Welcome back! Our second matchup of the week takes us to the western suburbs of Chicago, to look at a couple of battle-hardened sedans in a place that is notoriously tough on cars. I should know; I learned to drive there.
Yesterday‘s trip along the 134 and the 101 left you divided, with many commenters choosing which choice was less bad, rather than which was better. Honestly, you should have seen some of the stuff I didn’t pick. It was a bit of a close race, but the Mustang took the prize in the end. It doesn’t sound like very many of you who chose it planned to leave it stock, however.
For my fake internet money, I’d have to choose the Monza. I actually like the mini-personal-luxury-coupe aspect of it. And GM malaise has a sort of campy appeal to it that makes it endearing, like a theme restaurant that hasn’t been updated since the ’80s; Ford malaise just comes across as sad, like one of those all-you-can-eat buffet places.
Now, some places are just harder on cars than others. Cities in general tend to be unkind to cars, because of the demands of traffic, bad parking jobs, and just plain heavy use. In Chicagoland, you have to add to that the pressures from crappy roads that are seemingly always under construction, and the constant erosion of salt spray for six months out of the year. In places like that, it’s really not worth having a particularly nice car. Or if you do, it’s worth having a beater to spare your nice car the ravages of city life. These two fit the bill nicely. Let’s take a look.
2000 Pontiac Bonneville SE – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 3.8-liter overhead valve V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Carpentersville, IL
Odometer reading: 79,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
When it comes to battling potholes, tollways, and Midwest winters, you want something big and comfy. Soft seats, strong air conditioning and heat, and a big lazy engine that will keep going no matter what are what you need, and very few cars fit that formula better than the GM H and G body full-size sedans from twenty-five years ago.
The heart of these big burly beasts needs no introduction: it’s the 3800 Series II V6, a powerful and refined version of a design dating all the way back to the 1960s. This one isn’t supercharged; that was reserved for the top-of-the-line Bonneville SSEi. It runs and drives great, however, and it has plenty of power for the grind of city traffic.
Because this is the basic SE model of Bonneville, it has a couple of interior features more commonly associated with Buick or Chevy than Pontiac: a split bench seat and a column-mounted shifter. The bench seat won’t hold you in place as well in the corners as buckets would, but it sure does look comfy. It’s in nice shape inside, too, but you’d expect that with fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer.
Outside, it’s a bit more beat-up. The wheels are mismatched, and the paint looks pretty scruffy. I only see one rust bubble, right by the fuel filler. I’ve seen this spot on other Bonnevilles; it must collect water around the filler neck or something. These cars also have a habit of rusting out the front subframe; it’s worth a look underneath to make sure everything’s still solid.
2003 Toyota Avalon XLS – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter dual overhead cam V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Berwyn, IL
Odometer reading: 199,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
In the mid-1990s, Toyota tried to out-Buick Buick with the Avalon, an enlarged Camry tuned for American tastes and roads. The broad strokes are the same: transverse V6, front-wheel-drive, and seating for six, with the optional bench seat and column shift. I’ve only ever seen one Avalon configured that way, though. Most, including this one, have bucket seats and a center console.
The interior of this Avalon has seen better days, but then, it has nearly 200,000 miles on it. I do wish we had some better photos to evaluate its condition; this is the best one we get. It’s the fancy XLS model, with bells and whistles galore, and I would imagine that most of it still works. The air conditioning is ice cold, according to the seller, which is something.
It runs like a top, as you would expect. The seller also says it has a bunch of new parts, including the radiator, battery, and front and rear struts. The tires and wheels are only a year old, so there are no worries there for a while.
It looks a little tired outside, but not bad. I see the beginnings of some rust just ahead of both rear wheels; it might be worth investigating how advanced it is. You can’t expect a car this old in Chicago to have no rust, but you also want to make sure it’s structurally sound.
Cars like these, you don’t buy for style or performance. You buy them to do a job, to get you around comfortably and reliably for as long as they’re able. I think either one would do the job admirably, but you can only choose one. Which will it be?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Although the lack of supercharger is lame, you can always add a junkyard part on the cheap, as they were already set for that part. 200HP new isn’t horrible either, so there’s that, especially for an ironclad like the Series 3800 II. The Avalon is literally an extended wheelbase Camry, and couldn’t be more boring. At least the Pontiac COULD be fun…
…and yes, the rest of the vehicle is pure GM re-badge from the early 2000’s with all of the horrors that come with it…but, again, it COULD be fun…
I checked, and the Avalon was not on fire, so It is the better choice today. The 3.8 in the Pontiac may be bullet proof, but the rest of the vehicle is where the issue is going to be.
I want to say no to both because I hate working on transverse mounted V6s. I guess I’m partial to the Bonneville because I have a 2004 Impala with the 3800 that I bought with about the same mileage and it’s been a very reliable tank that can take abuse. My front subframe is alloy but the rest of the car is rusting out because New England.
It’s hard to have strong opinions about either. Both seem like reasonable options for the money. I prefer the Bonneville, but the mismatched wheels make me sad. I wouldn’t want to look at that car until that was fixed, but I also wouldn’t want to pay for wheels that matched. Therefore, I guess I’m going with the Avalon. At least its flaws aren’t something you will notice every time you walk up to it.
