We always thought being a traveling salesperson was a mixed blessing. Sure, you got a company car and were allowed to log a lot of free miles, but the car was usually a bland four-door domestic sedan with as much power and as many high-tech features as an Easy-Bake oven. Pity the poor sales rep.
One of the most popular and ubiquitous fleet cars is the Pontiac Bonneville. Not the supercharged SSEi model, but its less dramatic siblings, the SLE and SE. We've seen more salespeople loading samples in the trunks of these things than any other car, save the Ford Taurus. So prevalent is the association of sales and this Pontiac in our minds that when we have a headache, we don't look for a Walgreen's but for a Bonneville, confident that we'll find a drug company sales rep inside with a handful of Advil samples.
Since we tested the 2002 Bonneville SE, however, we don't pity salespeople so much. It might not be a European sport sedan but it's hardly the boring compromise we suspected it to be. First of all, the SE's 205-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 has more than enough power to satisfy even our craven desire for speed.
If you turn off the traction control, the SE will spin its wheels all the way out of the Pfizer parking lot. But why would you turn off the traction control? It makes the Bonneville safe and stable when road conditions are less than ideal. We put it to the test during a heavy rainstorm. Even during, shall we say spirited, cornering, the 3,635-pound Pontiac held its line admirably.
Performance is also aided by the Bonneville's four-speed automatic tranny. It provides smooth upshifts and aggressive kickdowns when the accelerator is stomped, as it might be during merging or passing on the way to make your next sales call.
OK, we'll lay off the salesperson analogy. Let's say it's Saturday and you're out running weekend errands. First of all, you're going to get a lot in the 18-cubic-foot trunk. That is, after you take out all your boxes of samples (sorry, couldn't resist). Also, we thought it was a total bonus that the trunk pops fully open when you push the button on the remote key. So, if your hands are full, you can just place your cargo in the trunk without having to do the aggravating little dance where you try to open the trunk while juggling 15 different-sized packages and inevitably drop them all in a puddle. And once you have your stuff in the trunk, there's a convenient cargo net with numerous attachment points to keep it stable.
The cabin is no less accommodating to all the various accoutrements of your life. There's a multitude of storage cubbies, bins and trays for your sunglasses, wallet, cell phone, CDs and so on. You won't, however, care for the cupholders, as they are too shallow and too close together to hold you and your partner's Saturday latte comfortably. The same is true in the back.
If the cupholders do raise the ire of your rear passengers, they will be mollified by the spaciousness and comfort of the rear seats. Headroom is a trifle tight, but this is alleviated somewhat by the flip-down center console, which provides the opportunity to lean comfortably inward, meaning two adults in back is much preferable to three.
While we're talking seats, the automaker claims to have enhanced the appearance and comfort of the seats for 2002. We'll concur, especially in the front where a lot of room and attention have been devoted to the bucket seats. Some may not care for the sporty look of the seats with their bulbous black leather sections, but they are comfortable. The driver seat has six-way power adjustments and a manual lumbar control, making it easy to find an ideal seating position.
One of the design aspects of the Bonneville that we're not crazy about is the busy dash and its plethora of switchgear. First, we don't like the overwrought sportiness of the dash with its sculpted plastic cowls and red-light gauges. Also there's way too much going on. There are six gauges on the dash and an info system that, while useful, adds to the clutter. And, get this, there are no fewer than 85, count 'em, 85 buttons, levers, switches and knobs within reach of the driver. Who designed this baby? Buzz Aldrin? While we concede that there may be people who like to feel as though their family sedan is mission control, we'd like a few less distractions. It's not a deal-killer for us, but we do find it superfluous.
However, we do like the tactile surfaces and spongy feel of some of the interior materials. It sure beats the hard gray plastic found in many sedans in this price range. And we're surprised by the number of luxury items available for the SE such as the aforementioned six-way power driver seat and traction control, as well as heated front seats, power glass sunroof, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls and GM's OnStar communications system. Not bad for less than $30,000.
We also appreciate the Bonneville's supple ride, a direct result of its independent front and rear suspension. Combined with the standard 16-inch alloy wheels with P225/60R16 all-season touring tires and the car's substantial weight, the SE provides a ride that is supple with near-European sport sedan levels of feedback and feel. All bumps are dealt with summarily, and little disturbance is transmitted to the cabin. Pushed harder, however, and the Bonneville understeers heavily and is little fun to drive aggressively.
The steering could also use improvement. Though the rack-and-pinion power-assisted variable-ratio system makes it easy to maneuver the big sedan around parking lots, it feels a little wooly, like you do when you first wake up. Though some may like one-finger steering capabilities, we prefer more heft.
Lastly, we're not crazy about the Bonneville's exterior design. It's not ugly, but it's not beautiful or even stylish. It looks like what a kid would sketch if you asked him to draw a car. Pontiac tweaked the front and rear fascias on the SE model for 2002, but it's not enough. The car needs modernizing.
