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1997 Pontiac Bonneville Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Pontiac Bonneville has always had a reputation for full-size luxury and room, and the current generation of Bonnies also deliver a younger, sleeker style and a lot of performance power.
There were few changes to the 1997 Pontiac Bonneville. The two trims, SE and sportier SSE (with self-leveling suspension and lower ground effects), came standard with a Series II 3.8-liter, 205-hp V6. An SLE package on the SE and SSEi package on the SSE added performance suspension, badging, lots more interior features, such as leather seats, traction control, and power sunroof, and a supercharged V6 that got 240-hp. New in 1997, the SSE got a premium sound system and a new automatic transmission. The four-speed allowed the driver to select between normal and performance modes. It was available as an option on the base model SE.
Standard features on the SSE, including power driver's seat, cruise control, keyless entry, and automatic climate control, were options on the SE. ABS brakes, fog lights, daytime running lights that changed to low beams as it got darker, and dual front airbags were standard across the line.
The 1997 Pontiac Bonneville receives praise for its enormous interior room that comfortably fits people over six feet tall. Its smooth handling, responsive steering, quiet ride, and engine power are also rated highly. The Bonnie moves fast and has great pickup with the supercharged V6. It is comfortable on long trips and a lot of owners like the new sound system. Low marks go to the common problem of a cracked manifold, costly repairs and maintenance, and a wide turning radius. Weak climate control is also a downside. When you open the trunk lid, collected water or snow tends to pour into the trunk. Some drivers wish for more horsepower.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
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by Anonymous
Nov 30, 2013
It's been my car since I was in high school and I am now in graduate school, it is still running strong. The car has 240,000 miles and has no ill effects of driving in the cold every year. I've been living in Fargo/Moorhead for the last 7 years and have never had a garage. Even with 30 below temperatures,60 below windchill, and four feet of snow the car still started every single morning. Great car for driving in the winter due to the FWD. I wish they still used this engine in other cars. Easy to drive and very reasonable maintenance costs since it's a GM.Nov 30, 2013
by Lucas M
Oct 22, 2013
I loved my Bonneville. It was a great vehicle to have as a first car, and I would love to have another '97 Bonneville, preferably the base model with the SLE package. This car was great: it looked cool, it rode so nice, it didn't have very high performance numbers, but the engine felt like it had more power than it did. The 3800 Series II engine was considered a world class motor, and I can see why. It handled snow very well and always went where I needed it to. It was a very solid car, which made it great when the wind decided to try and blow over a building. It was pretty decent on gas, felt sturdy, and ran no matter what. I absolutely loved my Bonneville. I miss it a lot.Oct 22, 2013
by Clayton O
Jan 04, 2012
AWESOME CAR!! Got 291,000 miles on her and still going strong.
Has awesome pickup can carry 5 full size people and their luggage while
getting 34+ MPG highway and 20+ intown and that when your "go-
pedal happy"
Show me a Toyota that can compare....Jan 04, 2012
User rating:
by Anonymous
Nov 30, 2013
It's been my car since I was in high school and I am now in graduate school, it is still running strong. The car has 240,000 miles and has no ill effects of driving in the cold every year. I've been living in Fargo/Moorhead for the last 7 years and have never had a garage. Even with 30 below temperatures,60 below windchill, and four feet of snow the car still started every single morning. Great car for driving in the winter due to the FWD. I wish they still used this engine in other cars. Easy to drive and very reasonable maintenance costs since it's a GM.Nov 30, 2013
by Lucas M
Oct 22, 2013
I loved my Bonneville. It was a great vehicle to have as a first car, and I would love to have another '97 Bonneville, preferably the base model with the SLE package. This car was great: it looked cool, it rode so nice, it didn't have very high performance numbers, but the engine felt like it had more power than it did. The 3800 Series II engine was considered a world class motor, and I can see why. It handled snow very well and always went where I needed it to. It was a very solid car, which made it great when the wind decided to try and blow over a building. It was pretty decent on gas, felt sturdy, and ran no matter what. I absolutely loved my Bonneville. I miss it a lot.Oct 22, 2013
by Clayton O
Jan 04, 2012
AWESOME CAR!! Got 291,000 miles on her and still going strong.
Has awesome pickup can carry 5 full size people and their luggage while
getting 34+ MPG highway and 20+ intown and that when your "go-
pedal happy"
Show me a Toyota that can compare....Jan 04, 2012
by Clayton O
Sep 03, 2011
This car has been absolutely amazing! The most comfortable car I've
ever been in. Lots of options and tons of power will still getting 30+
MPG.
This has been the best car for me. Maintenance costs are cheap and
after 287,000 miles she's still going strong.
