In July 1956, Pontiac ushered in a new general manager who would prove crucial in bringing the nameplate to the forefront of automotive performance. Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen (son of the '30s division chief, "Big Bill") would start with a '57 Star Chief convertible, gussie up the exterior with extra chrome, and drop in a 370 cubic-inch, fuel-injected V8 putting out 310 horsepower. Bunkie dubbed it the Bonneville, and created a performance icon.
Some 43 years later, the Bonneville has evolved from a 4,300 pound, two-door hot rod, to a four-door family sports sedan that's jam-packed with amenities. Today's Bonneville - especially the SSEi variant -- is a natural choice for baby-booming Firebird owners who have to trade in their beloved fire breathers for a family sedan, but still want gut-wrenching performance.
Pontiac's latest tag line is "We are Driving Excitement." And as we found out while driving Pontiac's flagship, excitement is just what the 2000 Bonneville delivers, along with dubious, peculiar and horrifying feelings. Allow us to explain.
Looking for excitement in a family luxury sedan? Just mash the throttle of the SSEi to the floorboard and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the sweeping rush of power the supercharged 3.8-liter pushrod V6 delivers to the front wheels. With a hint of blower whine as the boost gauge nudges toward full boost, 240 ponies are released to the pavement, sending the SSEi to 60 mph in a scant 6.8 seconds and averaging 18.1 mpg during a combination of city and highway driving.
In true front-drive performance style, torque steer is the name of the game, and the Bonneville doesn't disappoint. With 280 foot-pounds of twisting force available at 3,600 rpm, a decent amount of tug is transmitted through the steering wheel, especially with the standard Magnetic Speed Variable Assist (MSVA) steering system (which requires greater steering input at higher speeds and less effort at slower speeds).
While the MSVA system is a dream to use in parking lots or when pulling three-point turns, the increased steering effort is quite noticeable during high-speed maneuvers in the canyons. As the system increases resistance, the steering feel goes from tight and responsive to rubbery and vague. As one driver commented, "the steering feels like I'm trying to drive through a bowl full of pudding."
Four-wheel, antilock disc brakes are standard fare, which is confidence-inspiring under normal driving conditions. Emergency braking situations are downright scary, as the ABS system locks-unlocks-locks-unlocks the wheels and transmits a great deal of pedal pulse to the driver's right foot. Brake fade was minimal during repeated braking tests, with our tester grinding from 60 to zero in 138 feet.
The Bonnie's interior styling is one part typical GM parts bin, two parts techno-gadgetry and a pinch of Andy Warhol. With a sweeping dash and compartmentalized controls, the interior imparts more a feeling of a pieced-together Lego Land than of a luxury family sedan. Furthermore, the dubious fit and finish is enhanced by this "cut and paste" approach, with air vent pods that don't fit the cutouts, loose HVAC temperature dials and an abundance of glue seeping from the edges of the headliner.
We thoroughly enjoyed the "cockpit" style layout of the dash with all the controls neatly angled toward the driver -- and were especially intrigued by the red back-lit gauges and controls -- but Pontiac still needs to address minor gauge visibility problems; the steering wheel successfully blocked the odometer and message center. Dual climate controls with large knobs and buttons are easy enough for a three year old to use. Similarly, the Bose AM/FM/Cassette/in-dash CD/trunk-mounted CD changer is a breeze to use, especially with stereo controls that are incorporated into the steering wheel.
The SSEi's gauge package also features a slick head-up display that projects vehicle speed, turn signals, headlamp beam, radio frequency while tuning and low-fuel indicator on the windscreen, thus allowing the driver's eyes to remain in contact with the road. The system also includes a projection height adjustment to accommodate large and small drivers. Like any new gadget, the head-up display takes a little getting used to, but after a quick 10-mile jaunt, we found the system to be a reliable feature.
Driver and front passenger are treated to 12-way power seats with what Pontiac calls a "catcher's mitt" design that's supposed to surround the occupants like a ball in a catcher's mitt in case of a rear-end collision. After driving the Bonneville for a mere 20 minutes, we can certainly attest to the fact that our bodies are not baseballs. The seats seriously lack lumbar and lateral support, which makes long trips more of a dreaded chore than a pleasurable drive. If you plan on traveling over 200 miles in a single jaunt, be sure to turn on the seat heaters before exiting the vehicle, as you'll need to warm up your muscles to be able to move.
