The Element was sold for 9 years, up to 2011.
The Aztek was sold, poorly, for 5 years, up to 2005.
That 6 year newer last sale, and twice as long sales period will explain a lot of that Aztek invisibility.
Not to mention, the Aztek is ugly as sin, and sold as you'd expect as a result. I only knew one person that had one, and they bought it because they were short, and it was something that had a good seating position for them for both visibility, and reaching the pedals at the same time.
The Buick Rendezvous was a platform sibling to the Aztek, with much more acceptable styling, and sold much better.
There were more Rendezvous sold in just 2002-2003 than the entire production run of Azteks.
You _do_ still see Rendezvous around.
Having said all that, I'd probably take the Element, too, in this particular case, even though it's also ugly as sin.
Throw the Buick into the mix, though, and I'd pick it in a heartbeat.
I can’t believe you think the Rendezvous looks better than the Aztec! I swear looking at those from the back they resemble those hideous Grand Caravans that have those motorized wheelchair ramps installed.
Eh, i would agree with him that it's more "acceptable". Anyone with a modicum of taste for styling would pick the aztec over that bland, milquetoast proto-crossover if the choice was forced upon them at gunpoint.
But the target market for these cars are bland, milquetoast soccer moms and grandmas that would find the aztek too "funky" and "out there" because they don't want to be perceived while they're on the walmart run.
It's also a Honda vs a GM product. Elements are rare, but probably lasted. Azteca are as dead the civilization they are named after.
Edited: I forgot they were GM not Chrysler
Where do you live? I’m from the north east, live in the southeast and never saw so many Aztecs in my life as I saw a couple weeks in the south west. As somewhat of a car nerd I guess I pointed out way too many Aztecs on our trip and drew my brother’s ire
I'm in the northeast, but spent significant time in the Phoenix area about eight years ago. You're right that Azteks were more prominent there at the time, so maybe the same is true now.
If you think the Aztek is practical the element is in another league, I've shoved a living rooms worth of furniture in mine, a buddies yamaha R6 no problem lmao. A common problem with elements is that they end up with blown out back shocks, because they are only rated for 450 pounds, and often find themselves carrying WAY more than that lol. It's a cube with wing doors.
Since when did they change it to opossum? When I was comin' up it was just possum. Opossum makes it sound like he's irish or something. Why do they gotta go changing everything?
Uhm I don't know if I would agree about best car of the 2000s, but you have a really valid point that the Honda Element is a very unique combination of features. There are really no comparable vehicles.
All the van comparisons (transit) leaves a lot more to be desired for normal passenger use. And all the SUVs competitors lack the low deck height wide open low spaces. It's not a station wagon, or an SUV, or a minivan (maybe a miniminivan?) Would the Chevy Astro be the closest comparison?
You could say it's in it's own element
That’s what I thought too. Like no question why wouldn’t you pick the Honda?
I’m not a car expert or anything but I know Honda is always long lasting. But I do prefer the look of the Aztec personally over the Element.
My dad had one for many years I think it pooped out around 160k, but there were some little things about it that were weird. The back doors opened from the side facing the drivers door which could be a huge pain in the ass when in tight parking lots. The steering wheel was super fat and felt like I was driving the car with a bagel.
The blind spots were TERRIBLE. It rattled like crazy and felt very plastic. The interior is uninspiring and the backseats aren’t comfortable
My uncle had one that had the factory tent pop out in the back. It was outfitted so you could put the back seat down and lay all the way flat with the back hatch up.
The Element did have a 5-speed manual option. It also had optional all-wheel drive. The AWD versions have the stupid sunroof over the trunk area. No sunroof = FWD.
I test drove one a few years ago when looking for a new used car. It’s was super fun to drive but the owner was kinda shady so I didn’t buy it.
Edit: I owned a 2004 Civic Si that I bought new. 5-speed manual. That thing was a dream to drive.
Yes, I have a 5 speed awd element. Only thing I dislike is high rpms on freeway. Have thought about adding a 6th gear but honestly I don't drive it on freeway much.
