Posts tagged Pontiac

Pontiac’s catchphrase for many years has been “driving excitement,” but the kind of driving excitement to be discovered by hurling a Bonneville into a tight corner has traditionally not been a good thing.

That’s changed since Pontiac redesigned the Bonneville last year.  Pontiac’s flagship sedan’s sporty looks have finally filtered through to the working parts beneath.  And that’s a good thing, as declining sales suggested the previous Bonneville had outlived its usefulness by a considerable margin.  The redesign keeps the familiar Bonneville face and Coke-bottle shape, but a healthy dose of refinement is a welcome change.  All-new in 2000, the biggest Pontiac sedan enters 2001 with few changes to its successful new outlook.

The Bonneville is mature-looking car…for a Pontiac.  It’s not as wild a design as the Grand Am or ill-advised Aztek, but it still looks from some angles like the offspring of a Toyota Camry and the Batmobile.  Traditional Pontiac cues such as a grille with a subtle chrome ring, split air intakes low in the bumper, and a rise in body line at the C-pillar ensure that loyal Bonneville buyers won’t be turned off.  The plastic-cladding level has been turned down several notches, which makes it easier to take the Bonneville seriously.  Still, it’s still one of the few large sedans that can wear a spoiler with a straight face.  Up front, the familiar Bonneville front end has been updated with a smoother look which molds the bumper seamlessly with the body.  Out back, the subtlety has been forgotten in favor of an overdone, busy taillight scheme.

Inside, the Bonneville has been similarly modernized and matured without losing its basic “Pontiacness.”  The first thing to greet passengers is an array of eyeball-style air vents, staring right back.  There are eight of them, but it seems like there are more. If they were chrome, it could be 1968. We liked them.  The bulgy dash is familiar Pontiac fare, as are the large, gumdrop-shaped buttons which control the air conditioning and radio, and the door pulls and steering wheel which have finger-indents.  A racy T-handle shifter in the console selects the gears.  The seats are typically GM-wide, and feel firm but squishy, like inflatable beanbags.  Heated seats are optional.  There’s a ski-sized panel in the rear seat, extending the trunk for long, narrow cargo.  Unfortunately, the Delco sound system in our test car wasn’t as good as the factory systems in many other cars.  And we’ve never been a fan of GM’s automatic locking system, which locks the doors when the car is put into gear, but forces you to unlock them manually when you park.

The biggest change to the Bonneville is in its newfound driving manners.  MacPherson struts up front and an independent lower control arm suspension with automatic level control at the rear bring the Bonneville’s performance into the 21st century.  The flaccid feel of the previous model is gone.  The steering is responsive, and the four-wheel disc brakes make par as well.  And, of course, it doesn’t scream for mercy if you push it hard on a twisty road.  Don’t be mistaken; a BMW M5 would eat it for lunch, but so what?  The big Pontiac’s behavior at all speeds is great, and for its sub-$30,000 price it’s a very good-feeling car.  It feels more substantial and solid than a Mercury Sable, and it’s easier to see out of than a Chrysler Concorde.  And to make it an even three points in its favor, the Bonneville also has a great deal more personality than a Toyota Avalon.

It’s also a great deal less “grown-up” than any of them.  In SE and SLE models, a 205-hp V6 provides power that will have sixteen-year-old boys and their fathers alike ripping needlessly away from traffic lights, just to enjoy the acceleration.  It’s boyishly fun, but far from hard to handle.  For more grunt, the top-of-the-line SSEi has a supercharged V6 with 240 horsepower.  The SSEi also features larger brakes, larger wheels and thicker stabilizer bars, for a more overtly sporty ride.  A four-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models.

Bonnevilles come in three trim levels; SE, SLE, and SSEi, in order of increasing cost and complexity.  Our test vehicle was an SE, featuring the standard large sedan fare; power windows and locks, trunk pass-through, side airbags, and a nifty tire pressure monitor.  The plusher SLE adds a performance axle, remote entry, spoiler, and other luxuries to the mix, and the top-of-the-line SSEi has Stabilitrak traction control, Pontiac’s head-up display instrument panel, power seats, and a trunk accessory kit.   The SE starts at $23,680, and our test vehicle stickered for $28,420.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2001 Pontiac Bonneville SE, which we tested.
Length:     202.6 in.
Width:        74.2 in.
Height:        56.6 in.
Wheelbase:    112.2 in.
Curb weight:    3590 lb.
Cargo space:    18.0 cu.ft
Base price:    $23,680
Price as tested: $28,420
Engine: 3.8 liter V6
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:      205 @ 5200
Torque:     230 @ 4000
Fuel capacity:    18.5 gal.
Est. mileage:    19/30