Let's look at the Bonny GXP.
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/pont ... lle-gxp-2/
As before, the Bonneville is still meant for running down the turnpike, belly to the ground. But now you can hammer this big front-wheel-drive car over a narrow, winding secondary road, as we did on the way to Jalama Beach, and it stays on top of its tires like a sport sedan.
As a whole, the Bonneville GXP is a strong piece. Rear-wheel drive is coming into fashion for cars such as this, but the Bonneville shows us that the standard set by the Detroit-label, full-size, front-wheel-drive sedan is far higher than critics realize.
Not terrible. Looking for a better speed reference than 0-60. But they claim 6.5. Which isn't super quick although it's still way faster than the 3.
Motorweek tested one.
https://www.motorweek.org/reviews/road_ ... ogram_2351
And they got a god-awful time although their numbers are always slow so there's that.
Get those tires spinning, and the Bonneville GXP romps to 60 in 7.8 seconds. The quarter mile ends in a best time of 16-seconds at 88 miles-per-hour. While only a few tenths quicker than the earlier Bonneville SSEi with its supercharged V-6, the GXP V-8 has a broader spread of power. Torque is instantly available, and is delivered in a smooth, even flow with none of the peaks or valleys of a boosted powerplant. Plus, it sounds great. The Northstar’s satisfying rumble, combined with a firm but not harsh ride, gives the GXP a sporty character that is unexpected in a full-size sedan.
The sporty feel of the GXP carries over to handling, where the Bonneville’s sport-tuned all-independent suspension delivers impressive agility for a big front-driver. The GXP turns in easily thanks to quick, but low feel, magnetic variable ratio steering. Understeer is mild, even when pushed hard, despite the car’s 3,790 pound weight. The GXP’s standard Stabilitrak stability control system helps maintain that prowess even on wet or broken pavement.
But the 2005 Pontiac Bonneville GXP is more than just a V-8. With secure front-drive traction, responsive handling, slick exterior, and roomy interior, the GXP is most attractive to anyone yearning for a big sedan with an attitude. Indeed, it’s great to see a V-8 and Bonneville together again. A heavenly match, made in Detroit, that we hope never again parts.
So aside from the actual numbers, this sounds relatively good. Going to need a third opinion on the numbers.
https://carbuzz.com/news/weekly-treasur ... eville-gxp
Turns out the G8 replaced this car. That's cool. Check out the pics. This article is only 1 year old so it was written about a very used car.
Here we go.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/co ... son-tests/
Oh sweet, HUD was an option. No nav though. Bad news for Bill. He loves old, terrible nav. Oh wait, that's me.
This was kind of my point. FWD stuff was all on its last gen for the most part (other than the mid and small stuff like the Cobalt/Cruze/Malibu and then I guess the Impala is the sole exception that made it to Epsilon II).
GM is getting back its rear-drive religion, but the process is slow. While we wait, the "driving excitement" division offers this front-drive diversion.
That suspension includes a forked aluminum control arm in the rear that serves as both a trailing and diagonal arm. It is braced by a center-line-mounted (and hence, very long) toe-control link. This arrangement, odd-looking though it may be, nonetheless helped supply decent poise up to 7/10ths. Enough so that drivers preferred wheeling the Bonneville over the Ford in every situation, something of a feat for a nose-heavy front-driver.
Handling better than a Crown Vic! What a standard. Although it was pretty much a P71 which some say were good handling...
Anyway, decent poise up to 7/10ths is pretty perfect for daily situations.
The Northstar's extra wattage also sealed the Bonneville's second place. Spurs to the groin, it tackled 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and the quarter in 15.4 at 91 mph with only minor torque-induced swagger.
Hmm. That's.....kind of lame. Frankly that's solidly 4th gen Maxima levels of performance. Or even a bit slower than an Impala SS (my two favorite 90s icons).
I still maintain it's a nice overall package, but if you wanted low 14s, this ain't gonna do it.
https://blog.consumerguide.com/review-f ... onneville/
Production numbers. I guess it was 04-05 production, totaling 6,313 which makes it quite a bit more rare than the CTS-V1.
Uh oh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_B ... 80%932005)
It was on the G-platform! Bill, it's destiny.
