[whining]
I have been stalking the Bonneville market in the sePA area for ths past 10 months. Picked up a barely broken in, as-new looking '96 SSE for my wife'* daily driver. Luckily, got it for a song, peanuts.

Then started looking for a '95-'99 SSEI with < 100k mi for myself. The duration for a listing of one is about 4 hours in my area. I'm not exaggerating. A white '98 with 73k was listed by a dealer last month on a Mon AM. I called at lunchtime to confirm they had it (most of the time they list it, and ship it to auction anyway). They did have it. I drove over an hour later and somebody had put a deposit on it.

Then this today. Listed this morning.
SSEI listing Discovered it after lunch and called. Somebody was already there and driving it. #@$%&!!!! . The owner insisted it was as described. He had no idea what he had. Hated it because it was an old person'* car and needed some cash.

I really wanted to throw-up.
{/whining]

Am I looking for something rarer than hen'* teeth? These pop up within a 150 mi of me about once every couple of months and they are gone in minutes. Is this the usual, or am I in an SSEI demand zone?

For every 50 THOUSAND SE'*, there are only 5000 SSEi'* made. That doesn't even figure in the SSE'* and SLE'*. So you're looking at less than 1 in 12 that are SSEi'*.

I have a grip on the supply. It'* the local demand that'* amazing. It'* ferocious, I think. Yet in places like CO, or MI or northern NY, they languish for weeks/months at decent prices.

Plus franchised dealers don't get it around here. I have also called 3 dealers with listings that look to be very good condition SSEIs with low miles. They have already shipped them to auction. Which just makes the local supply issue worse.

I would have probably been out of the market on any one of those 3, if they would have taken a grand or so more than auction.

Get Ryan to keep an eye out for you as well. (SSuperchargedEi). 4 eyes are better than two.

At least you have SSEi for sale in your area. I can't even find one (not that I would want one). Have you looked at the W-bodies too? They tend to be easier to find...

i had to drive to Maryland for my SSEi.....

i couldnt find one anywhere around SW PA.....

Well, there are some "around". Some dealers know Bonnevilles. I covet this one, but they won't take anything near top book. And they are way above it. they are attempting to feed on my desires.
Bring your wallet

Then there are a lot of dealers who are just clueless, or are using the Bonneville for finance bait. You have to walk in and make it clear you know what it'* worth. I think they are hoping to catch a complete sucker. Like this base model.
Not in this life, Bub

Like I said, markets must be different in different areas. Lower New England and Florida are hot beds of Bonnes.

I have bought 3 Bonnevilles this year. 2 for my godchildren in college and 1 for m'lady. I just get 2 or 3 going at once. Make slightly unreasonable offers to show I'm interested, then just wait them out. Some dealers have hard and fast business rules about how long they will carry a car. It is becoming very apparent to me that the strategy ain't gonna work for an SSEI.

Maybe I'll have to include an airplane ticket in my budget.

AutoTrader..... zip used 19483
White 97 97 miles away - dealer

DCM 98 141 miles - dealer

Black 97 91 miles away - private seller

Gold 98 158 miles away - private seller

Black 97 40th Anniversary w/ aftermarket wheels 27 miles away - dealer

if it makes you feel any better.. i bet i could find at least 20 bonnies forsale within 5 miles of my house




sorry, that probably didnt work did it

You're right, it didn't. i hate you.