Anyone part of a Bonneville legacy?
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Anyone part of a Bonneville legacy?
Heres mine. Around 1995 (I was in Kindergarten) my mom got a blue 1992 or 1993 bonne (it didn't have that grille with the arow inside a circle it had that rare grille with the giant pontiac arrow sticking out.) It was as base as they came:bench seats, not even a tape player...) But it was reliable, It went strong untill about 2000 when it got that problem where it would knock really loud once in while when it was under load (main bearing clearance issue). So we sold that for a little mitsubishi. Around 01 or 02 we got a nice 97 SE with leather, climate controll and a sunroof for my dad to drive. It was dark maroon, really good looking car. (Wasn't a 40th edition in case you were wondering.) We eventually sold that before we moved here because my dad was in iraq, I wish we did'n't my dad took care of that car and who knows what kind of shape it'* in now. My driving history: First car was a POS Ford Taurus with a 90 hp pushrod I4. It was trouble from the first time I drove it so we went and got an 87 Audi 4000s 5 speed. This was a great car, about the same size as a civic but was long and had decent leg room in the back. Had a trip computer, power window, locks, sunroof. It wasn't fast AT ALL with a 1.8 in it but it could handle as good as a WRX STi, NO JOKE. That thing was sooo fun to rally in the dirt. Anyways I got the 99 Breeze after that and had some fun with it. I wanted my next car to be a bonneville, I knew they had decent power, I had dealt with 4 bangers long enough to prove I wasn't going to wreck, got lucky, saw Charlotte for sale in front of Regions back and the rest is history.
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Parents Bought the 93, it was my Moms car, she only drove it in the summer and she took care of the car better than me......the car was her baby....i got the car in 03 with 60K on it.....i have added many personal touches to the car and more blood sweat and tears that can be even comprehended on mods.....the 93 has been it countless meets and has been seen by alot of memebers and has 93K on it right now
as for the 03 SSEi...i knew i needed a new car soon, and so i could have the 93 to play with i had to drive 250 miles each way to Maryland to get it....that car was owned by the Gov of Delaware'* Wife and had 17K. when i bought it......the car is sitting in the garage as of right now with 18K on the odo
as for the 03 SSEi...i knew i needed a new car soon, and so i could have the 93 to play with i had to drive 250 miles each way to Maryland to get it....that car was owned by the Gov of Delaware'* Wife and had 17K. when i bought it......the car is sitting in the garage as of right now with 18K on the odo
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I remember when I was < 12 years old (13 years ago+) my cousin had gotten a Bonne; a white 92. I didn't know anything about them then, but I liked it and never forgot he had one. I got my first (1994) Bonne 7-8 years later. I showed one of my good friends my SSE shortly after I got it. He loved it. A couple months later HE ended up getting a 94 as well. I found this place, met a real Canadian, became good friends, and bought his Bonne 4 1/2 years after I bought my first one. Does that count?
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It'* just amazing how many people I've met since I got my first Bonne (not including this site) who have also owned Bonnevilles. My parents have two good friends that have a 93, and got an 03 SLE a couple years ago (which happened to be owned by the basketball coach of my alma mater). I've also met casual acqaintances who have owned at least 2 Bonnevilles, and have loved them. People who buy these cars often will trade them in for another one.
#7
My dad had a pre '92 Bonneville back when I was in 1st/2nd grade. I don't remember the specifics since I was so young. Eventually he upgraded to a majestic teal '97 SE. Since my dad liked his Bonneville, my mom got one too. She drove the '97 SLE that I have now and my younger bro got the other '97. Unfortunately, my parents got SUV'* - my dad is a construction project manager and likes the Durango for driving around jobsites and my mom likes her Murano since it sits higher and she can see better. My bro doesn't really take care of his car that well, and I have to change his oil for birthday/christmas presents It'd be cool to have brothers on BC, but oh well. The Bonneville tradition will continue to live on in our family because even if I don't keep this car forever, I'd like have an SSEi with me for life.
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1995 you were in Kindegarten? Man, I feel old now.
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The legacy is starting with me...
My first Bonne was a RED 95 SE - bought it "new" from the dealer with 4k miles - it was their demo model. My hubby and I must have been very excited about it because right after buying it, we found out I was pregnant with our 4th child. 6 people do not fit in a 5-passenger car. So, we had to sell it and I was imersed into a hell called Van Ownership.
