Your Bonneville Experience

[CMNTMXR57]

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?

Bonneville's have a small, niche market, especially a GXP with a V8, that in this time of prudence, hybrids, and other dinky 4 bangers, makes it look like a wasteful heathen. Also, probably a few see it with a 100k N*.

[MasterMark78]

I just bought mine 5 days ago with a couple of the issues that are known. This site helped me figure out if I wanted it or not. I bought mine for $5200 and it has 103k on it. Im glad I did it. I might have scooped up that one you were looking at if I had seen it! This is my second Bonneville and I love em! I was concerned with the Northstar also and this one dont scare me. My parents own body shops and have fixed 100s of cars with the Northstar in them and he told me if I get a northstar this is the only one he would get! I still got some work to do but all in all Id say its worth it!

[1oldman]

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!

love/hate. bought it new November 1991 (for the wife - it's mine now as she has a 2011 CTS). has close to 294K miles, original engine & transmission. looking to replace it only because it's very difficult for the wife or me to exit the vehicle. I'd rate it a 9 only cause I love the car so much. I shouldn't cause it's just a piece of machinery. - BC

[Alpine_jake]

I have had mine for 3 years and she hasnt been all bad to me. Puked a tranny in the first year (18 year old kid thinking it was a race car lol), LIM at year two, and now with in the last few months the UIM has been leaking. Don't even care I'm pulling it.

As far as the car is concerned, shes my baby and i think shes pretty. Like any good woman ill dump my money for her as long as she keeps going!
Just wish the seats weren't so close to the center... notorious for stealing cell phones.

[espeed]

I have owned my 05 GXP for approximately 18 months and the only thing I have repaired/replaced is the intermediate
steering rod. The originals were prone to wear and then a popping noise when you turned the steering wheel left or right.
Other than a transmission/radiator flush, I have done just the routine maintenance. No leaks anywhere from the engine
or coolant and I added a Volant cold air box, which really has made a difference in the performance. The only issue I have
is the top of the door trim has faded to a crinkle like appearance on all doors due to the heat and humidity here in Southeast
Georgia. The paint is excellent, but I'm going to have to replace the sunroof seal as when we get the monsoon rains, I do get
a small leak. Other than those small issues, the car has really been reliable. I just turned over 51,000 miles and I'm the third owner.

[CMNTMXR57]

Every GM FWD vehicle has that issue with the intermediate shaft. And a quick, cheap fix, is to get under there, pull the boot back, and with something like white lithium grease, spray it in there.

[espeed]

Every GM FWD vehicle has that issue with the intermediate shaft. And a quick, cheap fix, is to get under there, pull the boot back, and with something like white lithium grease, spray it in there.

After owning 3 MG's, I learned that trick early on--about 4 months after I purchased the GXP, I have only used Chevron
premium fuel--it just runs so much better. I notice that you are a big GM fan (as am I); Last year I purchased a new car
that to me, hasn't gotten the press acknowledgement it deserves. I bought a '12 Buick Regal GS--White Diamond--and I can
honestly say this thing corners and drives with the best of them. Having never been interested in 4 "bangers", this thing
really shocked me at just how much power it has. Wards Automotive awarded it as one of 10 best engines for 2012. It looks
like nothing else on the road and to tell the truth, it would give the GXP a good run for its money. Only wish GM would have
put the effort into the Pontiac division.

[sextrosgxp]

See

[sextrosgxp]

Seeing a lot of posts mentioning the Volant cold air box. What are you ordering? Volant does not make a box for the GXP so do you have part number and how much modification is required?

[espeed]

Under the Volant part number: 15846C, it's for an '04 Cadillac Deville. You'll have to trim off the tubing that Volant
provides--takes about an hour and a half to install. Look under the post for "Cold Air".

[CMNTMXR57]

Yes, I am pro-GM. Nobody would guess that though...

[ChadnMS]

I'm kinda scared after reading this post! . Anyone want to buy my 2004, 35,000 mile Bonnie? $10k and its yours!

[CMNTMXR57]

I wish I had 10k...

[ChadnMS]

I wish you did too! I'd drive it right to your door. I bought this car to save money. One of those cars where you read all the great reviews when buying it, then after you've bought it, you google the same stuff and see nothing but negatives. Is 1 week too soon for buyers remorse?

[sextrosgxp]

We all bitch about the repairs and what not on these, but I for one love mine and most here will agree that at the end of the day its still a great car.

[CMNTMXR57]

The thing is, all you will see on these boards is the bad things. Nobody joins up to praise the car. They usually have a problem, find a message forum pertaining to their car, then post up their issues, kinda like you did in the other thread.

If we all bought based on info here, none of us would be driving ANY cars. The old saying if it has female breasts or tires, it's gonna give you problems...

I'd take another Bonneville, or any GM vehicle for that matter regardless of what a few may say.

[L82shark]

Love/Hate
Great car, exception being the Northstar. With GM consoldating dealers, there just arent that many people around my part that will work on one. I bought an 04 with under 30k miles on it. Six months later I had put an additional $4k into fixing the heads, etc, etc. The relationship was now flawed, kinda like you when catch your girlfriend cheating on you, I didnt trust the car anymore and was fixated on the temp gauge all the time. I still loved the car and the way it handled and looked, but you cant do any real power mods to it without a major cash layout. Ended up trading it for crewcab Z71. And I am in the process of installing a NEW GM crate LS3 into it for less than the head job on the bonnie cost me.

[M90power]

Picked mine up on Friday. Diamond white with 135k on the clock. meticulously maintained, a glovebox full of receipts.

so far the quad cam and 1500 stall combo are the only things that turn me off. Aside from that i adore it and havent gotten out of it except to sleep and piss.

[CMNTMXR57]

Oh, that's the beauty of the 4 cammer, is being able to go wind it out. It spools up like an LSx motor.

[M90power]

It's a total dog from a dig and through the bottom of second gear. Beautiful would be a 3500 stall