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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 5:17 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
I like when things continue to happen

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"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 11:21 pm 
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Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:16 pm
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Location: Virginia
Year and Trim: 2004 SLE
I'm gonna have to get a picture of my GP with that Pontiac sign one day!

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk" or the 4dr Firebird...Gone but not forgotten
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The Blog, http://www.tobthebat.wordpress.com

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Luna LeMans in Amazon paperback
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:43 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Miles keep climbing and I just keep driving! Finally gave Penny her first deep spring clean. Rubber mats removed from the car, etc.
Car needs a few odds and ends, just changed the oil yesterday. Will need to do power steering at some point which will round out the fluids and hopefully she will be ready for summer! AC still works and blows cold... Thank goodness...
Her first trip is coming up mid May. Heading to the southern tip of IL to do some camping so I shall hopefully have everything prepped and ready by then.

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Gotta love when they close Chicago sewers... Luckily she's a boat so.... hahahaha
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Both cars enjoying the warmer weather.
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Hopefully won't have anymore of this stuff any time soon...
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"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 7:49 am 
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Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:16 pm
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Location: Virginia
Year and Trim: 2004 SLE
Reminds me so much of Bonnie ;) That body style will be forever gorgeous.

Keep her rolling! (Whats she up to now?)

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk" or the 4dr Firebird...Gone but not forgotten
Image

The Blog, http://www.tobthebat.wordpress.com

Luna LeMans on Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/870754

Luna LeMans in Amazon paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1983273589


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 11:13 am 
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Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Posts: 5827
Location: CHICAGO
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
That white stuff in the last picture... I HATE!

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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


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 11:46 am 
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She's almost at 173k these days. I want to keep her going as long as possible. But she's getting closer and closer to the point where it's just the tried and true 3800 pulling the rest of the heap along. Haha!

I do love this body style, such a good looking car. They really nailed it. It still doesn't look as old as it actually is.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 12:13 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Posts: 5827
Location: CHICAGO
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
That's the way I feel about the RGC.

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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


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2018 9:38 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Another successful camping trip. Headed down to southern IL to Shawnee National Forest. I filled up 3 times. On the way there, 23 MPG. Winds were nuts, and I was only going 65 mph to boot! The tank used up on site netted 19.8 MPG, which was still awesome given the hills, some minor spirited driving, and idling the car for 4 hours with AC on blast as a portable AC unit... It was hot and humid down there midday and it was worth it to me. The tank on the way home gave me the highest MPG I've seen in a little bit. 31.2 MPG! I was cruising at a modest 70 mph most of the way since I was in no rush so that's probably where it all came from.

The roads and change of scenery down there were awesome. Wish I could have taken the S2000 but there was no way I could have hauled all of my stuff in it. I can't wait to do it again!
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The group hiking with my friend's 6 month old German Shepherd pup, on Little Grand Canyon Trail.
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My friend's 95 Tacoma. Was such a blast driving it on the maintenance roads and trails down there.
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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2018 9:51 pm 
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Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:16 pm
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Location: Virginia
Year and Trim: 2004 SLE
The trunk looks like it held all the essentials (Blue Moon) LOL

Gotta love that kind of mpg from such a comfortable, roomy car!

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2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk" or the 4dr Firebird...Gone but not forgotten
Image

The Blog, http://www.tobthebat.wordpress.com

Luna LeMans on Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/870754

Luna LeMans in Amazon paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1983273589


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2018 10:48 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:47 pm
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Location: Philadelphia
Year and Trim: 95 SLE
Looks like a good time. Nice pics.

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95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2018 11:17 pm 
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Location: DeKalb, IL
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Glad to see Penny still around. Still looks fantastic too. :beerchug:

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88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2018 9:33 am 
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Thanks guys!

That Blue Moon case was gone on the first night... Haha! I am a few camping trips in so I have quite a bit of gear now so I get to camp in pretty relative comfort.

Penny is a champ for getting that MPG. She's still looking pretty good but the years and miles are definitely catching up to her. On the highway she's a treat, but on these awful Chicago roads I can hear every worn out subframe bushing and loose panel. But that's what the radio's for anyways....

