Waiting on Riley?

Soon I am shopping for a new car. My little Pontiac Vibe just doesn't work well where I live. I need something 4wd or AWD. I have been looking and looking. I do not want something that sucks the gas down. I am a momy of one little guy with another son on the way. I need something basically kid-proof that gets good gass milage and is awd. I have been looking at the Honda Element and it looks like a nice middle ground. No room for more passengers than my family members but it seems to get good gas milage. It looks virtually kid-proof and is roomy for strollers, wagons, sand toys... All the boys stuff I haul around.































What are your thoughts? Anyone know much or own one of these vehicles?































Thanks ya all.































Lyn

gin

I just got mine in October and I LOVE IT.































I've had Honda CRVs for the past 10 years, but the dog hair was killing me. These have no carpet! So easy to keep clean.































I get about 23 mpg. Its not as good as the CRV, but I love this more. It handles better. Seems to go better in the snow too.































The one thing I'd really check is to see how easy/hard it is to get the kids out of the car seats. Those rear seats are pretty far back and its a reach. But you can get up there with them and crouch behind the front seats of you need to.































It seems a bit dorky - but you'll love it, really. After an Element - every other car seems claustrophobic. They're just so roomy and perfect!































The Element is getting a major re-design this season. If you're really not sure, you may want to wait and see what the new ones look like. I think they'll be like the Dodge Nitros (no clamshell doors, just a blocky SUV).































Good Luck!