I dread taking my son to a fast-food restaurant, because there is NO ROOM for two drinks in my 2000 SLE's cupholder. We wind up having to take a quick gulp out of each drink and then shove them in at weird angles to make them barely fit.

I noticed that this design changed after only a model year or two. Thank goodness for that!

Has anybody ever seen a worse cupholder design? Does anybody have any tips or tricks on how to cope with what us 2000 model-year owners are stuck with?

Ken_W

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2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock

A lot of people do a console swap. Here is my post:

http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16022&hilit=console

Upgrading to the 02+ style cupholder is the best solution. You could probably find those clip-on cupholders for the side of the console, but they would probably get in the way of your leg.

I feel your pain, I had a 2000 SSEi before I got my 03. They absolutely sucked. I don't think I've seen a worse design...

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

even the newer models design sux, large soda cups from fast food places still dont fit side by side. I just let my passengers know that the holder is Mine

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Jim

Yeah, I have noticed that too Jim. Even two mediums from like McD's barely fit. 2-1L bottles fit fine in there tho.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

92-99 in-door cupholders are pretty terrible as well.

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Jerry /// Past: 95 SSEi (June 2010 COTM) -- 04 GXP (July 2011 COTM)
91 Honda Civic Wagon DX 2WD (fuelly) -- 208,000km -- 92hp -- Autocross Warrior
09 Lexus LS460 AWD -- 94,000km -- Daily Driver
09 White Hot G8 GT -- 155,000km (fuelly) -- LS3 Cam -- GM LS3 CNC Ported Heads -- Kooks 1 3/4" Long Tube Headers -- Solo Catback Midsection -- Hooker Maxflow Mufflers -- Pat G Tune -- Rotofab Intake -- Tein S-Tech Springs -- GXP FE3 Dampers -- BMR Subframe Cradle Inserts -- BMR Subframe Connectors -- Forgestar F14 Gold 18x9 +40 -- Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/45/18 -- Maverick Man Carbon Fiber Spoiler

Although a 92-95 door will hold the drink much lower than the 96-99...which is WAY too shallow for its own good. Essentially made for no more than a coke can.

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John
Now: '15 Toyota Prius III | 134 hp 2ZR-FXE | Silver | 36k
Now: '03 Honda CR-V AWD | Slow 4-Cylinder | Dirt | 180k
Then: '07 Ford Fusion SEL | 221hp Gen I VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Tungsten Silver | 150k
Then: '99 Toyota Avalon XL | 200hp 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6 | Diamond White | 189k | Sold: July 2015
Then: '11 Ford Fusion SEL | 240hp Gen II VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Ingot Silver | 84k | Totaled: Oct 23 '14 (Rear-Ended)
Then: '96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra | 240hp Series II L67 | Medium Dark Lichen | Bought: JAN 11 @ 135k | Accident: FEB 3 '12 | Crushed: MAR 1 '13 @ 153K
Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp Series II 3800 L36 | Topaz Firemist | Bought: NOV '09 @ 74k | Accident: MAY 28 '10 | Crushed: MAR 15 '11 @ 84k
Then: '93 Pontiac Bonneville SE | 170hp Series I 3800 L27 | Dark Yellow Green | Bought: JULY '07 @ 92k | Sold: JULY '12 @ 118k
Then: '89 Pontiac Bonneville LE | 165hp 3800 LN3 | Medium Garnet Red | Bought: JAN '05 @ 117k | Sold: SEP 30 '07 @ 152k

What parts do you have to swap to upgrade the 00 & 01's?

