The Mysterious Case of the Missing Monte Carlo

[KingElvis]

A mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes...

The 2006 Monte Carlo SS has been on dealer lots only about a month later than the 2006 Impala showed up so that's about three months or 1/4th of the model year.

The 2006 Monte Carlo SS is essentially Chevy's answer to the Dodge Charger R/T and Ford Mustang GT muscle cars. It has exactly the same power to weight ratio of the Charger R/T, and it's a V8 two door like the Mustang.

In NW Chicago(land) you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Charger - they appear to me to be far more numerous than even the record selling Mustang.

Now it's true that the Mustang has been out for a year, and the Charger was one of those midyear "2006" models, while the MC SS has a regular ol' fall introduction. On the other hand, I've seen more than a fair share of 2006 Impalas - most of them are actually the top of the line SS to boot.

However, the question remains...

Where is the 2006 Monte Carlo? SS or otherwise?

If you got to Chevy.com, you can see they are sitting on dealer lots. It seems most of them are in all black and decked out with every option so they sticker at about $32,000.

Yet I have seen exactly ZERO on the road. They have the new 2006 grille, so there's no question of what you are looking at, or rather WOULD be looking at, if you saw one, which you (almost surely) haven't.

So sound the clarion call GMI-ers.

1. Have any GMI members bought a 2006 Monte Carlo SS?

2. Have any GMI members even SEEN an SS?

3. For that matter, have any GMI members seen a 2006 Monte Carlo?

4. Does ANYONE, GMI or not...care?

Are they flying off the shelves in all other parts of the nation except the Northern Midwest? Even though you'd think they would sell BEST in the snowbelt. I actually looked up the MC SS, after having a nightmare commute in the snow with my Mustang GT about a month ago, but I found the thing too pricey - even though they made the option a relative stripper, they are all loaded to the gills. Remember, the premium package GT lists at about $27G.


Calling all cars, put out the dragnet, arrest the usual suspects, and lets solve the mysterious case of the missing Monte Carlo!

[Titanic]

I haven't seen any '06 MC on the road. I've been to the Chevrolet dealer two or three times recently, and they didn't have any either. And to answer your last question: No, I don't care. Those are the least appealing cars on the market. If I want a V8 coupe, I get a Mustang GT with proper RWD. If I want a sporty FWD Coupe, I'd get a G6 GTP manual or an Eclipse.

Edit: I believe 06MonteSS has one.

[big swede]

I have been keeping an eye on the local dealer lots for the SS Monte and almost all the dealers I have been to have one loaded black SS. I have yet to see any on the road either though so I'm not sure if it is because the selection is so limited with mostly loaded black cars. I also think most people looking for a V8 also want RWD.

I keep a FWD car as a daily driver and I can't stand 4 door cars so the Monte has slowly started to appeal to me. I did spot a loaded all silver SS with tinted windows that Red Tagged at $28,000 and I was actually suprised at how much better it looked than the regular Monte. If it had a strong 6 speed auto I would jump on it but I'm a little leary of that transmission with that much torque. There really isn't much of a selection of larger FWD coupes that make for great daily drivers, but if that's what your looking for their aren't many cars that would be better.

[KingElvis]

You'd think maybe they'd offer a bigger red tag discount if they're not selling, but When you start at $32G, going down to $29G still leaves you with a pretty darn expensive Chevy.

I would (and did) consider one - first because my wife refuses to learn to drive the manual transmission on my GT and even I get a little tired of it when crawling along the Edens at rush hour.

Also, I drove my wife's PT Cruiser in the same snow storm that gave me such fits in the GT, and it was a revelation. I've driven 4x4 pickups, but have somehow managed to avoid driving a FWD till this year (and I'm an old man of 37), but I was truly amazed how close the FWD is to full four wheel drive - Basically it feels like you get 80% of the benefit of (non locker diff) 4x4 drive.

Besides the price, another thing really damped my enthusiasm for FWD muscle, at least in GM form:

That modern wonder we call "OnStar."

As I understand it, the friendly ONstar staff alerts the local authorites if it "senses" you are going too fast because the ABS goes off or something.

We already have our Furher Bush spying on US citizens without the "hindrance" of courts...I'd prefer GM doesn't put a little Furher in the black box under my car's dash.

[asim]

I haven't seen the new Monte yet...although I haven't seen the Solstice yet...

