Comments: 1-15, 16-20
The same day I leased my new Montana, the fuel sensor went on the vehicle. 1 week later back windshield wiper failed.
The Montana is a waste of money. One would think that you would not have any issues with a brand new vehicle within the first week of ownership. The vehicle is also lacking sufficient storage areas and poor seat design.
Having issues with a brand new vehicle is surely aggravating, but get the niggling problems fixed under warranty and give it a chance. My parents have an '03 Montana that hasn't had a single problem in 65,000 miles.
Issues like seating and storage are issues that should generally be addressed if someone takes the time to test drive a vehicle properly. 5 minutes up a road and back is not an adequate test drive of a vehicle. If you are seriously considering a vehicle you should take it out on the road for no less than 30-40 minutes, driving on various road conditions (city-highway-etc...) Take the time to stop it and experiment with the controls. In this case being a minivan, I'd even suggest going as far as taking the seats out and putting them back in.
The other issues, though uncommon in a new vehicle, are simple items that are covered under warranty (that's why warranties exist.)
I understand that this person is upset with this vehicle as it is certainly aggravating, but I don't think it's as severe an issue as it is made out to be.
I've leased a 2006 SV6 since new and apart from a few minor issues, I'm pleased with it.
Prior to leasing the SV6, I looked at both the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Ford Freestar. I liked the Sienna and Odyssey, but I didn't like the prices the dealers wanted. The Freestar was OK and it was priced comparably with the SV6 but I chose the SV6 because I liked it more than the Ford.
My SV6 is loaded with leather, heated seats, DVD, dual power sliding doors, air ride, XM radio, backup sensors etc. It was about $15,000 less than a comparably equipped Odyssey or Sienna. About $200 more a month to lease than the SV6.
I've put 53k on my SV6 and replaced, under warranty, the cruise control switch, a front seat heater element, steering knuckle and sway bar bushings. I just replaced the front rotors and pads which cost me $338. A friend of mine replaced the rotors and pads on his Sienna at 48k at a cost of over $600.
No vehicle is perfect and I'm sure there are problems with other manufacturers offerings, but when all is said and done, I look at my total end use cost. Yes the Sienna and Odyssey are nice, but paying an extra $200 a month over a four year lease didn't make any sense to me. My SV6 has everything I wanted and costs me less. What else can you ask for!
I personally fell in love with the 2000 Montana on the 30 minute highway test, so my wife and I bought it with an extended warranty. Luckily we did this because the fuel sensor on the pump was bad, showing what we thought was a full tank, but never moving until the tank was near empty 2 days later. Then the low fuel light would come on and the gauge would drop to near E. It was covered under the warranty and replaced by the dealership free of charge.
Also this winter 2008, we noticed the temperature gauge would fluctuate wildly and sometimes the low coolant light would come on instead after it would read hot. The coolant was full and having a mechanical background I could tell the thermostat was stuck at these times, and with a quick acceleration it would open and read normal temps. The dealership mechanic did not realize it, even with tests and still has not replaced it even though it is under warranty, so I'll have my friends at Ace Muffler in Rock Island, they will do it right.
However it is still the best van I have ever owned; I still love it. 93000 miles and climbing!
I just bought a 2008 Pontiac Montana SV6. I only have 4xx miles on it so hardly a long term review. So far I am very very happy with the van. The standard 240hp engine is nice and torquey, and a big step up from underpowered van engines. While it could still use even more power, and I would love to see a turbo V6 option, it's at least adequate power now for most drivers.
The van handles very nice and has very low body roll. The brakes are powerful also. The ride is very smooth and the van seems very quiet, in terms of rattles or squeaks, and in terms of wind noise.
I see no big problems with seating. The seats do not go right into the floor like Dodge ones, and they are maybe heavy to take out? I did not buy this van to be a truck and haul stuff around like plywood or engines. I have a truck for that.
I bought it to haul people and it seems very comfortable for that purpose.
I did first buy a 2007 Montana SVS with less options, and traded it up on the 2008 a few days later. The 2007 had no rear heat/air, and I found out this is a 700 buck option that cannot be added later.
So be careful; that is one really stupid thing about these vans, every extended van should have the rear heat/air standard, not optional.
I did not get the power doors, no big deal there. And did not get the ultrasonic parking thing. You can buy the parking thing aftermarket, or get a rear camera pretty cheap these days.
I have had pretty good luck with Pontiac products in the past, and hope this van is reliable. I plan on keeping it a long time.
Also, while I was not originally impressed with the front end styling, it's grown on me and doesn't look that bad to me anymore.
Help I need Help
Do we buy an 07 extended montana (16700) or an 08 extended
montana (18900) basically same kilometres and where the vehicle came from. options seem the same\
Cheers.
Update: took major trip with my 08 Montana and put like 5000 miles on it. Had no issues so far. Previous comments still apply. Van has good power,nice smooth engine. As said a 300 hp turbo v6 would be even better. But I do like my power.
The brakes are great. The van handled excellent even at pretty high speeds like 130km/hr on mountain roads. Body roll was great very very minimal. Ride was very smooth over most all roads. I did get some shaking from wheel, but it turned out to be road surface.
