Dear Honda,

Okay, you've got a pretty good vehicle here. It's got all the usual Honda strengths plus it's fun - a great combination that will no doubt make you wheelbarrows full of money.

But it isn't as good as it could be. What follows is a list of totally subjective observations from a single owner which will probably mean nothing to you (especially if the Element is making you wheelbarrows full of money) but, hey, thought I'd write them anyway.

1. First off, the gas mileage is terrible. I'm averaging about 22mpg mixed city/highway and, based on what is being written in forums, this is fairly typical. When driving a Honda, one should not have to apologize by saying, "Well it's good for a truck" or "It's good compared to a Lincoln Navigator." Heck with that. It should be good - period. And it isn't. Give me an economical 4-cylinder please - I'll gladly sacrifice the ability to burn rubber in first gear. For folks who want to tow a trailer or have a psychological need to drive faster than everyone else, offer an optional 6-cylinder. And get a hybrid model out as soon as possible (I know: no room for batteries, etc. etc. - you're innovators; figure it out.)

2. What is with the height? I'm 5'10" and I have nine inches of headroom! Why am I carrying around all of that weight and wind resistance? You make this car for NBA players? Trim off about 8" and you've got better gas mileage, less likelihood of rollover, less wind buffeting and, if you do it right, a hipper looking vehicle.

3. If anything screams "afterthought" it's the skylight. First off, why is it only available to 4-wheel drive owners? Are they more likely to want to stand up in the back and change their shorts? And why is it in back in the first place? Why would anyone want their cargo to experience the pleasure of sun and wind when they can't? (Yes, I know, no B-pillar, extra frame reinforcing in roof, no room, yada yada. Look, you got 9" of headroom to work with - figure it out.)

4. Sometimes I wonder if Honda engineers have left feet. This is not the first Honda I have owned that allows the driver no way to comfortably orient his/her left foot while driving. Not a problem when you're stop&starting around town but, on long trips, you'll wish you could leave your left foot at home.

5. One of the coolest things about the Element is that it serves as a kind of mobile party box. You can open all four doors and blast that sound system - um, no, wait a minute, hold that thought. Can't blast the sound system with the doors open without getting the key-in-ignition beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep. Very big oops, guys.

6. As far as I'm concerned, the jury is still out on the plastic body panels. Though I think they look totally cool, I actually saw an Element on a dealer's lot with someone's initials scratched into the plastic fender. Yes, you can easily scratch them with your fingernail. It's easier to do on a DX than an EX but you can do it to either model. Time will tell if this is a serious problem but, in the short term, it sure seems like a more durable plastic could have been used.

7. I have owned an Accord and two Civics, all 5-speeds, and have never experienced torque-steer like the Element has. Is this because of the weight? Maybe the gear ratios? Regardless, if you're trying to turn and accelerate at the same time (like maybe while pulling out across a few lanes of busy traffic), watch out - if you are too heavy with your foot, you are not going to wind up where you expect to be. Can't fix this while maintaining the pep that you perceive the Element's demographic demands? Figure. It. Out.

8. All in all, the interior design of the Element is right on target. (Except for maybe that steering wheel - oddly Jetsons for such a retro utilitarian ride.) The only serious goof here is that the gauges, recessed as they are in deep cylindrical wells, are completely invisible in bright sunlight. Want to know how much gas you've got left? Hope for a cloud to block the sun.

9. How about saving yourselves some production time and simplifying the Element line-up by just eliminating the two-wheel-drive option? The only reason you offer it is so you can advertise a very low entry-level price and the only reason anyone has bought it is because it was the only way to get a 5-speed. Lose it - we'll all be better off. While you're at it, make the Element full-time all-wheel-drive instead of the on-again/off-again variety you're presently offering.

That's all for now, Honda. Will write again when I get a chance.

I still think the Element is pretty cool, BTW. Will probably drive mine until the wheels fall off - unless you make a few of the changes listed above. Then I'll trade my Element for a better one.

e-j