Getting Out In The Element: Members’ Rides

Thanks for coming back to check out some more fantastic Members’ Rides! Last week, David had me looking at fast Fords and laughing at a harlequin-style Kei van with the gorgeous backdrop of fall in Rhode Island.

This week, we get to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and not just because it’s the only time each year in which I am encouraged to stuff my face with a never-ending supply of pie. I have always loved it because the entire purpose of the holiday is gratitude for what we have, and that’s just fun. I hope you all have a great holiday and that you survive the craziness of Black Friday as well.

As for the cars, this week we’re heading out west. Meet Chili. He’s a lawyer for a climate and energy non-profit living out in beautiful Reno, Nevada. He recently relocated there from Boston and bought an awesome car for the road trip out there. He’s also got several other unique vehicles hanging out in the garage that are fun as well!

Members’ Rides is where we share the cars and stories of Autopian Members. The potential to be featured here is a perk for Autopian Members of every level, from the ultra-affordable “Cloth” tier all the way up to “Rich Corinthian Leather.” Click that link and join today!

How did you get into cars?

I’m told one of my first words was “carbus,” so I don’t think there was ever a time that I wasn’t into cars. As a teenager, I read a ton of Car & Driver. In college, I got into Jalopnik. Now I’m here.

What’s currently in the garage?

• 2024 VW ID.4
• 2024 Honda Trail 125
• 2009 Vespa GTS250ie
• 2008 Volvo S80 T6
• 2004 Honda Element

What led to you picking up the ID.4?

I was living in Boston with a Porsche Boxster that I had put away for the winter. My winter beater/daily driver was a Mitsubishi i-Miev with snow tires on the rear wheels only. In freezing temperatures, the i-Miev could manage only about 25 miles of range with the defroster on, maybe 10 or 15 more without it. It was a fun experiment, but compliance EVs were sold in warm states for a reason. I eventually came to my senses and traded it in towards the down payment on a pretty attractive ID.4 lease. It didn’t hurt that, at the time, VW had a surplus of 2024 models that had just come on the market after a stop sale related to defective door handles.

How do you like it?

It’s a mixed bag. It suffers from a lot of the same design flaws as a lot of new cars, like overreliance on touch sensitivity and buggy user interfaces that distract from the road. Wireless Android Auto constantly crashes at inopportune times or simply refuses to connect. The VW app is useless and sends frequent notifications that my doors are unlocked, without any way of remotely locking them from within the app. Great fun when they are in fact locked.

The faux door handles that are actually just a button are pointless and laggy. The charging door does not sit flush. The car defaults to zero regenerative braking, so every time you put it in drive you have to turn the shift knob twice to activate regen, with no workaround.

Not exactly glowing praise, anything you do like?

Of course. I have no complaints about the driving experience. I love the panoramic glass roof and heated steering wheel! While it’s less peppy and the range is worse than my Kona Electric’s was, the fast charging tolerances are much better, and I can usually charge for free at Electrify America stations (the car comes with 500 kWh of DC fast charging credit). Compared to several other newer cars I’ve driven (looking at you, Subaru), the driver-assist functions are better calibrated and less obnoxious. It’s also nice that VW includes a charger that has both Level 1 and 2 capabilities.

Do the window switches actually bother you or is that issue overblown?

It doesn’t bother me in practice, since I rarely open the rears. It is low on my list of annoyances with the car. I’m not sure if this was done for simplicity of design or cost savings, but whatever benefits to VW have surely been outweighed by the reputational hit from people remarking on how much they dislike it.

What’s the best thing about this one?

It’s a borderline luxury electric car for about what you could lease an entry-level, bare bones Hyundai Elantra for. The amenities and finishes definitely blow the Kona Electric and i-Miev out of the water. Living in Massachusetts at the time also helped, since the state has EV incentives that can be applied to the lease payment up front to help lower what was already a low price being offered by VW.

How long do you think you’ll hold onto this one?

My lease ends in January 2028. Looking at resale values on these, there’s no chance I’ll be buying it off the lease. 2024 models are already selling for less than my residual. Absent some kind of supply shock like we saw during COVID, I expect it will be worth a lot less than that by then, even with very low mileage.

Will you replace it with another EV?

Of course. I plan to have at least one EV or EREV in my driveway for the rest of my life. They’re low-drama daily drivers that allow me to reduce my carbon footprint and to take on fun/hobby cars without being dependent on them when they break. The dream would be an Ioniq 5 or 6 N, but I haven’t decided what to get next.

I’m a sucker for a good Volvo. How’s the S80?

I love it too. It’s a comfortable grand tourer with a great-sounding exhaust, good torque and power, and understated style that doesn’t draw much attention.

How long have you had it?

Just under a year, although I’ve only been driving it regularly for a few months. My acquisition of it has a bit of a tragic backstory. It had been owned for 13 years by a close family friend who passed away in 2024 from brain cancer. I wasn’t in the market for a new car, but when it was offered to me for quite a bit less than it could bring on the open market, I agreed to buy it even though it was in Seattle and I was living in Boston at the time. After moving west to Nevada this summer, I road tripped it home and found that I loved driving the car.

