2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 3.8 from North America

Summary:

I give it a B+

Faults:

The doors in this car are so heavy that they sometimes get off track, and need to be adjusted.

General Comments:

I'm 6'3 and my head hits the top of the roof! I have to lean the seat back (which I hate) to avoid this. For a big car there isn't much head room.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 2009

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 3.8 from North America

Faults:

I love the look of my car and its performance, but GM has a serious problem with the transmissions in this car. When I first noticed the problem was about at 50000 miles. Cost for that was 800 dollars.

Next problem catalyst converter, would not go over 30 miles a hour. That was a "free" recall.

Next transmission again 30000 miles later. Cost for this... are you ready? 2700 dollars. Called GM. Same old song and dance; they knew nothing of this problem.

Now six months later, here we are again. This one's gonna hurt... another 1000 dollars for the transmission. My mechanic modified the tranny, so far so good. If my tranny goes one more time, it's going over a bridge.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 12th July, 2009

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 3.8 SERIES II from North America

Summary:

Nice car, but not for the squeamish

Faults:

I bought this used and had problems first day. Took my son and wife for ride, it stalled and would not start again - Passlock system went off, "security" light flashed for a few minutes, then it started again. Afterwards I was nervous taking it anywhere, for fear it would stall in traffic. Fortunately the stall was in a parking lot/back road with no traffic.

2 days later, I washed it at self serve car wash, then started it to leave, it shut right off. It started right up again and then ran fine.

I filled the tank with premium gas, and was driving up a long medium grade hill highway, when it started bogging and didn't respond to gas - pulled over and shifted into low, then it was OK.

My old car is a 1995 Grand Prix w/3.4 liter DOHC/178,000 miles and it actually runs better than this Chevy - by that I mean it doesn't stall, bog, and has more power. The old 3.4 rated 210 HP, the Chevy 3.8 rated 200 HP - what's up with that? It should at least be the same.

Now I can see why GM got a bad rep, I'm a GM man and will continue to buy their cars, but I'm keeping my old Pontiac - in case this Chevy dies on me!

Chevy obviously has to get their act together with the quality issues - this is ridiculous. I had a Chevy years ago in the late 1970's and went to Pontiac, now I remember why. Chevys are good cars but they have quality/repair problems. These cars are emasculated with emission controls, for that I blame the feds.

General Comments:

Great looks - relatively stiff sports car ride - lots of interior room - lots of electronic gadgets and interior comforts.

Needs a more reliable engine/trans/computer system, and could use about 25 more horsepower.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 28th January, 2009

27th Feb 2009, 13:50

Okay, putting premium gas in a 3.4 GM and wondering why it is stalling and having problems! Too much octane! Can't compare a Pontiac to a Chevy, they are 100% the same!

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS 3.4L from North America

Summary:

It is a reliable, and reasonably priced sedan

Faults:

The power sun roof stopped working around 20000 miles.

The hazard light switch went bad around 20000 miles.

General Comments:

This car has been very reliable, and I have had no major problems with it so far.

The seats are comfortable, and there is plenty of room in the back.

The Monte Carlo is a fun car to drive and is a very good car for the money.

The traction control option helps it handle well in winter conditions.

There is a lot of room in the trunk, but the opening is a little small.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th January, 2005

25th Jan 2005, 05:44

A Monte Carlo sedan?

That's a new one.

25th Jan 2005, 11:03

Actually, a Monte Carlo IS a 2 door sedan. Any vehicle that has the door frame above the windows is a sedan. A vehicle that doesn't have the frame over top of the window (ie: early model Dodge Neons) is considered a coupe. That is how we classify them at the New York DMV...

27th Jan 2005, 06:55

The poster of the above comment needs to get a life.

Two door vehicles were once called sedans to distinguish them from two door hardtops. Now that the true hardtop body style is long since extinct, the term is generally accepted to refer to a four-door vehicle.

Try to find any reference to the Monte Carlo (or any other two door for that matter) in the manufacturer's sales literature as a "sedan"!

14th May 2010, 14:22

Chevrolet calls the Monte Carlo a "Personal Luxury Coupe"