2002 Pontiac Bonneville Review

2002 Pontiac Bonneville

Classy performance.

by: Dan Jedlicka

This full-size sedan has a magical Pontiac name because the flashy 1957 Bonneville convertible was the automaker's first genuinely sporty car. Pontiac says the 2002 Bonneville's are for drivers "with a youthful outlook on life.'' All Bonneville's are sporty, but some are sportier than others. For instance, the entry $25,380 Bonneville SE sedan I tested with its 205-horsepower V-6 isn't as fast as the ferocious, supercharged, 240-horsepower SSEi model, which costs $32,950.

But the SE and mechanically similar mid-range $28,720 SLE Bonneville's are plenty sporty and have good acceleration. The Bonneville was revamped for 2000, so there are no major changes for 2002. For instance, there is slightly smoother front and rear styling for the SE, which also gets a new standard CD player instead of a cassette. The SLE and SSEi receive new 17-inch wheels (standard aluminum and optional chrome), and there's a standard upscale Monsoon audio system for the SSEi.

All Bonneville's are well-equipped and have an alert four-speed automatic transmission and side front air bags. Even the SE's standard items include air conditioning, numerous power options and cruise control. Other new standard items for the SE include a power driver's seat, remote keyless entry, load-leveling suspension, power outside mirrors, rear spoiler and even a tire pressure monitor. Moreover, the SE can be made sportier with a $2,130 option group; it contains a performance axle ratio for faster acceleration, traction control, leather upholstery and leather-wrapped wheel. The front-drive Bonneville is nose-heavy, but all models have good handling and steering is precise. The car stops quickly, with a standard anti-lock system and good brake pedal feel.

Four tall adults easily fit in a "Bonne,'' although tall drivers may wish that their seat had more rearward travel. Power window and mirror controls are well-placed on the driver's door, but some controls are overly complicated. The trunk is large but its length requires a stretch to grab objects at its far end. It also has a rather high opening and hinges that dip into the cargo area. The supercharged SSEi is best left to car buffs, but all Bonneville's provide good value.

PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

Prices
$25,380-$32,950
Likes
Roomy. Sporty styling. Well equipped. Very fast with supercharged engine.
Dislikes
Long-reach trunk. Overstyled dashboard. Some overly complicated controls.

Dan Jedlicka

Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times--far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008.

Jedlicka remained auto editor at the Sun-Times until October, 2008, and continued writing for the newspaper's AutoTimes section, which he started in 1992, until February, 2009. While continuing his auto writings at the Sun-Times, he served as assistant financial editor of that newspaper from 1970 to 1973, when he began his automotive column.

He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including NBC's "Today," ABC's "20/20" and "The CBS Evening News." He was a host, consultant and writer for Fox-TV Channel 32's 1991 New Car Preview show and that Chicago-based station's 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Chicago Auto Show Previews.

Jedlicka's auto articles have been printed in national magazines, including Esquire and Harper's. His auto columns have been reprinted in U.S. government publications and economic textbooks and he is profiled in the "World's Greatest Auto Show" history book about the Chicago Auto Show. In late 1975, Jedlicka was host and technical advisor for three one-hour television specials, "Auto Test 76," which aired nationally on PBS and were the first nationally televised auto road test shows.

In 1995, Jedlicka was the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc.'s Consumer Education Award, given annually to a person who has gained distinction in the field of consumer education. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Media category and inducted into the Legends of Motorsports Guild at the Carquest World of wheels custom car show in Chicago in January, 2006.

Jedlicka was a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, composed of a select number of auto journalists from throughout the country, from 1995 until 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Consumer Digest magazine's auto experts panel that gave Best Buy new vehicle recommendations.

He is a 1987 graduate of the Bob Bondurant Race Drivers School and later of the BMW "M" and Skip Barber Advanced Driving schools. He was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the 1987 1,000-mile Mille Miglia race/rally in Italy and has been a race winner at the Chicago area's Santa Fe Speedway.

Jedlicka has owned 25 classic cars, including 1950s and 1960s Ferraris and 1950s and 1960s Porsches, a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Maserati and a 1957 Studebaker supercharged Golden Hawk. Jedlicka resides with his wife, Suzanne, in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district of Oak Park. They have two children, James and Michele.

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