I think the 87-91 had the worst cupholders. Wait there was none

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2001 SSEi | Galaxy Silver | GenV supercharger P&P | Intense 3.2 MPS | Intense FWI 4"| Custom PCM | TOG Ceramic headers | Magnaflow 3" cat | 180° stat | Aeroforce scan gauge | PRJ plug wires | PRJ fuel rails | Silicone vacuum lines| AP103 plugs | 3.2 MPS | 42.5# injectors | Intense 1x cam kit | YT 1.8 Rockers | 105# springs | Meziere HD pump | N* Tb | 185mm MAF | 2" Phenolic Intercooler | Oil pressure kit | L32 short block | 5% overdrive SFI Balancer | L67 heads custom ported | EBC USR Rotors | EBC Red stuff pads | Custom HID Fog lights, with HI-beam over ride | Polyurethane motor mount | Energy Suspension end links | GXP Shocks/Struts | Custom Drop springs Front, Rear FE5 Springs | GXP Strut tower Brace | GP GXP 18x8 Rims | Polished Exhaust tips | Triple Edge High Performance Street/Strip 4T65E-HD |

Here are bad cup holders (pic from the internet) I had a '99 grand am and i couldn't go put a drive thru cup in the cup holder unless I was in Drive. In park the shifter would push the cup against the climate controls or wouldn't go into park if you had a travel mug in it.

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FWI, converted low beam bulbs into high beam bulbs, 20% tint all around, MSD wires, NDK TR55 plugs, auxiliary line in, scan gauge, custom FloPro/MagnaFlow Cat back exhaust
2002 Bonneville SE

bobtaz, you'll need the console assembly and the plate that goes where the cubby hole is and has the TC and Heated seat buttons, if you have heated seats.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

This. You're seriously not lying. I hate the cup holders in my 03.

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2012 Ford Fusion SEL, 2012 Chrysler Town & Country, 2007 Chevy Silverado LT, 1999 Pontiac Firehawk, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am

Just be glad you don't have an 00 or an 01 Mark....

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Wow! After reading Night Crawler's post above about the 99 Grand Am, suddenly I don't feel so bad. That one surely takes first place in the "what the heck were you thinking" cupholder design contest.

I might have to look into an upgrade to the 2002-5 console. My traction control switch is busted out and fallen down into the console, so I'm going to have to spend some money on console parts anyway. The only thing holding that switch in place was a flimsy plastic bracket that could easily break. I wonder how common this is on other 00's and 01's...?

Ken_W

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2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock

One thing i did to improve after switching to the 2002+ style is pull out the rubber insert that gives you a good bit more room and it doesn't bother me any apperance wise

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2000 ssei gone but not forgotten

Current fleet:
2009 G8 v6, 2009 Avalanche LTZ, 2013 Volt

The ones in my GTP (the Regal is the same) were terrible. It was a little flip out door back towards the console lid. They could hold some decent sized beverages, but if there was something there bigger than a can, you couldn't put your right arm down.

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Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

in my 02 i only use the cup holder closest to the arm rest. a regular pop bottle sits in it and it barely comes over the arm rest. Which is great. But my phone usually sits in that holder while the other is used to hold club cards. The old emblems fit perfectly in these cup holders


I mainly put my drinks in the cup holders that are in the arm fold down arm rest in the back.

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FWI, converted low beam bulbs into high beam bulbs, 20% tint all around, MSD wires, NDK TR55 plugs, auxiliary line in, scan gauge, custom FloPro/MagnaFlow Cat back exhaust
2002 Bonneville SE

My younger sister and I each got a large at McD's today. Needless to say she was holding hers while I drove, LOL.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Maybe pontiac was trying to prevent obesity from the get-go. Don't go to a drive through restaurant, and you won't need such a big cupholder

@ 00Beast - My wife does the same thing.

Guys, I also notice this before I bought the car and thought to myself...Bonnie or better cup holders....Bonnie or better cup holders....Bonnie or better cup holders....the pain, the agony. Does it really matter if they fit a couple of 42 or 32 oz of sodas? I just order the 20 oz soda W/O ice due to the fact you get the same when the 42 oz has ice in it. Don't get me wrong, but I will pick a Bonnie over those silly cup holders any day. But, if you need to have better fit for those large drinks...I agree with the swap. Or you could just get savvy and rob and mod other car parts off of other models.

I never really use my cup holders for their actual purpose cause they're usually filled with crud like gum packets, pens, keys, and change.. If I ever have a drink it goes in the back and usually it's just water bottles...

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles