It’s 1992 and Pontiac is the division of driving excitement. A power hungry driver with leather gloves and an intense maniacal stare takes on the ‘call of the road’ in between TV football games. His beautiful black Bonneville, 200+ horsepower, screeches from a stand still and thrusts right to the edge of the posted speed limit… and not a single mph more. No Cadillac zags through double yellow lines. No country clubber saying, “You bet your Ascot!” This is GM in the heart of the Stempel era. Another frigging rental car marketed as sporty.
Fast forward 18 years later and I have the 1996 version of the exact same car. 3800 V6. 102,000 original miles. I bought it for $1500 and threw in a new water pump and tune-up. Overall I have about $1800 in this plasticized, full-sized Pontiac. Not a bad amount given the mileage and the good paint. The question now is what to do?
If I sell it, I would likely get around $2800 to $3300. A lot of older folks, especially black folks in metro-Atlanta, like to have a full-sized vehicle for their commutes. The Bonneville offers a scintilla of sport to an otherwise dull and arduous commuting process in Hotlanta. With tax season coming up it would have no trouble selling at that price range.
The finance route is a bit nicer to consider. $500 to $700 down, $60 a week for 18 months is a strong possibility. A lot of my late 90’s full-sized Detroit metal can go for that price and beyond depending on the condition and features. A pristine leather interior is probably the biggest ingredient in the recipe as far as resale goes. Exterior is a bit less important. Miles are even less important than that… and I would argue that the name is the least important of all. Park Avenue’s, Olds 88’s and 98’s, Bonneville’s, LeSabres… whether they are mid-sized or full-sized luxury American cars means squat. The proof is in the ‘loaded’ interior which always requires leather, a premium sound system (for the 90’s), and a long list of neat little comfort features.
Rental is definitely a consideration here. $100 to $140 a week. This car could have a very long life in the smooth roads of North Georgia. A Bonneville will eventually have more suspension issues than a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis. But these cars are dirt cheap to fix and like the Ford brethren, Detroit made them forever. I could see this cruiser having another 100k worth of driving ahead if I maintain it with the right parts and customers. The users and abusers can drive the Cavaliers.
So should I sell it for the quick buck? Finance it and receive more in due time? Or keep a short leash on it and rent the Bonneville until it’s better days are behind it.
My family had two of these H-body Bonnevilles (and two Olds and three Buicks). They were really great cars. 102k… it should have another 100k of life in it at least. I’d sell it.
Keep it. That’s right you heard me. Lang, you’ve got an Insight and a Camry or something right now, right? This Bonneville is a damn fine roadtrip car. Plus if u and three buddies want 2 go golfing all your stuff will fit.
Well, well, Educator Dan – Welcome back!
A moment of silence for your avatar, Leslie Nielsen, for his passing over the weekend……………………..now, back to business. BTW, please keep that avatar – I smile every time I see it!
I liked these cars, too – except for the GM “halfway-mentality” of the rear window roll-down limit – thankfully, it was near the end of that era. My favorite of all these styles was the Olds 88 of which a friend of mine owned a super sharp two-tone model. The odd fixed-vent window on the front doors always escaped my logic, though – but the greenhouse was pretty large. A nice car all around.
Let me also add that although it is of no concern to Mr. Lang living in Georgia, those turbine alumnium wheels do a great job of chewing through snow drifts. (Don’t ask me how I know.)
Actually Zackman, my first avatar was this picture of Bob Lutz http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/10/Bob-Lutz-Says-What.jpg But everyone thought it was Leslie Nielsen so I gave up and put the pic of Nielsen up. I’m going to keep it though because honestly that’s what Bob looks like to himself when he looks in the mirror every morning. Has anybody noticed that Lutz, Nielsen, and Dick Van Dike look like brothers?
That’s very funny! I suppose along with Dick Van Dyke and Bob Lutz, you may as well throw in Peter Graves if for nothing else than for the hair. Mix ’em all up, and viola’! Leslie Nielsen! Good job!
Rent it. Vacationers in North GA are not likely to rip it to shreds or take it long distances, so the car should spin off income for a long time. Parts and maintenance on the 3800 are cheap and easy.
(You came dangerously close to the terrible old PONTIAC acronym in your commentary)
Hmmm, what would that be?
