Worth buying GXP Bonneville?

[EyesofThunder]

I drive a LOT, 40K a year, so reliability is a big concern. I have a 00 Park Ave Ultra now (SC 3800) and cranking up the miles. So in a year or 2 I will probably get another car. Was wondering if the GXP is a candidate worth looking at?

What sort of issues?
What sort of mpg?
Performance is always important. Can these cars be easily tuned with EFILive?

Any other advice would be welcomed

Thanks!

My last Bonnie was a 91 LE, and before that, I had a 81 parts car Bonneville....

[00Beast]

I don't believe EFI Live will work on the GXP, but check on their forums. My dad gets 20.5 mpg in his GXP, 98% 2-lane highway driving. The GXP is reliable, but repairs are expensive when they come. Common issues are the fog light bulbs (burn out often), ISS clunking (common on all 2000+), and the other 2000+ issues, with the exception of the engine issues in the N*. We have had several members need replacement coils on the engine. The wheels also love curb rash if you're not careful. Other than that, the transmission is relatively bullet-proof, and the engine sounds magnificent at WOT.

If you drive a lot, I'd recommend something with the 3800, maybe a 2005 SLE. Has most of the GXP cladding, but the bulletproof L36 and the 4T65E transmission. You can find them with low miles, and they get great mileage and are super reliable once you deal with the UIM and LIM gasket issues. They are also tune-able with most common PC based tuners, and there are mods galore for them compared to the GXP. My $.02.

[wjcollier07]

for the comfort aspect of things...if you drive a lot of miles, I'd stick with something like the park ave ultra again, the 05s are NICE. The GXPs are nice cars, right along with the rest of the 00+ Bonnevilles, but they have an imbalance in their ratio of aesthetics to functionality, brought about by all their quirks, including the level of comfort in the seats. Unless you really like firm, sportier seats for long trips, I'd definitely say a PAU is a good bet all over again.

[dpnewfie]

I haven't had many issues other the the ones listed above. Soon approaching 120k on the GXP now. Well, I may have just jinxed myself. lol

Anyway, I have put this car through its paces and its done well for me so far. I don't trust the N* for much more than 150k so I'm figuring one more year and the car will have to be replaced. I don't intend on dropping 4-5k for a new engine.

These guys are right though. For durability, stick with the 3800. For comfort, go with a PA or something comparable.

[CMNTMXR57]

Never had an issue with comfort in my GXP's seats over long trips. Are they as cushy as a Park Avenue's? No. But remember that comfort when your driving turns "sprited" and you're slipping and sliding all over.

If reliability is your concern, A Northstar shouldn't be first on your list. It's not bad in and of itself, but as mentioned above, when something does break, it's costly, primarily on the labor cost aspect unless you do the work yourself. This is due to, akin of stuffing a size 10 woman in a size 5 dress. It's a big, top heavy space'wise, 4 cam, 32 valve V8, shoehorned in a V6's accomodations. Things are very tight to work on and when one thing goes wrong, you pretty much have to take apart half the top side of the engine compartment to even get access to it.

[repinS]

This is non-mechanical, moving to General Chat

[two bonnies]

I love mine, but baby it so have had relatively few problems. IT is much better as a highway car than town, esp. fuel economy wise.

I agree that fixing it is a PITA. I tried to replace the serpentine belt, which I have done on every car I have ever owned. I gave up on the GXP. In that regard CMNTMXR57 is wrong. It is like stuffing a size 10 woman in a size 2 dress. I have never seen an engine packed quite so tight.

Bonneville does not have stellar reliability, but that ranking is based on the 3800 models. Not sure the long term on the N* in the Bonneville.

[94SilverSSEi]

If you've got the extra money for a gxp and a little extra for gas I'd hit it. Those things will run forever when they are higway miles. I saw one Cadillac with 365,000miles and another one with 440,000 miles the one with 440 had the motor rebuilt at 300 but dang that is good. It is an amzing motor and I would own one in a second if I could afford it :sad5:

[CMNTMXR57]

LOL! I was being generous this time of year.

[TenGHz]

I traded in a 2001 SE for a 2005 GXP.

I believe the GXP to be an awesome highway car, IMHO. The only problem is it's somewhat thirsty. I haven't taken it on a very long road trip yet, but feel the comfort is just as good as my 2001 was.

I'd say go for it, unless the extra gas money will be a problem.

[SkiBum1229]

My mom likes her 05 GXP, but really loved her 95 SLE. The GXP is a great looking car, but it is thirsty and i dont find the seats to be very comfortable. I have a GP GXP and for me the font seats are much much better. It also gets a few more mpg on the highway and feels more solid than the bonnie. I do like some of the added features of the Bonnie and the body is much better looking that the GP. If I drove alot of miles a year like you, i would say get a 05 Bonnie SLE with the great 3800. You get the look of the GXP with better mpg. If comfort is more important i would suggest taking a look at a 04-08 grand prix.

[l67poweredlss]

If you're going to wait 2 more years i'd get an 08 G8 GT. I know a lot of people with work trucks with the 6.0L V8 pushing 300K with no repairs. Considering the G8 is lighter and isn't made to tow i'd expect to see 6.0L G8's pushing 400K territory in the coming decades. The G8 is supremely comfortable with a back seat much bigger than your Buick. Not to mention your highway fuel economy will be a good 5 mpg higher with the G8 than a Bonny GXP.

[BonneMe]

The truck Gen IV is very different from the car engines, block materical, valvetrains/powerbands, transmission gearing/normal operating range.

[00Beast]

The G8's 6.0L is aluminum, isn't it? I think the trucks have an iron block. I agree with BonneMe. It's the same platform engine with the same displacement, but there are differences. 400k on a V8 car? I doubt it, especially if it has been driven how a G8 is meant to be driven. Not saying that it won't last 150 or 200k, but 400k is pushing it. Most people with 6.0L trucks that get 300+k miles out of them do lots of highway, jobsite to jobsite, etc. They don't go hotrodding much.

[xX3800Xx]

The G8's 6.0L is aluminum, isn't it? I think the trucks have an iron block. I agree with BonneMe. It's the same platform engine with the same displacement, but there are differences. 400k on a V8 car? I doubt it, especially if it has been driven how a G8 is meant to be driven. Not saying that it won't last 150 or 200k, but 400k is pushing it. Most people with 6.0L trucks that get 300+k miles out of them do lots of highway, jobsite to jobsite, etc. They don't go hotrodding much.

You must miss the fact that work trucks get the living hell beat out of them with extended idling times, heavy loads, and workers who beat the crap out of it because its not their coin to fix it.

If you want a car to last you have to maintain it. That means taking care of things before they become an Issue.and not dealing with it once its broke. If you do that then 300k isnt out of the question.