The exhaust is different too, along with the rear bumper. The wheels are the biggest help in the 00+

I like the new bonnes, and I know how to tell them apart. But I still think that "back in the day"(88-91) a SSE, was DAMN, you have a sweet car! Over the years, pontiac destroyed that! The Biggest thing I miss is the Gold Package!

And what about DIC....When I test drove my 92, I was very dissapointed that it did not have the same DIC as the old ones. I like the oil change reminders. It also did Oil filter, and rotate tires, and tune up....those where the good DICs. They just don't make em like they used too!

To add to this post:

GM is also in the process of converting a lot of there upper-scale cars to from V6 to V8. Buick will soon begin getting a V8 as well. Not to say that the V6'* will be gone forever (I hope not) the 3.8 will probably make there way to the smaller cars like the Grand Am or maybe it will stick with the GP. At any rate, the SSEi is a fabulous car but with the GXP arriving soon, there would be a direct conflict in marketing and performance. Plus, as great as the SSEi is, it is outdated engineering and GM wants to incorporate more of it'* advance technology in it'* upscale divisions and it'* upscale vehicles ie Bonneville, Park Avenue making them more competitive with the Japs and Germans. As we all know SSEi'* kick azz from light to light. Unfortunately most vehicles in it'* segment keeps pulling hard past 4000+ rpm and will swallow the highway. Therefore, the conversion to V8. Initially torgue dispite DOHC (and I love DOHC) with enough valves to keep it pulling. Remeber it'* competition are Chrsyler 300M, Lexus ES300 or GS300, Lincoln LS - Lincoln is a sled compared to GXP, and all the others have V6'*......CLEAR WINNER!!!

BTW, If I remember correctly, GXP post times like 0-60 6.3 secs. not bad for a V8 FWD sport luxury vehicle w/ a price of around 40K.

you know off topic but this guy on gaownersclub.com said that the northstar was a junk motor after 70k please

What defines "junk" motor?

I have 143 500 kms on my Northstar, and its not junk.

GAowners.com can go fly a kite

How do you think they get such good milage and performance for their engines?

Kites are pulling em..

them are fighten words eh jim! lol
The northstart V8 seems to me like a very strong and reliable engine able to withstand hundreds of thousands of kilometers with the proper maintence...lol
wow this post was brought back from the the dead!

I hope yer right Matt :?

:? Guess that just makes those of us with the 2000+ SSEis even more unique