Related Oldsmobile Aurora
Buick LeSabre
Cadillac Seville
But in all seriousness, that means this thing will feel WAAAY more solid than any W-body.
More info.
https://www.motortrend.com/features/030 ... p-feature/
And here's where this saga gets interesting: sometime between February and October, the GXP's supercharged 3.8/4T65E drivetrain lost out to a 4.4-liter, naturally-aspirated V8 connected to a stronger 4T80E transmission.
4T80E confirmed. Waaaaay better trans than the 4T60E or 4T65E. Does this mean some early 04 GXPs had the supercharged 3800? Something to watch out for.
However, the GXP will share the Caddy's stronger tranny. Unfortunately, this strength comes with a price: the 4T80E is nearly a hundred pounds heavier, at 292 pounds versus 195 for the 4T65E. It has been estimated that a 24 percent driveline loss exists with this trans, which is higher than the 4T65E's estimated 21 percent. The 80 does have slightly higher gear ratios down low--2.96 and 1.62 for First and Second, as compared to 2.92 and 1.56 for the 65. But when factoring in the driveline loss and extra weight, we suspect that the 285-horse, naturally aspirated GXP won't be any faster than the original concept's 270-horse 3.8. Consider the inferior weight transfer and other unpleasantness associated with a front-drive, V8-powered vehicle which will top 3,900 pounds, and we're looking at mid-14s in the 95 mph range on a good day. Not lightning-quick, but it will still beat the SSEi's mid-15s like a stray dog.
The Bonneville GXP is currently slated to replace the supercharged SSEi for the 2004 model year. Conversion to GXP status will likely take place through a combination of production line and post-production changes. No production run number has been set, but look for consistency with the current yearly SSEi sales.
Ahhh. So it's a heavier trans with more loss. That explains why, without being all that much heavier, and not having that much less power, it's, in practice, considerably slower than the Impala SS. But with a self-destructive transmission, is that of any practical value? I mean you can roll the dice. People have enjoyed them. Comes at a cost though.
I don't think it ever even ran the mid 14s @ 95 that they predicted (that's what my STS does though, which has more power and more weight).
Here is a Hemmings article that was never published in 2004 so they published it in 2014. That has to be some kind of insult to the car.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2014/0 ... eville-gxp
I got this neighbor, see. Got a refrigerator-white box Nova and a 1954 Mercury parked outside. Wrenches on that Nova daily; you know it's 4 p.m. 'cause you can hear him messing with the idle on the Nova. His daily driver GMC truck is slammed, suede and sounds like it got indigestion after swallowing Grumpy Jenkins's Camaro. Clearly he likes cars. But I've had a ton of cool cars dropped off for me to drive - Corvettes, Mustangs, Cadillacs, V-10 Mopars - and he doesn't even give a second look. Even my Montego, big and blue and making noises that rival his truck, doesn't register comment. That's cool. He's into his thing. No big deal.
The afternoon that the black and freshly-detailed Bonneville is dropped off, and I inch down the street, struggling to find street parking, my neighbor, who has never so much as looked at me, is utterly transfixed. He walks down the block after me. Trailing me. Stalking me. Big smile. The teeth won't stop. Neither do the questions. He claims he hadn't seen this generation of Bonneville before. Ever. Which is a little shocking, considering they've been around since 2000.
"Bonneville? They still make them? Manohman. I wasn't sure what that was when it pulled in, but this is American style, boy. V-8 power? It's a Northstar? Woo hoo! Front drive? In a car this big? You're kidding! Eighteen-inch wheels?" He peeks inside. "Leather? Suede? Man." I hit the key. Dual exhausts rumble. "Aww yeah, that's what I’m talking about! How much? Thirty-five grand? That ain't bad!" In truth, it was $38,635, but that's with options, including an absurd $1,100 for a sunroof and a surprising $595 trunk-mounted 12CD changer. If he'd had the down payment in his pocket, Neighbor Dude would have waved his wallet at me.
the all-aluminum 32-valve dual overhead-camshaft powerplant, putting 275 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque out of 278 cubic inches, is a gem. The former top-dog supercharged V-6 that was available in the now-deceased SSEi always seemed a little frenetic for a car of this size, giving the impression (despite sufficient power) that it was working too hard to achieve it; the V-8 gives it a certain relaxed confidence and poise. You're never going to win any pinkslips at the drags with it, but the power builds to a top-end crescendo that's more muscle car than anything else the Bonneville has had under the hood since the big-cube 1960s, though with four cams spinning away, the sheer low-end grunt of a big-cube two-valve pushrod engine simply isn't there.
