We have a special dog-centric new car review for you this week. Honda has unleashed their "dog friendly" option package for the Honda Element, and it stirred Pavlovian interest from some of our staff. Not coincidentally, they own dogs.
Click here to check out the doggy digs in the new Element.
I'm more of a cat person myself, so I'd rather have the big yellow Silverado from the movie "Kill Bill".
Eh... From my recollections of the Element (mind you this was about 4 years ago) I thought you could get the floor in a rubber finish. For me and my dog, that is about all the "dog proofing" I need in a car along with a lot of scotch guard. Easy to vacuum and wash out.
Sorry not going to pay extra $ for a ramp my dog can walk up when I can either: A. Pick the dog up and put it in the car B. Make the dog jump into the car
But I am sure Honda will sell a couple of these as animals become more and more a family member as opposed to an animal.
This may seem strange to you but it IS possible for dogs to live SO long without being killed by bad ownership that their bodies become too weak to jump into cars, and too frail to be comfortable being picked up (i.e. go into coughing fits if you put pressure on their rib cage, etc).
So i think the ramp does have a purpose.
Im glad Elements exist. I think they are a cool package.
Regarding Per's comments..
I have not driven but i wonder how much of a handling difference there is in the SC model? Sometimes a car that feels good going to low limits is a lot of fun as a daily driver because you are comfortable going to the limits at relatively safe speeds. However, the SC might be just another car that is NOT fun to take to its low limits.
I wonder how much fun-factor the 200hp version of the 2.4 would add?
Here's a funny thought... for a dog vehicle, how bout a Ford Transit Connect with a few dog-tailored bits? I think you could probably make a really functional dog-mobile out of one of those.. and i 2nd giving the dogs some windows and air.. just not enough that they can fit most of their body out of it.
Screw the pooch, I'd rather have an E-Camper:
I saw one on the road this morning. Very nicely done.
http://www.ursaminorvehicles.com/camper.htm
Considering how low to the street the Transit Connect is supposed to be, a TC as a doggiemobile seems like a good idea....in which case Ford will leave it for an aftermarket supplier to come up with the retro-fit parts.
I really like Fords and the transit Connect seems like a decent vehicle, I just wish 97% of the TCs produced weren't white. While vacationing in Fl. in April I passed a St. Augustine Ford dealer that had a dark blue TC, THAT color looks almost classy.
I wouldn't mind an Element that Honda will never make or bring to the US. An SC edition with a diesel and a 6 spd..
Or for that matter, a transit connect with a diesel. The US market powertrain is a joke, and dumbass american consumers are the butt of it.
Honda lost me with the element when they dropped the manual.
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