Some things are better left unsaid. Or un-Googled.
Sell it, make someone happy! I have always LOVED that model, the line are just so nice, i wonder why i did not buy one of those…in green with tan leather interior…I hope GM could find a way to keep that design alive…
GM kept that design alive for quite a while…you have a good 15+ years of models to choose from. As much as I dislike 90s and early 00s GM vehicles, one of these are a LeSabre would make a great commuter…as much as my 98 TL. Good power, comfortable seats, good HVAC. Any radio can tune NPR.
I have one of those too. A 1997 SSE model with 190k. It’s in amazingly wonderful condition thanks to the prior owner’s regular visits to Mr. Goodwrench.
It’s still a “declining asset” though with a comfy properly contrived front seat it can be a reclining ass-sit but bucks in the hand is assured compared to possible transferred bucks in the future and as soon as the unit is sold for one lump sum and title transferred all costsoverhead other than the government raping you for their share, their legal bribe, their portion of the proceeds that uses bureaucracies paid by you and other citizens to enforce the masters’ rules that allows the few to skim wealth from the many (the bureaucrats pay/pensions/loyalty creation devices must be paid for)…. as soon as the various transaction overhead costs are shunted to the side the remaining funds are yours to use as desired.
Of course, with the extremely low interest rates of sundry savings devices and the etherealness of other wealth-creation methods (bonds, stocks, etc) perhaps the wealth creation from the selling by being a loan provider at a likely higher interest rate than that obtainable from the typical interest-paying devices (CDs, savings accounts, etc.).
But then observe the horde of those so concerned about you declaring you simply must purchase the gold in their possession to amass gobs of wealth as that metals’ value relentlessly soars to atmospheric heights akin to an X-15 aircraft rocketing above the desert plains north of Lancaster, CA and surrounding environs as the 20-mule-team propelled wagons haul the borax to the mill as lauded by now-deceased Ron Reagen.
So, you know whatcha’ gotta do.
Find a suitable 4th-world country, stage a coup, and settle in as a benevolent dictator and demand funds from guilt-laden brain-dead idiots infesting the USA. Declaring your hostility to the “foe of the week/month/year” will garner a few extra billion bucks as you spend a minute portion of those funds in a facade fight against terrorism with a much larger portion to equip your military to properly enslave your citizenry and allow you and your minions to live lives of luxury.
That method worked well for many others and merely awaits a motivated entrepreneurial-minded lad to implement.
“But then observe the horde of those so concerned about you declaring you simply must purchase the gold in their possession to amass gobs of wealth as that metals’ value relentlessly soars to atmospheric heights akin to an X-15 aircraft rocketing above the desert plains north of Lancaster, CA and surrounding environs as the 20-mule-team propelled wagons haul the borax to the mill as lauded by now-deceased Ron Reagan.”
Obbop, you did it again! Good grief, that was beautiful! I always admired the X-15, too. Later, I supported the SR-71 which made quite a few waves of its own!
Speaking for myself I wouldn’t rent it out if the interior is the prime value indicator. It will get trashed, especially if it’s leather.
You might consider leasing it out to a respectful driver, especially if you can find one with lifestyle patterns that indicate it will get either few miles, or mostly highway miles. I have a feeling used car prices will still be solid when you get it back in 18 months.
Is that Patrick Stewart doing the voiceover for the ad? If so I didn`t realize that he had represented Pontiac.
Yup. He did a ton of voice work for Pontiac in the 90’s. There is a Trans Sport ad he did (the old dustbuster version) that even hints *wink* *wink* at Star Trek in the ad itself.
As I read your description of the car and that the interior is the best asset – I agree with tparkit. I think if you rent it that pristine interior won’t stay pristine. I would look to do a long term rental – but I’d keep. Plastic? Yup. Interior designed by Playskool? Yup. Boat anchor 3.8L V6 under the hood that is as reliable as the sunrise, bows at the altar of torque, but doesn’t know what horsepower is? Yup. Big Detroit 90’s boat that has appeal to certain demographics. Check check check. Miles is low – plenty of life left – keep.
I would agree with your assessment of the situation. It’s a keeper. 102,000 miles? It’s barely broken in. Run that puppy out to 300K or more. Especially in the relatively benign environment that Atlanta has (compared to Arizona or Detroit). Actually, you’ll probably tire of it before you hit 300K with that car, but it is capable of doing it.