We were equally uncomfortable in the rear seat, with our knees jammed into the front seat backs and our heads rubbing against the headliner. Thoughtfully, Pontiac included an excellent rear-center armrest with a spacious storage area and dual cupholders that will accommodate oversized drinks. A 12-volt powerpoint resides in the rear of the center console, along with a small ashtray and dual HVAC vents. While three kids will fit easily in the back, adults will find the quarters cramped and difficult in the ingress/egress department due to the large, imposing wheel arch.
On the highway, the SSEi's suspension soaked up every rut and bump we could throw at it, but the soft shock/strut valving proved to bring forth nightmare-like handling tendencies on mountain or poorly paved roads. Heavy doses of body roll and moderate understeer were ever present in the twisties, but most annoying was the seemingly never-ending suspension undulation whenever deep dips were encountered. We humbly suggest the addition of airsickness bags to the front seatback pockets for rear passengers when traversing uneven pavement.
In an attempt to raise the responsiveness of the SSEi's suspension, Pontiac includes their stability control system -- StabiliTrak -- to monitor steering, wheel speed, and vehicle yaw. When the system kicks in, the brakes (only one at a time) are applied to keep the vehicle in control and prevent it from becoming a projectile at oncoming vehicles. The Pontiac system isn't as refined as its Cadillac counterpart and the system can be a bit intrusive during spirited driving. Thankfully, a defeat button may be depressed for the driving enthusiast.
True to the Pontiac line, the new Bonneville takes on the traditional "Coke-bottle" shape, cat-eye headlamps and wide-body sculpting. While the Pontiac line suffers from excessive body-cladding syndrome, the Bonneville's is less obtrusive than most (some staffers feel the Grand Prix is slightly more subdued), merely accenting the clean lines and affording protection from shopping carts and door dings.
The front fascia carries a wide-body flair and aggressive stance, mostly due to the Bonneville's wide 62.6-inch track. Pontiac capitalized on the width by enveloping the occupants in a glass greenhouse that affords excellent visibility. Large heated outer mirrors with passenger side reverse tilt-down help make lane changes a breeze and parallel parking a snap.
The SSEi comes standard with a host of other amenities, including an electronic leveling suspension, driver and passenger one-touch-down windows, 24-hour roadside assistance, tire-pressure monitor, side-impact airbags, a universal garage door opener and a handy trunk accessory kit.
Pitted against a comparably equipped Chrysler LHS (at $31,005) or Lincoln LS V6 (at $35,940), we'd have a hard time recommending the SSEi. At the SSEi's as-tested $34,615 price point, we'd like it to have a more refined suspension package, better integration of interior components and some life to the steering feel. Until that happens, we'll take our Lincoln LS in black.
Some 43 years later, the Bonneville has evolved from a 4,300 pound, two-door hot rod, to a four-door family sports sedan that's jam-packed with amenities. Today's Bonneville - especially the SSEi variant -- is a natural choice for baby-booming Firebird owners who have to trade in their beloved fire breathers for a family sedan, but still want gut-wrenching performance.
Pontiac's latest tag line is "We are Driving Excitement." And as we found out while driving Pontiac's flagship, excitement is just what the 2000 Bonneville delivers, along with dubious, peculiar and horrifying feelings. Allow us to explain.
Looking for excitement in a family luxury sedan? Just mash the throttle of the SSEi to the floorboard and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the sweeping rush of power the supercharged 3.8-liter pushrod V6 delivers to the front wheels. With a hint of blower whine as the boost gauge nudges toward full boost, 240 ponies are released to the pavement, sending the SSEi to 60 mph in a scant 6.8 seconds and averaging 18.1 mpg during a combination of city and highway driving.
In true front-drive performance style, torque steer is the name of the game, and the Bonneville doesn't disappoint. With 280 foot-pounds of twisting force available at 3,600 rpm, a decent amount of tug is transmitted through the steering wheel, especially with the standard Magnetic Speed Variable Assist (MSVA) steering system (which requires greater steering input at higher speeds and less effort at slower speeds).
While the MSVA system is a dream to use in parking lots or when pulling three-point turns, the increased steering effort is quite noticeable during high-speed maneuvers in the canyons. As the system increases resistance, the steering feel goes from tight and responsive to rubbery and vague. As one driver commented, "the steering feels like I'm trying to drive through a bowl full of pudding."
Four-wheel, antilock disc brakes are standard fare, which is confidence-inspiring under normal driving conditions. Emergency braking situations are downright scary, as the ABS system locks-unlocks-locks-unlocks the wheels and transmits a great deal of pedal pulse to the driver's right foot. Brake fade was minimal during repeated braking tests, with our tester grinding from 60 to zero in 138 feet.