As for Neighbor Dude's question as to why a car that big is front-wheel-drive, well, we've all been pondering that one for years, but the 4T80E transaxle shifts smoothly enough and lets the front tires make some amusing noises when you switch the traction control off. It also allows 22 MPG cruising at a steady 78 MPG MPH, which sadly enough is roughly in the league of a turbocharged four-cylinder Dodge SRT4.
Geez.
Like the supercharged Impala SS we drove last year, this is a car that could have been around for a decade or more: All of the components were available, but no one thought to cook up this particular recipe with the ingredients they had in house. Unlike that miserable SS, which was perhaps the most awful new car we'd driven in a decade, the Bonneville actually seems to work. Enlarging the basic GM front-wheel-drive sedan recipe seems to have done the trick, mostly.
Well these people love theirs.
autobug2 7 years ago
My oldest friend still drives his--pearl white, tan leather everything, every option incl. moonroof, and the legendary Northstar V8. He loves it. Driven it myself a few times, and its a solid performer alright!
AMZ 7 years ago
I own a 2004 Bonneville Gxp greystone metallic with 181,000 miles and going strong. Best thing about it is the looks I get when bmw's, Lexus and Mercedes get smoked in the highway!!
RG 7 years ago
I just picked up an '05 White Gold GXP, with 150k miles.... for $3,500! It's an amazing car! I love it! Wish I had one years ago! I'm even in the process of a couple handling mods to tighten her up. Would you believe at the gas station yesterday, some guy thought it was a 2016! Flattered but couldn't help but laugh out loud!
PonchoPete 6 years ago
I am obviously a Pontiac guy, but more so a Bonneville guy (89, 94 SSEi, and 2x2005s). As much as I also love my G8 GT, this Bonne is the best balanced all around car I have owned. Grey 2005 GXP. It has its issues over 100k, but thinking of finding another low mile GXP. After all, it IS the LAST Bonneville.
I liked it so much that I bought a 2005 SLE with same body styling with super low miles (only year SLE body panels matched GXP).
Hmmmm. Not sure about this one. Not saying it's impossible but I do know that many of these were misdiagnosed based on another cooling system issue that's much cheaper to fix.
Captain Bob 6 years ago
I have an '05 pearl white one. Love the car, the looks, the performance. Hate feeding it. The car has been in the family since (almost) new - 5000 miles. I just turned 98,000 on it and had the infamous Northstar blown head gaskets and oil leaks. I decided to have the engine redone with SureGrip studs. Where would I find as nice a used car for the price the engine repair was going to cost? With that investment I will be driving it for awhile.
Here you go. This is more what I thought was the case.
Abe 8 months ago
I have an 05 with 76k miles. I as a mechanic laugh every time I read someone saying N and issues. Most people are not speaking from experience and don't realize that by 2005 the studs were changed to longer, thicker, and coarser threads similar to the corvettes and the head design was also changed virtually eliminating all previous N problems. A simple Google search would verify this info in design changed. However, the worst years of the N were 98-99 - ask any Cadillac owner - where most of the bad name for N began.
By 2004 midyear these changes were made and by 2005 issues were almost non-existent. I say "almost" for the simple fact that people suck at maintenance. Especially by the time cars are on their 3rd and 4th owners. Simple maintenance, like not following scheduled flushing of the coolant and driving the car with leaking water pumps, (typical with GM) would cause overheating and of course blown head gaskets. You can find any car including Hondas, Toyotas, Lexus etc. with blown head gaskets.
I would not say it's even remotely common to have a blown head gasket in 2004-2005 Bonneville's with only some 4700 being produced. I would be more worried about the transmission in the six cylinder version than I ever would of a 2004-2005 N engine.