Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Pontiac Bonneville
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Myself, I stick with what works: Bimmer owners with BIG egos and cars twice the price of my SSEi.
If any Bonnie/Aurora/LeSabre/whatever owners have a digital camera or a scanner, y'all could take pictures of the Gathering (especially what the lot would look like!) and maybe post them in the Bonnie Owner's Club Photo Board. Just an idea...
I hope we get some interest from other boards - I've posted the event with Aurora (heard back fron Henri), LeSabre, Impala, Regal, Grand Prix, SeVille. Not heard from anyone else yet.
Please talk this event up - it will be far more interesting to have 12-15 cars than 4 or 5. I can't imagine this being a bad location - so many people and new cars in the Jersey suburbs - got to be plenty around that would be interested. Maybe you local guys could do some local publicity there.
Hoping for a good turn-out
Ken
I'll try to help out a bit here on the Boards. I feel bad that I can't come!
Ken
looking forward to seeing everyone
FYI- in the past week and 1/2 I have seen in various locations- Newark NJ, Bloomfield NJ, Sparta NJ and along RTE 80 East & West -
*ALL Bonneville SE'S- Silver, Midnight Blue Metallic and Bronze Mist- I think the word is getting out there Ken-
Have A Happy,
Chuck
Chuck - Drag those SE's over to Rockaway! I want to see a Bonneville in every color offered!
Ken
That was a great question! I called the mall offices and was told that we should gather at the outer lot, lower level by JC Penney. The guy I spoke to said he might even come by to take a look! I'm really looking forward to this.
Peace
Kevin
KZM
Could you send me an email (see my profile) so that I can get your address for future correspondence? That would eliminate having to post messages here every time we wish to contact each other regarding this event.
Thanks
Ken
My other concern is the rattles in the drivers door and dash. I am going to take it in to the dealer to get these things fixed.
Otherwise, I love the car. I just can't believe how much power (and I have the SE) this car has. 100 mph comes up VERY quickly. We took it on a short trip and it was very comfortable.
Right now we are covered in spring pollen here in South Carolina, so she has a sickly yellow covering, but I am leaving the office in a few minutes and I am going to take care of that problem.
Good luck to all.
Excuse me - gotta go - my shoe is ringing. It could be agent 99!
Ken
After the invite to the Aurora board I just had to come around here and see what the conversations were like on this board...
You guys have just as much Kahonnies as the Aurorians.... Hope I spelled kahonnies right or I just insulted an entire Mexican Food Group... I am trying to rearange my schedule of "Honey Do Days" so I can attend your little (or not so little) get together... I am in Baltimore and only 2.5 hours away... Give or take a point or two...
Hope to see you there!!!
Mordecai
When Pat first suggested the Owner's Club, I checked out the 300M club and noted that it was quite active - these guys are undoubtedly enthusiastic owners but I was a little surprised to see how many little (and not so little) problems many were experiencing. As much as I like the 300M, reading that stuff made me want to go hug my Bonneville and whisper in its ears (mirrors?) "please be reliable...". Not a shot at the 300M, understand, just a gut reaction...
Sorry to hear about Jake's mishap and hope his insurance takes care of it. Conversely, I'm happy for you guys and your Bonne-rama at the Rockaway Mall. I'd love to be there but will live vicarously through whatever pix you post.
Soon, Dan
Anyway, as we passed this other SLE this morning, my wife commented on how much older than us the driver/passenger were. My comment that we weren't exactly getting younger is probably the reason why she wants me to reconsider the Aztek instead of the Rendezvous to replace our (very) soon to be exiting minivan. Oh yeah like that's going to take 10 years off our ages...
Dan
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Ken
Iceman,
An Aztek, eh? You gotta be a true Pontiac guy to take that over the Rendezvous! ;-)
Ken
Check over there - think you have responses.
Ken
Dan
P.S. our experience with the Century as a loaner was very +ve - other than its tach-less instrument panel and dated looking materials for the dash, I personally think it's a lot of car for the money.
Hope this helps you.
