Leather interior! Easy handling! Sporty. Tons of room.

Stationary wing window. Distracting.
The name seems like an older persons car.

I have had the car for 3 days now and at first thought it was boat. Soon after purchasing, I found the car to be an awesome ride and fun to drive. All the added funtions make the car seem to do everything but drive it self. Lots of room for our family of four. Totally looks sporty and handles well. The leather seats are a bonus. There's even a place for the cell phone. I love it!
Previous owner of the Dodge Intrepid. The Bonneville does circles around the dodge.

Similar Products Used:

Dodge Intrepid

Really love the car! I'm sure the 240hp over the 210 would really be nice but it still has a lot of kick! It's really good for passing other cars and even when it's not flored, I'm going 20mph faster than the people on the freeway before I even get off the on-ramp. I love the climate control and the traction control is nice too. The style has turned heads and I have even had complements from people I don't even know. Very quiet and smoooooooth!! It handles so well around corners and you and other passengers do not have a death grip on the handles of the door. Sound system is VERY nice as well and I like the controls on the wheel. it stops on a dime with 4w disk braks and ABS (helps A TON when avoiding deer and sudden traffic stops). It also does really well in icy conditions ans well as snow.

The Dash is a bit strange looking but that's just because its never been seen before. Although it a smooth transmition, if you stop quickly and then accel. quickly it wont shift into gear for a second which did some damage (see below) but that just might be with all auto. transmitions because I have never owned an automatic before. The designers should have given the rear passengers some more room rather than give it all to the trunk! The drivers display is complicated at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to it. Also, when the trunk is opened after a rain, water gets EVERYWHERE!!!! Its the same problem as the 98 model too.

I had to slam on my brakes one day to avoid hitting a deer(we have a lot of them....on the side of the road!!). The brakes worked great and everything was fine but then I saw another large truck going at me at about 30mph and it was obvious that it was going to hit me so I punched the gas(almost right after I had come to a compleat stop) and I saw the rpms go up to 4 and then it shifted into gear and I peeled out and it sounded like it hurt the car. It's like reving it up and then shifting it into drive real quick. Other than that I have been so in love with this car and I cant say enough about it.

Similar Products Used:

Dodge Intrepid, Toyota Avalon.

I, like most Bonneville owners, enjoy the 3800 series II engine. It really is a nice engine, and although I haven't found this in print for my self, I've heard more than once that the 3800 series II is one of the top ten best selling engines for production cars; and prior to the series II, the first series of the 3800 was a best seller also. It handles well for such a big car (what's this mid size categorization?!?). It has PLENTY of interior room, and trunk space as well. If you look at the statistics, it has more head, shoulder, and leg room, in all seating areas, than just about any other car in it's class. Fuel economy isn't too bad either, for as much as the car weighs, and for having a V-6.

Terrible soundproofing around the doors. It "whistles" after about 60MPH. It's very annoying. Here's a tip though: I peeled back the door seals, at the upper corners where the wind was coming in, and put some weather stripping in there, like the kind used on doors for homes. All I have to do is readjust it, it WAS working like a charm, I've just been lazy about readjusting it, or possibly adding some more weather stripping there. Also, from those same spots that air whistles through, I noticed when going through car washes, that it wasn't water tight, either; but that's only during high pressure water. Some of the interior pieces are easily broken. One of the rear "courtesy light" lenses fell off, and the rear climate control vents busted, although I think the latter is simply due to poor placement, I think it got kicked or something. Other than that, I haven't had any major maintenance problems, just normal wear and tear stuff. I replaced the alternator at around 90,000 miles, and the brakes at about the same, but that's perfectly normal.

My experience thus far, has been just great. I've owned the car for about 18 months now, and I still just love to get in it and drive. The only qualm I really have about this car, is the model year. I wish I would have held out for a '94 or better, because they made alot of improvements in the front and rear end, after '93. The '93's front end is "flat", if you look at it from the side, you'll see what I mean. In '94, they started scooping the front end more, and the tail lights look a whole lot better, the '94's and up are just alot better looking cars. The '93's are among the first of that new body style. But, hey, I own a Bonnie, and I like it very much. Oh, one other thing, although it's true that mine is an SE, it still has the alloy wheels, leather interior, rear spoiler, and traction control, so it's pretty nice for an SE. Hunter green/tan interior. I like it!

Similar Products Used:

I've never owned a full size car before, this is my first full sized sedan. But, I keep an "eagle eye" on four door sedans out there, now that I own one, and aside from the high end cars like BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac, etc., I would take a Bonneville any day over cars such as a Crown Victoria, Caprice Classic, a Buick, Dodge, etc. Why? Well, if for only two reasons: It has a really good engine, and it LOOKS really cool!!!!

This car has fantastic power, and it is impossible to kill this car. At 150,000 miles, it runs like a dream. It looks darn good when it's clean, also.

Although it has a great motor, the trans is a little disappointing, as mine thunks when I put it in gear. The brakes quite frankly are a joke, as I replace rotors within a year no matter how I drive. Both the heater and AC could be better, and the power windows are slow. Also, although it may seem like I'm nitpicking, I find that the keys get very thin from going in and out of the ignition, and removing a broken key is not fun.

Overall, an excellent car. I can drive it anywhere without an ounce of concern, regardless of snow, ice, etc.. Even after being totaled once, the car still performs quite admirably. Indeed, it does not burn one drop of oil and it starts every time I put the key in it. If it wasn't for the problems I listed above, it would be the perfect car. I got a steal when I bought this car with only 123,000 miles for only $1,800. I would recommend this car for anyone who enjoys a roomy, powerful sedan and needs a reliable car (basically anyone).

