Your Bonneville Experience

[Gagger14]

Hey guys, I just bought a '04 Bonneville GXP a few months ago and overall I really enjoy the car and love how "rare" it is. The part that worries me is how much extra cost I may have to put into it, but that's a different topic...

Now what I'm curious about is what would you guys rate your personal experience with the Pontiac Bonneville. I know every car has its own little issues, but due to some of the new ones that I just found out about I would have to drop my rating to a 7 out of 10. Love to drive it, hate to constantly have new repairs...

Let me know what you think, just curious! thanks!

[Loopy]

I've had mine a little over a month so far. Not really enough time to give an honest assessment of this car. I can tell you that it has been a fun car to drive and it's been decent on gas and I haven't had any issues yet. So I guess after 1 month of owning my ride I'd give it a 10........so far.

[00Beast]

I couldn't even begin to try to "rate" my car. I love it, but there are aspects that drive me nuts about it too.

[CMNTMXR57]

Not again!

It's not necessarily the parts that are expensive on this car, it's the labor involved to do anything on it. You have a size 10 engine (due to it's large 4 OHC setup), stuffed in a size 5 dress. You figure the rest.

I had a love/hate relationship with mine. It's gone now...

[2004yellowgoat]

Well I have had my Bonne for over a year and have had no issues at all. My Bonneville is an 04 Dark Ming Blue with the camel int. I do like driving it, it's coming up on 108000 miles running great.

[sextrosgxp]

I bought mine with 73k on it last Feb. I drove it to my home in Florida from Ohio and the only issues I had was a cat went out. New exhaust covered under warranty and an airbag sensor. I have loved customizing it and now it is a weekend/car show driver. I get compliments on it everywhere I go and it is a fun car to drive. And the exhaust note is a pleasure to the ears. It now has 81k on it and could not imagine selling it.

[CMNTMXR57]

I spent every weekend chasing coolant and oil leaks, along with doing normal routine maintenance. It wasn't that it was unreliable, just annoying things. Then to fix it, it's twice that of a 3800 V6 version.

[04BlackGXP]

I bought mine with ~76k on it over a year and a half ago. Since then I've had to do valve cover gaskets, water pump, engine mount, valve covers need to be done again, oil pan gasket, full front brakes once, power steering lines, I have water stains on the back seat from some leak somewhere, and I'm sure a few other things. If I hadn't been covered by New York's used car lemon warranty, I would have been out probably several thousand on top of my purchase price.

Not to mention, the book value is dropping like a ton of bricks.

I have 94k on the car now. I love how it looks and sounds and how you rarely ever see another one on the road. When it's clean and there aren't any issues with trying to run it, there are few things that I would rather drive. When there's something that needs to be fixed and the car is dirty or I'm putting down money for repairs....different story.

As such, I'd have to agree with about a 7 out of 10 rating.

[7tcatvert]

I have had mine for about a year has 76k. I have spent about $100 on it outside of normal maintainace. The dealer has spent $1000 fixing things like AC and brakes. The warrenty company has spent over 3500 fixing leaks. I get a rental car everytime I drop it off at the dealer, paid 2000 for the warrenty but got a great deal on the car so i figure I am about even and I love the looks and drive of the car. My warrenty expries at 117k or 2 more years and I will trade it in or sell it on that day....

[CMNTMXR57]

I think that's the key, if you get one, get one with an extended warranty.

I think alot see it, see a V8 in a modern car, think performance, but don't realize that performance comes with a price. IN this case, it's labor.

Would I do another GXP, heck yea. I'm a glutton for punishment. But again, it would have to be the right one, with less than 100k on the clock, I know it's service history, and most importantly at the right price. I'd look at SSEi's first.

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

I just came upon this thread and found it very interesting, I wanted so much to pick up a 05 GXP that I was about to make a $5200.00 (130k miles) offer on the one below. I was so concerned about the Northstar issues that today I decided against it. My main issues were with the head gaskets and although it's still hit and miss and maybe the issues have already been taken care of since it does state, "ALL SERVICE DONE AT GM DEALER" and there won't be any warranty, I don't want to take the chance. The only issue I really noticed is the right gauge needs the stepper motor. It seems it's my loss as the Northstars really concern me, although it does seem like a clean car, albeit with high mileage. I really liked the dash, but it seems it's not in the cards for me.

[CMNTMXR57]

Headgaskets, warpage, and needing re-studding of the old Northstars were hammered out by 2000. So this should be fine. Not to say it can't happen. Any engine can have that happen.

The car does look exceptionally clean and I love that color... I'd say your concerns are more oil leakage, coolant leakage, and then electronics with these things. But sometimes that hair on the back of your neck is the best tool in decision making...

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

Headgaskets, warpage, and needing re-studding of the old Northstars were hammered out by 2000. So this should be fine. Not to say it can't happen. Any engine can have that happen.

I wish I could be sure I wouldn't have any issues with the Northstar.

I'd say your concerns are more oil leakage, coolant leakage, and then electronics with these things.

I never really looked into the oil/coolant leak issues, are they difficult to fix? As for the electronics, I'll assume you're refering to the dash lights and stepper motor, if so they're not a hard fix are they? Sounds as though I'm trying to get back on the fence.

[CMNTMXR57]

Cam Covers (valve cover), freeze plugs leak coolant, transmission cooler lines (every GM product has this), etc.

Electronics mostly revolve around the IPC, the info center, and gauges. Some of it is common 2000+ Bonneville issues, so it's going to happen regardless of engine installed.

Read this section...

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

I agree they all have that problem except maybe the frost plugs, but I guess the concern is doing these repairs on a size 10 motor in a size 5 engine compartment.

As for the cluster issues, that doesn't concern me as much since I could probably get that one rebuilt for a couple hundred or I could just replace the steppers and bulbs myself.

I've struggled with this decision for a while now as I really like the interior and stance, but don't like the Northstar nor the fuel economy issues. Too bad the GXP didn't come with a L6y.

Thanks for the reply CMNTMXR57, as of this morning it's still advertised so am I the only one that thinks this is a great deal?

[dpnewfie]

I will tell you from experience that the N* is no fun to work on but, man, I enjoyed every busted knuckle, cut, scrape and bruise. The GXP is a very nice car but I would stay away from anything that is close to 100k.

However, the one you posted above seems to have been very well maintained. It would be nice to see a complete history report on it.

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

To bad I didn't live closer to you as I would be more brave and jump on this. Mind you, that would be dependand on you giving me direction if indeed should I have ran into problems with the GXP, dpnewfie.

[dpnewfie]

I would gladly give all the help I could for sure.

[sethjamesrimrodt]

It looks like a very clean car, makes me wish it was summer so I could keep mine looking that good for more then a day or two.

If I were to buy another GXP with 50,000 or 150,000 miles I would be scared as all get out. They can be very picky cars but like many others have said it's all worth it when it runs right.

[repinS]

All the issues I've had on mine are 2000+ Bonneville and not necessarily GXP related (knock on wood), exception being the TPS - which is a common part across the GM range so I don't think it quite counts. I've done a lot of work to it but it's all been normal wear and tear, or mods/improvements.

Only 47,000 miles on the top half of the studded motor and all gaskets/seals, though. 37,000 of those miles were under my ownership. No regrets