PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

I was at the Chevy Dealer trying to get clips for the rocker panel on the ole green car.

While driving out through the used car lot, I spied an abused '00-'05 white SE. I drive around to look at the car. The paint is oxidized, dry rotted tires, left front fender had "kissed" something but not enough to take off the paint, the LIM is leaking, headliner is resting on your head while sitting on the ignored leather seats (1/3 of the leather is gone), and the car reeks of stale cigarette smoke. I ask the salesman how much? Thinking this is an auction car, I figured it would be $500. The salesman starts the car up without any problems, it sounds great. So he comes back and sez $5000. I laugh at him and tell him it needs $1500 minimum just on engine work. I offer him $500. He tells me they don't have any cars at that price. His "co-hart in crime" comes up to me and offers me $1000 for the ole green car. I laugh at him and tell him it would cost me at least $8000 to replace it. He sez the car is only worth $500. I tell him he should pay me to take the white Bonneville off their hands so they won't have to sell it at auction. We walks off and I leave.

The car still does not show up in their inventory on the internet. (2/24/2012 10:30am CST)

I figure it would take at least $2500 (with me doing the work) to get the car up to snuff, at least to my satisfaction. I can get in and out of the "white orphan" easier than I can the ole green car. (wishing I could get it for $500) - BC

That's ridiculous....they probably got it in on trade and paid $500 for it. I'd rather drive your green '92 over a commonplace 2K SE any day of the week, even after being all fixed up. Late 80's/early 90's Bonnevilles are starting to face extinction more and more - I'd prefer driving a really clean, less common model like yours. After driving the '91 Olds 88 for a while this past month while car shopping, my wife and I started noticing all the admiring looks from people the car gets, for the same reasons.

Hotwheels wrote:That's ridiculous....they probably got it in on trade and paid $500 for it. I'd rather drive your green '92 over a commonplace 2K SE any day of the week, even after being all fixed up. Late 80's/early 90's Bonnevilles are starting to face extinction more and more - I'd prefer driving a really clean, less common model like yours. After driving the '91 Olds 88 for a while this past month while car shopping, my wife and I started noticing all the admiring looks from people the car gets, for the same reasons.

The only reason I'm being forced to look at 2k Bonnevilles is that it is getting really difficult for me to get in and out of the ole green car. If it wasn't for that, I'm with you. Wish I could get the wife to let me locate a descent '88 SSE. I really love those cars. They made me fall in love with Bonnevilles all over again. Wish I knew if the '88s were as difficult to get in and out of as the '92s. - BC

1oldman wrote: The only reason I'm being forced to look at 2k Bonnevilles is that it is getting really difficult for me to get in and out of the ole green car. If it wasn't for that, I'm with you. Wish I could get the wife to let me locate a descent '88 SSE. I really love those cars. They made me fall in love with Bonnevilles all over again. Wish I knew if the '88s were as difficult to get in and out of as the '92s. - BC

IDK if 00+ would be any easier to get in and out of.

01bonneSC wrote:

1oldman wrote: The only reason I'm being forced to look at 2k Bonnevilles is that it is getting really difficult for me to get in and out of the ole green car. If it wasn't for that, I'm with you. Wish I could get the wife to let me locate a descent '88 SSE. I really love those cars. They made me fall in love with Bonnevilles all over again. Wish I knew if the '88s were as difficult to get in and out of as the '92s. - BC

IDK if 00+ would be any easier to get in and out of.

My dad; 56, arthritis, MS, gets in and out of my 01 than he ever did in our 89, or his mother's 97 SSE.

Point being, everyone's different. Seems like Bill's tried the 00+ already, and has extensively tried the 92. It's up to him which is better for him.

I would almost say to keep looking at other cars, seems like a lot of work needs to be done on that one. Just my .02 cents.

IDK if the car(s) ('00+) sit higher, if the seats are higher, or if the doors are larger, but the '00+ is easier for me to get in and out of. I'm one of those kind that hates to see any car, a Bonneville especially, neglected and that it deserves a good home - lol.

We rented a Malibu when we went up to Matt (myfirstbonnie) & Bill's (willwren) part of the world last fall and it was all I could do to get in and out of the car, especially if I had a bad day. - BC - BC

It has a lot to doo with how high the side bolsters are on the seat bottom. You might take a look at a 97+ Park Avenue. You can do all the same mods and the F41 Gran Touring suspension on the Ultra isn't far off of the F41 SSEi suspension.

PLUS, the PA doesn't have the cabin-leak issues of the 00+ Bonneville, and it also doesn't seem to have the dreaded steering clunk. It is marginally slower, stock, but it's MUCH more fun when it's modded and you get to watch all those shocked expressions...

GonneVille wrote:It is marginally slower, stock, but it's MUCH more fun when it's modded and you get to watch all those shocked expressions...

LMAO, that's great! I love doing that! Got it from my dad. He would buy a new 3/4 ton Chevy P/U with a 454 every couple months (then sell it for more than what he paid for it), take to an expert on Quadrajet Carbs, have the carb re-done so when he didn't use the secondary's he got really great fuel mileage (well, for a 454 in a 3/4 ton) and when he put the peddle to the metal it would FLY! The teenager's knew who he was because he would "tease" them to do a rolling start and they couldn't believe that he would beat them. They would even look for him 'cause he looked like he was in his 70's and they got a real "hoot" out of an "old man" that liked fast cars, lol - BC

Don't bother looking at an E46

00+ never gave me the drop down feeling like my 93 and my Bimmer. Those two don't compare to my folk's solstice at all though.

My 2006 GTI was actually highest. New cars have fairly high seating to help with crash protection.

1oldman wrote:

GonneVille wrote:It is marginally slower, stock, but it's MUCH more fun when it's modded and you get to watch all those shocked expressions...

LMAO, that's great! I love doing that! Got it from my dad. He would buy a new 3/4 ton Chevy P/U with a 454 every couple months (then sell it for more than what he paid for it), take to an expert on Quadrajet Carbs, have the carb re-done so when he didn't use the secondary's he got really great fuel mileage (well, for a 454 in a 3/4 ton) and when he put the peddle to the metal it would FLY! The teenager's knew who he was because he would "tease" them to do a rolling start and they couldn't believe that he would beat them. They would even look for him 'cause he looked like he was in his 70's and they got a real "hoot" out of an "old man" that liked fast cars, lol - BC

That's awesome, lol. Reminds me of my grandpa a lot. When I first got my Mustang, guess who was the first person to run it up past 90mph? Not me....lol I hope I'm that awesome when I'm older!

Hotwheels wrote:I hope I'm that awesome when I'm older!

I'm starting early

We had someplace to go today. We took the ole green monster. I paid close attention as to why it is so difficult for me to get in and out of it. Getting in, because it's so low, getting out, it's because the floor is so much lower than the door sill I can't hardly get my right foot high enough to get it over. The seat is low and I have to grab the door and pull myself out. The '00+ Bonnevilles are much easier for me to get in and out of, or at least the few I've been in.

Off subject - My first new car was a SS396 Chevelle Malibu. Guess who was the first and only person to do a burnout in it? (Hint - it wasn't me cause I had to buy the tires when they wore out - lol!) - BC

The problem with offering them $500 for the OP car, they may only have $500-$1000 into the car, but I bet they'll get $2500-$3000 for it at auction, and they know it :/

ga93sle wrote:The problem with offering them $500 for the OP car, they may only have $500-$1000 into the car, but I bet they'll get $2500-$3000 for it at auction, and they know it :/

One good thing for me is it's not costing me any $$ - lol - BC