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Pontiac Bonneville

4400 messages,  Last post on Jul 23, 2010 at 5:36 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Bonneville, Sedan




Messages Page 203 of 440

#2021 of 4400 I'm back by mfahey1

Sep 11, 2001 (5:27 pm)

With the events of today, anything that any of us writes about our cars is positively trivial in the big picture. Howevever, life can and will go on.
I had a great trip from the Chicago area to Maine on August 29. Drove straight through in 17 hours and as usual, the Illinois/Indiana/Ohio/Pa/New York interstate sections were pretty boring although the scenery in eastern New York is pretty if you're driving during daylight. The good stuff came on the two lane roads in extreme eastern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and of course, Maine. It was late at night and early in the morning so didn't get too many chances to pass but when I did, there was plenty there. The twisties were lots of fun and got 27.5 mpg over the 1065 miles.
However, and a big however, the next day the Bonneville left our place on the back of a tow truck just as it had done this spring when it wouldn't start and the dealer replaced the ignition cylinder. I had pulled into our place and couldn't get the key out nor would it start. Called the local Chevrolet dealer who said call Pontiac so I called the 24 hour #. When I explained that I had a 2000 Bonneville, the person who answered the phone asked if it was a Chevrolet. Without going into all of the details, needless to say, it went downhill from there.
This was the Friday before Labor Day so I didn't expect the dealer to drop everything. However, it wasn't until the following Thursday that the dealership it was towed to told me that the problem was a stretched shift cable, there was a service bulletin on it, and they couldn't get the parts. The next day they said they had the cable but that the bulletin required the cable to be rerouted using different bolts. They had the cable but couldn't get the bolts. I just find this unbelievable that once GM decided there was a problem, they didn't go all out to have the parts available. I asked the dealer to put the car back together using the old, stretched cable but they wouldn't do it. I also asked them to use any bolts they could get their hands on so that I could drive the car back to Illinois. Also, no dice.
The bottom line was that I drove our old Caravan with 190,000 miles on it in order to get back. The dealer in Maine now has my car and I won't be back until October. So much for GM's customer satisfaction efforts.
Enough complaints. I would highly recommend that any of you invent a reason to take a trip on two lane roads with one of these cars. They are a real joy to drive(when they run).

#2022 of 4400 CD Changer by jbrnsn

Sep 11, 2001 (10:04 pm)

Does anybody know how to adapt an aftermarket CD changer (FM modulated) to the 2001 Bonneville radio? The antenna connection on the Bonny radio is not standard.

#2023 of 4400 checking in by tpken

Sep 13, 2001 (1:00 pm)

Haven't been looking at much else on line this week except the tragic scenes in NY and DC. I hope and pray that all of you and your loved ones are ok. The magnitude of this heinous act gaurantees that many of us will have connections to those lost, helping dig out or some that could have been there but weren't. Thousands have met their maker prematurely this week - a sobering thought for sure. Our prayers go out to those impacted in so many ways including the rescue crews.
 
Ken

#2024 of 4400 Ken, I'm glad you're alright by stnel

Sep 13, 2001 (6:28 pm)

I know you do a lot of traveling in the Northeast.
 
My prayers have been with the victims and their families. Since they found those firemen today, I hope we have more miracles as well.
 
Stacy

#2025 of 4400 My Emotions Defy Words by homer2000ssei

Sep 14, 2001 (7:53 am)

I'm sad - terribly terribly sad.
Sorry - but it is not worth the energy to try and be more eloquent, I dont have the desire to out-desribe the media and the slew of adjectives.
 
There is no distinction between being a Canadian and being an American right now. We are all brothers - and I cant express my pain.
 
Our family has been destroyed - and we will try to go on.
 
God Bless All - with the exception of the perpetrators and their supporters. For them, I have no mercy now - and hope I can forgive in the years to come all those that foolishly felt this was a "just" act on behalf of their beliefs.
 
Dennis

#2026 of 4400 can't focus on cars anymore by tpken

Sep 14, 2001 (11:08 am)

I notice that the level of activity here in my TH subscriptions has fallen off drastically this week. When faced with such an enormous tragedy - it's impossible to even think about such passtimes as cars or hobbies. It's hard enough just trying to get through a day without breaking down and weeping for the thousands of kids who have lost one and in some cases both parents in this heinous attack.
 
Thank you Stacy for your concern. I'm glad my biz trips are by car these days. No interest here in personally verifying the new 'safer' flying routines.
 
God Bless America
 
Ken
 
PS - Canadian commentator Gordon Sinclair has penned eloquent and much appreciated words of encouragement for us here in the US. Nice to know our Canadian friends care.

#2027 of 4400 Ken by theiceman

Sep 14, 2001 (11:43 am)

That Gordon Sinclair piece was written about 30 years ago but the sentiments he expressed are as valid today as they were back then. Gordon died in the mid-80's. You can read about this at the Globe and Mail.

You'll also see in the Globe and Mail site coverage about a noon-hour memorial service which I attended here in Ottawa today. Your Ambassador to Canada and our Prime Minister led the country - and the 100,000 of us at Parliament Hill - in three minutes of silence. It was very poignant. It was also the first time in my life I have ever sung the Star Spangled Banner - I surprised myself that I knew the words. A tribute, I suppose, to the many years of following the New York Mets during the Tom Seaver days.

BTW, GM of Canada has pulled all of their advertising and has replaced it with full page ads expressing sympathy for the US victims. Very dignified and incidentally the only auto manufacturer to do so.

Here's the actual text of the Gordon Sinclair radio piece

#2028 of 4400 by pat

Sep 14, 2001 (2:49 pm)

I've already posted this in a couple of places, but some of you may be interested in this column that appears in today's Chicago Sun-Times. I found it quite powerful: The spirit of America: bowed, but unbroken.
 
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board

#2029 of 4400 Pat by theiceman

Sep 14, 2001 (5:52 pm)

Powerful article. As an outsider, I can tell you that the US is responding to this adversity in a way which dignifies all of you and which completely discredits both your attackers and detractors.

#2030 of 4400 Thank you Pat and Dan by tpken

Sep 17, 2001 (9:58 am)

Just read your link - a fitting tribute to the spirit we Americans feel. Life WILL go on and we will never be the same.
 
Dan - thank you for your concern and that of so many other Canadians. This attack happened on US soil - but it sent a strong message to the rest of the world that terrorists can operate anywhere they want. Civilized people everywhere must stand arm in arm against those who would rob us of our peace and security.
 
I was amazed on Fri evening at 7:00 - heading home - to see car after car parked on the side of Rt 95 - the major north-south interstate - passengers standing outside their cars holding candles and observing a vigil for the victims.
 
Flags are everywhere. On houses, cars, overpasses, buildings everywhere of all types. What a display of patriotism - I've never seen anything like it in my 46 years.
 
God Bless America
 
Ken

Messages Page 203 of 440

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