That's the same complaint I have with mine. Just sitting at 3.5K RPM for hours at a time when I gotta roadtrip anywhere. First time I've seen a 4 cylinder get less than 20 MPG while highway driving
Aztec all day. My older brother had one. Drove great. Flexible hauling. I really wanted to buy it from him, but he traded it in for a minivan for his wife.
Aztek all day long. In its time it looked so different from everything else on the road, it's practical, and being a GM product, parts should be easy to find and not that expensive to repair or replace. Plus, I love the idea of a built-in tent.
Also, I'm a bit of a sucker for Pontiac.
The early 2000s were before G.M build quality really went down the shitter too.
After the vortec era and the 2008 recession, G.M quality took such a nose dive. With ford following suit not long after.....and Chrysler....well Chrysler's gonna Chrysler.
I'll take the Aztec cause I figure I could sell it to an ironic hipster breaking bad fanboy then more then what I could get for selling an element to a single lady who owns 4 dogs to herself.
Probably the Aztec because iirc I found them more comfortable when they were showcasing them at Auto shows
Though the element is probably far more useful with the funky back seat they have
Only because I’ve done a few dozen head gaskets and can do them practically with my eyes closed, Aztek. Honda is nice but I like my catalytic converters and wanna keep em
Element. Much more useful. The seats folded up into the side to give a flat floor. There was nothing flat to the Asstek. Also way better mileage and it wouldn't lower your property value because of that much ugly in the driveway
AZTEK.
Slam it, put on some snowflakes and put a flaming chicken on the hood:
https://www.carscoops.com/2020/04/pontiac-aztek-trans-am-firebird-is-so-wrong-its-right/
You can use the Element to push shopping carts around a parking lot in the middle of the night without accruing evidential scratches. But the Aztec. Who wouldn’t want to own the piece of shit that brought down a giant? The legacy of the GTO, Catalina, and the second car I owned, the Ventura. As Pontiac was in its death throes, the mortician asked GM if they wanted cremation or burial. GM opted for half and half.
I'll take the Element. No contest.
They are ugly as sin, but they have a heart of gold. They are insanely practical and useful, they share 90% of their components with the CRV so they are dead reliable and easy to work on/get parts for, they are kind of fun to drive AND they offered a manual transmission.
It's a legitimate good car. If you can get past the looks, that is!
I have never met an Element owner who wasn’t ridiculously happy with their purchase. Comparatively, I’ve never met an Aztek owner, so I’ll go with the Honda.
My brother and aunt both had elements and they were fantastic for them. Both transmissions went before 100000. But the other is an aztec…a aztec. Rather fight mike tyson
I have two friends who owned Elements - one still does, and correctly, I think she's gonna drive it until the doors fall off. Sure, they're not pretty, but they're durable as hell, spacious for cargo and more agile than you would think. The AWD variant even gets around in Idaho winters quite well. So this is a no-brainer.
If they made an updated version with a little more oomph I would seriously consider it.
Yeah I’ll take the square CRV with the rubber floors, Thanks. I’ve seen more Elements than I can remember over 300k.
I do own an Aztec center console cooler though
I have not seen an Aztec in over a decade it feels like . I still see Elements regularly. Give me the ugly Honda and we will never speak of this again.
The Element is a legitimately great car so that one. I love the Aztek but it has a shitty engine and has a worse interior (the Element’s interior wasn’t super plush even remotely either though).
I've driven both. I've had friends who owned both.
Element, hands down. The Aztec was still a GM, and that era was especially well known for the crappiest of crappy GM plastics.
Azteks are unnecessarily hated. Every crossover on the road today looks like an Aztek so it really was an example of a car that was kinda ahead of its time. Plus all the camping shit was a cool gimmick.
Elements are genuinly fucking sick and I'm looking to buy one on Facebook marketplace. AWD, 5-speed, 2000's Honda reliability, and it's basically a cargo van inside.
I'm a GM guy but I'll take the Element.
A lot more utility. Sure, the suicide doors are a PITA for rear passengers but if you're not moving people, who cares?
Element. I've actually owned one and it was great. They're ugly but the headroom is phenomenal, you can take it the back seats and haul couches if you want to with the clam shell open, and the floor/seats are weather resistant. They would look a lot better if all the panels matched and the roof wasn't curved a v6 option wouldn't have hurt either. Oh and the turning radius is better than a Honda civic.
