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Pontiac Bonneville
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Comments
I like the Sienna but I want the heck out of a minivan I'm afraid - at one time, I saw them as a necessary evil. In our family, a minivan is no longer necessary, so that makes them just evil. I will say that the Sienna and Odyssey are the least evil of all minivans however.
Ken: if I'm going used, it might be to a '00 Regal LS but I doubt if I'd go supercharged for the 2nd car. I discussed it again with my wife this a.m. and she's cooling on the Aztek - starting to realize it's a lot of $ for functionality we don't need. Keep your fingers crossed for me guys.
Dan
Since we bought the Bonneville last December, that has become our daily commuter and has proven itself to be a very capable hauler of our entourage and its trappings. In that period, our minivan has not once demonstrated its utility as a minivan - so frankly I have to question what we need it for. Even with young kids (our kids are 4 and 6 - although she's kinda adamant about saying "6 1/2"). Heck, my parents had 5 of us and the closest we got to a minivan was dad's 1968 Toyota Crown wagon.
Ya know guys (and gals), that's one of the things I really like about the Bonneville - it feels like a frivolous, indulgent car in that it looks and drives sporty but it is downright practical too. If Pontiac added a split-folding rear seat, I'd be putting a second one in my garage - sans hesitation as we say up here in Canada.
On naming cars: I have never done this and used to roll my eyes when I came across others who did. When you have 2 or more cars, though, I admit that it actually makes sense. And this car comes the closest to getting a name from me - in that I call it "the Bonnie". Of course the presence of "the" probably would technically keep that from being a "name" and the name itself certainly lacks originality. If I did name it though, I think Zeus or Rufus would be leading contenders - the latter because (a) it strikes me as funny and (b) this car definitely has bite. Still, it ain't no dog - so I probably won't be going there
Dan
In short: this baby really corners.
Dan
Dan
P.S. If I bought an Aurora and was interested in naming it, I'd probably call it "Belle" after "La Belle Aurore" - the Parisian nightclub in which a few scenes of Casablanca takes place. Besides, the word means "pretty" and how bad can that be? Probably just not quite bad enough for some....
Ken
In any case, I saw a half dozen other Bonnevilles: 1 white SSEi, 2 SSEs, and 3 SEs.
I'll post more later...just getting everything unpacked now.
ITS aROARa
not Aurora
Its not in the name, but how you say it!
((okay, so it wasn't my last post))
The LS model is totally SWEET. The 3.8 is std and uses regular gas, the car handles like a dream - and it's priced right in the 23-25K range US. I've seen them advertised for $21.8.
There's no doubt in my mind that if I were looking for a second sedan - it would be this one. In fact it's what I was looking for when I stumbled across my car. It's as close to another BONNEVILLE as you'll find.
It's a great day here - going to be sunny and 70s. Hope you have a nice one too.
Ken
Good Morning!! just passed a BLACK SE on the way down to work this morning - interestingly enough- right by the Exit 35 where we had the car meet last week- the car was like a sheet of glass- BEAUTIFUL- the owner put on one hell of a waxing on it over this week-end
Henry- Glad to hear from you again on the BONNEVILLE POST!!!
Can you explain again what's involved with these time trials at the meadowlands- for $30.00 -what
do you put your car through?
Thanks,
Chuck
Ken
According to "sources" when Olds finally closes, the new Bonneville will actually be the Aurora. In other words guys/gals --- You can run, but you can't hide. If you want to get a jump on things, you can start posting to the aROARa board now.
[:^)
Timed trials - the $30.00 gives you eight runs of the course they set up in the Meadowland parking lot. You need to arrive around 8:00am to sign up. You need a helmet, and they will inpect your car to make sure that there ar no loose things that could fly off or be thrown about the car. It would be a good idea to clean out the trunk before you go. If not, you can leave the stuff in a parking space while you drive.
Hope this helps.
Somebody say "G men"!
Ken
Even the top-of-line Impala LS suffers badly by comparison to the Bonne --- sloppy handling, poor performance, cheap interior fittings, cheap exterior trim, butt ugly styling, etc., etc.
Not anywhere near in the same league, and not that much less expensive -- I'll be surprised if Chevy doesn't put it out of it's misery and replace it with a broader selection of models in the Monte Carlo.
Hans
Stephen
My wife's stone cold on the idea of another minivan though and would much rather drive a mid-size SUV - hence the interest in the Aztek. Soaring gas prices and the need to conserve width in our 2-car garage have convinced her that the smart move is a sedan. The compromise is the folding rear seat (hey, it worked fine for us on our Mazdas and Camry's for many years before we moved up to a minivan).