This car has one of the best drivetrains ever built (GM 3800) and the
FWD is great in the snow. Sep 03, 2011
by Ed S
Aug 19, 2011
Love the power of the 3.8l Supercharged V6. It offers a nice compromise with power and feul economy. I get 24mpg around town and about 28mpg highway. Awesome road car! This things cruises down the highway. I have to be careful of the speed in this thing as it rides so smooth you will be flying down the road at 90 plus and not be able to tell.Aug 19, 2011
by Randy O
Oct 24, 2010
I paid $800 for the car Since i new the guy so he give me a deal on it. It need nothing and it look like a brand new car inside and out. The ehgine and transmission run like new. the brakes are really goodOct 24, 2010
by Heather B
Oct 10, 2010
This is my hubbys car all i need to say it has over 200,000 miles on it. It will never die. It does not cost that much to maintain just your normal maintence. It is very easy to drive and handle in the snow. Oct 10, 2010
by Bob P
Aug 31, 2010
awsome car thic car is fast handels great works great runs great built awsome aperence laks a little bit but i dnt carei put 30 dollers in a week very fun 2 drive nothing breaks and will not this car was bought for 2700 its in great condition and will be their 4 awileAug 31, 2010
by Andrew H
Nov 18, 2009
Great fun off the line (mounds of torque!), but somewhat lacking on the high side on the highway. EXTREMELY comfy tho!Fit and finish was good overall, but "the little things" tended to be lacking in overall quality and reliability.Nov 18, 2009
by Randy G
Nov 06, 2009
It is a clean well taken of pontiac Bonneville that has the 250 horse motor and gets up and goes very well has a very nice system inside the car as well...jvc head unit with eclipse speakers and kicker sub with a clarion amp.Nov 06, 2009
by Tim S
Aug 29, 2009
Smooth ride, ok acceleration for such a heavy car,
never broke, but it did eat a lot of gas. Bought it
cheap and sold it for a profit after cleaning it up.
Would have kept it but found a Grand Prix.Aug 29, 2009
by Christopher C
Aug 17, 2009
With 185k miles on the clock and being 12 years old, this car still performs beautifully! The only mechanical repair it's needed in the 2 years I've owned it is a fuel pump, the rest is solid. I get 18mpg hwy & city, and solid highway miles have been over 32mpg at one time. The car drives like a boat and has the turn radius of a greyhound bus, but thanks to it's SRS it's the smoothest riding car I've owned (in addition to having "couch seats" as my friend called them), but it holds tight to the road and corners like a sports car if you know how to handle her.Aug 17, 2009
by Anonymous
Oct 18, 2008
this is a horrible car. i have had it since new and it has been very problematic. it seemed fine at first, but then problems just kept happening, and i know it wasn't the dealer's fault, but pontiac's for making such a terrible car. i had the same engine problem twice! and, once i had finally payed the car off, the transmission went out. it was like gm was out to charge me money. maybe they could just make a good car. now there's an idea. in my opinion, a car should either be fun to drive or luxurious. the bonneville is neither of these. i recommend avoiding this car at all costs.Oct 18, 2008
by Robby G
Sep 15, 2008
Another nice Bonneville For sale: 3800 v-6 automatic transmission, average 24 - 26 mpg 152 k miles, fully loaded : power windows, power locks, power leather seats, Factory CD player with eq, aluminum wheels, good tires, factory spoiler, Fog lights.
Looks and drives great. Excellent heater. This car gets around great in snow. $2500Sep 15, 2008
by Matthew G
Jul 07, 2008
The car had available power and a very comfortable rideJul 07, 2008
by John O
Jun 28, 2008
Its a nice car fro what it is. Has some cool features like Heads-Up display, its own air pump.Jun 28, 2008
by Bryan B
Jun 18, 2008
It runs awesome and has a 3.6L V6 in it... but I need to do some performance upgrades. Jet black with medium black tint all around and chrome wheels too.Jun 18, 2008
by Paul B
May 16, 2008
I only bought this car as a donor car for my project fiero. I wanted the massive, powerful supercharged engine for my little fiero, along with the transmission. After a week of driving though, it was a really, really tough thing to do: tear it apart. The car was awesome. Fast, powerful, comfortable. Great on gas on the highway, and every luxury I could think of. 12-way adjustable leather seats, auto-tinting rear-view mirror, power everything, heads-up display (a sort of holographic display that puts your speed, fuel, blinker lights and stuff in the windshield area for easy driving, without taking your eyes off the road, very very cool).May 16, 2008
by Kevin S
Jan 11, 2008
Good Acceleration and good braking but handled a little top heavy. Always wished it was rear wheel drive.Jan 11, 2008
by Josh M
Jan 10, 2008
I bought this car from my pastor. I once drove it to Los Angeles, to Dallas, and then back home again. Great car for road trips. Jan 10, 2008
by Anonymous
Sep 07, 2007
This is a very nice riding car with generaly soft suspention which provides a very comfortable ride over speed bumps or normal roads. The engine is one of GM's most relyable, most well known engines, the 3800 series 2. Thee only thing that is known to go wrong with it is that the lower intake leaks about every 4 to 5 years. The power is good but I had goten acustumed to V8 power with a Ford 5.0 HO.
The interior is very spacious far me. I am 6' 6" an the seat goes low enough that I can't look back out the rear windsheild and still see the road. The exterior styling is nice. I like it but not many people do. They call it an old persons car.Sep 07, 2007
by Anonymous
Jul 17, 2007
Its been a good car but now i'm having some electrical problems.Jul 17, 2007
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Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville?Compare this car
1997 Pontiac Bonneville Pricing
Original MSRP
$22,839 to $29,111Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: power · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: split-bench · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: power · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: power · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Air Suspension: rear · Leveling: self leveling suspension
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: power · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Air Suspension: rear · Leveling: self leveling suspension
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent