92-95 SSEi vs. 96-99 SSEi
 

Hey guys, my 94 is starting to develop some problems...rattle at low RPMs (I'm thinking tranny) and an odd whining (I'm thinking A/C compressor or water pump). And I need a new steering rack...

Anyways...

I was wondering if I sold my 94 and went to a 96-99...what differences would I see (other than the SII)? Are they any faster than S1 SSEi's? Any more reliable? Better/worse gas mileage? What about interior quality? Pretty much the same?

Danke in advance.

you would have to Mildly mod your car to keep up to a Series 2 stock, and the aftermarket is huge for the S2

the 65 dosnet seem to hold up as well as the 60 but the 65 has to put up with more power

the interior is just a little better in the 96-99 because of the color coordination

like the rear end of the 96+ a little better myself. if you look hard enough you shouldn't have a hard time finding one with < 70k on it for a decent price. i also <3 my dimming interior lights :P

Plus you will be getting a new car, go for a 00 model if looks are not that important

I love the looks of the 2000+ SSEis....but around here you have a hard time finding a nice one for under $20000 CAD.

A rattle at idle is usually a supercharger coupler. Cheap and easy fix.

I just replaced the supercharger, so it's not that. And it's not at idle, it's in first gear at low RPMs.

Mileage is better with a Ser2 for sure. The S/C seems more reliable too.

Who says? :D :D :D

Jeez, I don't know. :lol: :lol:
I'm amazed you get 20mpg the way you drive. :lol: Seeing you're car assures me i'll have my car for 10 more years. 207K miles and 30mpg is amazing. That baby hasn't lost any power either. 8)

My mileage is better than most cars here. 29 mpg at 70-75 on the freeway. Even with the smaller pulley.

There is no noticable mpg difference between the two series. In fact, given the lower rpm torque and hp curves of the Series 1, it should be generally more efficient than the series 2.

96-99 for sure :) Much newer looking with the (SSE) split grille which is extremely hottt! Either way though..yeah, good choice ;)

I have had the best of both worlds! if you plan on leaving the 92-94 generation (95 is in between because they started using the softer pillow material in those cars for the seats and the graphite/black seat color) you ill notice more fun things with the 96-99 models. You have a device when you have forgotten your turn signal more than a 1/4 mile and thecar starts dinging as a reminder to cut it off, you have a valet swithc in the trunk to lock out the door trunk button, the keyless entry changed, you now whave theater dimming lights, if you have the driver side door open, you cant lock the door by hitting the lock switch and prevent lockouts, its quieter inside, 97+ uses D321 instead of DO D 21, you have SRS instead of SIR, you can lock the doors after you cut the car off with a delayed lock feature(but you have to be quick cause in 30 secs. the doors will lock....hofully you didnt leave the keys in there, lol!) YOU DONT HAVE TO TURN THE KEY FORWARD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN..........YAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! The lights actually flash when you unlock and lock the doors, 97 and up models have a better head up display motorized adjuster, steering wheel is different, cupholders are better (to me it is) 97+ uses BOSE, (Most of this stuff is for the SSE-SSEi models) air compressor is underneath the car on the rear passenger side behind the rear right wheel, MAGNASTEER, I cant think of anything .......OH if you want to open up the hood, the latch is on the right grille inside on the top....i cant explain it any better than that... i know im leaving somemore things out.

Allow me to summarize:
More comfortable starting in my year.
Idiot blinker protection
Trunk lock out (but aren't you still givin the person the key that works in the trunk?)
Dimming lights instead of just going off
D321???
Different name for airbag
Pain in the butt to lock the car from the switch (but who uses a switch?)
Better stock radio
Different name on the steering

Did I miss anything?

I've ridden in both generations, and have felt no difference in seats.
Idiot blinker protection? If you have a HUD, you have it. :lol:
Trunk lockout? For WHAT reason?
Theater lights are a cool gee-whiz, but have no real purpose.
Different marking on the gear selector? WOW!
Different name for airbags. WHIZBANG wow!
Who uses the delay feature? Honestly?
Head up display adjuster? That motor has failed, but I've yet to see a cable adjust fail.
Air compressor location? 92-95 is easier to get to for maintenance. Alot easier.
Magnasteer? Steve, time to do some homework. 92-95 had the option of variable assist, which was a less troublesome system altogether, and did the same thing.
Hood latch location was different? How is this better?

I'm not trying to start an argument, but most of these reasons seem a little empty for comparing the two generations.

I can come up with an equally long list giving the 92-95 the advantage, but what's the point?

Damn....I like the car I have. I just wantesd to say what the 96-99 have Both BILL's. My goodness :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :?

oh yeah....when you get in a Series II vehicle....its quieter thatn the series I. I had ppl ask me if my car was running with the 96 and the 97 I had before at night because they say my lights on but didnt hear any noise. Even with the 93's I had the whole exhaust fixed and it was still louder than the series II.

Steve, there's no sound difference between them. I can attest to that personally. Assuming stock for stock, unmodified exhaust, of course.

And half the reasons you like your new car better aren't even real reasons. We don't want some NOOB coming in here thinking all that crap means something.

thats cause the 93 didnt have the resonator, your 96 does

that mean the 95 N/A must have it too. Those cars are quiet as well.

And the 94 L27 and L67.

basically everything after 93 has the resonator

I have to side with Willwren,

series 1>series 2

I just answered his question, thats all. Im sorry that i like my 96 and had alot to say about it. Didnt think i would get negative responces from it, nor a new comer thinking that i am giving bad info. the car has the stuff so i posted it.