BTW, some info on buying Toyota up here: the ones on the lot are over-optioned (I think dealers must get one CE model each so they can justify the advertising and the rest are loaded). Of course, the one you demo has neat features & they're hoping that you'll want to buy it that way: "if you're ready to wait for a few months, you can have it any way you want it but..." Besides, if you order the base one, you'll get diddly from them in terms of discount off list.
A CE up here with traction control, keyless remote and power windows will cost about $5k more than a very nicely optioned Century. And the resale market on Sienna's is a joke so used aren't any bargains. So, if you don't need a minivan....
Dan
This morning I passed a car carrier loaded with new Bonnevilles heading north on the highway - no doubt all headed eventually to happy homes.
Had an oil change and state inspection done yesterday and was told the air filter is in need of changing - dirty. Should I buy one of these K&N units I hear about? Or just get the standard replacement unit? Comments or suggestions?
Ken
Ken
Hans
What she saw on the dealer's lot and REALLY wanted was a Black Coupe. She said is was "very sexy," and I agree, but I refused to let her get a black car (I had a say because I made the down payment). It looks awesome when it is clean and shiny, but otherwise is difficult to maintain. And a black car in Florida...hot hot hot. So we settled on her second choice - my first choice - a Midnight Blue Sedan. I like the looks of the sedan and think it is more practical than the coupe (hence one of the reasons I went for the Bonneville over the Camaro). I also like it because it looks like a scaled-down Bonneville. It's got the same lines and kicked-up tail and even the headlamps and taillamps are familiar looking. I love the color too, although the Alero Midnight Blue is not the same as the Bonneville Midnight Blue - it is actually much closer to the Indigo Blue of my Tahoe. So now we have three blue GM vehicles between us. I'm happy, and she loves her new Alero.
Long post, but I thought I would ramble a bit more...
I am very impressed with the Alero. It is a great value, $2000 cash back and a free GM extended warranty 60 months/60,000 miles since Olds is being phased out. It has a lot of the same features as the new Bonneville, too - and many are standard on all models. Tire pressure monitor, Oil Life Monitor, dual radio presets for the two keyless remotes (but no other driver-specific settings), RDS radio/cassette/CD (w/200 watts and eight speakers, but not Bose), customizable automatic door locks and horn chirp, and a very cool dash-mounted ignition switch - same as the Bonnie (I think it's cool, anyway). When I told my girlfriend that it had the same Goodyear Eagle RS-A performance tires as my SSEi has (16-inchers, though), she got it into her mind that she could challenge me sometime. I said sorry hun, I got SUPERCHARGED! ;-) I got to test drive the Alero, but I'm looking forward to ringing it out some more this weekend. It is a fun car. I'll try and take a pic of the Bonne and Alero together and post it here soon.
A base model Impala with ABS, custom bench interior and the basic option group is about 4K less than a base Bonneville SE that already comes pretty well equiped (22K vs 26K). The AARP set seems to have taken handily to the Impala and rental fleets are buying up base Impalas which certainly drives up the sales volume if not the resale value.
I've driven a number of Impalas prior to buying my Bonneville and am quite impressed with the performance and features of the LS model but not so thrilled with the base model. I agree that the Bonneville is turned out better in a number of ways and am glad to have bought what I did.
Still, I'd buy an Impala LS in a heartbeat for the right price and while it's no competitor for an SSEi, it does come fairly close to my SE model in a lot of ways. Styling is definitely controversial - particularly the large tail lamp lens assembly but then again, not everyone likes the Bonneville either - especially the body cladding on SLE and SSEi, so beauty, as always, is in the eye of the beholder.
I wouldn't be so hard on Impala or those that buy it - GM has certainly designed a good family car that is appealing to a broad spectrum of buyers. Even teens are saying positive things about the car from reports over in the Impala forum.
Best wishes
Ken
Too bad about the Intrigue crash ratings. Of all the rental cars I had, I probably was most impressed with the Intrigue. For its size and price range, it just seemed to be a very well put together package. Interestingly, the one car that I totally detested was the Explorer that I rented in Toronto. Why someone would want to drive that bucking bronco is beyond me. Us geezers need to hang on to our kidneys since they're the only ones we have. I think if I had one of those, I'd have to start with Depends as the motion of the car over normal roads would probably shake it out of me.
Mark
I get my rear stabilizer bar tomorrow and hope to put it in shortly thereafter. I needed an excuse to rotate the tires so what better excuse to remove the tires?
BTW, Century or Regal, lease or buy, the Cobra Cxi irons are mine to keep.