Everything so far is working as it should. I also talked to another guy with 2006 or 07 Chev equivalent, and he had lots of miles on his, used it daily for work, as well as personal, and had zero problems. He said he loved it and had older an Montana.
So not sure why some people are having such bad luck with theirs. Maybe I will change my mind after putting a lot more miles on mine. I haven't sat in the back; I just drive the van normally. So no comments on back seat room. I am short; only 5 ft 5. Short legs.
I am going to pick my new 2008 Montana EWB in a couple of days. It is disturbing to read some of the negative reviews. I had a 1999 Chev Venture and never had any problem.
All these comments must be from Canada, as the last year for the Montana SV6 in the States was 2006.
Hard to believe people are still buying them...
Re: 14:06.
I wasn't aware that 2006 was the last model year the Montana SV6 was sold in the U.S. GM is still selling them up here in Canada. There's tons of these things around, they out number all other vans 2 to 1 in my neck of the woods, and they're a bargain compared to what Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai and Honda have to offer.
My 2006 SV6 has been very good, I can't say I've got any real complaints other than a few minor issues.
Too bad that GM is offing out of the North American Mini Van market, both the Montana and Uplander are good value for the money compared to the competition.
The Kia or Hyundai van models are close in price, but they're not well respected vehicles up here. Poor reliability and dealer support.
The vans I have had are a 1993 Lumina APV, 1999 Montana and our last one, a 2006 SV6. The 2006, by far, has been the best. We just traded it in for a 2008 SV6 and picking it up later this week. We bought the 2006 last year at 32000 Km and it now has 64500 Km. The issues we had with it, right after buying it was: A/C condenser replaced (lower row of fins falling off), brake cable rattle (insulator missing, cable hitting axle), noise from hub caps (needed insulators). All in all, nothing serious and have been so totally pleased, we bought another.
Some quirks we can live with are: only one lighter plug in front and bad location (like way down at the floor), small rear buckets (captains would have been better), no Bluetooth (OnStar blows for phone calls), red rear turn signals (amber are more visible), traction control no good for winter driving (wears out tires but you can turn it off each time you start it), cup holder easily comes out of its tracks (grrrrr!).
Since 2009 is the last year for them, we wanted to grab a new one before they're gone. Too bad since this vehicle could have overtaken other vans on the market. Apparently it cost more to produce than they could sell them for so they were losing money on them.
I purchased a new RWD 2008 SV6 at the end on Sept this year - purely on price - 2nd day - Left front tire sensor went - fixed next day under warranty - next week right front tire sensor went - also On Star could not download a trip routing (never worked) - then the left front signal light would not work when the headlights were on - apparently a bulb was burnt - also went to wax the Van and found 5 spots on the roof, all small, down to the metal. Everything fixed 2 weeks ago, with no further problems. 3900 Kms as of today. Planning on going to Florida in February - hope I have no problems!! Will post this Spring when I am back home.
I purchased a 2008 SV6 in May of 2008. I have 25000 klms on it as of Jan 2009. I love it, have had no problems with it mechanically or other wise.
Did have the strange signal light problem as the comment above. They replaced the bulb, free of charge, about 3 months later it did it again, so they replaced the whole head lamp thingy. Haven't had the problem since.
My husband drives the holy crap out of this van, and it takes it, no problem. The remote start works great, didn't get the automatic doors, and wish I had, just to keep the kids from slamming the doors.
I give this van a 2 thumbs up. It is great on gas as well am very happy that I bought it, and very sad to hear that the US is unable to buy them.
Well... I purchased an 08 EXT with 29k kms on it... purely on price. So far so good... but then again these bread and butter vans have been around forever...
My only complaint... since GM stopped at model year 2006, there is nothing available for the 08-09s and they went to a TOTALLY different bolt pattern for the wheels... HOW STUPID IS THAT?? Can't buy after market wheels at ANY decent price... if I wanna put 20" or 22" I can find SOME... but will not pay 1/4 of the vans price to put rims and tires on there.
The rest... pure GM plastic... but for $15k fully loaded...couldn't go wrong... so I gave to my wife :) and now I drive the PT Cruiser GT... more fun, more guts... but WAY less practical.
On a 1 to 10 this van is a 6.5 no more no less... it moves people... it carries stuff... it was cheap... and cheap to fix...
Cheers!
Bought 08 Ext Montana in July and raced it across the Rockies west to Vancouver and then east through the states. Great way to get to your first 5,000 service quickly.
Then came the winter and had my first issue that could have got me stranded in the wilds of Northern Ontario. Engine block heater cable screws with the electronics when used overnight. Nearly impossible to get restarted after shutting off. Can only use the heater cable for up to 2 hours and its minus 40 tonight. No cure yet other than a cable replacement under warranty and guessing when you are going to use the vehicle next.
Also, remote start does not work in these temperatures and you have to go out and clear the snow off to enter and start by key.
Oh yes, window De-icing does not happen except by scraper internal windshield useless for driving away with a clear windshield.
So far the Montana is definitely not a convenient winter vehicle.