Steve, this is ridiculous. But let's finish it up. You presented those things by simply renaming half the features. And you presented those features as being something that makes the S2 better than the S1 (which is actually incorrect using this reference, as the S2 is strictly the drivetrain, not the body/trim changes that happened in 1996).

The only difference between the S1 and S2 is the amount of hp and tq, and at what rpm's it's delivered at.

The differences in body and trim are minor, and happened in 1996.

I don't think the Series I engines are nearly as quiet as the II. For one, every single Series I engine my family has ever owned made a ticking noise at idle. (Either lifter noise, or maybe fuel injectors.) The Series II is a totally smooth sound at idle and is almost inaudible once fully warmed up and quiet. I say this after owning 1 88 3800, 1 92 3800, 1 93 3800, 1 95 3800, 1 97 3800 S/C, 1 00' 3800 S/C and, 1 00' 3800 N/A. I really doubt the loudness was just by "chance." These were all well maintained vehicles. But of course one must remember that the series I 3800 will always be superior to the series II. Why on earth was GM so silly to upgrade so many things on the newer Bonnevilles? If we had it your way, the 2006 Bonneville would be the same car exactly as a 1993 Bonneville SSEi. :roll: Out of line? Sorry. Lets move on.

The 1996 and on models add a lot of creature comforts. You can't keep the same basic body style and not upgrade things. The things added made the Bonneville seem a lot more luxurious. People like the additions that were added. Maybe a select die-hard "the more you have the more there is to break" group won't like them, but to the general public all the additions are a good thing.

Here, let me do some counter examples:

More comfortable starting in my year., I didn't really notice a different in the seats either..

Idiot blinker protection-You still sometimes don't see that the light is flashing. Sometimes the chime sounding will make you remember. Not everyone is perfect enough to realize they left their signal on. Just because you are, doesn't mean everyone is. ;)

Trunk lock out (but aren't you still givin the person the key that works in the trunk?)
um. The 96+ have a valet key, or atleast they should. This key can unlock the dors and start the car but cannot open the trunk, or the glove box. Tell me how this is a bad thing? You can allow someone to get in the car and move it (note the use of the word VALET!) but they cannot get into your trunk and steal something.

theatre lighting-Yeah, it has no use, but it's one of those "ooo ahhh" sort of things. Passengers appreciate it and gives a more expensive feel to the car then the "alright, you're done with the lights, I'm turning off Now."

D321. a more "correct" way to arrange the gears. It's a change but not a big deal. It makes more sense to me than the Dd21 configuration.

SRS VS SIR it is NOT just a different name. these two airbag systems are different. the SIR airbags deploy at maximum force in all conditions. The SRS system determines how severe of a crash you are involved in, and decides how much force the airbag system needs to use to keep the occupant safe.

Delayed Locking- It's nice for those times where you hit the lock switch and immediately remember you forgot something as you close the door. You don't have to fumble for the keys to get back in for a second. It's another one of those nice-to-have creature comforts.

Better stock radio. speaks for itself.

Different name on the steering. again, it's not just a different name, it's a totally different system. the 92-95 variable assist steering was much softer than the 96-99 system. I like the steering feel on the 92-95 much better without it because it is a very firm steering system. With the variable assist it's one finger steering most of the time. The magnasteer does a MUCH better job firming up the steering at the appropriate time. I see it as an improvement.

did i mis something?? :?

Thanx Custom for clearing up some of this for me. Never did I say, Bill< that the 96-99 was better, it just haev some nicer things added and I like it! I do pay alot of attention to these cars from the 92-99 more than the 87-91 or the 00-GXP becasue I rarely be in them but still know what the trims are from the times I have been in it.

Thanks for the replies guys (although I was worried for a moment ;)).

I was actually looking for both the "little things" as well as the drivetrain differences.

What are some common repairs necessary to the S2 drivetrain? Do they still use the CCR? If so is it anymore reliable?

yes they still had them available until the last year of 99. the 00+ dont have them. No they are now better than the 92-95's

So...it IS more reliable or not?

i was trying to say that they arent any better in the 92-95

I think steve meant to type *not* not now. They're not more reliable. ;)

Crap...oh well, what about common repairs to the drivetrain?

The 4T65E trans used starting in 1997 has a shorter lifetime between rebuilds from our experience here.

The 4T60 an 4T65 transmissions now have a pretty equal aftermarket available to them, so the nod would have to go the 92-96 4T60 for durability. Even mated to the Series 2 L67 in 1996, the 4T60E holds up VERY well.

CCR is crap, expensive, and not one of our favorite options for any year.

another thing is that the 96-99 has the daytime running lights, well, by you being in canada, you have that on your 94 already, correct?

Ja....96-99 has the nicer headlamps too eh? Do they still have drums on the rear?

yes. they changed the rear brakes on the 2000+ models. Outside of the car they did a little tweaking to it like you said the headleamps, Ryan mentioned the split grill, the SSEi has a chrome outliling to it and a chrome i, the tail is curved with the tips being diffent and attached to the tailpipe from the muffler instead of the body, the brake pads are different from the 92-95 and a differnt seletion of rims.

What were rim/color options like? Similar?

THey look different but are hard to get to the backside of, no thumb screws.

No underhood light (why??)

The airbag systems are different The new cupholders are nice for saller things like cans, but still not *super*.

I like my locks to work when i push them, not when i walk away, not when i get to 30 mph like some cars do, etc.

The Bose isn't better then what was offered before, except maybe in that it works with CD-R's etc better, and has a red display.