GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
Purchased a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville SLE two days ago. I liked what I saw in the pics, I liked the maintenance records. I am somewhat fluent with the 3.8L engine, and the pics showed me it had been maintained. My limit was $225. I bid the live auction using my phone.
When I bid at $200, the connection did not register my bid until two other bids came in, so I ended up bidding $275 (although I pressed the bid button at $200 for a $225). I won the auction. My actual purchase price to Copart ended up at $495, plus $55 dolly rental, and $80 in fuel.
The SLE is a nicely option Bonneville, they typically come with dual power heated seats, etc. This SLE was hit it the right rear passenger door, and also had a smashed quarter panel. When I picked up the SLE yesterday, I liked what I saw. Very clean, inspection good through JUN2019, car looked good. Headlights had no haze on them, and the tailights were not delaminted, all signs of a garage kept SLE. The gas tank filler area did not have bubbles or rust, another issue on the SLEs. Finally, the undercarriage showed minimum corrosion- all really good signs.
Started right up. When I inspected the rear door, my worse fear happened. Although no unibody damage, the panel area of the body where the door locks/ secures was damaged. No simple door swap out. I am not sure I will be able to get the panel back to operational condition without a lot of time.
Took her for a test drive, she ran awesome. Only other thing I was not so happy about was the tires were dry rotted. Always hopeful for a nice set of tires when a salvage vehicle is purchased- not in the case.
Not sure if I will part her out, try to fix myself, or send it to the community college for the body shop class. Or give it to another neighbor kid, same color as the last one I gave away, although it had the supercharged 3.8l.
When I bid at $200, the connection did not register my bid until two other bids came in, so I ended up bidding $275 (although I pressed the bid button at $200 for a $225). I won the auction. My actual purchase price to Copart ended up at $495, plus $55 dolly rental, and $80 in fuel.
The SLE is a nicely option Bonneville, they typically come with dual power heated seats, etc. This SLE was hit it the right rear passenger door, and also had a smashed quarter panel. When I picked up the SLE yesterday, I liked what I saw. Very clean, inspection good through JUN2019, car looked good. Headlights had no haze on them, and the tailights were not delaminted, all signs of a garage kept SLE. The gas tank filler area did not have bubbles or rust, another issue on the SLEs. Finally, the undercarriage showed minimum corrosion- all really good signs.
Started right up. When I inspected the rear door, my worse fear happened. Although no unibody damage, the panel area of the body where the door locks/ secures was damaged. No simple door swap out. I am not sure I will be able to get the panel back to operational condition without a lot of time.
Took her for a test drive, she ran awesome. Only other thing I was not so happy about was the tires were dry rotted. Always hopeful for a nice set of tires when a salvage vehicle is purchased- not in the case.
Not sure if I will part her out, try to fix myself, or send it to the community college for the body shop class. Or give it to another neighbor kid, same color as the last one I gave away, although it had the supercharged 3.8l.
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