The fate of our Bonnevilles...

[99BonnevilleSE]

So after doing some talking with my father he talked me out of the summer engine rebuild by offering me a sweet deal. He said if I keep my grades up and since I paid him back for the Bonneville so fast, that he will co-sign on a car loan for me when I turn 18 in Feb of 2012. I quickly said yes. But I began to think about how much I'm gonna miss the Bonneville. It will have to be sold for a down payment. Sad but true. I can't keep it forever. It will be replaced by a very nice.. I have my heart set on this... So many toys and features... RWD... V8...




BMW 745Li


So that's the fate of my Bonneville, do you know what yours will be? Or if you already got rid of yours, what happened to it?

[94SilverSSEi]

Let me just say the new BMW's look like barf. But that's just my opinion.

But I do LOVE the 95-01 740iL's.


To stay on topic, my Bonneville will be driven until the body rots through and no more bondo can be used. Which should be a couple more years. 4-5 at absolute most. Then she will be stripped and used for parts for the next one. But she should have well over 300k by that time and lived a long life. 150 years old in people years.

[harofreak00]

After hearing so many older guys regret selling their first "real car", I questiong whether I'll ever sell it. I obviously have way more into it than its worth. I'll keep dropping engines and trannys into it until it falls apart.

[1oldman]

If I have my way, it will be driven until one of three things happen:
1. I die
2. Someone hits it and it is totaled beyond repair
3. I can't get the parts to keep it running

- BC

[01bonneSC]

That beamer is gonna cost you ARMS and LEGS to keep up with maintenance. I say just keep the Bonneville. WAY cheaper, IMO.

Dont get me wrong, I too do want a 7 series or M5.

[1oldman]

That beamer is gonna cost you ARMS and LEGS to keep up with maintenance. I say just keep the Bonneville. WAY cheaper, IMO.

Dont get me wrong, I too do want a 7 series or M5.

CTS/V is better! JMHO - BC

[L36Pontiac]

mines fate is unknown. i wanna buy a truck soon(i find my self needing a truck the older i get), my bonne runs good and has never left me stranded and is paid off. i have a company truck so the bonne is parked. if i did ever sell it it would be tough but it would only be cuz it cost more to fix then what its worth. being my first nice car i will always have a soft spot for it.

agreed a bmw is cool to look at and fun to drive but ive heard horror stories about how much they cost to fix.

[willwren]

I don't have rust issues, but I already know regardless that the Zilla probalby won't last for than 5 more years even if I don't race the car any longer. It's just too old, and too many things are starting to fall apart (not drivetrain related).

Replacement? Nobody knows, not even me.

[1oldman]

agreed a bmw is cool to look at and fun to drive but ive heard horror stories about how much they cost to fix.

I can vouch for that. The youngest daughter and her husband have a 330i and they are fed up with the money pit it is. They already got an 2011 Tahoe so they can be done with the BMW. He drives a little S10 and loves it. - BC

[00Beast]

G8 GT. V8 + RWD + American (Branded) = Epicness. I'd do that wayyyy before a Bimmer. Cheaper to maintain, easier to mod and gonna get way more looks. Also it's probably going to be cheaper to own.

I doubt I'll ever ditch my Bonne. I've got too much into her getting it just the way I want it, and I couldn't bear to see it go. It would/will take a lot to get me to get rid of it.

[repinS]

Well, the 95 SSEi got totaled a week after I sold it. :(

As for this GXP, I intend it to be a stepping stone in between Bonneville and G8 GT. After I'm done school and have the G8 in my hands, I'll sell the GXP if it can get decent money, if not, it'll become a glorified winter beater.

[SSEiMan01]

Mine will be either another SSEi, a G8 GT, or depending on money at that time, My dream (not ashamed to admit) a CTS-V Wagon. That is of course after the Bonneville completely falls apart beyond repair and turns into a pile of used parts in my garage waiting for a new home.
At 48k miles, I'm crossing my fingers nothing bad happens to it, it is white after all

[vogie01]

I am pretty sure the insurance premiums on anything like that is going to be even worse than what purchasing, and maintaining it will ever cost. If I was you, I would suggest holding on to that Bonneville til your at least 21. If you plan on going to college, then I would buy a new Bonneville, such as an SLE and do it up or something similar.
Because of your age, I HIGHLY recommend you consult your insurance agent when you find a vehicle you want to buy. I gather from what you are saying your parents must not pay your car insurance, and if they do a BMW or anything foreign is going to make their rates sky rocket.

You can still pull plenty of tail with a pimped out Bonneville, such as an SLE. I would recommend the 2005 model with the GXP trim. No SSEi til you get older. Personal experience talking on all fronts here.

[BonneMe]

I wouldn't have spent as much on a car as I did (21k) when I was done with college, if I had to do it all over again.

Don't get a car loan at 18. So many better things to put money into, or towards (SAVINGS).

To everyone mentioning BMW maintenance without a clue, stop. If someone wants cheap maintenance, they'll buy a very simple, very cheap car. BMW do not just fall apart.

[BFF_Larry]

drivin till i wall off the back wit 4 solo x 18s,
got 1 of the 4 already.

then itll just sit till comps

[yourgrandma]

I've been looking dodge magnum r/t's, but that's down the road a ways. On a related note, in "excellent" condition, blue book values my bonnie at $2500. I chuckled at that.

What do you do for money that you've decided you can afford bmws flagship model? What interest rate are you looking at?

[sonoma_zr2]

The 97 was at 350K+ and was going to 600K and beyond.......till it was taken off the road by another driver. It may yet get back on the road......

[94SilverSSEi]

The 97 was at 350K+ and was going to 600K and beyond.......till it was taken off the road by another driver. It may yet get back on the road......

x2 on this. That would be amazing!

[repinS]

The 97 was at 350K+ and was going to 600K and beyond.......till it was taken off the road by another driver. It may yet get back on the road......

DO IT.

[00Beast]

Travis, I don't think you're going to find another car you like as much. Might be worth putting $2k into this one and getting it back on the road...