Anyone have experience/opinions with pontiac bonneville SSEI ?

Looking at one on craigslist. I may have a buyer lined up for my BMW. I need something more reliable and cheaper. http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/2215679225.html

Any thoughts? Do these things fall apart at 100k miles? I am actually looking for an 01-03 maxima in the 5k range and spotted this.


Evan

it's a 3800. those run forever, end of story

Same thing as a GTP.

the great thing about the supercharged engines is the aluminum intake manis. the only real issue with the regular 3.8 is the plastic intake mani's/gaskets and they fail early but the supercharger replaces the plastic intake mani and its all good. but as long as you maintain it, it will be a very good car for ya. It will probably need wheel bearings at some point but those really aren't a big deal at all.

Thanks for the advice. I have never been inside one, I may end up hating it LOL. I won't bother this dude with the car f/s until I get my bmw sold.

3vs197 wrote:

the great thing about the supercharged engines is the aluminum intake manis. the only real issue with the regular 3.8 is the plastic intake mani's/gaskets and they fail early but the supercharger replaces the plastic intake mani and its all good. but as long as you maintain it, it will be a very good car for ya. It will probably need wheel bearings at some point but those really aren't a big deal at all.

my girlfriend has the grand prix version, all of above is corect. wheel bearings wheel bearings wheel bearings.


but there very easy

Wheel bearings take less that a half hour on them.

nightrunner06 wrote:

3vs197 wrote:

the great thing about the supercharged engines is the aluminum intake manis. the only real issue with the regular 3.8 is the plastic intake mani's/gaskets and they fail early but the supercharger replaces the plastic intake mani and its all good. but as long as you maintain it, it will be a very good car for ya. It will probably need wheel bearings at some point but those really aren't a big deal at all.

my girlfriend has the grand prix version, all of above is corect. wheel bearings wheel bearings wheel bearings.


but there very easy

You girl? or the wheel bearings?

hehe

Its a good choice for that Family sedan. The 3800 will run forever, as long as you keep up on the Preventive Maintenance

They are great cars I had a new ine back in 1993 and it was a great car .

The wheel bearings seem to be a problem on most the Pontiac line. (but every make & model has something) It's usually the speed sensors that wear but you have to usually replace the whole bearing since the sensor isn't usually sold seperate like some other makes & models. My GA has had a few replaced & it's really not that hard to do & doesn't take to much time either. You'll know when it goes because it'll turn on these 3 lights all at once. Traction control off, abs & service vehicle soon. The sensor is out on my GA right now but the bearings good so I haven't really been in a rush to fix it as it drives fine, just throws those lights. As far as the 3800 goes though, I haven't really heard many bad things about them. I think I've sold maybe a few head gasket sets for them but not often or like stated above the intake maifold.

Go for it. Its cheap, practical and you can still have some fun when you put the pedal down.

My thoughts exactly. I have a guy who is seriously interested in my bmw, hopefully I can get that thing outta here.