Similar Products Used:

I drove an '86 Chrysler LeBaron GTS before this car, and the Bonneville blows that car away. Actually, it blows almost everything, short of the Cadillac Sedan deVille away. This car is quite comparable to the Buick Park Avenue and Olds Delta 88 (they are the same body, after all).

"Luxury With Attitude" That 3800 SuperCharged V6 Kicks Butt!!!!

Make sure you know what you are buying before you make a purchase. The wrong purchase could be a costly one. Research the car before you buy it.

"Luxury With Attitude" I remember the first time I saw the commercial for the Bonneville SSEi. I Knew I had to have one. If you are looking for a luxury sport sedan with lots of power, this is the sedan! With regular maintance this car will give you countless hours of driving pleasure.
My SSEi was a one owner car, I verified that thru a history search. It also had full service records. This is really important when buying a car like this. I made that mistake with an SSE, but I enjoyed the SSE so much I tried the SSEi and still cannot understand why I just didn't buy an SSEi the first time. When I'm ready to buy another car it will be another SSEi.
The Pontiac Performace Team earns a lot of points from me on this car!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Bonneville SSE, Pontiac Grand Prix GT, Cadilliac Catera,
Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe. All nice cars, but don't come close to comparing to the Performance and Perstiege of the Bonneville SSEi

Large and comfortable car, soft ride, quit very powerful and smooth engine

Million new sounds appeared after about 30,000 miles, the transmission failed at 62,000 right after warranty period has expired.

A lot of parts needed to be replaced after about 90,000 miles:
Rotors, Struts, Transmission!!!
The worth depritiation.
Serviced car at Riders Dealership( not servicing Pontiac any more )
and each time after service new problem appered.

Similar Products Used:

Mercury Sable, Chevy Celebrity, Nissan Altima: all those cars not so comfortable, but mach more relible.

Excellent ride, reliability, and there is no need to "drive" the car. It drives itself

Can't find any. I thought there was a leak in the trunk because it was full of water, but it was because the previous owner left the trunk open when it rained, so it wasn't the cars fault

I just started driving, and my first car is a Bonneville. I would have to say that it was worth every penny that I paid for it. The Bonneville has been an excellent car to start learning on. I totally enjoy driving through rural maine, and it has plenty of power for a young man to enjoy on the highway as well. I would totally recommend this car for anyone 15 to 85.

Similar Products Used:

Lincoln Towncar is only, i dare say, two steps higher then the Bonneville, and that's all.

I love the stereo controls on the steering wheel, and the kids love the console in the back seat with the cup holders. I love the get up and go power. The heads up display is awesome!!!

None

I would buy another car just like it for my husband, so he would have his own instead of wanting to drive mine all the time. They are sporty with a touch of class!!

Similar Products Used:

None

120,000 miles . . . never been to the shop. Still rides and sounds like new. handling, speed, everything important.

A few simple design flaws

If my car is even REMOTELY wet, the driver window has to be sealed up. there is nothing to catch the water. smoking on a road trip becomes a chore: you end up having a soaked left side, and then the mud dries up on the window in lines. disgusting. any amount of rain is VERY loud on the roof. 750 foot turning radius is worse than most minivans. I used to own a 96 grand am, and the interior was remarkably pretty, aesthetically speaking, though EVERYTHING fell apart after a few months: knobs falling off, buttons breaking, doors falling apart(!!!), etc. but this bonneville has nothing wrong with the interior like i anticipated, though my biggest complaint on the car is that its welcome hardiness dramatically compromises its looks inside the car. judging by the way the interior looks, i would have guessed it a mid-eighties sedan.
oh well though, because before this car, my impression of newer cars had been somewhat jaded. wal-mart fall-aparts, i thought. not so. this car seems to want to last me until i retire to a motor home, and without ever needing any repairs. maybe i just lucked out on that part, but it's sooo much more important than whether the knobs look gadgetty (especially if in order to look cool, they have to fall apart before their first birthday), so on behalf of all twenty year old males who are NOT obsessed with trucks (i still have no idea what's going on there -- why buy a truck just to tell people "no! don't scratch the bed! noooooo!" and to never, EVER take it onto gravel or mud or fields? they usually never even leave the city or carry anything in them. they just pay two or three times as much for less room, horrible gas mileage, pitiful handling and twice the chance of having to spend tremendous amounts of money for upkeep), Pontiac, oy sallew-choo!

Similar Products Used:

None

3.8 Liter SuperCharged V6, Ride and Handling, Comfortable, Roomy Interior w/ Leather Seating, Nice Gage Pkg., Nice Styling, Good Gas Mileage

Leaking trunk lid when opening after a rain which drips into the trunk; Problems with ride control module in center console and traction control; minor sqweaks and rattles; road noise insulation could be improved.

Overall the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville SE is an excellent vehicle and I enjoy driving it a lot. I bought it used 2 years ago. The supercharged V6 has a lot of power, sometime too much in traffic situations. I was suprised how good the gas mileage is with this engine. The car has a very good ride and is comfortable on long trips. The seats are excellent with good support. My wife owns a 1995 Mercury Cougar XR7 and we never take that car on any long trips due to its stiff suspension, harsh ride, and cramped interior. We both prefer driving the the Bonneville. I would recomend this car to anyone looking for a sporty family sedan.

Similar Products Used:

Dodge Intrepid, Dodge had a lot of problems during 1996 model year