Firstly, I'm new here so hi everybody! I'm an American car enthusiast from England and I currently drive a 1992 Saturn SL2. However I now want to move up to something bigger and more comfortable and have always has a soft spot for the Bonneville.

I'm thinking about possibly going up to view a 1988 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 which is for sale at an American car specialist in Hertfordshire, England. Please could I have your opinions, especially if you own or have owned a 1987-91 Bonneville with the 3.8 litre V6. What sort of gas mileage and performance could I expect to get from this car? Also what potential problem areas should I be on the look-out for when viewing the car?

On a side note, I would also very much appreciate your feedback on my website at www.street-car.net - a car enthusiasts' site which I am jointly working on with a friend. It includes a forum and a car specs database for modern cars. Feel free to join if you like it!

Thanks on all counts!

Thanks for the info! Found out a bit more about the car I will be viewing. It'* a 1988 Bonneville SSE in silver with a grey leather interior and has 130k miles on the clock.

Parts supply isn't brilliant for the 3.8 in the UK as it isn't a car that was ever officially sold here. However, a lot of the US car specialists should hold plenty parts in stock for this engine as it is one of the more commonly used American engines - unlike the Saturn twin cam!

Just had a look on the US Autotrader site and most of the SSEs for sale seem to be white. Is silver a rare colour?

Try to determine what the 8th digit of the VIN is, or provide the whole VIN (there might still be someone here who has an open Carfax account.

And consider that, for relatively common parts that are available here but not there, maybe shipping costs are all that would make the difference.

Lash has a good point. As membership to the club grows..there are more people here willing to ship internationally.

Only a month or so back I shipped an entire upper and lower intake to Australia. Parts are always going to Canada and an ignition setup or two went off to Europe.

If you get in a bind and post in the wanted section...you can never tell how another member may be able to help out.

I beleive bonneboy just bought a carfax today and he is from UK dont know for sure though

I might have to ask him nicely! I know bonnie boy from the AACI (American Auto Club Internatiinal) forums.

Just a long shot..... but do you/ or have you guys ever had anyone using these forums who goes by the name of "Piney"? He'* from Fort Lauderdale Florida and used to own a Bonneville (the latest shape).

i know a piney... but i'm not sure from where. was he a bonnie guy or a saturn guy? i myself am both.

He was both. He was a regular poster on Saturnfans.com. Owned two Saturns and then bought a really nice late-model Bonneville.

Yeah I have an '89 and so far it has been just regular maintinance. I get about 10 km/litre - 24 mpg for a combined fuel mileage. It has 136,200 on it as of today and so far I have replaced the alternator, starter, tires, struts, brakes, and I change oil and trans fluid and other filters and fluids at their regualr intervals and it never gives me problems, it is truly an amazingly reliable car. I drive it like any teen would drive any car and it sticks right with me in the game. Make sure you post some pics of this car you might be buying! Good luck!