Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
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
If you don't know the service history of your car, things you should look at include servicing the transmission, coolant, serpentine belt, plugs, wires(not aftermarket), and front end components. In addition, if you have the owner's manual, there is a list of routine things that should be attended to.
I don't think there is any generally accepted opinion on oil. Some use the synthetic and feel the extra cost is worth it while others use good quality oil and have gotten good service from the engine. Your choice.
A few days back I posted a photo of my new 2002 Granite SSEi in the photo gallery, and I suppose now I should introduce myself and say a bit more.
In the last 20 years I have owned two sensible, reliable, nondescript used Japanese imports. Not that I'm boring or anything, I guess you could say I'm just cheap. They were great cars, but I always felt like I was driving around in a tin can, felt unAmerican and secretly envied those fortunate enough to posess something with some good ol' United States of Muscle.
I work in retail, and about a year ago I became aquainted with a customer who happened to be the wife of the owner of a dealership in Boulder. She's a great old gal and one day she invited me out to look at what her husband gave her to drive. Got out there and *immediately* fell in lust - a 2001 black SSEi.
After doing some research I pretty much wrote the whole idea off because, well, it cost too much. I'd been driving without a car payment for eight years! My tags cost a whopping $35.00 a year! Just didn't seem feasable to buy a dream, so I resigned myself to the drudgery of driving this
http://www.cotse.net/users/drsnoid/pics/car1.jpg
for the rest of my life. (note: photo shows excellent representation of what happens when you hit a deer.)
But I continued to lust.
Early this year I found that I would be inheriting a chunk of money from my Mom who had died three years ago - somehow part of her estate had slipped through the cracks (no doubt because my brother the drunk was executor). Pretty much you can fill in the rest of the story. The look on the salesman's face after negotiations when I told him I'd be putting $20,000 down was almost as good as getting the car itself.
So I'm driving my dream on a tin can car payment, and the best part is that nobody around me, not even my wife, said anything except "You deserve it".
Keep us up on your ownership impressions. Hope the lust never fades.
ice
It certainly is a great feeling to move out of the embarassingly ancient 100K+ milers into something that has panache and power. I can almost see that grin as you merge into traffic every morning.
So welcome to the club - and please keep us current with your impressions and experiences.
Best wishes for many years and miles of driving enjoyment.
Ken
P.S. - Better keep your eye out for the tax assessor - he just might decide the town should cash in on your property improvement!
My husband calls it "The Bat". It's all I can do to keep my foot off the accelerator. I've had no problems with it and it's a dream to drive. This is my 3rd Bonnie in a row. First one was an '87 SE, the 2nd a '94 SSE, and as you can see I moved up. When I saw it on the show room floor, it had my name on it. BMW owners eat your heart out.
Best wishes for many years and miles of driving pleasure in that SSEi.
Ken
'00 SE
Good luck with your Bonnie. It is nice to hear that your car is running well just like your previous Bonnies.
In two months I will be celebrating my '01 Maple Red SE Bonnie's 1st Birthday. I hope for many more birthdays to come.
Wishing you the best with your SSEI ....Steve
Ken
Glad to hear you will be in the area. Mid June sounds great to have a XMAS pic. Will have to take the car to get washed to get rid of the pollen from the trees (yellow dust does not match well with maple red.
Just took the Bonnnie out to Gettysburg this past Saturday (5/25) and averaged 29 MPG. I was happy to see the car get some highway miles and it was also great driving along with my friends '96 Bonnie cruising down the PA turnpike!
Took some pictures of both Bonnies on the battlefield in Black and White. I am interested in how the pictures will turn out.
Take care,
Steve
Hope to see you in June
Ken
I still annoyed at the inclusion of Ivory White in lieu of the brighter Arctic White, as well as those enormouse uncovered cup holders.
Why is the 2003 being limited to 270Hp while the new Grand Prix is 280Hp?
Do any of you who may have had a 1998 SSEi feel that the seats in the 1998 gave you better support than those in the current model?
In my letter I stated my belief that going with the same philosophy of 1992-1999 of keeping the car essentially the same wouldn't sell the car.
Looks like the Bonny will only be around through 2004, and I would like to see it go out in style.