Fast forward 10 years... still driving a darned mini-van. Xmas 2004 - I didn't get any presents that year (parents were broke, kids didn't think about it, and I had been divorced for 3 years with no "significant other" in my life for the first time). So I proclaimed I was having a mid-life crisis and bought myself my own gift, my current 00 SLE with only 31k miles on it.
For the legacy part... When my oldest son totaled out his car, he asked me to find him a Bonnie. He bought Randman'* 93 SSEi now called "The Ditchhopper". Son #2 likes the Bonne'*, but insists he has to have a standard shift. The 13 and 10 year old, though they cannot drive, can now spot a Bonne within 100 yards. Soon I will have them identifying the year and trim level.
My first Bonne was a RED 95 SE - bought it "new" from the dealer with 4k miles - it was their demo model. My hubby and I must have been very excited about it because right after buying it, we found out I was pregnant with our 4th child. 6 people do not fit in a 5-passenger car. So, we had to sell it and I was imersed into a hell called Van Ownership.
Fast forward 10 years... still driving a darned mini-van. Xmas 2004 - I didn't get any presents that year (parents were broke, kids didn't think about it, and I had been divorced for 3 years with no "significant other" in my life for the first time). So I proclaimed I was having a mid-life crisis and bought myself my own gift, my current 00 SLE with only 31k miles on it.
For the legacy part... When my oldest son totaled out his car, he asked me to find him a Bonnie. He bought Randman'* 93 SSEi now called "The Ditchhopper". Son #2 likes the Bonne'*, but insists he has to have a standard shift. The 13 and 10 year old, though they cannot drive, can now spot a Bonne within 100 yards. Soon I will have them identifying the year and trim level.
#10
haha mike I was in kindergarten in '95 too :P
And tracy lmao on the hell of van ownership...
back on topic...
well umm...hah, I actually did not know that the Pontiac Bonneville existed before coming to wisconsin. I would PAY you $50 per car if you could find a 1987-1999 Bonneville in the state of hawaii ANYWHERE...they JUST DON'T HAVE THEM!!! Haha, go on cars.com or auto trader and search for a bonneville in hawaii...hah, you are NOT gonna find em..I went through just about every JY on the island of oahu and I think I saw...maybe 2 bonnes...ever? So even if I did like the car it would have been a dream to own one.
When I came to wisconsin with my mother our closest friend here owned an '87 LE with 296k and it was by absolute pure luck that I heard about mine for sale. I was sitting in a waiting room of a clinic and heard the old lady across from me talking about how she didn't know what to do with her car that never moves. So I immidiately asked her what kind of car it was and she answered an '89 Bonneville that had been sitting on her property for the past 7 years maybe only driven once or twice in that time. And she said it ran, so I bought it from her for $750. I fell in love with it automatically when I felt what kinda power it had. But you know, it really influenced me to know my friend'* car lasted until 300k until it got SO rusty that the rear independent suspension had basically rusted out completely and so the car basically sat on the ground haha, but anyways, that being the case I know that my car has to potential to go another 150k. That is certainly a good feeling. I might also mention that the '87 was still on its original trans and engine. still ran really good...just the dang body fell apart!
And tracy lmao on the hell of van ownership...
back on topic...
well umm...hah, I actually did not know that the Pontiac Bonneville existed before coming to wisconsin. I would PAY you $50 per car if you could find a 1987-1999 Bonneville in the state of hawaii ANYWHERE...they JUST DON'T HAVE THEM!!! Haha, go on cars.com or auto trader and search for a bonneville in hawaii...hah, you are NOT gonna find em..I went through just about every JY on the island of oahu and I think I saw...maybe 2 bonnes...ever? So even if I did like the car it would have been a dream to own one.
When I came to wisconsin with my mother our closest friend here owned an '87 LE with 296k and it was by absolute pure luck that I heard about mine for sale. I was sitting in a waiting room of a clinic and heard the old lady across from me talking about how she didn't know what to do with her car that never moves. So I immidiately asked her what kind of car it was and she answered an '89 Bonneville that had been sitting on her property for the past 7 years maybe only driven once or twice in that time. And she said it ran, so I bought it from her for $750. I fell in love with it automatically when I felt what kinda power it had. But you know, it really influenced me to know my friend'* car lasted until 300k until it got SO rusty that the rear independent suspension had basically rusted out completely and so the car basically sat on the ground haha, but anyways, that being the case I know that my car has to potential to go another 150k. That is certainly a good feeling. I might also mention that the '87 was still on its original trans and engine. still ran really good...just the dang body fell apart!