The Last Chevrolet Monte Carlo Rolls off The Line

[Minnesota Nice]

Originally Posted by TAHOE LT

The SS Supercharged Cobalt never had an automatic option.

And I thank God every day for it. I didn't mind the SS/NA model getting a slushbox, but the SS/SC model was dead on only offering a manual tranny.

But whether the NA Cobalt deserved an SS badge is another story. I think Chevy caught on to that as next year it's just "Sport", isn't it?

And sadly, I hear they axed the SS/SC. Makes me sad. If it weren't for that wing, I would've heavily considered that over my Si.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

Thats foolish, you are shooting yourself in the foot by only offering an manual transmission. The sales for the SI might be good but they would be even better if they offered an automatic. Not everyone wants to to be bothered shifting, some people just want to go fast and have an agile car without the hassle of shifting.

It's all about understanding your markets. Honda understands that people who will want the Civic Si will want a manual transmission, and would probably even pay more for the stick if offered a choice between that and an auto. The people you refer to who do not want "to be bothered shifting, and just want to go fast and have an agile car" are not going to be the people buying a Civic Si. Or any other car with a manual (if we all remember, the sticker price for the GTO was actually HIGHER with the manual, but less after the gas guzzler tax attached to the automatic, and the only GTOs that sat in lots were the automatics).

There IS a strong market for cars with manual transmissions that aren't base strippers. Honda understands the market. GM doesn't. I've harping on it for years..... YEARS! When the W-bodies were made FWD for 1989, and the Pontiac Grand Prix turbocharged GTP made it's debut, it was initially available with a 5 speed stick. Now, GM canceled the stick shift option in 1992 due to the percieved (and all to overused excuse) of "lackluster sales" or "low demand". When in actuality, switching to the supercharged 3800 proved too much low end torque for their batch of 5 speed sticks they made back then to handle. So, GM just avoids the enthusiast's desires and takes the easy route by making all of them with the 4 speed slushbox. Instead of investing a little R&D into making a beefier clutch and transmission, which I still think to this day the Grand Prix should have one.

They would have had a true European fighter on their hands had they just put the right goods in the car.

[lammmbda]

i've always liked the back end styling on the monte carlo lol

[red_rider]

Sad to hear the monte (and other coupes) are seeing hard times. Also disappointed to hear that nobody likes the styling, although I'll agree that this car should have been rwd and optional manual. My mom has a black 06 SS and I honestly think its awesome looking (yes I mean the back end too), my friends practically drool over it and we've received comments that it looks like a race car (aka sporty). The interior isn't bad either (especially the guages) and it's plenty comfortable to ride in. The v8 sounds way cooler than a v6 IMO (although its too quiet with stock exhaust) and it has enough power to hold off the couple of mustangs that have tried to cut her off (They weren't brand new stangs but still you get the point).

Would I buy one over a new mustang or zeta camaro? Probably not.

Is it still a cool sporty looking touring coupe with more than enough power for 95% of the public? You bet.

[Kev85]

I really liked the styling on those. Hate to see 'em leave. At least we still have the sedan.

[atomicshark]

Too bad Chevy has killed the Monte without a replacement in sight.

The 2006-2007 was definitely the best looking of this generation, but it's boat had already sailed after 2004.

[NOVASSCR]

Ya good luck with the 4-doors, Impala SS, Malibu SS.

[87montess]

I have been a GM Parts Manager for 32 years and have never been more disappointed in GMs lack of imagination, forethought and ineptitude.
At one time you would cut me and I would bleed Chevrolet orange but now it is almost embarrasing to be involved with GM. Chrysler and Ford are so far advanced as far as new models its no wonder GM is hurting. GM better check for a mole in the organization. It seems that when GM had an idea for a new model, (i.e. Camaro) they are always beaten to the punch (i.e. Mustang and Charger). Plus it always takes GM so much longer to introduce them. GM, please wake up and make us proud again.

[NE1BUTU]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Good riddance. This car is a symbol why the US auto industry is in the tank currently. This gaudy, outdated, poorly built anachronism is the reason that people are stampeding into European, Japanese and Korean showrooms. Based on the beautiful new cars I'm seeing, I am optimistic about the future of GM. Killing this dog was a good start.[/font]

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by ponchoman49

A sad day indeed! Now America doesn't build a personal luxury coupe any more. They used to sell like crazy in the 70's and 80's when the Cutlass Supreme was the best selling car in America for many years. It's distinctive styling wasn't for everyone but you never mistook it for any bland Asian car on the road and it had a real presence. Too bad Chevy cheapened it so much with this last design refresh and didn't go far enough with the changes. This leaves one less good choice in a stylish American made mid size car. Pretty soon we will all be driving look alike bland Asian cars or cheap Korean ones at the rate things are going with the big 2 1/2. Sad times indeed!

In a way, I hate to see the Monte Carlo go. I remember, as a kid, going to the Chevy dealer in the mid '70s, and leaving with brochures on about everything. By the time all was said and done, the one that left the deepest impression was always the Monte Carlo. I was also about crazy about the first generation Cordoba, and in a way, the car in my avatar (a '96 Chrysler Sebring coupe) could be considered a 5th generation of the Cordoba. It's simple enough, take a mid size platform, draw a truly sleek body around it, bake in a reasonably comfy ride, and decent handling and see what happens. Trouble was, Chevrolet forgot the formula.

Whether you like front drive or not, the recipe is simple enough. Nissan and Honda will do well with their Altima and Accord coupes, a G6 coupe isn't exactly a rare sight, either. The styling has to be there, though. Toyota didn't realize this, and found they couldn't sell the second generation Solara. As one other post pointed out, many of the features that we take for granted debuted in personal luxury coupes. This was one place where the Monte Carlo didn't come anywhere near keeping up. The sheer amount of technological oneupmanship the Japanese entries offer is what needed to be in the Monte Carlo.

