How Long Has everyone owned their Bonneville
I've owned my 97 Bonneville SSE since it was just a year old. It had about 30K on it, and it now has 133k on it. (I love it to death, it'* my first Bonne!) I've never been treated so well by any car. My maintenance has been:
1) Remanufactered tranny (under warrenty). It had a weird surging problem at about 60mph. Not a bad surge, about 1-2 mph. I think it was a valve body problem. This is why my next bonne will be a SSEI, so I can get the t65 version of the tranny, instead of the T60 the comes with the normally aspirated version. (Correct me if this a pipe dream...)
2) Three Alternators, first one paid for, the rest warrenty. Same front bearing howl on all of them. With one of them I replaced the belt, cause it seemed to be the right thing to do. <grin>
3) Trunk Latch problem. Have any of you had this problem? This one causes the trunk to NOT latch. Seems as though the actual latch gets bent away from the bracket it locks on. (moves towards the front of the vehicle if the trunk is down) After watching the mechanic reef on it, I now make this adjustment, as required. (Once every year or so)
4) Driver Side Headlamp. Took a rock just wrong. BTW: don't try to remove the metal diffuser in front of the low beam. (Only if you have daytime running lamps) It makes a mess if you try. <Another Grin>
5) Windshield.....another rock. Ouch, saw the bill on this one, before insurance paid for it. The HUD windshield is not cheap. (About $750 if I remember right)
6) Set of tires, just one set so far. (buying 80k tires make sense on this car)
7) Methodic oil changes. Not religious, but pretty close. Average 4-5K at most. Recently switched to Valvoline Duralife, just because it seems to keep the oil spot from showing under the rear main. (Very minor, but to be expected after that many miles.)
1) Remanufactered tranny (under warrenty). It had a weird surging problem at about 60mph. Not a bad surge, about 1-2 mph. I think it was a valve body problem. This is why my next bonne will be a SSEI, so I can get the t65 version of the tranny, instead of the T60 the comes with the normally aspirated version. (Correct me if this a pipe dream...)
2) Three Alternators, first one paid for, the rest warrenty. Same front bearing howl on all of them. With one of them I replaced the belt, cause it seemed to be the right thing to do. <grin>
3) Trunk Latch problem. Have any of you had this problem? This one causes the trunk to NOT latch. Seems as though the actual latch gets bent away from the bracket it locks on. (moves towards the front of the vehicle if the trunk is down) After watching the mechanic reef on it, I now make this adjustment, as required. (Once every year or so)
4) Driver Side Headlamp. Took a rock just wrong. BTW: don't try to remove the metal diffuser in front of the low beam. (Only if you have daytime running lamps) It makes a mess if you try. <Another Grin>
5) Windshield.....another rock. Ouch, saw the bill on this one, before insurance paid for it. The HUD windshield is not cheap. (About $750 if I remember right)
6) Set of tires, just one set so far. (buying 80k tires make sense on this car)
7) Methodic oil changes. Not religious, but pretty close. Average 4-5K at most. Recently switched to Valvoline Duralife, just because it seems to keep the oil spot from showing under the rear main. (Very minor, but to be expected after that many miles.)
Originally Posted by Freddi
I've owned my 97 Bonneville SSE since it was just a year old. It had about 30K on it, and it now has 133k on it. (I love it to death, it'* my first Bonne!) I've never been treated so well by any car. My maintenance has been:
1) Remanufactered tranny (under warrenty). It had a weird surging problem at about 60mph. Not a bad surge, about 1-2 mph. I think it was a valve body problem. This is why my next bonne will be a SSEI, so I can get the t65 version of the tranny, instead of the T60 the comes with the normally aspirated version. (Correct me if this a pipe dream...)
2) Three Alternators, first one paid for, the rest warrenty. Same front bearing howl on all of them. With one of them I replaced the belt, cause it seemed to be the right thing to do. <grin>
3) Trunk Latch problem. Have any of you had this problem? This one causes the trunk to NOT latch. Seems as though the actual latch gets bent away from the bracket it locks on. (moves towards the front of the vehicle if the trunk is down) After watching the mechanic reef on it, I now make this adjustment, as required. (Once every year or so)
