Sorry in advanced for my rambling.

My mom currently has a 95 SLE with 111k and wants to get a new car, She has been very happy with the bonnie and wants to get another. She is disappointed that they stopped making them and new ones are hard to find now. My opinion is a big factor in what she gets ( i picked out her 95 10 1/2 years ago when i was 13. Anways, she has driven a SLE and liked it alot. She is not crazy about the dash, but everything else she likes. I like the SLE as well, but would rather have some features of the GXP, mainly the HUD (which i have in my 92 and 93 GP) the 12 way power seats with memory (we can never get comfortable after we switch drivers). I like the idea of the V8, and since she drive 3 miles a gas mileage isnt too much of a factor, but she does like the 3.8 figures better. On the downside of things, the GXP is more to insure (125 more a year), and the tires are not as good in the snow and they wont last as long as the SLE. I found a loaded GXP Demo for the price of a SLE with the Prem pkg.

Bottom line, do you think its worth it, or should we stay with the SLE. She plans to keep the car for 10 years and wants a reliable car. Thanks and i appreciate your comments and opinions.

I would say generally speaking the SLE'* are not going to eat thru transmissions as often as a GXP.

I'd tend to disagree with Hans. The 4T80E has a much stronger reputation under a V8 than the 4T65E has under a 6.

On a totally stock GXP owned and driven by your mother, it should last for a long damn time. For the PERFORMANCE minded Bonneville owner, the GXP is probably not a good choice. But for the everyday driver, I think it'* a very good idea.

Local GXP'* here and other places I've heard of are selling for VERY little. As low as 26k in fact. We also have one for sale on this forum right now.

GXP'* are not selling. My local dealer has offered me a smoking deal on an 05 GXP that has been on the lot for 6 months. You can get an awesome deal on one.

i would go with the SLE, simply for the great record the 3.8 has, and the much lower maintenence cost

I agree 100%. The GXP eats gas like nobody'* business. When the warranty is up, repairs wil cost an arm and a leg. The Northstar reliabilty isn't to great. You get everything with the SLE except the engine and some carbon fiber trim in the interior. No biggie.

If she'* looking for all the options (seemed fuzzy when I read it) Consider the SLE optioned out...or maybe an 03 SSEi. It would have all the options..however the added power would also be there. This would make the trans questionable over time if she were to abuse it..although it does not sound that way.

My mom isnt abusive at all, the most abuse her car gets is the occasional coffee spill on the carpet. I guess the SLE would be the better deal. The ones we looked at have the prem pkg (chrome wheels, sunroof, leather, auto ac, XM) and she also has to have heated seats. The GXP is a damn good deal, but i guess all things considered and that she plans on keeping the car for 10 years i guess the SLE would be the smarter decision. Since its not my car and i wont be driving it too much, i could live without HUD. Maybe i could always swap it in when shes not looking...

Also, i forgot to mention that the first car we looked at was a SLE and the sticker was 34 something. With the redtag it was 27.856. The dealer said they could sell it for 27,250. We got the invoice sheet and saw that it was delivered on 11.03.04. Yes 2004! Its the tri-white color, i personally dont like that color. In some lights it has a silver tint. Anyways, i think that wasnt the greatest deal. The GXP i saw is a Demo for the dealership owner. It has 3k miles and the sticker is 38k. I got a quote from them for 27500. 11k off a new car (i think) is unbeatable. She wouldnt even consider the GXP if it wasnt discounted because she believes its not worth the extra 4-6 grand. The GXP is greystone and we both like the color. She was kinda looking for a crimson red one, but the greystone is nice too.

SkiBum1229
I like your mom already, Crimson Tintcoat, what a nice color but I am a little biased.

I have a 04 SLE and enjoy the car a lot. You cannot go wrong with either the GXP or the SLE. If you go for the SLE try to find one with the Premier Package as it will be loaded. Use the Pontiac site to search for the 05 Bonneville you want then start to deal with that dealer.

Check out this page:
http://www.pontiac.com/ws/nvlWindowS...=&map=&driveD=
$27,929.62

Okay yes I can help... I am biased I need another 05 SLE memember. Anyways down to business in Houston TX, a white new SLE is selling for 23K! Hows that for a deal... I would not go with a GXP the fuel economy is poor, but the power is great. I have driven a (granny) bench seat no T/C SE, my SLE and a GXP. But the GXP wasn't what I need nor did I want to pay insurance (huge differenice for me at least checked it out), or the fuel economy hit. I have found that my SLE has plenty of kick. There are more GXP'* still on lots than SLE'* but you still can literally pick for thousands still out there. I would recommend a SLE because of the fuel economy, the good 3800, and GXP styling. The average Joe won't be able to tell the difference between the two of them. Then agian if you mom needs the power of the GXP thats fine, but even me a power nut didn't need it. I would go with an SLE save some money and still have one great large car. SLE is my vote! (Dude they look almost the same which is great!)

Anyother 2005 SLE questions I would be happy to answer you. I am the only 05 SLE guy on the forum wahoooooooooooo!

-Chris