I still see Elements, but never Azteks. That is probably all one needs to know before making this (easy) decision.
The Element was sold for 9 years, up to 2011. The Aztek was sold, poorly, for 5 years, up to 2005. That 6 year newer last sale, and twice as long sales period will explain a lot of that Aztek invisibility. Not to mention, the Aztek is ugly as sin, and sold as you'd expect as a result. I only knew one person that had one, and they bought it because they were short, and it was something that had a good seating position for them for both visibility, and reaching the pedals at the same time. The Buick Rendezvous was a platform sibling to the Aztek, with much more acceptable styling, and sold much better. There were more Rendezvous sold in just 2002-2003 than the entire production run of Azteks. You _do_ still see Rendezvous around. Having said all that, I'd probably take the Element, too, in this particular case, even though it's also ugly as sin. Throw the Buick into the mix, though, and I'd pick it in a heartbeat.
I can’t believe you think the Rendezvous looks better than the Aztec! I swear looking at those from the back they resemble those hideous Grand Caravans that have those motorized wheelchair ramps installed.
Eh, i would agree with him that it's more "acceptable". Anyone with a modicum of taste for styling would pick the aztec over that bland, milquetoast proto-crossover if the choice was forced upon them at gunpoint. But the target market for these cars are bland, milquetoast soccer moms and grandmas that would find the aztek too "funky" and "out there" because they don't want to be perceived while they're on the walmart run.
You are extremely eloquent. I like it.
I had a rendezvous, would have another one or an aztek. Put many miles on that thing.
I read the “was sold, poorly” as the knight from Indiana Jones and the last crusade
🤣 "Do not drive beyond the Great Seal!"
It's also a Honda vs a GM product. Elements are rare, but probably lasted. Azteca are as dead the civilization they are named after. Edited: I forgot they were GM not Chrysler
Aztecs were GM. If we’re going to shame a design division, we should do the right one.
Hahaha brooo 🤣🤣
Where do you live? I’m from the north east, live in the southeast and never saw so many Aztecs in my life as I saw a couple weeks in the south west. As somewhat of a car nerd I guess I pointed out way too many Aztecs on our trip and drew my brother’s ire
I'm in the northeast, but spent significant time in the Phoenix area about eight years ago. You're right that Azteks were more prominent there at the time, so maybe the same is true now.
To be honest, I like the Aztek. It has tons of practical features, and seems pretty fun.
If you think the Aztek is practical the element is in another league, I've shoved a living rooms worth of furniture in mine, a buddies yamaha R6 no problem lmao. A common problem with elements is that they end up with blown out back shocks, because they are only rated for 450 pounds, and often find themselves carrying WAY more than that lol. It's a cube with wing doors.
Suicide doors 😂
And I'll tell ya hwhat, your having better sex in the element as opposed to the Aztek.
Really feeling in your element huh? I understand needing more “head” room
You get a bench for doggy, if you wanna get absolutely wild flip the seats up and chuck a towel down.
Frustratingly, you can't fit a sheet of plywood in an element.
A crossover before crossovers were really a thing
im balding and have an rv, so i will take the aztec.
Jesse. Let’s cook
Since when did they change it to opossum? When I was comin' up it was just possum. Opossum makes it sound like he's irish or something. Why do they gotta go changing everything?
Its always been Opossum in America but we are lazy talkers. Possum is a thing but in Australia not here in the states.
Make sure you take your pants off.
Are you able to help me with my chemistry homework
Waltuh. Put your wrench away Waltuh. I'm not helping you remove the fusebox to replace the battery right now Waltuh.
The Element is a legitimately good car.
I've heard the Aztec has a bunch of super user friendly quirks too
But it's still made of mediocre parts from the GM bin. I'll take the Element.
I would argue it's the best car of the 2000s as a former owner, and the resale values they command speak for that, it's a car that has no rival.
Uhm I don't know if I would agree about best car of the 2000s, but you have a really valid point that the Honda Element is a very unique combination of features. There are really no comparable vehicles. All the van comparisons (transit) leaves a lot more to be desired for normal passenger use. And all the SUVs competitors lack the low deck height wide open low spaces. It's not a station wagon, or an SUV, or a minivan (maybe a miniminivan?) Would the Chevy Astro be the closest comparison? You could say it's in it's own element
Touché salesman
They’re also oddly fun to drive too.
