88 Bonnieville doesn't want to go after started

for a long time now when you first start the car and try to take off it jumps and hesitates not seeming to want to go but once it warms up it goes o.k. as long as you gently press on the gas. If you give it allot of gas it hesitates again. However most recently it just doesn't want to go once it's started. It starts up fine and goes on the highway without hesitating but once you stop at a stop sign or light it dies. It'll start back up fine but when you try to go it dies. Boy did I have a difficult time getting it home yesterday. A weird thing I noticed was if I throw it in reverse it seemed to go fine without dieing on me, but put it in drive, it dies. What do you think it might be??

My first thoughts are broken/disconnected vacuum line(s) or a clogged fuel filter. Check all of the vacuum lines for dry rot or missing connections. Heck, spend the $5 or so and replace all of the rubber sections used to connect the hard lines. If you can't remember when the fuel filter was changed last, then replace it. Be very gentle with the fuel lines when removing and installing the new filter. Corrosion of the brake and fuel lines in that neighborhood is common in your generation Bonny.

It could also be the fuel pump. How many miles are on your car? Is it the original pump?

The car has about 94,000 miles but for the last couple of years it hasn't been driven much.

Fuel pumps typically last longer than that so I again think it is the fuel filter. Change that and run a fuel injector additive to your next tank of gas.

well, another problem...it hasn't been started since I parked it after finally getting it home the other day.....I went outside today to start it and it turns over just fine but won't start up. I tried several times to get it started but don't want to burn the starter up so I quit trying. What does that sound like?

fuel filter is a good starting point, and is realtively easy to do. IIRC, its just below the rear drivers side door

I think we need to do some basic testing:

The fuel pump should prime the system for 2 seconds upon turning the key to the on position. You should be able to hear a humming sound coming from the tank during that period. You may have kinda get under the car and have someone else turn the key to hear it. Better still, if you have or can borrow a fuel pressure gauge, this will tell you if the fuel pump is working. The pressure should be 41 to 47 PSI if I recall correctly. This is the best way to test the fuel pump. Clogged filters usually affect performance as the throttle is opened... I haven't seen one that would not allow the car to be started.

I agree with Randman1... You need to check the Fuel pump and see if its cycling as it should... And a fuel pressure test is a good idea... The 88-91 3800 Vin C engines should have between 36-41 psi... The 3800's seems to require more pressure with newer engines...lol