Dan
Anyway, the programming couldn't be easier. Once you get past the setup phase, where you select the type of vehicle (I didn't know this, but the Bonneville is the H body), verify the VIN number, etc., you are faced with a simple menu. To program the DIC you just go to the personalization section and choose driver 1 or driver 2. Here is where we had a little trouble. When I entered the new message, I just wrote over the existing message. But, although the Tech 2 would show the new message as being loaded, it would not display on the DIC. After trying various things, I went back in and re-wrote the message, but first I cleared out the old message completely. This seemed to be what was needed, and now the new message would display. BTW, when programming the messages, you get a full selection of characters, upper & lower, numbers, and symbols. 98 choices in all. You can fill up 2 lines of 16 characters each.
Programming the steering is even simpler. You go to the chassis' section, and you see three choices- Less firm, factory default, and More Firm. I changed my setting to More Firm, but I can't tell much difference from the factory setting.
I put some pictures of the new DIC settings on the Photo Gallery. BTW, has anyone found a place to post photos for free, now that Photopoint is going to start charging?
Robin
Here's where I'm placing mine:
http://www.bonnevillecars.com/
You have to sign up and it's free (So far).
Peace
KZM
Ken
Stephen
Ken, you can have first shot since you are so near us in Maine but if you would like the old bar and bushings, they're yours gratis. Check your car but the rear control arm has a hole on the inboard side of the spring for the bolt that goes through the end of the bar and there is a tapped hole on the cross member on each side where the bushing is bolted. I would imagine that even though your SE doesn't have the rear bar, surely GM made the provisions on all of the bodies, regardless of the final model designation. Let me know and if you want it, I'll bring it out when I come in a couple of weeks. Otherwise, anyone else is welcome to it if they want to pick it up either in southern Maine or near Chicago.
I was thinking "All systems go" or "Cleared for take-off". My wife suggested: "Awaiting your instructions" or "Your Bonneville (or Pontiac) welcomes you". Both good suggestions but I wasn't sure that there were enough characters available. After seeing Robin's pix, I might reconsider doing something a little more off-the-wall.
And then go buy a Buick Century. Anybody else see the incongruity?
Dan
Iceman, I am also looking at the Regal GS, haven't tested it yet. Talked to a guy who sold my friend a couple of cars and he quoted me a lease price of under $500, no $ down for a fully loaded Regal GS. Someone also suggested I take a look at the Lexus ES because there were some real deals out there since they are changing the 2002.
Why can't anything be easy? I have no patience when it comes with dealing with car sales people. Being in sales myself for years, I don't put up with any bull. You mess with me, I walk!!! They really hate me.
Well, in case you can't tell by the tone of my message I am really frustrated. I go through this every time it's time for a new lease. Thanks, everyone for all of your suggestions and kind words. You're a great group! I'll keep you posted!!! By the way, that was cute zzah!
Anyway, if you can get it at invoice, there is no reason in the world why you couldn't buy an SSEi for $600/mo. - with all charges taxes and charges included over 60 months. I would suspect that leases can be had for under $500/mo. nothing down. If not, I think we'd all understand why you'd start looking elsewhere. Don't give up without first checking through GMBuyPower on the GM site.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Dan
BTW - when are you driving through? I'll be out of town the 14-18th, back on the 19th. Hope I don't miss you.
Ken
Many thanks to those who posted about the programmable steering effort. Talked to the service manager who looked it up and said they could do it. They have even programmed the DIC message for someone else so he said they'd do it for me. Both of us kind of scratched our head as to why GM didn't make it a part of the driver programmed variables since it would seem likely that two drivers for the same car might have different preferences when it came to something like this. Without this forum, I wouldn't have had a clue that this was doable.
I noticed that my front A-pillar speaker housing is a bit loose. Nothing traumatic, but its just annoying as I find myself wiggling it constantly. I bet I'll ultimatly break it myself.
Also, I've noticed that the hood is misaligned slightly--which was the same misalignment that afflicted my Regal--as well as the ribbing on the passenger side (Oh my! Defects! Better trade for a Lexus! lol). Not bad for a mass-produced automobile.
Anyway, what was interesting was not the Light Bronzemist SLE but the Galaxy Silver SE, which had no rear spoiler. It's only the second time I've seen this rare sight. Kinda looks like a dog without a tail. Although I'm all for giving the owner a choice in optioning his/her car at order time, I think I'm glad Pontiac did away with the "Spoiler Delete" option this year, because the car is an ugly duckling without it's tail. Besides that, there was a strip of packing tape along the top of the left rear window. Must be broken. Hmmmm.
So they have been off a couple of times - and are pretty good. but when they go for the third time - Ill keep an eye on it.
Actually, the first time I went in with the crackling speakers was kinda funny - in hindsight. The stereo guy was listening - and at the time the sound was only noticeable when the system was cranked and there was enough high end sound being produced to create a sort of "crackling' effect. So, he is listening - and cant hear it - so i turn it up to 10 for him - and then he notices. Heres his response - youknow, maybe you shouldnt be listening at full volume - turn it down and you wont hear the sound."