Has it given you any issues?

Nothing significant has come up yet. It is at the age where some of the exterior trim is starting to fail. I need to replace the plastic cap for the driver’s side door handle lock cylinder since it disappeared in a drive-through carwash. The chrome accent on the rear bumper needs to be re-taped. The fuel rail pressure sensor and PCV valve were replaced under the prior ownership.

How many miles are on it?

67,500. It’s been babied. I have added about 2,500 miles since I got it.

How do you like the 6-cylinder engine?

It’s great! It feels like a more refined version of the turbocharged 2.8 V6 in the 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero Sportcombi I used to own. I love how it sounds and how torquey it is.

What is your favorite thing about the S80?

It makes long trips feel short. I’ve never been in a car that devours miles as comfortably. I feel like I can drive this all day and not feel cramped and fatigued like I do in most other cars. It has the best driver’s seat I’ve ever sat in.

What do you dislike about it?

It’s too good for how little I drive it, and it’s a bit too much of An Car (hence the plates). Right now, it occupies the “fun car” slot in my driveway, with the ID.4 being a daily driver and the Element being a utilitarian do-everything mobile.

Will this one stick around a while?

I haven’t decided yet. I enjoy it too much to consider selling it now, but could see myself moving on from it in a year or two. Occasionally I pine for something older, sportier, dumber, or more soulful, and I’ll probably need to sell the Volvo to make space for something like that.

How does this get used?

If we’re not planning to camp, this thing is a road trip warrior. Aside from coffee and grocery runs, I drive it when visiting friends and family within 2 to 5 hours of our new home in Nevada, as long as I’m not bringing our two dogs with us. It will probably also be my means of transportation to the ski resorts around Tahoe this winter. After years of driving Subarus, I’m very eager to see how Volvo’s Haldex AWD system feels in snowy weather.

What made you want the Trail 125?

My dad brought home a late-70s Honda Trail 90 when I was in my early teens. I would sneak it out of the garage and ride it around the neighborhood when he was at work. That helped me learn how to ride motorcycles on and off-road, even though I wouldn’t get licensed until my mid-20s. Once Honda started selling these retro-styled Trail 125s a few years ago, I knew I wanted one.

I ended up buying this used with only 1 mile on the odometer from an older lady near Canton, Ohio, who had bought it (I’m sure with grand plans and good intentions) and was immediately reprimanded by her daughter and forced to sell it. They were a funny pair. I paid close to MSRP but saved a bit on taxes and dealer fees in the exchange.

How much have you ridden it?

It still has under 300 miles on it. I have not even gotten through its break-in period. Living in big cities without a commute, I always thought I would use it to get around and not have to worry as much about parking or traffic, but I wound up preferring riding my bike if I was alone or driving a car if I was traveling with other people.

Why is this the coolest of the mini-moto style bikes out there?

No disrespect to the Monkey, Dax, or Super Cub, but I vastly prefer the experience of the Hunter Cub/Trail 125. The off-road capabilities of the Trail 125 make it feel more like a real dual sport than a scooter with a semi-automatic transmission.

Do you actually take it on trails, or just enjoy around the city?

I’m surrounded by incredible OHV and fire trails here in Reno, where the Trail 125 really shines. The Common Tread XP, where Ari and Zack took one of these across Alaska, was part of what convinced me to replace my Honda Helix with the Trail 125 in the first place. I’m not an expert trail rider, but I know that I prefer lightweight dual sports on dirt to ADV bikes. I found the Honda to be very light and forgiving on trails. The suspension is good enough to handle some rocky terrain at lower speeds, although it’s not quite on par with a true entry-level dual sport like the Honda XR150L.

Does this go on any of your Element adventures?

That’s in my future plans for it. I have a little utility trailer rigged up with a wheel chock so that I can take it camping with me. The Lost Sierra region is full of trails and places I hope to venture into.

I didn’t even know they made Vespas with a 250cc engine, how is it?

Mechanically, I think it’s fine. The engine sounds healthy, but it has not been registered or ridden much in about 5 years. What I was told is that the prior owners used it as a commuter around San Francisco and laid it down once or twice, which did a number on the metal and plastic body parts. I think they stopped riding it regularly once they had children.

What made you want to get the Vespa?

It was cheap and local, so I purchased it on a whim. The Trail 125 cannot comfortably exceed 50 mph, so my justification was that it would be nice to have something that I can ride on roads with a 50-55 mph speed limit. I’ve owned numerous Japanese scooters, but I also wanted to try out a Vespa to compare and see how I like it.

What are your plans for it?

Right now, I want to try and push out the dent in the rear metal panel, replace some of the damaged chrome and trim pieces, delete the US-mandated reflectors so it looks more like the Euro-spec models, and sand/repaint the scrapes and scratches.

