New member... Maybe future owner?

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Skorpiius
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New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by Skorpiius »

This will sound ridiculous, but I was looking at a mid 90s used car guide book this evening, and this photo on the cover made me want a Bonneville.

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Like, exactly that car. White with those white rims... Am I crazy? Haha

I'm in Calgary Alberta
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TheJMFC
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by TheJMFC »

I always liked the look of those wheels. Not much else on the road quite like that. Which is to say that I like them because they are distinctive, and fit the mood of the car as originally designed, not that they are great wheels outside of that context. Sadly I think they only made those for a year, maybe two.

Wheels aside, the '92-99 was an attractive car. In an era of boxy generic vehicles, they stood out.

Welcome. I don't think you're crazy. Good luck finding one.
I'm Jon. I'm completely stock, no mods.
2001 Saturn SL1: "Nameless" Stock. Manual. 243,000 miles. Yes, original engine. No, doesn't smoke.
2007 Dodge Grand Caravan SE: "The Van" Stock. A miserable necessity of adult life. 165,000 miles.
Sold, probably dead: 1993 Bonneville SSE "The Work Beater" Stock. Tried to kill me a few times. Failed.
Sold: 1996 Buick LeSabre Limited, "The family car" Custom CAI, F41 Sways.
Sold/dead, but not forgotten: 1989 Bonneville LE "Bonnie, the Sport Utility Car" STB from '92-'99 Bonnie, Delco (Type II) Ignition system
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J Wikoff
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by J Wikoff »

Good choice! I've got my original wheels like those tucked away in the garage.
Image
WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights
Skorpiius
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by Skorpiius »

TheJMFC wrote:I always liked the look of those wheels. Not much else on the road quite like that. Which is to say that I like them because they are distinctive, and fit the mood of the car as originally designed, not that they are great wheels outside of that context. Sadly I think they only made those for a year, maybe two.

Wheels aside, the '92-99 was an attractive car. In an era of boxy generic vehicles, they stood out.

Welcome. I don't think you're crazy. Good luck finding one.
That's what I've been trying to figure out.
I believe they were made a year or two within the range of 1992-1995, but I'd like to narrow it down further.

My understanding is the body style was relatively static between 92 and 95, is that correct?
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J Wikoff
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by J Wikoff »

92, you could get these Aerolites in body color. In 93, you could only get them in grey and maybe white, I think. They weren't offered as of 94.
Image
WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights
96 SSEi
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by 96 SSEi »

Ha Ha good choice!! welcome, you belong here
poverty forces one to do unorthodox things

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Skorpiius
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by Skorpiius »

The other thing that appeals to me, is my daily driver is a '96 Nissan Maxima, which was marketed as "4 door sports car", well, particularly the generation before. I realized that is exactly the kind of car that I like a 4 door sporty car, and especially if it is offered with a manual transmission, although that's not mandatory. So I grabbed that book to see what other 90s 4 door cars had some performance. Turns out, not many! Other than BMW/MB/Audi, there were just a few NA or Japan offerings, and the Bonneville was one of them.
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

Here is a couple of the boozer (Booze here), a white one with aerolites;

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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
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
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CMNTMXR57
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

Here is one in red. A similar one like this was on the cover of either Road & Track or Car & Driver back then that was taken while the car was driving and those wheels = hawtness;

Image

But speaking of other mid 90's 4-door sport sedans, don't forget the Taurus SHO, 1995+ Chevrolet Lumina's/Pontiac Grand Prix STE's/Oldsmobile Cutlass's Supreme's/Buick Regal's with GM's infamous "X" motor, or the 1994 - 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS (you could also find the Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, Olds Custom Cruiser, and Caddy Sedan DeVille also optioned with the same LT1 V8).
Image

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
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
Skorpiius
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by Skorpiius »

CMNTMXR57 wrote:Here is a couple of the boozer (Booze here), a white one with aerolites;

Image

Image

Image
Love it! Those body coloured rims are so unique! I'm wondering if Bonnevilles are starting to go up in price as they get more rare, or if they're still on the way down/levelling out.

I just found out that the '84 Celica I sold 15 years ago for $500 would probably be worth $5000 now... ugh. I figure early to mid-90s cars will hit that point soon.
Skorpiius
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Re: New member... Maybe future owner?

Post by Skorpiius »

CMNTMXR57 wrote:Here is one in red. A similar one like this was on the cover of either Road & Track or Car & Driver back then that was taken while the car was driving and those wheels = hawtness;

Image

But speaking of other mid 90's 4-door sport sedans, don't forget the Taurus SHO, 1995+ Chevrolet Lumina's/Pontiac Grand Prix STE's/Oldsmobile Cutlass's Supreme's/Buick Regal's with GM's infamous "X" motor, or the 1994 - 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS (you could also find the Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, Olds Custom Cruiser, and Caddy Sedan DeVille also optioned with the same LT1 V8).
That red Bonneville is amazing.
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