I hated what they did to the Monte Carlo. I recall the show car that preceded the '95 Monte Carlo, and the production car was a disappointment. The Grand Prix was done better, in fact, a poster of the '88 model remained on my bedroom wall essentially until it fell apart. That car carried many of the ideals for the personal luxury coupe. The styling looked forward to the future, and was quite aerodynamic to boot. The interior was at least meant to be a comfortable place for two couples on the way to dinner or the theater. With the reduced dimensions of today's cars, three across is always a bit of a bad joke, anyway. Here's where I'll second the idea that the GTO would have made a good Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo was available with a manual in its first years, in fact, such a car is highly prized these days.

I apologize if I seem to be rambling, so I'll cut to the chase. The next Monte Carlo should be RWD. That will be merely the first thing to distinguish it from cars like the Altima and Accord coupes in the way that, perversely enough, FWD distinguished the '66 Toronado and '67 Eldorado from other, lesser cars. Perhaps the longer WM wheelbase should be the starting point, in order to provide good room with a low slung shape, which would be another essential. It should be as wide as the new Camaro, but no more than a inch and a half taller. I want to be just about able to p*^& over the roof of this car. The rocker panel, when I get out of the car, should hit well below the calf, in fact, just above the ankle, like my Sebring does. The interior should have four bucket seats, with a full length console. Trim level should be comparable with the middle trim level for the upcoming Impala, with no equivalent base level. Few, if any, technological tricks should be on the "not available" list. Here's one that I might add: sliding doors. This would allow the sort of long doors the '70s cars had, without the drawbacks. If Peugeot can manage this for their 1007 model, which has to be sold fairly cheaply, then surely Chevrolet can do it as well, perhaps even better. It would also eliminate the temptation to build the next Monte as a four door, an idea that I consider an immense act of heresy. I'd debate whether the car should carry some historical design cues, but the one's I'd concentrate on would be the vertical tail lamps, and the flared fenders, especially on the front. Properly, the hood's shape should lead to an aggressive, open mouthed grille. Perhaps the headlights, and nothing less than HID should do, should echo the vertical emphasis of the vertical tail lamps.

This particular category of car, then, is one that I've always felt passionately about. What happened to the Monte Carlo was painful to look at. I hope they will fix that.

[61695]

The last MC was RWD. period.

[XtremeMonteSS]

I'll miss the Monte Carlo and hope for it's comeback someday,It has before. It should have been like the 1999 concept more that was given to the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.
But the new 06/07 Monte/Impala nose just looked horrid with those frog eyed looking bulged out chrome headlights. They sure needed some redesign there.
It would have looked and probably sold better if they retro-ed the car a little more with a 83-88 style SS grill and slimmer 1970-72 style taillights and not make the interior so bland with the plasticky look.
No chrome or woodgrain highlights.Better colors, Damn the Saturn Aura interior has a better interior.
It most definitely needed rear wheel drive and a V8 option.
Well It did get half of that correct for it last two years.
I am also another one that thought the Holden Monaro would have been a great replacement for the Monte Carlo and not a Ponty GTO.
Well maybe someday they'll get it right.
If they ever make something like that all wheel drive WTCC concept I might seriously consider it. Be great for our Winters here!
I'll hang on to my Monte SS's anyway.
</IMG>

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by TAHOE LT

The SS Supercharged Cobalt never had an automatic option.

Yea you are right, I was confusing the SS with the Supercharged SS.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by fastball

It's all about understanding your markets. Honda understands that people who will want the Civic Si will want a manual transmission, and would probably even pay more for the stick if offered a choice between that and an auto. The people you refer to who do not want "to be bothered shifting, and just want to go fast and have an agile car" are not going to be the people buying a Civic Si. Or any other car with a manual (if we all remember, the sticker price for the GTO was actually HIGHER with the manual, but less after the gas guzzler tax attached to the automatic, and the only GTOs that sat in lots were the automatics).

There IS a strong market for cars with manual transmissions that aren't base strippers. Honda understands the market. GM doesn't. I've harping on it for years..... YEARS! When the W-bodies were made FWD for 1989, and the Pontiac Grand Prix turbocharged GTP made it's debut, it was initially available with a 5 speed stick. Now, GM canceled the stick shift option in 1992 due to the percieved (and all to overused excuse) of "lackluster sales" or "low demand". When in actuality, switching to the supercharged 3800 proved too much low end torque for their batch of 5 speed sticks they made back then to handle. So, GM just avoids the enthusiast's desires and takes the easy route by making all of them with the 4 speed slushbox. Instead of investing a little R&D into making a beefier clutch and transmission, which I still think to this day the Grand Prix should have one.

They would have had a true European fighter on their hands had they just put the right goods in the car.

Yea I understand that a market still exist for people looking for a stick, but I feel you would get even more sales by offering an automatic option. My feeling is both should be offered so everyone is happy.

Originally Posted by fastball

The people you refer to who do not want "to be bothered shifting, and just want to go fast and have an agile car" are not going to be the people buying a Civic Si. Or any other car with a manual.

Yea thats right because the option for an automatic doesn't exist so people that want the automatic won't even look at the car. If a automatic was offered then you would have much higher sales. Go on E-Bay and look for Corvettes you will see over 70% of the Corvettes for sale are equipped with auto's. Truth is many people do want a performance car but don't want to have to shift.

[desmo9]

in 1987 they said the same thing, "the last Monte Carlo" ...