I dunno… Neither of these are going to wow anyone visually. I’d buy the Bonnie, get a fourth steel wheel and sell the alloy. Even if it doesn’t sell, a steel wheel is going to be cheaper than reupholstering the Toyota’s front seat(s?). I would notice that particular flaw every time I opened the door. But that’s just me.
I was ready to vote for the Toyota, but something about the Avalon isn’t working for me and the mileage disparity is great. A boring Camry might’ve had more appeal. The Pontiac looks pretty good as they go, and for the price, it gets my vote.
ya know, in the past I would have voted Avalon all day long, but after owning a Lesabre on this platform and with this engine, I’ll go Bonny. 31 MPG highway out of that marvelous beast. And the intake manifold stuff? Two beer job, maximum. Parts are like… 50 dollars.
Normally I’d run like heck from any car in the Berwyn area. But that Toyota looks way better kept than the Bonnie.
A tenner says that Poncho hasn’t seen an oil change in five years.
I was all in on the Bonney but 3 steelies and one factory aluminum wheel? Big ‘Ol Red Flag….
I’m guessing it’s more of a: “I still had snow tires in good shape” sort of situation
Avalon all day every day. I find the Pontiac absolutely revolting and vile to look at. Especially the dashboard, it has to be one of the ugliest ever made.
That being said, the Pontiac is the right spec, you dont want the SSeei supercharged v6. Transmission is made of glass if you drive it hard. At least it was on a couple buddies who had Grand Prix GTPs, blew the trans up with under 100k on both cars. Id assume same issue with the supercharged Bonnie
That being said, when was the timing belt last done on the Avalon? Thats the only real big “gotcha” on these, as nobody wants to spend $1500 on that as the car gets older/higher miles. Also the Avalon is SO MUCH NICER inside, looks like a Lexus, very comfy seats, nice smooth ride, tomb quiet. Our family’s 2000 Avalon made it to 276k and ran like a new car until some idiot slid into it on a wet road
I voted Pontiac, but hear me out:
Buy both. Put the 3800 in the Toyota. Drive until the sun burns out.
Either one of these is an excellent choice in a cheap used car. But I don’t see a yellow sticker on the Avalon’s engine cover indicating a timing belt change. If that hasn’t been done, add $1,000 to the price.
The Bonnie is a LeSabre with a quicker steering ratio and final drive ratio. As the owner of one that has never been on a tow truck, I can’t imagine a more reliable car. These H and C bodies always rust at the fuel door, thanks to a shitty design that holds rainwater. I’m sure the rocker panels are pretty jack-resistant as well. But so long as the strut towers are solid, this car can drive just fine with rusty underpants.
Hmm, this got a lot closer than I thought it would be. The Bonny isn’t bad and probably near perfect for those roads. But I had to go Avalon. Another big cruiser with all the options. Really, it would come down to which had less problematic rust. Even for only $3k, I don’t want a car that is on the way to breaking in half.
I don’t really want either one of these salt licks. I went with the Bonneville just because of the low mileage 🙁
It’s just an SE, still a great car but not my style, so I’ll take the Avalon. I already have an 02 SSEi anyway.
As an old school Pontiac fan I had to go Bonny, but man I love those basic cloth seats they look soooo comfortable! Besides column shift rules!
I went with the Bonneville because of the low mileage and great interior. It doesn’t help that the VERY SHOUTY ad for the Avalon says they are selling the car for someone else. I need the name of the person I am dealing to match the name on the title. I don’t want to sort out any registration shenanigans or find out that the car was stolen.
Isn’t that one of the sludge monster V6’s in the Toyota? Or did they correct the issues by then?
Regardless, the Bonneville gets the nod. A 3800 will run about forever and the H body has tons of room to work on that transverse V6. The rest of the car is practically fix it with a hammer simple. A tuneup and some quick HPTuners magic will make the most of those 205 ponies.
I voted with my heart, and chose the Pontiac. It looks so comfortable.
Odds are better for the Toyota to be more structurally sound though.
Both are throwaway beaters at this point but I have a thing for Pontiacs and my mom had a 2000 Grand Prix when I was growing up and she was not one for regular maintenance and that thing would always run. Only got replaced because it was totaled in an accident and replaced with a 2002 Accord coupe which ran much longer then expected again with no regular maintenance.
I’ve got a weakness that only a 3800 can cure…
Pontiac, please.
The combination of a low-mileage 3800 and a comfortable cloth interior wins over the 200k miles and beaten-up leather of the Toyota.
The wheel situation would need to be sorted out immediately but that shouldn’t be a big (or expensive) deal.
I want to go Avalon because I just like that generation and this one has more gadgets, but would really want to know how old is the timing belt or when it was replaced, and I respond better to the Pontiac’s ad which gives a decent amount of info without YELLING.
I was gonna vote Avalon because no SSEi, no care, but it’s tough to turn down a cloth bench seat.
There are no wrong answers here. The low miles from that Bonny call my name, though…
Well said. I like both.
The 3800 is a great engine (I had an 03 9C1 Impala) but the mismatch has me worried. I’d look at the tire wear and suspension too.
Also test for transmission slipping and the AC working. My Impala stopped sending AC to the driver’s side lol