Just to chime in... im on my 3rd or 4th alternator in the life of my 94.... I've had lots of problems that have been resolved since the new engine/tranny. So however you wanna look at that.... my 2 cents

If you don't service your own vehicles, this won't matter to you, but on the newer OBDII computers you need a scanner to be able to read the stored error codes. I prefer our older '92 and '93 OBDI systems because I can jumper 2 pins on the connector and read the error codes myself.

Once you decide, have a mechanic check it out first (he should also use a scan tool as part of his tests), and get an extended warranty, if available. Above and beyond what the mechanic inspects, also make sure that the nose seal of the supercharger is dry by wiping the bottom near the pulley with your finger - the seal tends to leak, and most mechanics don't even know to check the supercharger's oil level.

Inside the car, check all functions, including all radio control buttons on the steering wheel, and all power seat controls.

Look at little things that indicate how well the car was taken care of - service records, condition of floor mats and leather seats, the condition of the rubber on the brake pedal, the presence of the black accessory bag in the trunk (contains the air hose, etc.) and 2 sets of keys and remotes, etc.

Good luck.

I would choose the less horse of the 95 vs the odd ball looks of the 96-99. The tail lights (witch is what most people see of an SSEi) are all swoopy. like bad eye brows. The head lights are cool, the grill ,not so much. the 96-99 just don't look as menecing as the earlier bonni.

I thought the swoppy eyebrows is what makes the car more menancing.... :evil:

As it passes you, those mean looking taillights is all your goin to see, and the increase in HP ensures that IS all they are going to see :wink:

:wtf: the 96-99 look way "meaner" than tha earlier ones! the Se is kill'n the early ones alone, but I'm off some new thangs like that space shuttle! 2000 up bonne, forget that old stuff, time to head towards tha future, If I were to get somethin' besides the 00 up it would be 97 thru 99 fa sho!




It's Mista 00 up sle/sseis are top boss!

Here are a couple of thoughts:

The 92 and 93 use R-12 in the air conditioning system, which is very costly to replace and also bad for the ozone layer. 94 and up use R-134a, which is a much cheaper refrigerant.

The radios in the 92-93 are unique and difficult to find replacements for. CD players in those years were rare. The 94-99 use the more common stereos.

94 and up sometimes have the CCR option. If one of the CCR struts goes bad, they are very difficult to replace since GM no longer manufactures them. Watch out for models with this feature if both lamps are lit on the control panel.

Like suggested earlier, check the supercharger. Listen for a rattle sound at idle.

True, although the R-134a can be retrofitted to earlier systems.

Rare? Cool! I've got one... :-) Works well; allows you to eject a CD while the car is off; remembers its own volume setting rather than whatever volume setting you were using on the tuner; I have no complaints.

I second the comments on the alternators; mine's on #4 that I know of. I bought remanufactured AC-Delco rather than an aftermarket rebuilt, and the warranty honors replacements, and it's an easy installation, so I guess I can live with it (although I'd love an ammeter or voltmeter sometimes; the boost gauge takes the place of the voltmeter that the normally-aspirated Bonnevilles have).

Recommendations on buying 93/94/95??
 

I'd get the 95 n/a not just because i own one :) but since they make the same horsepower as the previous ssei's. plus it's a series II, so there are a few more parts available for it. And if you like the ssei look, you can find a 95 with the sse package. There is one reason not to get the 95 sse however :cry: , the 4t60e(not HD). This kinda puts a limit to the horses but with beefing up I'm sure it would be fine.

Thanks for all the information folks.

Great point fuddyduddy, I hadn't even given the air conditioning system a thought.

More and more, I'm looking at a 94 SSEi.
The more I think about it, the more pissed I get that we sold our 93 before. It was mint, and other than the alternator problem, was in great shape too. Okay, enough of that. My wife and I try not to bring up our hasty sale of that car.....

One thing I can't find information on, were the 94 or 95 available with heated seats? I don't recall our 93 having them, just wondering if they were even an option for those years.
Other than this forum, does anyone know of other places for more technical information on that generation of Bonneville (like interior capacities, dimensions, and so on).

Mike

I may be wrong, but I think '94 was the transition year for the change from R12 to R134, and if that's correct, then some of the early '94 production may have had R12 systems. A mechanic can tell which type system it is by looking at the AC pressure connectors.

For detailed info about cabin capacities, etc. you can try carpoint online, or old issues of Consumer Reports, etc., and there are probably other sources too.