ROAD TEST/REVIEWS: MONTE CARLO'S

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ROAD TEST/REVIEWS: MONTE CARLO'S - 4/28/2007 3:10:23 PM

SpaceRider

Posts: 7850
Status: offline

Presenting

the

C h e v r o l e t

~ MONTE CARLO ~

_________________________________________________

A World Class Automobile

Rated # 1 by the

Monte Carlo Forum

" For the love of Monte Carlo "

_______________________________________________

MEMBERS

PLEASE POST ROAD TESTS

ON ANY

YEAR MONTE CARLO

Thank You

______________________________________________________________________________

Below links for reviews/information

on the

Chevrolet

Monte Carlo's

(Site has some great photo's of Monte Carlo's)

[col

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 11/24/2007 3:12:16 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 3:19:21 PM

SpaceRider

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Test Drive:
2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
by Tony Whitney

In U.S. markets, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a very popular automobile and in some regions dominates the two-door coupe class. This is not surprising, considering that it's the "model of choice" for top NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip, though even the
most dedicated fan of the marque would admit that NASCAR racers bear little resemblance to road cars. Even so, the track successes of this model do give owners some bragging rights and a good reason to cheer their favourite car at the races. The Monte Carlo nameplate has taken more checkered flags in NASCAR history than any other brand.

Monte Carlos are not that common north of the border, so buyers here get a car that often draws a second glance out on the road. Certainly, the Monte Carlo deserves more attention than it might be getting from buyers. The product line goes back a long way - the first Monte Carlo was a 1970 model -- and I can remember the oversized and maybe overstyled models of the 1970s that used to sell in very substantial numbers.

For 2005, Chevrolet has changed the 2004 naturally-aspirated SS model to the LT model, making three in the basic line-up: LS, LT and Supercharged SS. GM's amazing OnStar system, which uses sophisticated communications technology to get you out of all kinds of trouble from a lost key to a serious breakdown, is standard for the new model year on all Monte Carlos. On the Supercharged SS, you can now get 17-inch diamond cut cast aluminum wheels with a nifty chrome finish. New exterior colours for the Monte Carlo include Laser Blue Metallic, Sport Red Metallic and Silverstone Metallic. I liked the yellow my most recent test car came in.

Photos: GM. Click image to enlarge

The 2005 Monte Carlo is a stylish car with a nicely aggressive stance to it. It's fairly large for a two-door car, but that's the way most domestic coupes have always been -- except, perhaps, for the Mustang. It does mean that you get far more room in the back than you would with an import-nameplate coupe.

The supercharged car I tested featured various styling cues to set it apart from lesser non-SS versions. There's a race-inspired chin spoiler up front, dual stainless steel exhaust pipes and inside, a six-gauge instrument cluster with boost gauge. As you'd expect, you'll find SS badging here and there to remind you that this Chev is something special. There are various colours, but my favourites are either black or yellow, both of which look very slick.
Of course, SS (for "Super Sport") models have a long history with Chevrolet and in recent times, the company has been busy reintroducing these versions right across the range. There have been times over the years when Chevrolet has used the SS moniker more as a cosmetic addition than a performance indicator, but those days are gone. Buy an SS today and the likelihood is that you'll get some serious performance with your automobile or truck.
My Monte Carlo certainly lived up to its SS badges by packi

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 11/24/2007 3:05:58 AM >

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Post #: 2

RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 3:30:50 PM

SpaceRider

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Road Test: 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS vs. Dodge Stratus R/T

Just because they're both all-American coupes doesn't mean they're exactly the same flavor. The new-for-2000 Monte Carlo builds on a styling and engineering heritage that started 30 years ago. The SS version's point remains great low-end power, a smooth, well-controlled ride, and a high level of interior convenience and comfort.

Click on below link 2 read/view

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0009_midsize_sport_coupe_comparison/

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 4/30/2007 6:17:25 PM >

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Post #: 3

RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 3:35:17 PM

SpaceRider

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First Look: 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Coupe

Brothers-in-arms

By Todd Lassa
Photography by the Manufacturer

For 2006, the Impala sedan got a major/minor workover, like its W-body mates, the Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick LaCrosse.

Unfortunately, the Monte Carlo got new sheetmetal only forward of the A-pillar. Everything else is carryover. Both come with 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V-6s, but the SS treatment shoehorns in the LS4 5.3-liter V-8 with Displacement On Demand cylinder cutoff. A V-8 Impala has been rumored since the late 1990s, and now Pontiac has the same engine in the 2006 Grand Prix GXP.

All Montepalas have MacPherson struts front and trilink coil-over struts rear, but SS ups the anti-roll bars. Hollow bars replace solid ones, 34mm front (4 mm larger than the V-6's) and 19.4mm rear (up 3.4 mm). Tires are W-rated P235/50R18 AL3 Goodyear Eagle RS on 18x7.0-inch aluminum wheels.

