out. I thought that was the entire point of the plastic interior: hoseability. Like public bathrooms with central drain and continuous tile from the floor and up the wall. I've never owned an Element—I hope that if I did, I'd figure out the truth of this myth—but it's definitely a very common one.

numbsafari 5y ago

> entirely unremarkable family vehicle That’s blasphemy right there. It’s the best of a group Of vehicles designed by Boomers for millennials that ended up only being bought by Boomers, since discontinued for no good reason. Honda’s major sin here was not updating it with modern electronics or a more efficient engine. It is smaller than the current CR-V. Such a shame.

jacquesm 5y ago
They did in fact update the engine (at least once). I tried finding one here in Europe but they are pretty much impossible to come by unless you want to import one from the USA which has a ton of problems for a car that is not officially carried here.
- numbsafari 5y ago
  I put 250k miles on an '08 before, very reluctantly, selling it to a kid for his first vehicle. The '08 had been "updated". But they never offered it with factory installed nav, despite having a very "ahead of its times" sound system. It also had terrible gas mileage. Sure, it was less aerodynamic than a Mac truck, but Honda could have revisited it. Much like my dearly departed Vanagon, there's nothing new like it on the market.
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    I have a VW Transporter that started life as a taxi cab. 9 seater, rubberized floor. I put a longer 5th gear in it and removed the LNG system (ridiculous taxes otherwise), it's pretty economic and can haul a ton of stuff. The whole neighborhood here uses it :) It being an ex taxi bi-fuel I bought it super cheap with low mileage.
bloomingeek 5y ago
I agree, the Element was a great vehicle, I think it was a little overpriced, but it is a Honda. I would love an updated version now that I can afford one.
HWR_14 5y ago
> vehicles designed by Boomers for millennials As I recall, they were designed by Boomers for younger versions of themselves, and priced for Boomers wanting to feel young again. That, of course, necessitated ads theoretically aimed at millennials
drums8787 5y ago
I'd buy an updated Element in a minute. Meanwhile I'm holding on to the one I have. And I'd never hose it down.

freetime2 5y ago

I have never owned, or even considered buying a Honda Element. But I have heard the rumor that they can be hosed out, and I know they have a bit of a cult following, so that was enough to arouse my curiosity. I clicked the link, had some previously held misconception dispelled, and saw some images of a rusted out element. All in all I was not disappointed.

ramesh31 5y ago

> A now-discontinued and otherwise entirely unremarkable family vehicle The Honda Element was a very special car. I never understood it until I spent time with a friend who has owned one for years. They have a cult following for good reason. You can fit full size furniture in the cargo bay, while still parking in a compact spot. With people piled in the back, you can easily carry 6 passengers at double the MPG of a full size SUV or van. The handling is tight and smooth; nothing like an SUV or truck. The clearance is equivalent to a Wrangler. And Honda reliability means these things are still on the road in perfect condition at 300k+ miles. I could go on and on, but suffice to say the Element was not "just" an unremarkable family vehicle. It absolutely nailed a utilitarian niche that no other vehicle has come close to before or since.

ourmandave 5y ago
I currently have an '06 and would love to upgrade to an '07 or later. Except the cult following (of which I am a member) and current used car prices means I'll be driving it for the foreseeable future.
bombcar 5y ago
It is 20 inches shorter than a minivan. But, it's also basically a minivan with the rear cut off.

qbasic_forever 5y ago

The Element is actually kind of interesting because you would think it and the similarly boxy Scion xB would have been popular cars for young folks. They're utilitarian and oozed hip marketing directly at active younger kids--load it up with mountain bikes, camping gear, etc. and go have fun. But in reality these cars were incredibly popular with senior citizens and older folks. It turns out they had amazing visibility with the boxy upright design and seniors felt safer driving them, plus they were spacious inside and easy to enter and exit. The marketing was kind of misplaced and younger folks didn't care for them at all.