Honda Element, can you hose it out?
NO! IT WILL RUST!
Do not hose out a Honda Element.
We've all heard it before..."I love the Element, you can hose it out".
While this statement is true, one could also drive it off a cliff. Doing either of these will destroy your Element; one will just do it faster than the other.
The Element does not have drain holes and the electronics under that rubber floor are not sealed, including airbag wiring. Just push your front seats forward; those are the rear cabin air vents just waiting to swallow water. The floor is not water tight in any way to allow the use of free flowing water inside the Element.
If you love it, don't do it!
Yes, the Element is easy to clean, but please only use a damp towel or mop. Any free flowing water will find its way under the floor, eventually rusting out your Element.
They don't make them anymore!
By now you know the beloved Element is discontinued. Please help preserve the ones that are still out there. Share this page and message. Let's kill this rumor once and for all!
Are you in the market for an Element?
Check the spare tire area under the floor at the rear of the Element. It will certainly be rusted if a previous owner hosed/sprayed it out.
Can the damage be repaired?
Yes, but it will require removing the entire interior and a ton of labor.
All RUST & REPAIR images courtesy of Frontier Collective, thank you for saving this one & safe travels.
From the Element Owners Club Forum;
A comprehensive guide to rust inspection of the Honda Element is linked below.
How did the rumor begin?
When the Model X (aka Honda Element Concept) appeared at auto shows in 2001, it was claimed that it "can be hosed out". Honda never printed this information; to our knowledge, they only claimed it was "washable", which it is, just not with a hose. Again, this was a concept vehicle, not the production Element. Many of the features of the Model X did not make it into production (this is very common with concept vehicles).
Back to the rumor, here is the video that some believe may have started it all (40 seconds in) "You can kind of completely hose out the inside if you want to" and "This particular version has a lift up rear roof section". In the video you can clearly see that the rear roof does not lift up, but retracts. We know this is nit picking; we are pointing out that what the interviewee says and what the vehicle offers are actually different. Watch the entire video to see all the concepts that did not make it into production. Notice how careful they are with the vehicle, as if it could break at any moment, one of the fog lights doesn't even work. A hose would have certainly destroyed the Model X as well.
excerpt from the press release (full press release below video)
Model X was conceived at the inaugural X Games in San Diego in 1998.
While the silhouette of Model X provides a rough and tough appearance, the interior is designed to be resilient and "washable." The interior floor is flat and wide and made of textured resin that is easy to clean.
2001 Honda Model X at NAIAS. Source: Honda (http://www.honda.com). Honda Model X Provides Active Guys With All-In-One Adventure Tool Easy to Clean, Easy to Live In and It Hauls a Bunch of Stuff 1/9/2001 8:29:00 PM The Honda Model X concept vehicle, developed and designed by Honda's R&D Americas operation and making its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, reveals a tough and indestructible vehicle with a carefree attitude. Model X was conceived at the inaugural X Games in San Diego in 1998. Targeted at active young college-age guys who need a versatile, reliable, multi-functional vehicle to carry all their stuff, Model X combines the best features of a pickup truck with the best features of an SUV and adds a dorm room-like setting for a comfortable feel. "Model X is more than a pickup truck and more than an SUV," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Its beauty lies in its utility, versatility and functionality. It provides everything you need for the ultimate road trip." Geared toward an active, outdoor lifestyle, Model X targets males with a activity-centered lifestyle. Whether the activity is surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, skateboarding or just about anything else, Model X is designed to handle all of the logistical needs and provide access to new adventures. The Model X development team wanted to provide an "open architecture" interior feeling for the vehicle. One of the Model X design inspirations was provided by a lifeguard station, which by nature is open, rugged and durable. Another design concept was a college dorm room -- a fun, active location where guys hang out. To help provide this "open architecture" style, Model X was designed without a B Pillar and with center opening rear doors. The result are "open wide" side doors. That combines with a low, flat floor, to allow for easy loading and unloading. The rear roofline also slides forward, the rear window slides down into the tailgate and with the tailgate down, provides an open and spacious rear loading area. With the side doors opened wide, the interior provides the perfect base camp or location for "side gate" parties. While the silhouette of Model X provides a rough and tough appearance, the interior is designed to be resilient and "washable." The interior floor is flat and wide and made of textured resin that is easy to clean. The seating for four is provided by front and rear bench seats. The back of the front seat slides across the seat cushion to provide a rear-facing seat when the vehicle is stopped. The seats are made of tough, durable and fully washable materials. The rear seats fold and slide completely forward, exposing a spacious load area designed to hold everything from mountain bikes to surf boards. The instrument panel features classic individual round displays. A flip-up navigation screen arises from the dashboard. The system also provides a wireless Internet connection, perfect for receiving on board e-mail and getting the latest surf and ski reports. The screen also can be used for playing video games or DVDs. The center console hosts automatic climate control and a three-in-one stereo system including MP3 for direct downloading of the latest music from the Internet, along with digital satellite radio, cassette and CD player. An overhead interior storage rack holds small items and packages. A rally-style 5-speed manual transmission gear shift is mounted to the center console. Power to the front wheels is provided by Honda's next generation i-VTEC, 4-cylinder engine. source: http://news.honda.com/newsandviews/ar...
