A Major Issue I'd Like Your Opinion On.

[CThompson31]

I have a major issue going on here. Since 2010 is coming up and most of use dreadfully know that Pontiac will be gone for good, a problem has come up. My father and I are having a debate on whether we should keep the Bonneville or not. He says we should get rid of it because of Pontiac's existence being terminated and get a Chevrolet Monte Carlo instead. I on the other hand disagree. Don't get me wrong, I like the Monte Carlo. I almost got one before the Bonneville in fact. But I've established a bond with my Bonneville and all my friends know it as the "Chris-mobile". I even argued that this could possibly be the only Pontiac I would ever own in my life and the only trace of Pontiac I'll ever have. So I have few questions for you. Do you think the Bonneville should be kept or out of here? If you think so, do you think the Monte Carlo would be a legitimate replacement? Why or why not?

[wake]

everyone of my GM cars that ive gotten rid ive regretted..keep it..youll kick yourself in the ass later

[wjcollier07]

I don't understand? Why would you get rid of a car...just because they discontinued the marque? They discontinued the 3800 too, but that doesn't mean you can't find parts for it. They discontinued the Bonneville and the entire platform for your vehicle 4 years ago...and your father is just NOW worried, oddly, when there's nothing to worry about?

Not to mention..that going from an H body to a W body is a massive downgrade.

Does he have any REAL concrete reasoning for his concerns?

[RJolly87]

Same as wjcollier,

Parts are going to be around for quite some time, so keep what you have, it is now a survivor!

[crash93ssei]

Why get rid of it? Even with Pontiac being dead, there will be no shortage of parts for this car for a long time, likely every bit as long as that car will be on the road. The car is already out of warranty, resale is already crap, I honestly see no reason to send it down the road in favor of a car with unknown history.

We have had a good amount of problems with our '03 SSEi, but I see no reason at all to get rid of it just because Pontiac is dead. There is hardly anything except cosmetics that is specific to Pontiac on these cars.

I say if you like it, keep it

Not to mention..that going from an H body to a W body is a massive downgrade.

Opinion only

[00Beast]

I'm with all those guys. Just because pontiac is dead doesn't mean parts are going to dissappear. It's a Federal Law, IIRC, that a manufacturer supply replacement parts for 10 years after a model is made, so 95% of the parts on your car will be made until 2015, especially with your car being an SLE, and the SLE was made until 05, with all models 00-04 being virtually the same except for 04 getting black buttons instead of gray. Parts stores will continue to have filters, oil, shocks, ball-joints, struts, air filters, etc for a long time to come, as there are tons of those cars on the road, and most will be going in 10+ years. I can still find parts for our 65 and 67 chevy trucks. If you want to buy a Monte Carlo to have a Monte Carlo, do it. If you want to get a Monte Carlo just because Chevy is still around, you're making a terrible decision, IMO.

[SAMzGXP]

I'm with all those guys. Just because pontiac is dead doesn't mean parts are going to dissappear. It's a Federal Law, IIRC, that a manufacturer supply replacement parts for 10 years after a model is made, so 95% of the parts on your car will be made until 2015, especially with your car being an SLE, and the SLE was made until 05, with all models 00-04 being virtually the same except for 04 getting black buttons instead of gray. Parts stores will continue to have filters, oil, shocks, ball-joints, struts, air filters, etc for a long time to come, as there are tons of those cars on the road, and most will be going in 10+ years. I can still find parts for our 65 and 67 chevy trucks. If you want to buy a Monte Carlo to have a Monte Carlo, do it. If you want to get a Monte Carlo just because Chevy is still around, you're making a terrible decision, IMO.

thank you

couldnt have said it any better

[RJolly87]

If you want to buy a Monte Carlo to have a Monte Carlo, do it. If you want to get a Monte Carlo just because Chevy is still around, you're making a terrible decision, IMO.

This says it all right here.

[J Wikoff]

People are stil driving Oldsmobiles, Plymouths, and Merkurs. Why stop driving Pontiacs?

[ChilinMichael]

Keep the Bonneville.

[Jrs3800]

I agree... Keep the Bonneville...

[onesweetride]

This post is . Why? If you like it keep it.

[Water 97SSEi]

This is silly, they don't make the Monte Carlo anymore either. If you really wanted a car they still made you'd have to buy a brand new car (or one made in the last couple years). Any car 5+ years old probably isn't in production anymore.

The Bonneville was a fairly high production vehicle and finding them in the junkyards is quite common. Pontiac is just a brand, GM is still there, so really nothing changes except you can't buy a brand new 2011 model Pontiac.

[CThompson31]

This post is . Why? If you like it keep it.

I would love to keep it! But here's the thing, since I'm only 17, my dad's name is on the title too. So this is a little tough for me.

[ChilinMichael]

Use the sound reasoning of how our cars have parts available more so than some new cars, etc....points made by everyone here. Be mature, approach him in a mature manner, and reason with him. Don't go up to him "you're an idiot blah blah"...you know what I'm saying..

I personally think getting rid of a car because a brand is shut down is a joke, it has no relevance to the car, that car hasn't been made for years, they stopped a lot of parts a long time ago (such as hold onto your a$$ bars for my car located above the doors, etc)..you get the picture.

"We have to repaint the garage so we gotta get rid of this car"...that's basically how absurd all this sounds......

[00Beast]

This post is . Why? If you like it keep it.

I would love to keep it! But here's the thing, since I'm only 17, my dad's name is on the title too. So this is a little tough for me.

What is your dad's deal? It's a good, reliable, comfortable, efficient car. My DAD drives a Bonneville, heck, his last two cars have been 00+ Bonnevilles, and he had a 1968 Bonneville when he was in HS. I don't get it. It's not like they're all gonna disappear, and parts are going to dry up. You can still buy points, condensers, rotors, caps, etc for a 1968 Bonneville at NAPA, and some of that technology hasn't been around for 20 years! Tell him that you like this car, and just because pontiac is no longer in production doesn't mean that your car is any different, or any harder to do anything to than a year ago, when Pontiac was still in production. Show him this thread. This site, these cars, and most of us aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Just because Pontiac no longer exists doesn't mean that our passion doesn't still exist for them. Hell, I bleed Pontiac Blue!

[zuper8]

tell him four doors rock and two doors suck. i can't STAND 2 doors as a practical everyday car, that alone will make me choose the bonneville over the monte.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Keep the car. There are only a few million still out there. Parts availability isn't an issue. All the problems with the engine and platform are well-known. Insurance is cheaper on an older car. Plus it's likely paid for. All the reasons support keeping your car.

[gonzo4191]

sell it




























i'm just kidding, i agree with all above, keep your bonne, and thats coming from people who might not even have a bonneville

[Bugsi]

Please have your father gather up all of his paper and coin money and send me any of it that was printed or minted before 2010.

THAT is how inane the logic of getting rid of the Bonneville because the Pontiac brand is being discontinued is.