I've done everything I possibly can to stop this jalopy from leaking . I've done as people have suggested and reseated these pathetic shrinking door seals so that the gap ends up at the bottom middle of the door . I've used RV sealant as well and I've also been to the junkyard (where this car belongs) and gotten an extra door seal to fill in the gaps with . I just went out and sat in the car during a storm and the water is still streaming in around the lower front of the front doors on both sides . I don't know what keeps you guys so in love with your Bonnies but I now hate mine . I'm tired baby sitting it and I am beginning to see the ways of others who have switched over to japanese cars . Tokyo here I come - Pontiac off to the scrap heap where you belong !! Maybe this car would be good for a crash derby car since windows aren't necessary there . As much as it leaks I might as well take the damned windows out of it !

All cars have problems, foreign or domestic. Sorry to hear about your issues and how you feel they can't be resolved without purchasing a foreign car. Maybe you can get a certified pre-owned with a warranty so you don't have to rely on yourself to fix it. Good luck.

Yup. You could get a brand-new Toyota and have the same problems. Cars and built and design by humans. Humans are faliable. Thus cars are faliable.

If it'* leaking THAT much I would think something should be noticeably wrong with the weatherstripping. :? Sorry a problem as small as that makes you go Jap. Yes it'* still aggravating and extremely frustrating to have a leak and not now what to do to fix it. I'm not denying that.

I'd also check the plastic trim around the doors that screws in all around, and the plastic trim along the windshield if it'* leaking in that area :? If you're still looking for advice on how to fix this we'll be glad to help. If this is just a rant I can move to General Chat...

Going Jap isnt going to solve your problem. Repairs will be harder and parts will be more expensive. Quality isnt that much higher anyway. In fact we ditched a Nissan for our 93 way back when. All this talk about Jap **** being higher quality is just a fad.

To tell you guys the truth I have thought about going with a japanese car for gas mileage reasons I have found out when you sit in these brand new cars the feel like matchbox cars and I don't feel safe at all. I want a good solid American car with a little weight and has some *** to it.

I am sorry to hear that you are going with Japanese but you will probably have worse problems then what you had with the Bonnie. By the way the car is 14 years old give it a break.

A.J.

All I can tell you is good luck with the Japanese cars. My aunt had a brand new 96 Nissan Altima, and it was in the shop 17 times before filed a lemon law lawsuit. She bought a Chevy Lumina LTZ after that and never, ever had a problem with it. All I can say is if you prefer to support another country... it'* none of our business. No offense to our fellow asian members.

Are you asking for help or simply venting? I ask because that would go in general chat.

How long have you owned the car? How do you know that the person that owned it before you didn't take it off-road and jump it a few feet in the air, then land and tweaked the unit-body, causing misalignment with the doors and resulting leeks? Do the doors line up nice and open and close easily? Are they hard to close or do they bind when they close? I've seen crazier things happen.

Case in point - Toyota Avalon, maybe a 2003 or 2004, had the passenger side lower ball joint ripped off the control arm. It didn't separate, the whole ball joint assembly was sheered off the lower control arm. The owner'* son was driving the car and said he was turning around and "it looks like a bolt came loose." Can you say curb? Only three small rivits between the ball joint and the control arm, and the ball joint isn't even set in the control arm, it just attaches to the control arm. What was the cause? Shotty construction that was weak and broke, or abusive driving? Or both?

My point is that cars will be abused, then sold, and problems will come up in the future.

I know this guy with an 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora that has taken such a beating (from him), I can't imagine that it still runs and drives. One of his favorite things to do is let his pass. side wheel slide about a foot into grass in neighborhoods without curbs and gun it, resulting in an ultimate one-wheel-winder. Luckily he'* got a 4T80E, or else his diff would have blown long ago. He like to travel 20 mph over the speed limit, and, needless to say, he'* got a lead foot and his car sees 5K rpm under normal driving and normal aceleration. Heavy cornering and heavy braking are also normal. Curbs aren't an obsticle for him, and where the pavement ends, he keeps going as grass and mud are fine substitutes. I wouldn't buy that car for $10, but at some point someone will buy it used, and it'll give them nothing but trouble, and they'll blame it one the car bing a piece of crap, not realizing it'* history.

Just food for thought.

see ya, wouldn't wanta be ya


ken