1992 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi 3.8 s/c

Summary:

Fast, fun and comfortable, but sometimes expensive to keep running

Faults:

The supercharger has gone out several times, you must run high-octane fuel, still having other problems with engine, replacement parts for it are also very expensive.

General Comments:

When its running right, this car is awesome. It will beat any honda in a race. Mine has every imaginable option and is soo much fun to drive. Very comfortable to ride in, handles great, accelerates amazingly, goes fast. As long as its running, great car, but it can be very expensive to keep running right.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd February, 2008

1992 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8L V6

Summary:

The Bonneville is a great car, very underrated in my opinion

Faults:

Heater core started to leak at about 180000 miles. It was relatively easy to replace. Cost was about $30.00 at the local Advance Auto.

The engine has a tendency to stall when I make a right hand turn, such as when exiting off of a freeway onto one of the exit loops. It only does this if the tank is about half full or less. The closer the tank gets to the 1/4 mark the worse it gets. It only does this for a right had turn, turning left it doesn't do it at all. I suspect this is a problem with the fuel pick-up in the tank?? I have always just topped off the tank whenever it started to get near the 1/2 mark.

General Comments:

I bought the car about 9 months ago and have gotten great service from it. Other than a quirk with an occasional engine stall during right hand turns, I have had no problems with the car at all.

The 3.8 V6 is surprisingly powerful in a car this big. It has plenty of acceleration and passing power, and it will cruise all day on the Interstate at 70 MPH and still get 24 - 25 MPG.

I really like the car and was quite upset when I got rear ended earlier this week on the way home from work. The estimate for the damage is $2150.00 so, it is probably totaled.

I will definitely try and find another early to mid 90's Bonneville to replace it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd February, 2008

1992 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi 3.8 Supercharged V6

Summary:

Just a all around amazing car

Faults:

Nothing. This car is a rock. Other than my Supercharger making a little noise, and needing at least 91 octane gas, it's a total BRICK.

General Comments:

The car is all around a excellent car. Definitely one of the best cars GM ever built in the 90's. It has crap loads of power for being only 205hp, but the low end power is absolutely astonishing. With the traction control off, it has so much torque steer, I LOVE it. I plan to modify it and make it a beast. Thank you GM! I owned a '94 SSEi before this, and it too was a excellent car. For being large cars, they sure can get up and go. I recommend anyone that is looking for a large car with performance, go for a SSEi, you will not be dissatisfied. Yes, it may have it's perks like other cars, but in the end, it pays for itself in fun and comfort. :)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th June, 2007

17th Jul 2007, 08:22

Can anyone tell me what could be causing the problem on a 92' bonneville SSEi, if it keeps cutting off when I am driving? The bearings are bad on the supercharger and there is a noise with it also; but I'm not sure if that's the problem or if it's electrical, or something else. Thanks, I would like to hear from you.

25th Mar 2017, 03:52

'Best 90's GM car' is rather faint praise.

In reply to 25th Mar 2017, 03:52

25th Mar 2017, 16:28

I will add glowing or outstanding with mine. I had a 1990 Silver Bonneville and it was a great, minimal maintenance car. Nice handling vs similar size models. It must have had a special suspension as it was taut with very flat cornering.

The instrumentation was great. Like a sports car with the yellow lit factory gauges. They did not skimp, and the full gauges were great vs cheapening out with idiot lights. I can live without a tach on cars. But I like oil pressure and water temp vs just a light. Then it's typically too late. The radio even had an equalizer. It had room without feeling like a big car.

I sold it with nearly 200k on it. A nurse bought it to commute to a hospital in Philadelphia. Around 40 miles a day. I still saw my car on the road a couple years later. I did a lot of oil changes, filters and tires. Just routine things. We also had a new 90 Pontiac 6000 4 door sedan as well. Black with luggage rack and wire wheel hubcaps. Well optioned. Another great car.