2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Coupe

Base price
$27,790 (est)

Vehicle layout
Front engine, FWD, 2-door, 5-pass coupe

Engine
5.3L (325ci)/303 hp/323 lb-ft OHV 16-valve V-8

Transmission
4-speed automatic

Curb weight
3600 lb (est)

Wheelbase
110.5 in

Length x Width x Height
198.3 x 71.6 x 55.9 in

0-60 mph
6.0 sec (est)

1/4 mile
14.3 sec @ 98.1 mph (est)

Sales Projection
7500 of 50,000 Monte Carlos

On sale in U.S.
Fall 2005

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 4/30/2007 6:18:03 PM >

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Post #: 4

RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 3:54:01 PM

SpaceRider

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1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34
by John Heilig

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: 3.4-liter DOHC V-6
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 215 hp @ 5,200 rpm/220 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Four-speed automatic
FUEL ECONOMY: 17 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, 20.3 mpg test
WHEELBASE: 107.5 in.
OVERALL LENGTH: 200.7 in.
OVERALL HEIGHT: 53.8 in.
OVERALL WIDTH: 72.5 in.
CURB WEIGHT: 3,300 lbs
FUEL CAPACITY: 16.6 gal.
LUGGAGE CAPACITY: 15.5 cu. ft.
TIRES: P225/60R16
INSTRUMENTS: Speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, water temperature, digital clock.
EQUIPMENT: Power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, cruise control, air conditioner, AM-FM stereo radio with cassette, anti-lock braking, dual air bags.
STICKER PRICE: $21,070

The car is the Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34. It kind of looks like the car Jeff Gordon is driving to lead the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings as of this writing. Actually, it looks more like the car Dale Earnhardt is driving because it's all black, but I just can't find it in my heart to admit I drove a car that resembles the evil number 3.
Of course, Jeff Gordon's Monte Carlo is powered by a six-liter v-8 engine that powers the rear wheels, while the street Monte Carlo is powered by a 3.4-liter V-6 that drives the front wheels. Other than that they're almost identical.
The Monte Carlo continues a long tradition of Monte Carlos in Chevy history that was interrupted for a while in mid-1988 and resumed in the 1995 model year. The Monte has always represented the sportier of the Chevrolet sedans. This Monte is, in fact, the two-door version of the four-door Lumina sedan.
With two doors it's naturally a coupe and is a very nice car for two people to use. In our test we had a nice winding road experience between our house and the turnpike and a long turnpike and back-road run to the drag racing event we were attending. And we had a similar ride back. The Monte proved to be a comfortable car that did everything we wanted it to do. Economy was decent for a long run and we were able to keep up with the fastest of traffic because the car is essentially invisible.
Along with the seating comfort we had thermal comfort with a dual-zone HVAC system and aural comfort with a good sound system that allowed us to listen to all our favorite stations (and there were three along the way). And we weren't restricted to just the radio, because we could have plunked in a cassette if we wanted to.
The dual-zone HVAC system was ideal. It works for our family because my wife and I can never agree as to what the temperature inside the car should be. One neat feature was that the rear window defroster switch was incorporated in the air direction switch, making for one less switch on the dash and a cleaner presentation.
We also like the sound system controls on the steering wheel. We could "seek," switch between AM and FM or hit a pre-selected station, adjust the volume or switch the media or mute. In add

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 5/1/2007 9:04:29 AM >

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Post #: 5

RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 4:02:51 PM

SpaceRider

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Comparison Test: NASCAR Monte Carlo Vs. Your Monte Carlo

Chevy's Monte Carlo wins NASCAR races on Sunday and is sold at dealerships on Monday. But what's the same besides the nameplate?

Photos by Skip Gandy

Published in the November 2002 issue.

Better brace yourself because we're going to dispel some major myths. First, professional wrestling is a show, not a sport. Second, Janet Jackson's looks are a product of modern science, not heredity. And third, a Winston Cup car has more in common with an NHRA funny car than anything in a new car dealership.
Sorry, but it's true. Even in NASCAR's earliest years, stock cars were never really "stock." As dirt tracks gave way to paved speedways, the races got longer and tougher and the stock parts began to fail. In the '50s, racers pirated heavy-duty suspension and axle components from trucks and bolted them onto their cars.
Now that NASCAR has more than a half-century of evolution under its hood, the race cars are very far from their showroom origins. Everyone knows that all Winston Cup cars have a 4-barrel V8 up front driving the rear wheels and that the showroom versions of current Winston Cup cars are V6 front-drivers. But still, we thought it would be interesting to see if Winston Cup cars and their production counterparts share any discernible DNA. To help us find out, we enlisted the aid of Hendrick Motorsports. The folks there graciously offered the 25 car--the UAW-Delphi Chevrolet Monte Carlo--its entire team and driver Joe Nemechek.
We were able to work with the team at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) as Nemechek and the team were dialing in the 25 car's road-course chassis at the track's 2.25-mile north course in preparation for tackling Sears Point.
During breaks in the normal testing routine, Nemechek put his race car through our test regimen of acceleration, slalom, skidpad and braking that's normally reserved for more pedestrian transportation. He repeated the tests with a stone-stock Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Dale Earnhardt Signature Edition. Oh yeah, we also had Nemechek lap both cars mercilessly around VIR to get his impressions of both. So here's what happened.