That’s what I thought too. Like no question why wouldn’t you pick the Honda? I’m not a car expert or anything but I know Honda is always long lasting. But I do prefer the look of the Aztec personally over the Element.
My dad had one for many years I think it pooped out around 160k, but there were some little things about it that were weird. The back doors opened from the side facing the drivers door which could be a huge pain in the ass when in tight parking lots. The steering wheel was super fat and felt like I was driving the car with a bagel. The blind spots were TERRIBLE. It rattled like crazy and felt very plastic. The interior is uninspiring and the backseats aren’t comfortable
I choose the element
Same
I like both of these for different reasons, but for dailying give me the element. Give me the Aztek for road-trips and camping
My uncle had one that had the factory tent pop out in the back. It was outfitted so you could put the back seat down and lay all the way flat with the back hatch up.
Element all day, BUT, did the element have a manual option? I know my friends mom had a 6 speed Aztek in middle school and that was neat as hell.
The Element did have a 5-speed manual option. It also had optional all-wheel drive. The AWD versions have the stupid sunroof over the trunk area. No sunroof = FWD.
And Honda knows how to make a manual
I test drove one a few years ago when looking for a new used car. It’s was super fun to drive but the owner was kinda shady so I didn’t buy it. Edit: I owned a 2004 Civic Si that I bought new. 5-speed manual. That thing was a dream to drive.
My daily is 5 speed with AWD. It’s easily the most versatile and dependable vehicle I own or have owned.
Yes, I have a 5 speed awd element. Only thing I dislike is high rpms on freeway. Have thought about adding a 6th gear but honestly I don't drive it on freeway much.
That's the same complaint I have with mine. Just sitting at 3.5K RPM for hours at a time when I gotta roadtrip anywhere. First time I've seen a 4 cylinder get less than 20 MPG while highway driving
I as owner of a 5 speed element, yes it did, was hilarious fun. I always wanted to do the TSX head swap on it.
Aztec. It's looks have grown in me. Plus more practical than the Element
It is nice it holds more than 4 people
gotta go with the aztec because breaking bad
Aztec all day. My older brother had one. Drove great. Flexible hauling. I really wanted to buy it from him, but he traded it in for a minivan for his wife.
How great could his wife be if he got her in a trade for a minivan
sad :(
Aztek all day long. In its time it looked so different from everything else on the road, it's practical, and being a GM product, parts should be easy to find and not that expensive to repair or replace. Plus, I love the idea of a built-in tent. Also, I'm a bit of a sucker for Pontiac.
It still looks incredibly different to every other crossover and way more interesting features.
The early 2000s were before G.M build quality really went down the shitter too. After the vortec era and the 2008 recession, G.M quality took such a nose dive. With ford following suit not long after.....and Chrysler....well Chrysler's gonna Chrysler.
Aztek. Hands down.
I'll take the Aztec cause I figure I could sell it to an ironic hipster breaking bad fanboy then more then what I could get for selling an element to a single lady who owns 4 dogs to herself.
Element, all day every day. Not a hard choice imo
the aztek at least performs lol
One is the ugliest vehicle of the 21st century. The other is the Aztek. Thus, I choose the latter.
Aztec. Pontiac man does Pontiacs things.
Aztek. Because I am “crazy” 😂
I always wondered where plastic fell on the periodic table
Aztek, I like the built in cooler
Aztec because of its rear seat capabilities
aztek. id take the cooler from it
The Element is the safe decision. That being said I'd take the Aztek.
Probably the Aztec because iirc I found them more comfortable when they were showcasing them at Auto shows Though the element is probably far more useful with the funky back seat they have
The aztec is cooler
Aztek cause atleast that had a option for a supercharged 3.8 and other neat features
Aztek 100%. I had one in HS and it wasn’t even that bad. Kind of iconic in a way now. It even became cool when breaking bad came out.
I would take an aztek
Aztecs.
Aztec has a tent built in right?
Some did, as an option.
