Actually it's the CRX chassis/drive train.  I went as far as going to a
dealership last fall and sitting in one...didn't drive it.  Can carry people
or stuff, not both at the same time.   The front seatbelts are attached to
the suicide doors meaning that when a back seat passenger needs out, the
front seat passenger has to take off their seatbelt.  It's billed as
"camping" capable, but there is no inside latch to get out the back door.
Plus, I went to a couple of "user's" groups and found them to be
foul-mouthed folks completely ignorant of anything mechanical. Upgrading was
adding stickers & stereos....So, we bought another Syncro instead.

Sandy Milo

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Edward Maglott
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 10:35 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: New pop top Honda?

I seem to remember reading when the element was introduced that it was
built on the civic platform.  This lightweight chassis left the Element
with a total payload of something like 350 lbs.  So add your pop-top and
get in, but don't bring your dog or camping gear!  (exaggeration, but you
get the picture...)
Edward