We have an understanding now - and he doesnt say that anymore.
mlm4 - nope, you're not the only one who notices those sort of things - I make my wife and daughter play along with me - kinda like the old game of "punchbuggy" when if you saw a VW bug, you whack someone and say BUG. I do it with Bonnevilles - new generation only though. if Im in a parking lot hunting down a safe space, and spot a Bonne - and it's ok to park near - I will absolutley do it. If no Bonne's - I take a Grand prix. as long as they are far enough away from other cars, buggys and any foreign paint wrecking objects.
Are you a fellow Ontario resident? If so, wherefrom may I ask?
OK you guys - put up those dukes! I like my spoiler-less Bonnie!
BTW - it looks much nicer now with the dealer sticker removed and the scenic Maine plate.
Ken
Supermarkets and the local Home Depot/Loews present the greatest challenge.
We need to park away from other paint damaging cars, everybody knows this (Parking 101). The special tricks are (Advanced Parking 301):
1) Park on the up grade so that shopping carts will not roll into the car.
2) Park in the most popular direction, so that if some num nut does decide to park next to you (I have had this happen) at least the car is facing in the right direction to have the door guards offer some protection.
3) Park so that there are no cars behind or in front of you. I learned this after a woman backed into my aROARa when pulling out of her parking space. No cars on either side of me, but she got me from the rear. Why is it always a Lincoln??
4) Avoid parallel parking at all costs. No matter how much room the person in front or behind you has to park, rest assured that the person parking in front/behind you will have to "tap your bumper just to make sure."
5) When parking at the job's parking lot, be sure to park in the shade, or at least facing the sun. The aftermarket sunshades do not protect the sides or back of the car. At least this way, you can help to save your dashboard.
6) When taking up two spaces (on a good day I have taken up four spaces) be sure to be far enough out so that someone does not feel the need to key your car for taking up 2 or more spaces.
7) Realize that having the car at a mall during the holiday shopping season is almost certain ding. Better to get a rental, or a beater car if you must go.
8) No matter what you do, realize that the inconsiderate will eventually get you.
DID I LEAVE ANYTHING OUT?????
(Whoops - couldn't resist the tongue in cheek there!)
Ken
Chevy Impala
Chevys have always outsold Pontiacs. Always has been, always will be. Chevy sells more Cavaliers, Impalas, Malibus, and Camaros than Pontiac does Sunfires, Bonnevilles, Grand Ams, and Firebirds. The old saying used to be, "A Pontiac is a Chevy in a tuxedo." Sometimes, people don't want to wear a tuxedo.
DIC Programming
I'm glad people are doing this. I'm planning on changing my greetings as well in the LeSabre. In looking though the Helm manuals, I found the section where you can do this, but you do need the Tech2 scanner. I'm hoping I can change the steering firmness as well. Magnasteer is Magnasteer, whether its in a Bonneville, Aurora, or LeSabre. But I couldn't find any reference in the Helm manual on changing the steering. We'll find out.
G-Body/H-Platform
OK, what is up with this? Just about every automotive publication refers to the Bonneville/Aurora/LeSabre/Seville platform as the G-Body, but when ordering the Helm Manuals for the LeSabre, I had to get the H-Platform books. Its obviously the correct set of manuals, so now I'm wondering? No big deal, really, but someone's alphabet is messed up here.
Leasing costs
I had no intention of leasing my car, but just for the heck of it, I tried to find how much it would have been. With no money down, $600 a month!!! I laughed my head off. I told them they couldn't be serious. I could buy the car cheaper than that. Something is not right about leasing cars, nowadays.
SE Rear Sway Bar
I don't believe that the SE has a rear stabilizer bar. Ken -- if you can get your hands on one, grab it. I'd love to see if this Saner outfit can build me a set of better bars for the LeSabre, but I'm not sure I want to wait a year to get them either. Seems like they're the only outfit I can find that does this type of stuff. I'd like to get a strut tower brace as well.
18" wheels/tires
Has anyone out there put a set of 18" wheels/tires on their Bonnevilles? If anyone has drop me a response and let me know. Thanks.
Happy motoring, fellow G-body (or H-body) owners.
Mike
2001 LeSabre Limited
Medium Red Pearl/Taupe Interior
You know that Impala LS really is a great car and the selling price is very attractive for a well equipped and appointed car. I still look at every one that passes me. My Bonneville gets a bit envious at times. Can look - just not drive!
On leasing - besides being married to a payment forever and having to watch every mile you put on the car, it also limits you to when you can trade. If there's a new model coming out in the fall that you want but your lease is up in May - you're pretty well tied into the present model unless you buy out your lease, which is not always the most practical thing to do.
Ken