[quote="bonvil"]When a mechanic wants to buy your car cheap, that means there'* some easy fix in it for them to turn it and make a good profit.

i paid 4300 for an 00 SSEi with basically no motor or tranny....

i think a lot of ppl would scoop it up for 4g'*... i think you could shoot for 5-6 safely

I've also had more problems than I should for a 55,000 mile car (fuel pump, lower intake gasket, tramsmission pressure solenoid, seat heater, wheel bearing, steering wheel sensor). The problem with getting rid of the Bonneville is that there are not a lot of 4-door cars out there that look as sporty as the Bonneville. The closest I've found so far, in my opinion, is a Ford Fusion or Mercury Milan. I bought my Bonneville used at 28K miles for $15K last year and it has been a reliable car until recently. My last Bonneville (1994 SE) lasted 200K miles with just maintenance issues and know intake leaks. I've recently had the Dex-Cool sucked out and green coolant put in to hopefully keep the gasket problem from coming back. If I was looking at an engine replacement though, I would seriously think about cutting your losses and getting a different car.

Well. Heard back from GM (after I called).

They said that the car is too old and they'd be happy to help me with 0% of the cost of a new engine. So its not a matter of miles on an engine, it is a matter of age of the vehicle.

The "area manager" makes the decisions, but I was told that customers don't get to talk to the area managers. For $34,000 you'd at least think they'd let me talk to the person that makes the decision.

I hate to say it, but the worst decision I've ever made has been buying this car.

Well, that sucks..

Still, whomever did the intake job probably needs a good butt kicking.

So what now? Going to fix it?

Pat

Yeah. I emailed Ed as Rouge suggested. He happened to have a 2000 SSEi Engine with 58k in his shop for $950. I called him yesterday afternoon and put down a deposit. I saved myself $200+ on shipping by driving it out and picking it up last night in a borrowed Explorer. He is in Cleveland, I'm in Pittsbugh...took about 6 hours total there and back. I just dropped it off at the dealer this morning.

So...I'm exhaused, but I'm gonna fix this sucker.

It'* too bad Ed doesn't live closer, the dealer wants $1300 to install the new engine...I'm paying double what he would charge :(

Sounded like my car. I traded in my G6 for the 02 SSEi in February. I knew what to look for with this car which had several things wrong with at the time I signed the sales contract. I never mentioned anything to the salesman though. The day after I bought it, I took it in to the service department and had them replace the LIM and UIM gaskets, both valve cover gaskets, alternator, idler pulley, lube the intermediate shaft, fix the trunk leak, and also had a whole new exhaust system put on due to a broken catalytic converter. Everything was done free of charge under the dealers GM certified preowned warranty.

Wait G6 cam out in 05 an you traded it in for an older car?

Yeah. I love the car. Love the power and styling. But I really wish Toyota or Honda or Acura would have made it If I sell this car, I'm going to have to settle for some "reliable-but-bleh-looking-underpowered" Toyota or Honda car for a while. Which is the only reason I am thinking of holding onto it after it gets fixed. (the same thing that made me buy it in the 1st place).

Problem is most of the Toyota'* or Honda'* really lack style. If they had the style of Bonneville, a (non-GM) Chrysler 300, (About $30,000 for the 250 hp version), Lucerne, or any number of other stylish-but-American cars, I think GM would "really" be in some trouble. Lexus is making some headway, but they are obviously at the higher end of the spectrum.

Just my opinion. But obviously if I had to choose between a Stylsh 240hp car from Honda, or one from GM (or America as a whole)...I'd choose Honda. Hands down. GM is lucky it isn't out there.