PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

(First, a little disclaimer...for the 2000+ crowd, please don't take the following personally...)

I'm in the market for a new car. Some of you may have seen that I no longer have the 2004 Civic in my sig. My wife was side-swipped in it back on July 24th. She and my son were just fine, but the car was a total loss. Nonetheless, we're down my car so I've been driving our Sonoma, our spare car. The Sonoma's good for just that - a spare car. As a daily driver it's getting quite old...especially when you drive ~ 1,200 a week.

So, I'm looking for a good, cheap replacement that's 3800 powered. I've looked at everything from L27 oldies to newer L36s in Bonnies, Intrigues, Lesabres, PAs, etc. Since I want something that's a little bit newer my preference of the 92-99 era isn't too fitting. So, I've been trying out the 00+ for size. Now, I've only driven three of them for a grand total of about six miles collectively, but I must say, they seem FAR inferior to the 92-99s that I'm so accustomed to. I dunno...they just feel very cheaply built and rattly. Granted, these three cars had 171K, 101K, and 105K respectively, but I've DEFINITELY had my share of high mileage 92-99s and these three 00+ just didn't seem to hold up well to the mileage. I think the most noticable thing was the creaking or "bumpy" steering. It wasn't a nice smooth, fluid motion like I'm used to in every other car I've driven. Each one had the same feel. The seats were no where near as comfortable. Ironically enough the oil pressure guage was broken in every one (I know it's an oil pressure sending unit, but still...just reitterates the quality).

Am I alone in thinking that the quality of the 00+ went down after the redesign? Suffice to say, the 00+ is no longer on my list of possibilities. I'm now looking at the older generation again, even if it is a step back in time. Or, I'll go with a newer Buick PA....

An newer Buick PA is the best in my opinion. I've ridden in Brian's PAU and I feel like I'm on a sweet leather couch with A/C that's suitable to cool down Earth.

Plus 99% of the time, elderly drivers drive PAs...

I completely agree. I love our '03 and can definitely feel that the car is a much improved chassis design with far more rigidity, I would never buy an '00 + again. Not a chance unless it was an absolute screaming deal on a GXP, even then I would be hesitant. Just so many little quirks that just scream cheap to me. I think the design is great and I actually really like the interior, but also agree on the seats not being comfortable.

All in all, I can say that I think I know why they don't make the Bonneville anymore...

I like my LeSabre. It is just like sitting in a couch rolling down the road. It's the best of both worlds with the Series II/4T65E and the old body style. Cheap, plentiful parts, and folks have been wrenching on that body style since 1991.

If only it weren't so rusty! Silly GM not knowing how to rust-proof their cars!

Price is outrageous but you could negotiate

http://columbus.craigslist.org/ctd/1343490113.html

I'm glad I'm not the only one, Ryan. The LeSabres are nice, no doubt about it. But, IMO, they're really grandpaey looking. lol So, if I'm getting a grandpaey car, it'll be the PAU so that it at least has some nuts. I'm going to look at these two today:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/ctd/1346887214.html - for the price I can deal with no moonroof
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ctd/1312617110.html - top dollar, better be perfect

And, I already looked at this one. Was perfect, except no moonroof.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... page=thumb

I couldn't live without a moonroof

I'm on the other side of the fence. But, that's the thing with likes, and dislikes. There are many different opinions, and seldom (if ever) are any of them right or wrong. We just like different things. I never cared for the styling of the 92-99s.

I've owned and driven a lot of cars, and feel that the 2000 ranks up there with one of the best. It has its quirks and annoyances, just like any other car. But, what may be a minor annoyance to me could be a huge hate to another. I'm thinking you ran into the intermediate steering shaft problem with the "bumpy" steering. It will feel that way before it starts to clunk. A 30-45 minute job.

I'd buy another without hesitation.

Well, all I know is that my LeSabre surprises me every day with how well it has held up and how well it was built. Right now it sits at 158.5k miles. My last car was a 94 Accord which was totaled in an accident at 160k miles. Now, I liked my little Accord, but my Buick has had FAR less go wrong with it than my Accord did...I genuinely feel that my Buick was a better built car. Plus it is SO comfortable!