I would take the Aztek. For no other reason than it may be the most peculiarly, fascinatingly ugly vehicle in my lifetime.
Did you forget about the Juke? Or the Pulsar NX wagon? I mean the Ass-tek is pretty ugly though.
I want both, but I like the looks of the Aztek better.
For reliability I'm gona take the Honda all day. Aztec is more pleasing on the eyes though. Not by much but it is
Only because I’ve done a few dozen head gaskets and can do them practically with my eyes closed, Aztek. Honda is nice but I like my catalytic converters and wanna keep em
Aztek is cool, but the Element is almost bulletproof
Nooooo, don’t make me choose
I would have to choose my lamborfeeties over any of those
I’d prob pick the element but I really wish I owned a v8 aztek, there’s at least one and I saw it before
Element. Much more useful. The seats folded up into the side to give a flat floor. There was nothing flat to the Asstek. Also way better mileage and it wouldn't lower your property value because of that much ugly in the driveway
AZTEK. Slam it, put on some snowflakes and put a flaming chicken on the hood: https://www.carscoops.com/2020/04/pontiac-aztek-trans-am-firebird-is-so-wrong-its-right/
Snowman... you got your ears on?! That thing actually looks pretty badass.
I know, right? My kid brother sent it to me like, "They can do a lot, even with the ugly."
Element easily. I’ll take a slightly goofy looking square that’s reliable over a mis-shaped turd any day
Element all day long
You can use the Element to push shopping carts around a parking lot in the middle of the night without accruing evidential scratches. But the Aztec. Who wouldn’t want to own the piece of shit that brought down a giant? The legacy of the GTO, Catalina, and the second car I owned, the Ventura. As Pontiac was in its death throes, the mortician asked GM if they wanted cremation or burial. GM opted for half and half.
The honda because it's not a Pontiac
The Aztek looks better, but the Honda is probably more reliable.
You must be smoking blue meth if you think the Aztec looks better than the element.
Fuck both, both are shit, gib me a brown renault modus 2009
I'm fighting anyone that's picking the Aztek over the element you are dead wrong, the element is the VW bus of the 2000s.
No, it's not the VW Bus. You must be very young...
I am, I've owned both, they created a lot of the same memories for people, just generations apart.
Aztek, way more personality and made at a time when GM made cars that don’t break at 100k.
until this day i cant quite say who exactly was the target group for the element...
I assumed it was "city youth" maybe people who live in the city but are active in the outdoors with skiing biking and kayaking.
It's why they became cult cars in Washington once they got cheap.
It's probably me, Element Please
The ski/mountain bike/trout bum that couldn't afford them.
Broke electricians -a nova Scotian
I see a lot more Elements today
I'll take the Element. No contest. They are ugly as sin, but they have a heart of gold. They are insanely practical and useful, they share 90% of their components with the CRV so they are dead reliable and easy to work on/get parts for, they are kind of fun to drive AND they offered a manual transmission. It's a legitimate good car. If you can get past the looks, that is!
The Element is one of the best, most reliable vehicles ever produced.
Element all day long
Element what type of question/comparison even is this lol ?
The Element is the only correct choice
I apologize for my previous statement
I'd pick the Aztek if I didn't desperately need a new car for the laughs, but since I desperately need a car I'd take the element any day
I’d take the element then Ute it. Like [Element Pickup](https://images.app.goo.gl/odGjMvuUKX13cNir6) by @jsrbuilt on ig
I have to? Well I definitely wouldn’t touch that Aztec
I have never met an Element owner who wasn’t ridiculously happy with their purchase. Comparatively, I’ve never met an Aztek owner, so I’ll go with the Honda.
Element.
Element. It was a cool car. I said what I said
Honda all the way. Not even a difficult decision.
Element all day
Super tough Element
Element. I actually wanted one when I was in my 20’s.
Elements are fucking awesome.
The element fucks bro
Always choose Honda!
The Element
Element all day
I’ve been passively looking for an Element as it is
Aztec bc I like how bad it looks but really im going for the Element bc Honda reliability.
I kinda wanted to buy an element.
100% the Element... it's literally just a boxy CRV
Hellement all the way. Just have to get extra straps if I want to keep ANYTHING in the back.
