1988 Pontiac Bonneville SSE review from North America

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Hi, I live in Southern California, and I bought my 1988 SSE 3 years ago for $1500. It had the usual stuff to repair for a car with over 160,000 miles on it, most notably (I thought at the time) was the clearcoat.

The car also had a persistant "antilock" light burning brightly in the dash.

Also within a month of the purchase, the kick-ass radio quit.. At that time the Blue Book was about $4500, so I figured I could spend $3000, before I got hurt too bad… But, after driving the car for a few months, I fell in love with it, I'd seen these cars on the road before, and always wanted one..

Drives really well, handles like a sportscar, Really quiet inside.. So.. $1000 for the paint, $300 for a radio, new defroster vent, new center console lid, new battery, new brakes. That was all cool.

At 200,000 the tranny went. Ewww $3000!! Well OK, it was time I guess.

New harmonic balancer, $250, questioning, but still loving the car!!!

New MAF sensor $350.

New exhaust manifold $200.

Now it's 3 years later, the antilock light has just upped the anti. Not only is the antilock light on, but the "brake" light is now on, and the sunroof is leaking, and the headliner is drooping.

Well OK, I called around, the master cylinder in a "dealer" item - $1500!!! New sunroof seal $500 installed.. and the headliner isn't available from the dealer, and no upholstery shop will touch it for less than $400.

Hmmm, should I??? Blue Book now with 212,000 miles is $3700. I still love the car, but where will I give up? I'm driving it, and loving it, but it's dirty, cause I can't get it wet, for fear it will flood inside. I gotta pump the brakes 3 times at every stop, and I tore out the headliner to stop the cloud of foam dust blowing around inside the cabin.

Now on Saturday, the driver's window, fell to the bottom of the door - $200 @ Pontiac. Did I mention I love(d) this car???