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Pontiac Bonneville Owners: Meet the Members

344 messages,  Last post on May 29, 2008 at 7:09 PM

You are in the Pontiac Bonneville Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Bonneville, Sedan

Messages Page 34 of 35

#325 of 344 new guy - fdh01bonneville by fdh01bonnevill

Mar 20, 2007 (9:42 pm)

WOW... I didn't know there were so many of us Bonneville lovers out there! I started out with an 89 SSE and loved it. 318,000 or so miles when I sold it - not even running but not far off - for $500. Had a 92 SSE, and it was ok. Now I have an 01 SSEI and I really like it. I have had many problems, but it has been all stupid stuff and GM common problems. (I have a warranty, thankfully.) What will we all do now that our beloved Bonneville is no more? My plan is to get a low milage 05 GXP and nurse it along for a long time. Hope you all enjoy yours!!!

#326 of 344 pontiac nut by brumby

Mar 27, 2007 (8:22 am)

Hi everyone, I have owned Bonnevilles for the last 10 years and I absolutely love them. I started with a 1994 SSE and at 200,000 miles it was time for a replacement so I found a 2004 SLE and loved it dearly until a Dodge Durango ran a stop sign and attempted to drive through my drivers door at 45 MPH, Totaled the car but I was able to walk away with nothing more than whiplash ( A true testament to the safety of these cars )After that I found a 2000 white SSEI with 60,000 miles that a little old lady owned and was selling. I love the car but I do believe it may have transmission problems since it surges when going up a hill but the car is a total cream puff other than that, every option known to man.

#327 of 344 I'm man enough to drive a Bonnie. by mowens1984

Apr 25, 2007 (7:05 am)

I can't believe how many people drive the older Bonnevilles. I'm the only one in my entire town that I know of who has one remotely like mine.
 
I'm 22 and for the past 3 years I've been driving a 1988 Bonnie. It's maroon and runs perfect still! Amazing, its only racked up 126,000 miles.
 
Anyone else here have an '88 with more miles? Just curious what kind of longevity I could expect.

#328 of 344 Re: 1988 SE and 1992 SE serve us well [jmeyer6] by kell3039

May 08, 2007 (5:59 pm)

Replying to: jmeyer6 (Apr 04, 2001 3:13 pm)
Hello bonneville owners I am a proud owner of an 1989 LE given to me by my grandfather before he died in 2001. At first I wasnt real excited about it, but after a while the car grew on me. It is grey of course the clear coat is gone on most of the car odd roof hood & trunk is peeling but the rest is in tact go figure but the last 2 years I have dedicated to restore the car mechanically back to the way it was in 89. Not the original engine and trans though cant see engine and trans lasting over 306,000.New brakes all the way around complete drums hardware kit new front hub assembly rack tie rods strut all the way around.Found a grille in perfect condition 75 miles away in a junk yard that just got the car in.I was so excited almost peed on myself parts r getting harder to come by anymore.tail lights I hunted 1 junk yard near other next city to get. Replaced radiator it was shot I have to admit this car has never left me stranded alt bearings went out 2 miles from home at a stop light could see chunks of metal coming out from under the hood, alt locked up when i pulled in the driveway.I will drive this car till the day it dies but mechanically it runs flawless needs a paint job and it would look like new no rust at all.I have a 99 taurus 90,000 it would go before my bonneville ever dare and it does'nt have the smooth power my 89 has dont run the air anymore to old for all the stress and heat.I owe it that much SIGNED PROUD 89 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE LE OWNER !

#329 of 344 My Intro by jfo56

Aug 19, 2007 (11:03 am)

Hi, My Name is John. My daughter drives a 1988 Bonnie that my brother gave her as a high school graduation gift four years ago. The car currently has 150k miles and still runs GREAT. We have only done routine maintenance and repairs however the finish and interior are showing the signs of age. I like to do minor repairs and maintenance so I hope to find some tidbits here.

#330 of 344 computer command ride by robratch

Aug 20, 2007 (2:15 pm)

Hello My name is Rob from MO. I have a 1998 bonneville SSEi that needs some new struts. It has the computer command rides struts. Parts stores tell me that I must go back with the ccr struts. At $350 a strut I am looking for some advice. I love this car and would like to keep it around for years to come.

#331 of 344 Re: computer command ride [robratch] by marcy2

Aug 21, 2007 (7:03 pm)

Replying to: robratch (Aug 20, 2007 2:15 pm)
My '99 Bonneville needed struts (not ccr) and not wanting to spend a fortune on a car with nearly 100k, I foolishly replaced it with some Monroe middle of the road struts. BIG MISTAKE!!! It rode like a truck, really stiff, and I could have cried that no one mentioned that I'd lose that cushy ride. I was ticked that it was assumed I was a dumb woman who wouldn't know the difference! I couldn't afford to replace them at that point with original equipment. I still spent over $1200 and that was without all the thingys that they fit into. If you like the ride (and believe me the newer Bonnevilles or new cars in general do NOT have the smooth ride the older ones do). If a GM garage and parts people advise ccr, I'd bite the bullet and dish out the $. I'm also assuming you haven't had to put a lot of money into this car. Keep us informed.

#332 of 344 Re: computer command ride [robratch] by imidazol97

Aug 22, 2007 (4:58 am)

Replying to: robratch (Aug 20, 2007 2:15 pm)
I recall some talk about Bonnevilles and replacing those struts with "normal" ones. You then disconnect the wires for the warning that your CCR is not working. Then you're home free. I'll browse in that other forum to see what struts they were using for replacement.

#333 of 344 Re: computer command ride [marcy2] by imidazol97

Aug 22, 2007 (5:04 am)

Replying to: marcy2 (Aug 21, 2007 7:03 pm)
I replaced struts on my 98 LeSabre with Monroes that had the compensation for a softer ride in normal flexing and more control in rougher riding situations. They were called SensaTrac if I recall. I love the control they give to the car. After the first few thousand miles they softened some.
 
On an earlier LeSabre the tire store put on the standard struts without the SensaTrac which was new then thinking I'd never know. It was like a truck. I used to put shock absorbers on my own cars and I put on heavy duty shocks for more control. That's what it reminded me of.
 
I verified the struts weren't SensaTrac by crawling under the car, and by calling the Monroe company and talking to a tech.
 
I went right back to NTB and they found the right struts from another store to switch those out the very next day...
 
Many stores or companies have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee on tires and maybe on struts. Or if they did use the normal strut which is very stiff maybe they will switch out with the Sensatracs. The SensaTracs on my cars did have a softer ride in he middle of the up-down movement.
 
SensaTrac description
 
Look at your receipt to see the part number or name of the type of strut they installed? SensaTrac? #71822
 Monroematic Plus? #801822
 
If they give a part number you can cross check it on the same site I linked above.

#334 of 344 NEW GUY by grocery321

Feb 15, 2008 (3:20 am)

I am Scott: Just bought a 2001 Bonneville Supercharged from an auction. I like the car but after reading all the horror stories I am afraid I might turn around an sell the car. I love all the options it has & the looks. I will drive it for a while and see how it goes.

Messages Page 34 of 35

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