P.*.

Auto Trader says the average 95 Bonnie is
LOW $5,995.00, MEDIAN $6,999.00, HIGH $9,995.00

for a 97

LOW $5,850.00, MEDIAN $9,800.00, HIGH $12,995.00

Without seeing more of the car and it'* condition.. it'* kinda hard to see what you should ask for. Don't let them be a push over if they're not willin to budge on price.. just walk away.. you'll find the right one sooner or later.. it took me close to 8 months before I found mine.. and between then I was debating over Impala, Bonneville, and Cadillac STS


Too bad you can't make it up there.. the guy basically tells you the blue book price.. and goes to auction for you.. charges 1000 comission, 250 for auction fees, and whatever else for safety, but you'll see the car first.. and you know EXACTLY what you're payin for.. ( wow.. an honest car salesman.. that'* a first of it'* breed )

Go buy Tamaras Bonneville, but i stayed away from all Gen II 3800'* for the cracking intake manifold problem alone. I almost got one anyways, but i didn't. The Gen I 3800 was on all bonnevilles till 94. In 95 the Naturally Aspirated (no supercharger) got a series II, and the next yeat the supercharged ones got the new engine as well. If you get any supercharged model you are good, but i would try to find a lower milage series I. Superchaged engines here in the states are VERY high for insurance compared to the NA models, and they require premium gas. But the power they produce! Make sure you have an independant mechanic check it out for you, it could save you a lot of money down the long run, it did for me. And welcome!!

Oh ya...geez 'Doc you gotta be on the ball about that one? Is your dad still driving 'Wood Tam?

I'd go with the '97 SE and try to get an extended warrenty for it quickly, then you would be fine!

97 was the first year of the 4T65E transaxle, too, but the SSE has a nicer list of options. And the ground effects.

The SSE or SLE is also heavier then the SE.. while having the same engine. I dont know why it is, the body panels aren't THAT much bigger, but they do come up higher. I'd prefer the SSE bumpers and the lower profile door panels personaly (although the SE only has one groove in it). I will admin the SSE has a sportier style, but does seem a little over done with plastic. But either Bonneville style has nothing compared to some GA'*.

[Sarcasam] Gee pontiacs have plastic? Specially those 98-02 grand ams!??!!?[/Sarcasam]

Back from checking vehicles. Just need some suggestion from what I saw:
97 Bonneville SE 103,000 KM
Engine oil is a bit dirty, not black but dark brown.

Transmission oil is a bit dirty, brown with only a bit pink color.

Coolant tank is totally empty!!!! The owner said it doesn't matter, since coolant is already inside system, I don't believe it. But one strange thing I noticed, when I tested driving for a while at both slow and high speed, the engine temperature even dropped a bit, why??

I shifted transmission to parking, then stepped gas to make engine run at 4000 to 5000 RPM, no black smoke was found. But I tried my fingers inside muffler; I got some dark dust (I think carbon is accumulated. Comparing with other cars I ever checked, there is not so much carbon inside muffler.) Does it mean this engine needs to be tuned up?

Everything works fine except for what listed above. Do I need to avoid this car? Of course if I need this car, I will send it to dealership to check the intake manifold leak problem.

The owner asked for $7,600 Canadian, I only agreed with $6,500. Oh, what shall I do?

He sounds like a cheap guy who isn't maintaining his car, i don't know how many miles that is but is'n it like 60,000 or so miles? Anyways YES you need coolant, if it'* low on coolant and it is a 95 and on bonneville i would STAY AWAY from it, it most likely has it'* plastic intake manifold going, and you do not wanna mess with it. If the problem is not caught you could seize up the engine even. I wouldn't recommend purchasing this car, you could probably do better, (Like tamara'* vehichle she'* got for sale.

I totally agree, I even found some rust on lower edge of one door.

It is a 97 model SE.

In my test driving, the engine run well without noise and accelerated well. If coolant leaks into engine, will the engine be damaged immediately?

Its an evantual problem, but the mixture of coolant and oil is dangerously acidic and eats at your rods. Ask him how many times he adds coolant. A low coolant reservior to me is a red flag for upper intake failure. I'd be wary at this point.

Don't worry, keep looking, there are way more upsides to this car then downsides.