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< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 4/30/2007 6:22:22 PM >

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RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 6:44:15 PM

mickey

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Joined: 4/23/2005
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neat stuff there space man.

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Post #: 7

RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 8:52:22 PM

SpaceRider

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Image Credits: Chevrolet

View more photos >>

Source - GM Corporation
SUPERCHARGED SS TAKES MONTE CARLO PERFORMANCE TO HIGHER LEVEL

The nameplate that has taken the most checkered flags in NASCAR Winston Cup history takes some of that wildness to the streets in the 2004 model year as the 240-horsepower (179 kw) Monte Carlo Supercharged SS makes its debut.

With enhancements to ride and handling along with the supercharged 3800 V-6 engine, the Monte Carlo Supercharged SS will take spirited performance to a higher level.

The Monte Carlo Supercharged SS comes with a four-wheel independent performance suspension and high-performance Goodyear tires with 17-inch diamond-cut cast al

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 5/1/2007 9:06:42 AM >

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RE: ROAD TEST: 03 SS Pace Car Edition - 4/28/2007 8:59:26 PM

SpaceRider

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2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Pace Car Edition

American Muscle with Promise of Things to Come!

It’s not rear-wheel drive, it doesn’t have a 700-horsepower V8 or a four-speed stick shift, all of which you’ll find on the NASCAR version of the Monte Carlo, but in spite of what it might be missing, this is a nicely-styled sporty coupe in a great American tradition. And you can order a Jeff Gordon look-alike model!

GM has kept the 2003 Monte Carlo price within a few bucks of the previous generation, through a questionable process called, in perfect corporate-speak, "de-contenting". Some items which were standard on the base Monte Carlo LS and the higher-performing SS last year are now optional. Some of these things include (and some are new options this year) OnStar, traction control, side airbags, tire inflation monitors and anti-lock brakes (ABS is now $600 on the base Monte). XM satellite radio is also a new option on both models for 2003. While this keeps the base price for the SS down to just over $20,000, and the base for the SS at $23,000, our test car, with all the options, stickered-out at $29,930.

With a curb weight of just a tick under two tons, Monte Carlo SS with a 200 horsepower 3.8 liter pushrod V6 managed about 22 miles per gallon combined in our freeway and in-town driving loops. That simple V6 is an owner’s dream. Nothing too fancy, all the power is available nice and low in the rpm range, where it is really usable, and it’s a snap to fix if it ever needs repair.

Mated to a four-speed automatic (the only trans available), rubber-burning starts at the "Stop Light Grand Prix" are easy, and high-speed passing on the open road is a simple matter of stepping down hard on the right pedal and letting the tranny kick down, smoothly, into a lower gear…and hanging on. The base Monte comes with a 3.4 liter V6 producing 180 horses. Adequate but not nearly as much fun.

Monte Carlo first came out in the mid-60s, the brainchild of John DeLorean, who had a hand in every aspect of the car’s birth. He styled it after the great Duesenbergs of a previous generation, and it was an instant hit with the public, and continues to sell well. Today, Monte is basically a two-door version of the Impala family sedan.

It continues as one of the better-looking coupes sold in America, and is built with American sizes and tastes in mind. After spending time recently in European and Asian sporty coupes, it’s a pleasure to get into a similarly-powered –priced and -equipped two-door which actually has a lot of comfortable and useful interior space. And the upgraded SS model features a nice array of complete instrumentation, too. Monte Carlo’s worst point is rear seat entry and exit…it’s just too much of a hassle to move the seat and the belts out of the way to get into or out of the thing.

But it’s fun to drive! The car is tight, handling and braking feel secure and predictable (as predictable as a front-driver can be) and the engine has a nice Detroit-like growl to it. NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) are at acceptable levels for a car with sporting pretensions. In our desert, where air conditioning is critical, the GM unit blasts cold air like a Frigidaire (indeed, GM owns that company, too!). One minor complaint is the AC/heating

< Message edited by SpaceRider -- 11/24/2007 3:10:07 AM >

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