The Bonnie's interior styling is one part typical GM parts bin, two parts techno-gadgetry and a pinch of Andy Warhol. With a sweeping dash and compartmentalized controls, the interior imparts more a feeling of a pieced-together Lego Land than of a luxury family sedan. Furthermore, the dubious fit and finish is enhanced by this "cut and paste" approach, with air vent pods that don't fit the cutouts, loose HVAC temperature dials and an abundance of glue seeping from the edges of the headliner.
We thoroughly enjoyed the "cockpit" style layout of the dash with all the controls neatly angled toward the driver -- and were especially intrigued by the red back-lit gauges and controls -- but Pontiac still needs to address minor gauge visibility problems; the steering wheel successfully blocked the odometer and message center. Dual climate controls with large knobs and buttons are easy enough for a three year old to use. Similarly, the Bose AM/FM/Cassette/in-dash CD/trunk-mounted CD changer is a breeze to use, especially with stereo controls that are incorporated into the steering wheel.
The SSEi's gauge package also features a slick head-up display that projects vehicle speed, turn signals, headlamp beam, radio frequency while tuning and low-fuel indicator on the windscreen, thus allowing the driver's eyes to remain in contact with the road. The system also includes a projection height adjustment to accommodate large and small drivers. Like any new gadget, the head-up display takes a little getting used to, but after a quick 10-mile jaunt, we found the system to be a reliable feature.
Driver and front passenger are treated to 12-way power seats with what Pontiac calls a "catcher's mitt" design that's supposed to surround the occupants like a ball in a catcher's mitt in case of a rear-end collision. After driving the Bonneville for a mere 20 minutes, we can certainly attest to the fact that our bodies are not baseballs. The seats seriously lack lumbar and lateral support, which makes long trips more of a dreaded chore than a pleasurable drive. If you plan on traveling over 200 miles in a single jaunt, be sure to turn on the seat heaters before exiting the vehicle, as you'll need to warm up your muscles to be able to move.
We were equally uncomfortable in the rear seat, with our knees jammed into the front seat backs and our heads rubbing against the headliner. Thoughtfully, Pontiac included an excellent rear-center armrest with a spacious storage area and dual cupholders that will accommodate oversized drinks. A 12-volt powerpoint resides in the rear of the center console, along with a small ashtray and dual HVAC vents. While three kids will fit easily in the back, adults will find the quarters cramped and difficult in the ingress/egress department due to the large, imposing wheel arch.
On the highway, the SSEi's suspension soaked up every rut and bump we could throw at it, but the soft shock/strut valving proved to bring forth nightmare-like handling tendencies on mountain or poorly paved roads. Heavy doses of body roll and moderate understeer were ever present in the twisties, but most annoying was the seemingly never-ending suspension undulation whenever deep dips were encountered. We humbly suggest the addition of airsickness bags to the front seatback pockets for rear passengers when traversing uneven pavement.
In an attempt to raise the responsiveness of the SSEi's suspension, Pontiac includes their stability control system -- StabiliTrak -- to monitor steering, wheel speed, and vehicle yaw. When the system kicks in, the brakes (only one at a time) are applied to keep the vehicle in control and prevent it from becoming a projectile at oncoming vehicles. The Pontiac system isn't as refined as its Cadillac counterpart and the system can be a bit intrusive during spirited driving. Thankfully, a defeat button may be depressed for the driving enthusiast.
True to the Pontiac line, the new Bonneville takes on the traditional "Coke-bottle" shape, cat-eye headlamps and wide-body sculpting. While the Pontiac line suffers from excessive body-cladding syndrome, the Bonneville's is less obtrusive than most (some staffers feel the Grand Prix is slightly more subdued), merely accenting the clean lines and affording protection from shopping carts and door dings.
The front fascia carries a wide-body flair and aggressive stance, mostly due to the Bonneville's wide 62.6-inch track. Pontiac capitalized on the width by enveloping the occupants in a glass greenhouse that affords excellent visibility. Large heated outer mirrors with passenger side reverse tilt-down help make lane changes a breeze and parallel parking a snap.
The SSEi comes standard with a host of other amenities, including an electronic leveling suspension, driver and passenger one-touch-down windows, 24-hour roadside assistance, tire-pressure monitor, side-impact airbags, a universal garage door opener and a handy trunk accessory kit.
Pitted against a comparably equipped Chrysler LHS (at $31,005) or Lincoln LS V6 (at $35,940), we'd have a hard time recommending the SSEi. At the SSEi's as-tested $34,615 price point, we'd like it to have a more refined suspension package, better integration of interior components and some life to the steering feel. Until that happens, we'll take our Lincoln LS in black.
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