I'd like to hear your opinions posted here.
Thanks.
When you findout when you will be in PA, let me know. I plan on taking some time off work and I could meet you for lunch/dinner up in Montgomeryville.
I will email you my work/home # if you need to contact me.
Steve
Steve
Ken
Dinner on June 19th sounds good. There should be some places to eat along RT309 in Montgomeryville. (Olive Gardern, Applebees etc)
Do you work up near the mall area? Sounds like a plan. Talk to you soon...sxb
Ken
Joseph Ambler Inn
I was wondering if anyone in here is from Ontario Canada.. ( or more specifically southern Ontario ). We are starting our own little bonnevilleclub ontario Chapter, and would like to invite all others around to join.
Lukè
ice
When we get a break from this snowy weather I'll clean it up and take some photos to share. Thanks again and I'll be here reading the posts.
My 00 SE is still running great (turned 70K today) and I love it.
Ken
I have a 2001 SE and have never had any vibration problem at all. I have taken the car out to Dayton, Ohio from Phila., PA and the car was one smooth cruiser traveling at 65 mph plus. As long as the car was taken car of, I would think you would be good to go. Good luck with the car search.
Steve
Does any one know about the door lock issues? They don't work, checked the fuse once, blowen but a new one did nothing. I haven't took the drive door apart to replace the module for them, but is there something else i should check first?
Monte
Alexandria VA
Bob
Glendale, Arizona
ice
Have had several vehicles with the 3.8 V-6. All have been good at least as far as the engine is concerned. My wife's Buick Ultra has not been what you would call "without issues" but none of them have had to do with the engine. Maybe between 2000 and 2004, GM has cleaned up some of those issues and the Pontiac will be like yours. Hope so.
First tank of gas averaged 23 mpg. That's pretty good especially since we are now paying between $1.90 and $2 a gallon for regular.
Bob
Little bit of flutter in the steering wheel and in the car from about 65 up especially on really smooth road. Probably have to go to Michelins to get away from it.
Overall still a good experience
Bob
ice
1. What is the difference between the 3.8 Gen II and the predecessor version of the 3.8
2. The flutter that I am experiencing is also present in my wife's 2000 Ultra. Is this a GM phenomenon? The Buick's got worse when I replaced the orig eqpmnt Goodyears with Pirelli's and has only become managable after road force balancing.
My VW Passat is smooth, smooth over the same roads at all speeds. It has Michelins. Some of the discussion groups on Buicks have mentioned similar problems and have indicated elimination or significant improvements by switching to Michelins
Bob
Bob
John
I'm new here. I'm interested in getting a 2005 GXP. I've been researching them for a while. I currently have a 1999 Grand Prix GTP. It's been the most reliable car I've ever owned (NEVER been in the shop), but I just want something a little bigger and with a little more room. I previously owned a 1987 Bonneville and 1990 SSE.
Anyone here have any advice on the GXP? My husband doesn't think I need a new car, but I absolutely love the looks of the GXP. Kind of a role reversal that the husband is against spending money on a new car. :-) I don't want the overpriced sunroof, so I will probably order mine sometime after the first of year (February or so).
Thanks,
Cheryl
I absolutely love the growl of the Northstar engine, and the more I drive it, the more I love the car. Two options on the car I thoroughly enjoy are the XM satellite radio and the heads-up display, which I do believe has saved me a couple of tickets!
I also had an 87 Bonneville, and it was also in the graystone color. I enjoyed that car too, but not as much as I am my GXP. Good luck and keep us posted on your buying progress.
Bryan
I was originally not keen on the leather seats as I am in Canada and the winter months are COLD... but the heated seats are great.
I have 17in rims and all the interior options. Oh did I mention this car is great.
Having a bit of traction problems in the rear durng the winter months. Anyone have this problem?
I have new (2003 Mich MXV4 Plus - 235/55R17) tires
Glad to see others love this car.
My name is Shelly I live in Arizona and own my 4th Bonneville which is a 1993 sse white w/ tan leather interior, I hope to get some great ideas on mods and so forth and Im looking forward to hearing all the feedback as well.
Bonneville has always caught my eye and its great to see others as enthused about them as I am.