As some of you know, I'm sad with this car. Despite it's wrong wheel drive action, I bought this car because I love monte carlos....in fact, I bought 2..(had an '05 SS which I traded for an '06).

But alas, I just can't take it anymore. I want the sideways action on a rainy day. It makes me sad that I actually MISS my pos '86 Mazda B2000 pickup because of the fun it provided on a wet road. In a weird way, I feel that I've downgraded by going FWD auto.

That said...I'm thinking about getting into a G8 when it comes out...or possibly the alleged UTE "el camino" if that ever makes it over here.....so what should I do with my monte?

Should I:

A) Keep it around and just accept the loss from depreciation when I sell it or trade it in a year or 2.

B) Sell it now and buy a beater.

If I go with B, I'm considering getting into a 4th Gen '85 or '86 Monte SS to hold me over while I wait for the right car. I know its over 20 years old with questionable reliability...but I don't have to drive to work everyday...I carpool. So absolute reliability isn't a HUGE factor...but of course, I do want a running car. I'm ready to accept repairs if they do come. But I'd like to minimize it.

I figure any repairs I may have to do will be kind of like the loss I'd take due to depreciation on the '06. It'd be worth it because I can tell my kids that I once owned an '85 SS. Something special about that... I'm not just buying a temporary beater...I'm buying a piece of car history.

So...if I do go that route...should I get a beater with 100k+ miles on it for 2 - 5k...or should I go for an all original 44k miles mint condition, garage kept type of deal for more around the $10k ballpark? Here is one car I'm looking at: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=31

Like I said, it'll be more or less a temporary car. Though I could possibly see myself falling in love with a mint low mileage car...I figure if I do sell it, aside from repairs, the loss would be minimal compared to a newer car.

If I do end up having to repair it...is it a lot more expensive to repair than newer cars? I'm not a wrench monkey, so I doubt I'll be able to repair anything other than simple exterior engine parts, etc.

Now if I go with option A. How much do you think the '06 will depreciate in 1-2 years?

Anyways. I hope I didn't bring anyone down with this thread...I love my car, but I can't take it anymore....and people I know in real life really don't understand why I'm not happy with this car...but you all do.

 

in 08 SS Monte ~20K resale, 09 I bet you are closer to 17K

In the older cars find something with a pristine body and itnerior (they are prone to rust). Then spend ~6k on a good crate engine and trans + a little more on rear end if you need it. This way you can have a streetable and reliable 400-500hp. . .and look good doing it.

 

I'd considering modding one if I did fall in love and want to keep it. For now, I'm looking at it as a temporary car. Here is one that I'm looking at: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ce=&cardist=31

I bet I could take this guy down some if I show serious interest.

 

Instead of the MCSS from the early/mid 80's, I would go with a Hurts/Olds (83 or 84), essentially the same car (with the lightening shifters) as the MCSS, aside from the biggest problem (trim pieces being impossible to find), it will stand out in the crowd more and is likely to hold its value much better. Also being 'limited' production cars, the ones I have seen are in better shape than the Chevy equivalent as people seem to take better care of them.

 

That's a good suggestion, although, I am really in love with Monte's. It just wouldn't be the same. If reliability, etc, was really a huge issue, I wouldn't be looking into a 20+ year old car. I could easily get into a 90's beater for a couple grand which would probably do the job. I figure going with a monte is a way to get monte's out of my system along with having something to hold me over for a couple years. Thanks for your input though.

Are there any common mechanical issues that these cars suffer from that I should be aware of? (other than the fact that anything could potentially go wrong in a 20 year old car)

 

Ha!! I have a 1978 Cutlass with a 455 in dam near perfect condition. Getting sideways no problem passing a gas station big problem

 

haha I can imagine!

 

The solution here is very easy.....do what I always tell people to do......if your heart is set for a mid 80's Monte SS then go for it. My personal recommendation would be to have the best of both worlds by finding a nice high mileage body so that you could get it inexpensively and put a crate motor LS3 in it! When I tell people that my car has over 150K miles on it still with the original paint they are beyond shocked!!!
I performed the first LS1 swap on my car 6 years ago and it's been a daily driver from day one! Reliability couldn't be better and the gas mileage of the LS1, LS6 and now my LS7 all exceed what the HO305 did!!! When it comes to enjoying the car, I get to enjoy driving it EVERYDAY!

To me your decison is a no brainer.....the other thing you'd be surprised at is the number of people that still admire these cars. I can't pull into any gas station or store parking lot without having someone compliment the car....whether it's an older retired couple of some young kids and heck, they have no clue what's under my hood because it looks like a sleeper...if they only knew!

Good luck with you decision!

 

^ Great advice John.

The only thing that would stop me is reliability: if you don't have some k's to throw around for a modern power upgrade (LS1, LS2, LS3...) then getting it to run and function as a daily would worry me. Don't get me wrong, they are pretty stout...but the car is 20 years old.

I have my heart set on an early 70's (70, 71) monte carlo....have you seen the engine bay in those things? You could stick a 454 in there with 10 inches on either side to spare...a 527/BB Rat would be a simple swap. And you get huge power with classy bodylines and a plush interior.

 

I would definitely consider a motor swap if I fell in the love with the car. How much did you actually pay for the original car John?

Thanks for your input John, and everyone else. I don't mean to be a bummer with this thread, but like I said, you all are the only ones that might understand. =P

 

There isnt a day that goes by that I dont miss my GTO. BUt when I look at the monte, it goes away. I think the monte IMHO is a better looking car then the GTO.

Just wait for mods to come out. Trust me.

 

Back in 1995 I paid $9300 w/taxes and it had 59K miles on it.

 

Damn, I didnt even pay that much for my 07 Monte SS :-D

 

Huh? You bought yours used?

 

Nope, brand new. I had my 04 paid off. Dealer gave me 16,000 for it. I had 6,000 also as a down payment. Then I had my GM Supplier Discount ontop of the rebates for the car

 

My 2nd "real" car:



Looked at everyone one I saw for sale before I bought this MCSS, trying to find an ultra clean example. But they all wanted $8-10K for a car that cost $12,500 brand new, and can get smoked by a 3800 in stock trim. "Nostalgia" pricing I'm thinking.

Big, roomy interiors, could stuff 4 GI duffle bags in the trunk. I had no problems with mine that weren't race related.

 

I love that generation monte...yours had the 305 correct?

 

Yeah the SS's of those years typically had a 305 in them.

 

k, so then you still "paid" $22,000+ for the car...

it's not like you just gave them $9,000 for the car...

you gave them $16,000, + $6,000, + whatever else still needed to be paid...

 

Yah - drove it for 135K, then pulled it and did a complete rebuild ... bored; head work; cam; programming; trans rebuild; Art Carr Grand National cat-back. Repainted. Fully restored.

No resto pics because my kid was playing with a roll of film and exposed it (gotta love digital now).

Lost it because "we" needed a washing machine and stove.