4) Driver Side Headlamp. Took a rock just wrong. BTW: don't try to remove the metal diffuser in front of the low beam. (Only if you have daytime running lamps) It makes a mess if you try. <Another Grin>
5) Windshield.....another rock. Ouch, saw the bill on this one, before insurance paid for it. The HUD windshield is not cheap. (About $750 if I remember right)
6) Set of tires, just one set so far. (buying 80k tires make sense on this car)
7) Methodic oil changes. Not religious, but pretty close. Average 4-5K at most. Recently switched to Valvoline Duralife, just because it seems to keep the oil spot from showing under the rear main. (Very minor, but to be expected after that many miles.)
1) Remanufactered tranny (under warrenty). It had a weird surging problem at about 60mph. Not a bad surge, about 1-2 mph. I think it was a valve body problem. This is why my next bonne will be a SSEI, so I can get the t65 version of the tranny, instead of the T60 the comes with the normally aspirated version. (Correct me if this a pipe dream...)
2) Three Alternators, first one paid for, the rest warrenty. Same front bearing howl on all of them. With one of them I replaced the belt, cause it seemed to be the right thing to do. <grin>
3) Trunk Latch problem. Have any of you had this problem? This one causes the trunk to NOT latch. Seems as though the actual latch gets bent away from the bracket it locks on. (moves towards the front of the vehicle if the trunk is down) After watching the mechanic reef on it, I now make this adjustment, as required. (Once every year or so)
4) Driver Side Headlamp. Took a rock just wrong. BTW: don't try to remove the metal diffuser in front of the low beam. (Only if you have daytime running lamps) It makes a mess if you try. <Another Grin>
5) Windshield.....another rock. Ouch, saw the bill on this one, before insurance paid for it. The HUD windshield is not cheap. (About $750 if I remember right)
6) Set of tires, just one set so far. (buying 80k tires make sense on this car)
7) Methodic oil changes. Not religious, but pretty close. Average 4-5K at most. Recently switched to Valvoline Duralife, just because it seems to keep the oil spot from showing under the rear main. (Very minor, but to be expected after that many miles.)
My windshield was spendy too......I have the heated windshield option besides the HUD. $1200. I have a low glass deductible for this car!
I got my bonnie when i was 16, i'm 20 now. So about 4 years. It had 62,000 when i got it. Now it has 101,000. been real good to me. Only things that have broken have been. The harmonic stabilizer, had a couple pullies replaced, and the master cylender. There have been a few odd and ends things go wrong, but they never cost over about 20 bucks a peice. Pretty much me not doing the mantainice i need, like spark plugs and what not. Original engine, supercharger, tranny.
I have had mine since...September 1993....I have 142K on her now....Practically trouble free....One of the best rides I have owned....I have just started to do mod'* about 6 months ago...AND IT WILL NOT END !!!!
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 348
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From: vancouver, canada 1995 bonneville SSEi

what about adding some new fields like year and model (or just VIN), color, date purchased, mileage at purchase, current mileage to the user profile?
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,135
Likes: 1
From: Lethbridge, Alberta, _______Canada._______ West Coast Bonneville Fest ___05,06,07 Survivor___

93 SSEi bought May 13th 2003 out of strictly impulse!
Had 235,100 kms on the odo, now has 238,050 kms on it
very pleased so far!
Had 235,100 kms on the odo, now has 238,050 kms on it
very pleased so far!
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,857
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From: Halifax, Canada 91SSE / 97SSEi

Family bought the car new in July/August 1991.
First drove the car in 1996.
Bought it off my parents in May 2000, for $5000
Engine blew up September 2000. (180k kms on it)
Had new engine installed late November 2000 for $4200
New engine now has 67k kms on it.
First drove the car in 1996.
Bought it off my parents in May 2000, for $5000
Engine blew up September 2000. (180k kms on it)
Had new engine installed late November 2000 for $4200
New engine now has 67k kms on it.