I understand some have already been restored, and more may be coming, but there are no promises at this point.
Please accept our sincerest apologies for this situation and trust that every effort is being made to rectify the problem. Thank you for your patience.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
I look forward to meeting you guys and Mordecai24. You realize that this could be the beginning of an annual event for folks posting to Edmunds. That is probably why the guy at the mall liked the idea. People who gather at the mall, spend money at the mall.
I really should become a travel agent - always planning trips - in fact at work my nickname is "Va-K" for all my vacation trips (fortunately I get 5 weeks a year now).
Wishing a Blessed Easter to all
Ken
A meet in the States could be of interest to me but the timing would have to coincide with a vacation and circumstances are going to keep us fairly close to home this year I'm afraid. Perhaps next summer.... If any of you guys do have a meet near the Canadian border, do yourselves 2 favours: 1. gas up on the US side; and 2. buy everything else on the Canadian side.
BTW, I have a background in events management and Ken's enthusiasm has made me think of a few ideas which could make a meet interesting - things like a seminar on performance modifications; exhibits/talks on tires, available cosmetic mods, etc.; talks on basic maintenance and car-care; on-the-track lessons on performance handling; dyno testing; professionally timed 1/4 mile runs (with certificates & awards); contests for modified Bonnevilles and for restored older models; a "Bonnie" parade; Q's + A's with a GM technician; etc. Obviously, these sorts of things would require a certain scale of meet and probably a full weekend (maybe even a long one). Plus tracks have to be booked well in advance and are generally unavailable during the summer. Plus, we'd have to plug into our networks with GM, Pontiac, old-car clubs, local Pontiac dealerships, performance shops, race tracks, etc. etc. I've done this kind of stuff before (not for car-enthusiasts, however) and it's all do-able. Do any of these sorts of things appeal? Any other ideas? I'm certainly not an expert in organizing car-enthusiast type events (in fact, I have never even been to one) and I'm not yet volunteering my services but I thought I'd throw out for your comments the ideas that had occurred to me.
Dan
P.S. for those who celebrate it, Happy Easter!
I learned to top my tank off Stateside the hard way when I went to Canada a few years back!
All that sounds great! It would be nice to have a 4-day Bonnevillepalooza (or whatever) where attendees stay at a nice hotel (Holiday Inn Express, etc.) and basically use the parking lot for many of the events, like a car show, "Best Bonnie" contest, whatever. A hotel with a conference center would be good too if a rep from GM comes.
Just throwin' a few things out.
Happy Easter (or belated Passover) to all!
Regarding personalizing the DIC greeting: I know this may be a question that has already been answered, but I couldn't find it in the past posts. I talked to my dealer about it & they have no idea & never heard of it. One of the guys in the shop said he had seen a Bonneville with a personalized greeting, but he had no idea how the owner had it done. Does anyone have the actual instructions on how to do this? I understand that you need a Techtool to do the programming; it can't be done from the dashboard. Are there limitations, or can you use all 2 lines x 16 characters?
BTW, if anyone sets up a group meet close to Detroit, I'll be there.
Thanks,
Robin
Near Detroit might be a good place for a "Bonn-e-polooza" given its proximity to (a) GM; (b) the Connolly factory; and (c) Pontiac, Michigan.
Dan
They both say they feel a lot better!
Left: 2001 Chev Silverado LT 4-dr Ext Cab, 5.3L, Z72, Traction Assist, OnStar, Heated Leather, etc.
Right: 2001 Bonne SLE, Heated Leather, 3-spoke 17" wheels, OnStar, Sunroof, etc.
Hans
Sho your dealer the manual. About page 85. He'll figure it out. Mine did, eventually.
BTW: I use Zanio, too. That stuff works wonders!
Dan
I am just a humble Aurorian, not use to your Bonne "Big City" ways. (smile)
Dan
Dan
Just had to get an alliterative title in here somehow!
OK guys - let's get serious about the meeting idea now.
Displays - Super ideas, Iceman. How about having a display of Zaino versus Maguires at Rockaway? Do you NJ guys use both products? I've not used either yet but would like to see the comparison. A local car nut buddy swears by Maguires.