[RocketImpala]

Elvis, I'm in the same area as you (NW Chicago Burbs) and I haven't seen a 2006 Monte. I have seen plenty of '06 Impalas, lots of Charges, and new Mustangs here and there. But I have not seen a single '06 Monte.

I think they sell much better in the "NASCAR areas"...primarily south.

Re: Onstar...this would be the first I have heard of OnStar alerting the authorities to one's driving fast. I know they will call the police if your airbags go off, but I haven't heard of another stimulis to do so.

[Titanic]

Besides the price, another thing really damped my enthusiasm for FWD muscle, at least in GM form:

That modern wonder we call "OnStar."

As I understand it, the friendly ONstar staff alerts the local authorites if it "senses" you are going too fast because the ABS goes off or something.

We already have our Furher Bush spying on US citizens without the "hindrance" of courts...I'd prefer GM doesn't put a little Furher in the black box under my car's dash.

Well that's simply not true. If it was, I'd be in jail.

[bouda]

Have not seen a 06'monte' SS, a solstice, or a charger(I did see this one on the lot though). I've seen 3-4 new mustangs.

[TahoeMikeZ71]

I havent seen any 06 Monte Carlo, or Solstice, but two Chargers and lots of 06 Impalas.

[goochman]

Funny thing is - what advertising is out there for an '06 SS Monte? I see Impala Commercials and Grand Prix ones but not Monte Carlo ones. I see the GP GTP and the Impala v8 w/DOD in ads.

So,
If a Monte Carlo SS falls on a Chevy Dealers lot does it make a sound?

[GM_Fanatic]

If I was GM, I wouldn't want to make to much noise about the MC. This way they have an excuse.

Okay I'm being a little too harsh, but I actually have seen a regular MC as well as a SS here in Portland OR. They look suprisingly sharp compared to the pictures and especially compared to before the refresh.

[CRBoyd91]

Theres a Monte down the street from me, but it's not an '06. And BTW, I haven't seen any 06's at all.

[yukonho]

That modern wonder we call "OnStar."

As I understand it, the friendly ONstar staff alerts the local authorites if it "senses" you are going too fast because the ABS goes off or something.

We already have our Furher Bush spying on US citizens without the "hindrance" of courts...I'd prefer GM doesn't put a little Furher in the black box under my car's dash.

Well I don't know who your source is but that is a bunch of BS!! If it were true I would have had hundreds of tickets through out three different states.

I saw my first 06 Monte SS yesterday as I was passing it on I69 from Flint to Lansing going about 13 over the limit. Onstar must have forgot to turn me in again!! It was white and looked pretty nice. Maybe Onstar knows that in MI the unofficial speed limit is around 80.

[jman196]

Jinkies Gang what a mystery, go get em scoob

[KingElvis]

I stand corrected about ONstar.

I thought I read that the Impala SS called the cops or something when it was being tested for Motor Trend and the ABS kept going off. If the airbags go off, I suppose that's no small thing.

Still, I wonder if they "decontented" the SS by throwing Onstar and some other stuff overboard, maybe they could sell it as the "Heavy Chevy" of the 21st Century (and I could better afford the payment...).

Better yet, what happened to those halcyon days when you could buy engines and trim packages separately? I'd love an LS with the big motor - maybe they could make the SS the bad boy by using a 2.56:1 axle on the LS V8 and a 3.29:1 on the SS.

I'd also be much happier with a softer suspension here in the land of potholes, frost heaves and mal-maintained side streets. The Mustang is already rattling to beat the band, stiff chassis or not, the streets around here deal out a beating.

As I mentioned I like the idea of the MC SS - but as Buick61 points out, there really isn't much comparison to the Mustang GT in terms of raw styling appeal. The MC's got that stubby transverse engine hood and some weird angles.

I'm really a GM guy (though I've owned a 70 AM Rebel and 69 Chrysler 300 vintage cars) and there's something that just feels right with GM. For example, I really notice having to turn the lights on and off - a small thing, but I always wonder why the heck the other guys don't do the twilight sentinel lights. The Mrs' PT Cruiser doesn't even have a lights on warning chime - just like the bad old days.

Nevertheless, I'm still entertaining the idea of switching to fwd muscle, and I'm curious if the guy with "06 Monte SS" screen name could share some of his driving impressions. I've heard torque steer isn't all that bad, and the gas mileage is stupendous - it gets better highway mileage than the 140hp Chrysler PT.