Regardless, we like the Bonneville's ride and performance; it's roomy and comfortable, and it has a great selection of toys and special features. Our week with the SE changed our perception. Now when we see a Bonneville, we're not looking for free Advil, but to see who's got the great job.
One of the most popular and ubiquitous fleet cars is the Pontiac Bonneville. Not the supercharged SSEi model, but its less dramatic siblings, the SLE and SE. We've seen more salespeople loading samples in the trunks of these things than any other car, save the Ford Taurus. So prevalent is the association of sales and this Pontiac in our minds that when we have a headache, we don't look for a Walgreen's but for a Bonneville, confident that we'll find a drug company sales rep inside with a handful of Advil samples.
Since we tested the 2002 Bonneville SE, however, we don't pity salespeople so much. It might not be a European sport sedan but it's hardly the boring compromise we suspected it to be. First of all, the SE's 205-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 has more than enough power to satisfy even our craven desire for speed.
If you turn off the traction control, the SE will spin its wheels all the way out of the Pfizer parking lot. But why would you turn off the traction control? It makes the Bonneville safe and stable when road conditions are less than ideal. We put it to the test during a heavy rainstorm. Even during, shall we say spirited, cornering, the 3,635-pound Pontiac held its line admirably.
Performance is also aided by the Bonneville's four-speed automatic tranny. It provides smooth upshifts and aggressive kickdowns when the accelerator is stomped, as it might be during merging or passing on the way to make your next sales call.
OK, we'll lay off the salesperson analogy. Let's say it's Saturday and you're out running weekend errands. First of all, you're going to get a lot in the 18-cubic-foot trunk. That is, after you take out all your boxes of samples (sorry, couldn't resist). Also, we thought it was a total bonus that the trunk pops fully open when you push the button on the remote key. So, if your hands are full, you can just place your cargo in the trunk without having to do the aggravating little dance where you try to open the trunk while juggling 15 different-sized packages and inevitably drop them all in a puddle. And once you have your stuff in the trunk, there's a convenient cargo net with numerous attachment points to keep it stable.
The cabin is no less accommodating to all the various accoutrements of your life. There's a multitude of storage cubbies, bins and trays for your sunglasses, wallet, cell phone, CDs and so on. You won't, however, care for the cupholders, as they are too shallow and too close together to hold you and your partner's Saturday latte comfortably. The same is true in the back.
If the cupholders do raise the ire of your rear passengers, they will be mollified by the spaciousness and comfort of the rear seats. Headroom is a trifle tight, but this is alleviated somewhat by the flip-down center console, which provides the opportunity to lean comfortably inward, meaning two adults in back is much preferable to three.
While we're talking seats, the automaker claims to have enhanced the appearance and comfort of the seats for 2002. We'll concur, especially in the front where a lot of room and attention have been devoted to the bucket seats. Some may not care for the sporty look of the seats with their bulbous black leather sections, but they are comfortable. The driver seat has six-way power adjustments and a manual lumbar control, making it easy to find an ideal seating position.
One of the design aspects of the Bonneville that we're not crazy about is the busy dash and its plethora of switchgear. First, we don't like the overwrought sportiness of the dash with its sculpted plastic cowls and red-light gauges. Also there's way too much going on. There are six gauges on the dash and an info system that, while useful, adds to the clutter. And, get this, there are no fewer than 85, count 'em, 85 buttons, levers, switches and knobs within reach of the driver. Who designed this baby? Buzz Aldrin? While we concede that there may be people who like to feel as though their family sedan is mission control, we'd like a few less distractions. It's not a deal-killer for us, but we do find it superfluous.
However, we do like the tactile surfaces and spongy feel of some of the interior materials. It sure beats the hard gray plastic found in many sedans in this price range. And we're surprised by the number of luxury items available for the SE such as the aforementioned six-way power driver seat and traction control, as well as heated front seats, power glass sunroof, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls and GM's OnStar communications system. Not bad for less than $30,000.
We also appreciate the Bonneville's supple ride, a direct result of its independent front and rear suspension. Combined with the standard 16-inch alloy wheels with P225/60R16 all-season touring tires and the car's substantial weight, the SE provides a ride that is supple with near-European sport sedan levels of feedback and feel. All bumps are dealt with summarily, and little disturbance is transmitted to the cabin. Pushed harder, however, and the Bonneville understeers heavily and is little fun to drive aggressively.
The steering could also use improvement. Though the rack-and-pinion power-assisted variable-ratio system makes it easy to maneuver the big sedan around parking lots, it feels a little wooly, like you do when you first wake up. Though some may like one-finger steering capabilities, we prefer more heft.
Lastly, we're not crazy about the Bonneville's exterior design. It's not ugly, but it's not beautiful or even stylish. It looks like what a kid would sketch if you asked him to draw a car. Pontiac tweaked the front and rear fascias on the SE model for 2002, but it's not enough. The car needs modernizing.
Regardless, we like the Bonneville's ride and performance; it's roomy and comfortable, and it has a great selection of toys and special features. Our week with the SE changed our perception. Now when we see a Bonneville, we're not looking for free Advil, but to see who's got the great job.
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