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 8:21 am 
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Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:16 pm
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Location: Virginia
Year and Trim: 2004 SLE
As much as I love Gypsy, there are days I kick myself for ever trading Bonnie away. Yes, I was frustrated over the repairs, but in retrospect they were fixable things I would've eventually gotten on top of...and it would've been cheaper than the merry-go-round of vehicles I've owned since. I still look at pics and long to see her parked in my driveway again...probably why I cant seem to stop looking at GXPs. You've got a beauty there and a classic in the making.

_________________
2004 Bonneville SLE "Bonnie the Ghosthawk" or the 4dr Firebird...Gone but not forgotten
Image

The Blog, http://www.tobthebat.wordpress.com

Luna LeMans on Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/870754

Luna LeMans in Amazon paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1983273589


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 9:09 am 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
I'm in a similar boat. While Penny looks good in pics, in reality there is a lot of ugly rust and body damage. There are no two ways around the fact that she has 173k miles in the Chicago city environment, having only ever seen 2 nights in a garage. She will never be a classic. It's an unrealistic dream but I'd love to "restore" this thing one day and just do a lot of little OEM+ things to it.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 3:22 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:47 pm
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Location: Philadelphia
Year and Trim: 95 SLE
That sounds like my i30.. I told myself if I ever had to pull the engine again, I'm going to replace it.. since the car overall is not worth going through all that again. I did get the G35 but 10 months later I still can't figure out what I'm going to do with the i.

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95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2018 10:19 am 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
The struggle is real, especially once you get attached to a car.

I've been thinking about Penny replacements in the back of my mind, but it is financially stupid to replace a perfectly working car. I'd love to replace her with a G8 GXP MT, or Chevy SS. Since I have people in the car all the time for work.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2018 10:59 am 
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Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:47 pm
Posts: 6871
Location: Philadelphia
Year and Trim: 95 SLE
I put about 2000 miles between 2 rental VF Commodore wagons in New Zealand 2 months ago. They were SV6 and auto which was kind of a bummer but they handled and braked well. Very few roads were straight so I got to push it and have fun basically the whole time. That platform does not suck.

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Image
95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2018 11:41 am 
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It's almost perfect IMO. Relatively reliable and easy to work on with mechanical bits being inexpensive.

I just really appreciate the overall size and quality of the interior, as well as how they drive. Perfect for shuttling humans but very practical and still a hoot to drive. I'd already have one if G8 GTs came stick. Even after tuning them, those auto transmissions just do NOT listen.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2018 11:52 pm 
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Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2016 8:10 pm
Posts: 34
Year and Trim: 2002 Bonneville SLE
nos4blood70 wrote:
The struggle is real, especially once you get attached to a car.

I've been thinking about Penny replacements in the back of my mind, but it is financially stupid to replace a perfectly working car. I'd love to replace her with a G8 GXP MT, or Chevy SS. Since I have people in the car all the time for work.

Thought about that idea myself....and rejected it.

Personal preference: but one of the things I love about my SLE is that parts are everywhere: and they’re affordable,relatively speaking. The SS and G8 use parts from Australia,which means a long azz wait for certain components. With Holden out of business down under ,keeping an Aussie GM car running -especially as a daily-could get tough in the future.

My plan is to drive my SLE until the frame snaps apart from rust like the RMS Titanic. Then I’ll see what my options are then. Considering the number of uninsured,intoxicated,and just plain incompetent drivers around combined with the decrepit roads these days, it’s almost smarter to own a disposable car you don’t mind walking away from if it’s damaged.


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 Post subject: Re: Penny the 2003 SLE
PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2018 8:20 am 
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
You're not wrong! Penny has been hit all over multiple times. Can't do much about it in populated zones. I don't think there's a single clean panel on this car.... Lol

She's just not as much of a looker as she used to be, and it's starting to get to the point where certain clients are like... He drives that?! But they're not there to buy the car so I tend to ignore them. Haha!

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