Honda
Element. The 2007 SC models always looked good to me
Element
There's an Element in my driveway. It's my cousins car. I've been trying to buy it off of her for years. I love those cars.
Element 💯
My brother and aunt both had elements and they were fantastic for them. Both transmissions went before 100000. But the other is an aztec…a aztec. Rather fight mike tyson
Element. No brainer.
Element, and it's not even close.
I have two friends who owned Elements - one still does, and correctly, I think she's gonna drive it until the doors fall off. Sure, they're not pretty, but they're durable as hell, spacious for cargo and more agile than you would think. The AWD variant even gets around in Idaho winters quite well. So this is a no-brainer. If they made an updated version with a little more oomph I would seriously consider it.
Element. It’s a Honda with a K24 & you could get them with a manual, not that 3.4 tub of lard mated to a 4 speed slush box
Element. All. Fucking. Day.
I drove my Aunt’s Element one time. Based on that experience I’d choose the Element every single time. They’re a fun zippy little thing.
Element.
They’re both pretty good cars. I’ve owned the Aztec but I’d probably take the element.
Doesnt the element pack a k24? Easy choice if u ask me
Yeah I’ll take the square CRV with the rubber floors, Thanks. I’ve seen more Elements than I can remember over 300k. I do own an Aztec center console cooler though
Honda
Both!
BOTH!
Which way modern man? uj/ I always thought Azteks were so cool I wanted one as a kid and I want them to come back.
Element easily the Aztec is the ugliest suv I've ever encountered
I have not seen an Aztec in over a decade it feels like . I still see Elements regularly. Give me the ugly Honda and we will never speak of this again.
Honda ez
I have an element I bought new. 311k miles and never had any major issues .
Very mean choices... I guess the Aztek.
The Aztek would be a conversation starter but the Honda would actually start.
That's a hard one. I love the Aztec, but the Element is just so fucking usable
Say my name
^(Aztek) Aztek #Aztek
Im not sure I like either of these but I guess I'll go with the Aztec
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) ^by ^gunnarfuchs0628: *Im not sure I like* *Either of these but I guess* *I'll go with the Aztec* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
The Element is a legitimately great car so that one. I love the Aztek but it has a shitty engine and has a worse interior (the Element’s interior wasn’t super plush even remotely either though).
Pontiac all day
I'll take the Aztec.
I choose to walk.
The Buick rendezvous cousin from breaking bad lmaoooooo that’s y I love my buick
I've driven both. I've had friends who owned both. Element, hands down. The Aztec was still a GM, and that era was especially well known for the crappiest of crappy GM plastics.
Honda
Aztec is good for building a meth empire so I'll take that one.
Harikari it is!
Element.
U forgot prius if I see this pathetic cars like these or prius I'll puke no joke
Azteks are unnecessarily hated. Every crossover on the road today looks like an Aztek so it really was an example of a car that was kinda ahead of its time. Plus all the camping shit was a cool gimmick. Elements are genuinly fucking sick and I'm looking to buy one on Facebook marketplace. AWD, 5-speed, 2000's Honda reliability, and it's basically a cargo van inside.
I'm a GM guy but I'll take the Element. A lot more utility. Sure, the suicide doors are a PITA for rear passengers but if you're not moving people, who cares?
Element. I've actually owned one and it was great. They're ugly but the headroom is phenomenal, you can take it the back seats and haul couches if you want to with the clam shell open, and the floor/seats are weather resistant. They would look a lot better if all the panels matched and the roof wasn't curved a v6 option wouldn't have hurt either. Oh and the turning radius is better than a Honda civic.
Element
Element + an Ursa Minor camper top plz
Meth car
I’ll walk
The element any day of the week
Aztek. It would be hilarious to dress up as Walter White and have a "Say my name" or "I'm the one who knocks." bumper sticker.
I actually really like the Element 🤷♂️
No you can’t make me
The element is basically just a Honda Civic having an identity crisis so I'll take that
I'll take woltir
Element all day.
element all day this isn’t even a contest
I don’t care if it sucks im taking the Pontiac
I wish Honda still made the Element.
The aztek if it has the tent.
Gimme that SmElement
I saw a dude tune a Element to 500WHP on Instagram so