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crash
03-07-2007, 10:01 AM
My 1994 Honda Accord (with 207,000 miles) is a little long in the tooth, so I'm casually looking for a used car. Ideally, something I can get 4 people in and my gear in the back.

So, what do you all drive to get to the gig? So far, a used Honda Element seems to be the ultimate drivable road case (if a bit underpowered).

Thoughts?
tom
03-07-2007, 11:25 AM
have had an element for 3 years now and i love it. i know they look weird, but we had our whole namm booth in it the last couple years. i've had 3 guys, my gear, full keys rig, and drum stands cymbals and snare is it. highly recommend it. milage is decent, and the power is not an issue for me. and you can hose it out, gotta love that if you have big dogs. by the way we're getting our two new puppies tonight! guitars are fun, but 2 puppies, now that's exiting.
mbrown3
03-07-2007, 11:33 AM
Nice! I have two puppies myself...what kind are you getting?
picnic
03-07-2007, 12:16 PM
I think hosing out a car after dogs and puppies have been in it is a great cleaning method. Sure beats paper towels, Lysol and carpet cleaner.
tom
03-07-2007, 12:38 PM
irish wolfhounds, you know, those little adorable guys.
Barry
03-07-2007, 01:59 PM
irish wolfhounds, you know, those little adorable guys.

Isnt that the tallest breed of dog ? Seems ive read that somewhere . The ones ive been around seem docile . Congrats on the new family members !
tom
03-07-2007, 02:12 PM
yes they are the tallest, although i've seen great danes that are the same size these days. the wolfies are very people friendly and not crazy active although they can run unbelievable fast. they are happiest when hangin out with their masters.
bud
03-07-2007, 03:30 PM
have had an element for 3 years now and i love it. i know they look weird, but we had our whole namm booth in it the last couple years. i've had 3 guys, my gear, full keys rig, and drum stands cymbals and snare is it. highly recommend it. milage is decent, and the power is not an issue for me. and you can hose it out, gotta love that if you have big dogs. by the way we're getting our two new puppies tonight! guitars are fun, but 2 puppies, now that's exiting.

Don't own one, but have two friends that do and share Tom's observations.
BrownDog
03-07-2007, 03:54 PM
I have a Pontiac Vibe. The back seats fold flat, which is a big plus.

For myself alone and with tone and oneness, Mike.
Stys
03-07-2007, 05:37 PM
Being a Chrysler guy, I can reccomend the mini-van. Our new Dodge Nitro has a pull out load and go system that works like a shelf capable of holding 400 pounds.
Pietro
03-08-2007, 08:16 AM
Two dogs are WAY easier to have around than one. They amuse each other, they're really no more difficult to walk and stuff than one dog... It's just better. We've had a pair of German Shepherds for over a decade. (Some have rotated out. It happens...) We lost our best dog ever (THE best dog ever if I may say so myself) last Thanksgiving and have a little 6-month old puppy to replace her... (No dog will replace her... she used to sing along with my playing... that was pretty cool...)

Big dogs are always puppies at heart. You'll have a great time, Tom. All the IWs I've known have been GREAT dogs. I hope your wife loves dogs, too! Those dogs are BIG (but here's a secret... Big dogs are EASY to handle... Shhhh... don't tell all those nutty pekinese owners.

Post Pics! (New thread? Pics of your dogs?) Here's mine playing at Christmas.
http://andersonforum.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=343&stc=1&d=1173359716
Pietro
03-08-2007, 08:18 AM
Oh, and plus one on the Element.

But a little Ford Focus wagon would be cool, too. My Tracer, the fore-runner to it, was able to hold two amps, two or three guitars, and two or three guys.

But I live where it snows a lot, so I'm a gas-guzzling SUV man now. I was able to fit EVERY piece of gear I own in my 05 pathfinder when I moved here. 7 guitars, two amps, keyboard gear... and room to spare...

But my gig is at church now, which is my office, and heck, I don't even have a guitar at home usually!
ToneLounge
03-08-2007, 08:49 AM
I've had an Element for the past year and a half and would not trade it for anything. I get my entire Egnater rig (two heads and cabs), pedalboard, six guitars in gig bags, and still have room for a couple of friends. Easy to maintain - it's a Honda.
crash
03-26-2007, 03:35 PM
Settled on the Element - found a 2003 with low mileage and an owner that was anal-retentive when it comes to maintnenance.

Funky looking, but it really is the world's first drivable road case.

Thanks to all for the input.
wreckfan
03-26-2007, 10:12 PM
Just so you know - the Element is a great car !!! But the interior floorboard is NOT made to be hosed out. Sophisticated (and expensive ) onboard electronics under the floorboard !!
Janine Doubly
03-31-2007, 10:07 AM
Thumbs up on my Element. I had an Accord wagon with 265,000 miles on it that was great as well. Too bad a lady in a Suburban decided to ram me from behind while I was going 65 on a highway!!! Totalled the car. The Element is great and I find its power to be better than my Accord had. Decent gas mileage. I'm still not liking the "Element dance" you gotta do with the doors when you park between two cars and you have somebody in the back. But other than that, its fantastic.
crash
03-31-2007, 01:42 PM
...I'm still not liking the "Element dance" you gotta do with the doors when you park between two cars and you have somebody in the back. But other than that, its fantastic.

All my neighbors keep asking about it. My kids don't mind the door dance, but yeah, you can't park where there's a narrow space between the cars if someone is in the back.
crash
04-07-2007, 06:21 PM
I am pretty happy with the Element now that I've hauled gear to a gig and session or two. Everyone digs that it is so flexible and can haul so much gear. So, to commemorate it, I made a model of it out of my kids' Legos.

Mine is black, and I think this pretty much nails it:


<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/crash37/ElementLegoModel.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
tom
04-08-2007, 02:19 PM
man, you are an artist. is being a sculpter your second job or just a hobby?
crash
04-08-2007, 08:43 PM
man, you are an artist. is being a sculpter your second job or just a hobby?

Would you believe that I've never had any formal training? ;)
This one looks much better than the one I tried to make with Lincoln Logs.