As for the 2000+, all I can say that is a friend's mother has a 2005 Bonneville SE, and while she doesn't have any mechanical problems with it, the leaks from the trunk, doors, and sunroof are driving her crazy. Plus it seems to keep liking to burn one particular foglight out. Nothing huge, but still...annoying. I like the styling and all, but when I think of the 00+ those little quirks come to mind!
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happy with our bare bones base 04' SE, although my steering inter. shaft is making some movements

there have been quite a few quirks with my 2000, however i feel that it had a very rough life before i bought it at 94,000 miles the stock rims had 245/45/17's on them and were badly bent up from potholes, also it had been hit on the passenger rear quarter panel. but really it has been a good car the only major mechanical thing I have had to do is the LIM gaskets and that's not limited to 2000+. If I had to do it over again I would get a 2002 or newer and absolutely no sunroof.


and yes the oil pressure sender was broken when I bought it too

All used cars depend on how they were treated throughout their life.

As much as I like my 03 SLE the 92-99 bonnevilles and Lesabre seem to be better cars..

But thats not to say I wouldn't buy another 04-05 SLE... I would..

I do like my 95 SE so much that it will be fixed, painted and I will continue driving it.. The 95 seems quite a bit more roomier than the 03 ever could... And the 95 gets better mileage too..

One of the Locals has a 97 SE with almost 200,000 Miles on it... It rides great, drives great, runs great and does not have any quirks or rattles... Still looks great too

There is something about the 92-99's I liked better than the 00+...

I do agree with Ryan on one point tho.. The 00+ bonneville in my opinion does have a very rigid chassis.. The 92-99 will flex a bit where the 00+ seems to be tight..

To me, Buick = old people. I can't get past that.. but the prices for them are real enticing though.
Plus my boss had one and she is annoying..
Get a Cadillac... Comfort all around

Buick used to be fast and refined. Those mid-90's Buicks like mine are just stodgy.

But nobody pays them a second glance, they're mad comfy, and you can find them with low miles. If I had to get another car today, I'd try to find another Buick.

Ya, the 00+s just aren't me. I'm back to considering a 96-99 and all the PAUs and even maybe a LeSabre.

I'm going to look at a 96 SE tomorrow AM. Has 190K for $1,000. We'll see...

The 99 PAU I looked at today was decent. Had 144K. Needed struts, intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, a GOOD cleaning and floor mats. They were asking $3,800 and I offered $2,500 and they wouldn't take it. He would let it go for $3,300, however. I'm still considering that one... It had no rust. Body was very good and the carfax was clean. 2 owners, no accidents.

I don't think I'd personally do a Lesabre, but Park Avenue Ultra, especially the later ones when you had the nice exhaust tips and portholes on the fenders...oh man those are sexy looking lol.

As I mentioned lightly the other day in Andrew's thread...I've found nothing but the same from 00+ Bonnevilles. They all have horrible rattles, the seats are uncomfortable, the steering..frankly..feels like *shoot*, clunks, and for me as well, every single time, the oil gauge is pegged.

Every 92-99 Bonneville I drive that comes into the shop...drives very much the same, whether it has 150k, 100k, or 50k, and yes, the 50k ones still do roll in sometimes..and *dang* those people for not wanting to sell them. There was definitely a massive drop in quality for the new generation. They became throwaway cars for the most part.

I'm in the car market too..for something I'm familiar with..and I won't be buying any 00+s either. I'm on the hunt for a sub 100k 96-99, or a REALLY showroom 93-95.

I wish I could afford a newer PAU. But you know...I don't even find those seats to be as comfortable as 92-99 AL7s.

I'd really say go with a 96-99, if you have the chance. Which..really isn't easy up there with the rust having eaten most of them up, I'm sure.

I still have my original oil pressure sender and everything still works with no squeaks or rattles............long time but low miles.

Just an annoying P0107 code that comes up every once in a while.

I like the 94's AL7 seats much better than the 00's

The 00 is much faster and stops better with similar mileage.
The 94 handles a little better than the 00.
The 94 is a little lighter than the 00.
The 00 is more intelligent than the 94 ....... but to a fault!
The 94 has headlight washers.
The 00 has heated seats, power seat recall for 2, dual climate control and a 12 disc changer.

I like them both.

2000Silverbullet wrote: The 94 handles a little better than the 00.

How does the suspension on a 99 SSEi compare to a 94? Cause I think my 99 handles way worse than my 00.