This Forgotten Pontiac is a Cheap V8 Car Bargain
When you ask most people their favorite Pontiac models, you’ll often hear names like G8, Grand Prix, and GTO. But one of the last Pontiac sport sedans is a forgotten hero. That status makes it a cheap V8 car today, and the 2004-2005 Pontiac Bonneville GXP is perhaps the prettiest swansong model of our time.
Is the Bonneville GXP supercharged?
The Pontiac Bonneville GXP lasted just two years and was among the final Pontiac models before the brand ended U.S. sales in 2010. The base Bonneville was the halo in Pontiac’s lineup at the time, sitting above the more popular Grand Prix in size and comfort. However, the GXP debuted in 2004 with a 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine offering 275 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, and it did not come supercharged.
That wild, torque-heavy V8 turned the front tires from rubber to smoke on its way to a 6.9-second sprint to 60 mph. And despite a fairly miserable four-speed automatic transmission, the Bonneville GXP V8 completed the quarter-mile in 15.4 seconds at 91 mph, per FastestLaps data.
A cheap V8 car option in 2023
These days, there aren’t many Bonneville GXPs left in decent condition. Despite the relative rarity though, they’re pretty cheap V8 cars to take home. A 33k-mile version of this cheap V8 sold on Bring-a-Trailer for just over $12,000 earlier this year.
A quick perusal of CarFax listings shows a maximum price of $24,795 for a clean version with under 11,000 miles on the clock. Much above that, the price drops significantly, as a 43,000-mile model reported in great condition is up for $15,000. Of the four models currently on sale, the cheapest V8 Pontiac is available for a mere $4,900.
What killed the Pontiac Bonneville?
In addition to Pontiac’s overall struggles, the Bonneville specifically faced stiff competition both from within General Motors and outside competitors. The V8-powered Chrysler 300 came along in 2005, offering rear-wheel drive. That made it more akin to the muscle-car experience American buyers expect from their V8s. It doesn’t help that the 300 was both cheaper and faster than the Bonneville, at $33,000 for a 340-horsepower V8 version.
Furthermore, Pontiac ran over its own foot with the new Pontiac GTO in 2004. Like the Chrysler, it came with rear-wheel drive, a more powerful V8 engine, and a manual transmission. So if you wanted a fast V8, you could get a GTO or Chrysler 300 for less than a Bonneville. And if you wanted a comfy four-door sedan, the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP came with 303 horsepower, 323 pound-feet of torque, and cost just $30,000, compared to the $36,000 commanded by the Bonneville.
The Bonneville GXP makes a cheap V8 car bargain
Though there aren’t many out there, the Pontiac Bonneville GXP is among the few cheap V8 car bargains you can find today. A follow-up to the Oldsmobile Aurora, this full-size V8 sedan is quintessential GM. Enjoy some cushy comfort in one of the most stylish Pontiac models of the mid-00s.