Boston Meet - Smfran - OK Let's do it! Where and When? And who else do you know in the area from other sites, clubs or forums to get it off the ground. I'm game for sometime this summer.
Michigan meet - Sounds like a super place for a really big event. Perhaps get working now on a REELY BEEG SHOW (thanks Ed Sullivan!) for next year? Get the Pontiac factory guys involved - advertise in local papers, travel from everywhere to go? I'd do it for sure - hey any excuse to take my Bonneville out on the road is a no brainer for me!!!
Henry - I see your buddy Mordecai is coming - there must be other Auroras in the area - how about a little challenge here - who can have the best representation - Bonneville or Aurora!!
Have a great (tax) day everyone. I get to hold onto my check for an extra day here - Patriots Day holiday in MAss and Maine.
Ken
I reluctantly tried Zaino last year and was amazed at three things.
1- It was easy to do (I clay barred first, which was also easy).
2- The result were spectacular, no streaks and a great gloss on the mean black machines.
3- The stuff really holds up.
One problem... how to explain to Carolyn the row of Simonize stuff (20 years old), next to the Turtle wax stuff (15 years old), next to the Eagle one stuff (10 years old), next to the Meguiars (only three years old)... next to $65 worth of Zaino stuff.... geeesh.
Here is a link to their website: http://www.zainobros.com/
Have fun,
Bill
Dan
Yep, I recommend it. I used the clay bar 'cuz the guys on the C5 Forum raved about it. I was suprised how smooth the paint surface feels after using the clay.
Only light pressure is needed. Just be sure to keep the clay well lubricated. I used the carwash/water mix recommended by Zaino even though I did use my old Meguiars clay bar (I had bought the Meguiars bar two years before but never had enuf guts to use it).
What tire pressures are people using? I'm a bit embarassed to say that as I was showing my daughter where to look on her new Focus for the recommended tire pressure, I had never don't it for mine. I had just automatically put 35 lbs. in and was therefore quite surprised to see a recommended pressure of only 30 lbs. Seems low to me as I'm not particularly interested in a soft ride.
There was an interesting review of the Bonneville in Sunday's Chicago Tribune. At the risk of making this post too long, I'll condense it.
"Smooth ride and predictable, sure-footed handling that makes it a pleasure to head into and out of those twisting, winding roads just across the border in Cheddarland(sorry Bill, that's what it said). Plenty of power from the 3.8L, 205hp V-6.
But, wow, does this car need plastic surgery! Bonneville was redesigned only a year ago, and the body isn't aging well.
Long one of our favorites for its sporty performance in a family-sedan package, the 2001 Bonneville looks bulky and bulgy on the outsid with buttons, knobs, dials and air ducts-more ducts than Chrysler has cupholders."
The review preceding this one was on the LeSabre Limited and it indicated that the LeSabre, Century and Park Avenue are in for dramatic changes in the 04-05 time frame. I assume that if the Bonneville is still around then, there will be similar changes to it. The whole review just goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I don't know what's recommended, but on my 17" Goodyear RS's the max psi is 44. My tire pressure sensor showed my tires were low at around 30 psi until I boosted them up to 40 psi and reset. No warning now.
KZM
I, too, was a bit polarized (for the bad) when I saw the Bonnie for the first time. However, the car really grew on me, especially the interior, which I love...well, sans the cupholders!
Pontiac has always been cutting edge, often cutting its own wrists in the process, but they have turned out some unique cars in the process. Pundits say that the Grand Am is overwrought and ugly, yet it's GM's best-selling car. Go figure...
I have the PIAA Super Plasma bulbs. I think there as close to HID as you can get without spending $600.00 or more. Sorry I don't know the conversion rate to Canadian dollars. Everybody thinks their HID lights. On looks I can't begin to count the number of strangers who have told me what a nice car this is.
Tire inflation I run 32 LBS
Hans
Once again I BELIEVE this is how it works. I used to know it but forgot (sounds pathetic, I know!).