My sister & her husband had a 1990 SSE that got to 350K before they sold it off. They just wanted a new(er) car…
Mr. Lang,
I highly suggest you sell the car and get some money for it. My 1992 Bonneville aged HORRIBLY! The 16 in honeycomb wheels lost about 5 psi per tire per week despite numerous remountings. Its handling was sloppy, sometimes treacherous in the rain. The HVAC knobs fell out in my hand and the computer, radiator and engine needed replaced! I do realize however that I may be the exception and not the rule as far as these vehicles are concerned.
That’s the way I remember all these GM cars too. The 3800 engine was nice when it worked though.
I remember attending a local auto show sometime in 1996 and laying eyes on the SSEi’s interior. As a 11-year-old kid, I was quite smitten with it and brought home a bunch of advertisement literature on it.
Today, I find the interior ridiculously exaggerated, with the chunky Playskool buttons, bulging surfaces and harsh red backlighting GM apparently thought was “sporty”. On the other hand, it makes my current 1994 Olds 88 seem plain-jane.
If you ever drove one you would find out the handling was sporty, or as sporty as a huge FWD American sedan could ever have the right to be.
Actually, I’m seriously thinking about cannibalizing a wrecked SSE for the suspension bits and other parts, to try to turn it into something resembling a Q-ship. It’s either that or trading the 88 for a Maxima.
The 88 is a pretty good car mechanically, with only 124k on the clock. Rides decently and the power’s there. The paint is fading badly in several spots, though. Too bad it’s the base model — cloth seats, simple gauges and the only luxury item is the driver’s side one-touch power window.
Q-Ships are better when they are more plain and more basic. If something does happen with the engine find a supercharged 3800 and then you’ll have a real sleeper.
I’ll hold off my official cargasm here until Paul does the H-body CC.
So I’ll just say that $3K sounds like a good price.
If you ever drove one you would find out the handling was sporty, or as sporty as a huge FWD American sedan could ever have the right to be.
I agree. Years ago my dad had an Olds LSS. It handled remarkably well for its size…way better than i had thought possible. The brakes sucked big time though…
I say sell. The cash buyer is likely to feel more invested in the car and take good care of it. And IMO the world needs all the good $2000-3000 cars it can get. Whenever I have the opportunity to advise someone who is trying to get some wheels on a very tight budget, I always suggest to save up $3K and get the best cash deal you can find. And also, then you, the seller, are not married to the buyer, who will beat the crap out of the thing for 6-9 months and then file bankruptcy on you.
+1, MadHungarian sums it up well. Most of us on this thread want to see it go to a good home.
Wow, $3,300 for a fifteen year old domestic car with over 100K on the clock. Makes my ten year old Taurus SE purchased six month ago for $2K Canadian with 80K look like a good deal.
I have some experience with these. My GF’s grandmother gave her hers when she was got too old to drive. It was a ’93 that by 2003 had accumulated all of 18,500 miles, probably every one of them within ten miles of Grosse Pointe. As you can imagine, it was a solid car. Given that a couple friends had them with 150-250K miles, we felt pretty good about its long-term longevity. But lots of little things broke, it began to rust, and compared to the two other cars in the household, both Hondas, it suffered. It was soon relegated to long highway trips. Five years later, it had turned 55K and we sold it for $3K to the first person who came to look at it. It was replaced by a six-generation Accord that in all respects is a better car, but sometimes we miss it on long trips. I’m sure it’s serving someone quite well, and undoubtedly will for some time to come.
This car is an illustrated history of GM. Excellent bulletproof drivetrain, iffy electronics, only fair suspension and brakes, poor interior, execrable fit and finish.
I got $3700 for my 98 with 110K. Rent this one, but change the upper intake manifold and install a reduced diameter EGR stovepipe. Then it will run forever.
Hmmm..
I’d only ever bother with this…
If it was the SSEI version.. in the dark green.. and the gold wheels.
If ya gonna go.. go BIG.
Then again..
I’d only ever bother with this NOW, if I had a gun to my head and someone else waiting to smack me n the head with a 20lb frying pan and a meat tenderizer.