Why did you buy your Bonneville?

I bought mine because I wanted a big car and I liked the purple better than the white car I was looking at.

Why I bought the '95: Ever since I saw my friend'* parents get a '92 SE I have wanted one. Was thrilled when I picked up my '95!

Why I bought the '04: It was cheap!

the first one was $100

hell why not?

second one was cheap as well and supercharged.....

but the main reason is that I am very familier with the 3800 when it comes to the basics at least. they are cheap and dont break...this is important when you are a teenager living on your own with no financial help from other sources....

I have had 5 3800 powered cars now and the price paid for all 5 combined is under $2500

Because I wanted one

I didn't. Buddy of my family owns a used car dealership, gave him the heads up to look out for a reliable car for my sister (and then me). The bonne was the first thing he found, and my sister said she'd take it. Neither of us were happy at first, but I've grown to lvoe it.

Why did you want one, though. Was it the looks, someone told you about it, what?

Because the tranny in my 90 Taurus pooched on my 600 km away from home, so I phoned a friend and asked if he knew someone selling a car cheap, and could get me home... so, $500 cnd later, I own a 90 SSE, and am actually growing quite attached to the thing... even though it is a GM, I think I can look past that for this car...

My dad always owned large Pontiacs...
65 Catalina Sedan Cream
67 Catalina Beige
69 Executive Gold
71 Bonneville Aztec Gold
77 Mojave Beige Tan

I bought the 77 from him for a steal and guess I have been hooked on Pontiac'* and in specfic Bonnevilles ever since.

I had my 77 until 90 when I traded it on my 90 GP...
So how did I end up the lucky owner of a hott 2005 SLE?

-The Full Story


My son Chris has been nagging on me for a Bonneville since 2002 just a small 7th grader. I have wanted a Bonneville since I got my GP in 90. I looked long and hard a ruby red 91 SSE at the dealer in Nov 90 when I got my GP. But the Bonneville was way to much and in the first place I was gonna get a Grand Am! So the GP seemed like a real upgrade including the power. So when the new 2000 Bonneville was reviled in C&D'* March of 99 issue my son ran to me too show it. As a small thrid graded he knew what papa wanted. After all in 99 I drolled over a black on tan SSEi at the local autoshow. He then nagged and begged me to get an 02 and then agian in 03 SLE... Never found one I liked slightly used... And anyways we had just gotten the Caddy so that solved the third car problem for the time being... Anyways the GXP came out my son ordered tons of info on it, posters, Pontiac Performance and brochures. I love the look of it, but I didn't have the means to get one nor pay for the gas. Afterall at that time I had a 92 Deville. Anyways my son tried to convince me in early 05 to get a new Ivory white SLE, even tho I like the motor and loved the body style couldn't stomach the new price. He found the SLE we bought in May waited 3 weeks to tell us... Price dropped $800.00 in the mean time. He then printed it off, the night before vacation. Showed my wife she liked it and the chance to trade the Caddy. So that night I thought about and drove down to humor my son for a test drive. I ended up dealing and dealing with the salesman who likes the game. My wife in order to get the price down says this costs more than are Impala and has less room. Well it helped bring the trade in up. So anyways we were there from 6:30-10:00 figuring out a deal. Before I knew it I had purchased a Bonneville SLE with 3800 miles on it. And yes when I test drove it my son was really happy... He said "Pa don't you like all the power and the 3.05:1 axle?" I then nailed the gas and said yes... He knew I was hooked and that was the car for me. So no short story really a nagging son, a love for Bonnevilles and Pontiacs all my life, last chance to get one, striking good looks, good performance, wonderful color, the fact my father owned them and I owned one before... Hey they always say you always end up coming home, I sure did in my Bonneville that felt like home.

I love my car... Now if I could'a sold my wife on the GXP fuel econo and my son could have found one with only heated seats, I might have gotten that. But bad gas milage what was I was trying to get away from... Uhhh still aside of my Impala it does suck lol or maybe that is because my foot is heavier in that car???

Do I feel like an Indy driver now?

Yes sometimes and too often!

it was on the cheap, and as a family car, it sure beat the Corolla coupe it replaced

I hated driving a minivan - and with two of the kids being 16 and 18, there was no need for such a monstosity. It was nearing 100k and I knew I'd be facing issues. I wanted a car with less miles so that i didn't have to deal with breakdowns (and garage bills!) Plus, it was the first Xmas in 18 years that I didn't have "someone special" in my life to exchange gifts with....so I gave myself a gift....thus my "midlife crisis".

I was actually looking at '04 Impalas and hated the looks of them....but I still needed a family sized car that I could almost afford. I came across the '00 SLE and fell in love with the sleek look, comfortable ride, and its giddy-up-go. So I researched dependability, fuel mileage, and crash test results....walked in, negotiated the price, and brought my baby home.