Great car for the money!

The best thing about the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville is the amount of car you can get for your money. For a little over 11 grand, I got a Bonneville SSEi with just about every option you can imagine...supercharged 240hp V6, 4 spd automatic, power sunroof, traction control, abs, leather, and power everything and 70k miles.

70k miles is quite a bit, I know, but I'm also the previous owner of a 1992 Bonneville SSE that I bought at a little over 100k miles and drove to 165k miles. We drove it from Indiana to Montana and back, took numerous other trips, and in 4 years replaced the rack & pinion, 1 power window motor, and 1 alternator. We never had any problems with the engine or transmission, and the 3800 V6 has a reputation for being a very reliable, tough engine.

The worst thing about the Bonnie? Well, the same thing that makes it a good value is also its achilles heel...it depreciates faster than an ice cube melts in Miami! I guess no one really wants a car anymore, with the SUV craze in full swing. And I must say, the wife and I test drove a 2002 Ford Escape the other day, and were we impressed! We'd trade in the Bonneville in a heartbeat, but trade-in value is about $3500 less than what we owe. Rather than stack $3500 on top of a loan on a new SUV, we've got the Bonnie in the Trader, hoping there is someone out there who still appreciates a good road car.

Here are some fine points on the 1996 Bonneville SSEi:

* EXTERIOR
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Bonneville has great looks. Everything about it says, "powerful American sport sedan." From the body cladding to the integrated fog lights to the alloy wheels and rear spoiler, there's no mistaking the Bonnie for anything else. This ain't no Accord or Camry! My car is black, which is beautiful when it is clean. Unfortunately, keeping a black car clean is a never-ending task. I might not be so quick to trade it in if it was easier to keep clean. My first and last black car, to be sure!

* INTERIOR
Some people find the interior of my car to be a bit "gadgety". However, I generally like the interior design. The seats are comfortable, however, this is also my first and last car with leather. Make mine cloth! (Maybe I'm just weird, but I find cloth more comfortable)

The adjustments for the dual power seats are in a center console, and consist of 12 buttons, which is a bit too complicated if you ask me. Give me the standard power seat controls on the side of the seat next time, thank you very much! Also, a single cupholder folds out of the center console and hovers right above the seat switchgear, both blocking access to the seat controls and making for potential drink spills directly into the seat controls.

The climate control is also unnecessarily complicated. Sure, it's automatic, but I'll take rotating knobs over small buttons and digital displays any day! Also, the cupholders built into the front doors need more depth. Anything other than your standard soda can will flip out of them.

Good things about the interior include a heads-up display that projects your speed onto the front windshield. This is handy on long trips, and can be dimmed or turned off at will. Also, the stereo system has controls on the steering wheel, and is a good sounding system. The interior is plenty roomy for our family of four, and there is an access hatch from the back seat to the trunk. At night, all instruments and buttons glow orange, giving the interior a "cockpit" feel. Interior materials are generally good quality, and the seats are comfortable for long trips.

* PERFORMANCE
Ah, here is the best thing about the Bonnie! This car runs like a scalded cat! With 240 hp under the hood, it flies down the interstate with ease, soaking up mile after mile. Handling is also very good, firm without being punishing. I honestly can't think of a car in this price range that will even come close to the Bonneville's combination of room and power.

All is not fine in paradise, however. I've had the car for about a year now, and I've already had to replace the water pump. $350! The mechanic had to loosen a motor mount to change the water pump, resulting in high labor costs. The rear end has a funny "clunk" that you can hear when accelerating from a stop. It hasn't affected drivability, but it does bother me, because it's not supposed to be there. Also, the "check engine oil" light comes on at start-up, then goes off. The oil level is fine.

Whoever designed the trunk needs to be reassigned to Seattle, forced to have the Bonneville as a daily driver. Maybe then, he would realize how frustrating it is for water to pour into the trunk when is is opened after it has been raining. My 92 Bonnie didn't do this! What gives?

* RECOMMENDED?
If you want a large sedan with plenty of get-up-and-go, there really is nothing like the Bonneville on the market in this price range. This car will simply outperform any other sedan out there for the money. I never fail to smile when I punch that accelerator and hear that supercharger whine as I am pushed back in my seat! All this, and a comfortable interior, decent mileage (18/25), and a roomy, if somewhat damp, trunk, makes for an excellent highway car.

Alas, my family of four is beginning to need even more room. My wife, who is 5 feet tall, can drive the Bonnie, but really wants an SUV due to the increased cargo room and much better visibility, along with secure handling in foul weather. It seems my supercharged days are numbered, and to tell the truth, I'm kinda ready for a change. I've driven Bonnevilles for 5 years now, having never been able to find an SUV that wasn't either too underpowered or too bulky. My initial test drive in a 2002 Ford Escape has gotten me to thinking that I may have finally found the SUV that combines the right size vehicle with a rip-snortin' 200 hp engine! (Hey, gotta have that horsepower!)

My Bonnevilles have been good cars, and I recommend one as an alternative to the other bland sedans that are out there. But my wife has bought tickets for the SUV bandwagon, and we're ready to go!

Bye bye, Bonnie. Thanks for the memories!