You think you’ll hold onto it a while, or will it be one you fix and let go?

I’ll probably fix it up to the best of my abilities, ride it next summer, and then try to sell it and replace it with something a bit more vintage.

Are these pretty simple to work on?

I don’t think so. So far, I’ve only replaced the air filter, but it was more involved than on the Japanese motorcycles and scooters that I’ve owned. Replacing the chrome plastic leg shield trim that was damaged when the bike was laid down is an incredibly elaborate process for such a basic body part. Fortunately, parts support is strong.

How’s it ride?

It’s really enjoyable to ride. It is peppy and relatively maneuverable for a 250cc, yet still planted over 50 mph. It’s not quite a maxi scooter, but weighs almost as much as my Honda Helix did.

What’s your favorite feature?

It has a ton of storage. I think it’s enough to hold two full-face helmets. I could see myself using it as a fun grocery getter in the warmer months.

Let’s talk about your Honda Element

I bought this in May 2025 once I knew I would be driving across the country to relocate from Massachusetts to Nevada. It replaced my Boxster, which I sold about a month after buying this.

Tell me all about the road trip!

We drove over 3,400 miles in 10 days, with stays in Rochester (NY), Columbus, St. Louis, Minneapolis (KS), Denver, Moab, Capitol Reef, and Great Basin National Park. We mostly stayed in hotels and BNBs but camped for the last two nights of the trip in Capitol Reef and Great Basin.

Channeling one of my heroes – Huell Howser – we tried to appreciate a lot of roadside gems along the way like the Cross island Chapel in Oneida, New York; Jacque, the world’s largest bobblehead, in Bellville, Ohio; a giant candle in Centerville, Indiana; the fire-breathing Kaskaskia Dragon in Vandalia, Illinois; Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis; and the Home of the Brave art residency in Cisco, Utah. We also took in a Cardinals-Pirates game at Busch Stadium and visited Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Great Basin National Parks.

What was your favorite stop?

Rochester surprised me the most. I had my first Garbage Plate, acquired some stupidly cheap beer from Genesse, stayed in an old schoolhouse converted into lofts and a TV studio, and visited a house that my late grandmother lived in as a child in the 1920s. My favorite stop was probably Wheeler Peak Campground, where we camped on the last night of the trip. It is the highest-elevation campground in the entire National Park System at 9,886 ft.

How did the car do?

There were a few issues I was nervous about going in. The cruise control was not working when I bought the car, but I was able to fix it the day before we left by replacing a switch and taping a dime to a bracket below my clutch pedal. There was also an intermittent check engine light for an O2 sensor, which did not reappear during the trip and has only reappeared once in the past 4,500 miles. My worries were ultimately not justified. The car was a road warrior and handled the trip with ease.

How comfortable is the bed?

The bed is not great. Space is pretty limited in the sleeping quarters, and the foam pad is only about 3 inches thick. It’s tough to get two people in there. That said, it takes about 30 seconds to pop up, so the convenience factor is a big plus.

Aside from the top, is this stock, or what other modifications have been made?

The camping quarters include some LED lighting modifications as well. There are only a few other mods I have made. I got rid of one of the rear seats to free up some space for storage and hauling. Then I also removed a dented brush guard and some old Hellas were on the Element but were not working when I got it.

I installed new Hella Comet 450 driving lights and replaced the foggy old headlight assemblies with new ones to ensure night driving would not be a problem. Another modification that precedes my ownership is a trailer hitch that has been handy for towing my trailer to pick up furniture for our new home.

Have you always wanted one of these or what led to this purchase?

I was not considering an Element until this popped up (no pun intended) on Facebook Marketplace. An Ecamper was even less on my radar, though I was considering the more common Eurovan Weekender as an option. The seller told me this Element, which I think he had nicknamed “Shelby,” was originally in Montana before he bought it in 2013 and brought it down to Florida.

It had only spent a few years in Massachusetts before I got it, so the rust situation is much less substantial than on Elements that have spent their whole lives in the Northeast. I had a 2008 CR-V in the past, so I was familiar with the good reputation of these 2.4L K series engines. It appeared in the right place at the right time, and I’m very glad I bought it.

How many miles are on this beast?

I bought it in May with about 202,000 and it now has nearly 208,000 miles.

Anything you need to fix given the mileage?

Other than the aforementioned cruise control issue and check engine light, the only other problem is that the brakes sometimes sound like they’re rubbing, and there’s some abnormal wear on the rotors, despite being replaced along with new pads about 10,000 miles ago. My CR-V had a similar issue.

Any additional plans for either mods or road trips or anything in this?

Hopefully more camping trips in the warmer months. Right now, the Element’s primary uses are runs to home improvement stores and when I want to take my bikes out on the trails.

Thanks Chili!

Are you an Autopian Member? Don’t miss out, we have a lot of fun, and you could be world famous and see your cars plastered all over the best car site on Earth! Click Here to learn more and become a Member today!