- coupe 86,106
- 6,900 high price
- Blair, NE
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- autoshopper.com
2007 chevrolet monte carlo review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Style matters. introductionnever mind the nascar association; or the bad-boy reputation. Never mind that the chevrolet monte carlo is as quick as it looks, with a 303-horsepower, variable-displacement small-block v8 as its top engine choice. Never mind the neo-muscle-car image the monte carlo carries. The monte is primarily about style. Always will be. the monte carlo was born in 1970 as a high-style variant on a more mundane mid-size sedan, and as a high-value alternative to more expensive personal luxury coupes. A big-bore ss version was there from the start, but initially the ss sold at a trickle compared to a torrent of base-model coupes with all the luxury options. the monte quickly developed a dual personality: although conceived originally for visual effect, its unusual proportions seemed to give it an edge in handling balance at medium-length nascar oval tracks. By the late 1970s, the monte carlo was chevrolet's standard-bearer in stock-car competition. Then with each successive generation, chevrolet refined the monte's shape to improve its high-speed performance. The monte carlo is now the winningest nameplate in the history of nascar, which is certainly something to crow about. something comes over us when we're in a chevy monte carlo. Or maybe we're going through the inner loop at watkins glen, bounding off the curbs as we go through the big chicane. The monte just has that look about it. It has that feel about it, too, making it an enjoyable and appropriate car for winding down a rural road in the south with the windows down. It still draws admiring looks in these parts. like we said, it's all about style. last year, 2006, chevrolet face-lifted the monte carlo. The new look is smoother, more mature, more sophisticated. At the same time, a v8 engine became available, for the first time in a monte carlo since 1987. Changes for 2007 are relatively minor. we always bond with the monte carlo whenever we drive one. It's roomy and comfortable and easy to operate. It's fast and fun to drive. It's stable at high speeds for long runs down the interstate and it's great fun on back roads, the same kind of roads that form the roots of stock car racing. The top-performance ss comes with a 303-hp 5. 3-liter v8. A recent upgrade to the standard remote keyless entry allows drivers to use the red panic button to locate a car misplaced in lowe's vast lot without activating the alarm. Powertrain dampening is upgraded for quieter running. Lt is available with more options, too, including a power tilt-and-slide sunroof 900); leather seats 795); six-disc cd changer 295); xm satellite radio 199); eight-speaker premium sound system 250); and universal remote 100). the monte carlo ss 27,740) comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats, xm satellite radio (with a three-month trial subscription); and 235/50 w-rated goodyear eagle rs-a tires on 18-inch machined aluminum wheels. Also standard is a stiffer suspension that gm calls fe4. A convenience package 240) for ss adds a universal remote, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, and heated exterior mirrors. Also available are polished aluminum wheels 350) and a new rally stripe package 395) in black or silver. Cloth upholstery can be substituted for credit. And, certainly, nothing else looks like a monte carlo. The monte's sharply creased quarters and thick rear roof pillars represent a design heritage now 38 years old. At the same time, the current model is as modern as the latest computer simulation, refined in the wind tunnel for maximum stability with minimal drag. the folks who own them love them. To us, however, the current monte carlo looks as if it were designed by a committee. Individual elements are attractive, but we're not quite satisfied with how they hang together as a whole. we do, however, like the effects of last year's facelift. The front end, particularly, is much smoother and does hang together better visually than before. Where previous montes breathed through two narrow air slots above the bumper and a cheap-looking body-color mesh below it, the new design features blacked-out rectangular openings top and bottom, with a prominent gold chevy bow-tie front-and-center. Similarly, the old monte's odd frog-eye headlamps have given way to a more conventional shape housing three independent lighting units. Chevrolet says the new lamps are not only better looking but are more effective. The front air dam is deeper, smoother, and looks much less like something taped on in the heat of battle. The overall effect is far more handsome. Even here, however, chevrolet has cleaned up the design, with a wider and more subtle protective molding mounted lower on the body; and better-integrated sill extensions. Around back, too, much of the fussy detail of the old design has been shaved off for a cleaner, more grown-up appearance. Gone (and good riddance!) are the frilly air slots in the lower bumper extension, replaced by a solid black panel that nicely frames the ss model's dual exhausts. And the reverse lights, which before looked tacked on to the bumper at random, now extend in elegant oblongs from either side of the license plate opening. new flat-blade windshield wipers provide consistent pressure on the glass, which helps eliminate streaking and wind noise. And in a reversal of typical detroit practice, the re-styled 2006-07 monte actually measures 1. 2 inches shorter than previous model. the monte carlo ss is distinguished by a black-diamond crosshatch grille, and a purposeful rear spoiler that emphasizes the car's nascar heritage. Corvette-inspired bright exhaust outlets also are standard on the ss, and a new rally stripe package is available. interiorthe interior of the chevy monte carlo was restyled for 2006 for a cleaner, simpler, and more tailored appearance. The optional nuance leather-covered seats feature deck seams around their perimeter and french seams on the center cushions. The fundamental shape hasn't changed, but a combination of new bright metal trim and less shine from surfaces that aren't supposed to have added a look of value. A more modern-looking, square-topped shift lever has replaced the previous model's quaint t-handle. Generally crisper lines, especially in the steering wheel hub, definitely aid the upscale impression. Materials have been improved throughout the interior and trunk. we found the bucket seats quite comfortable for around-town driving. Their shape makes it easy to get in and out of the car. Both seats are easy to adjust, and there's plenty of range for short and tall drivers, though headroom was lacking for a 6-foot, 3-inch driver who sat in the car. this is an easy car to operate. Turning on the head. Climate Control✔ AM/FM✔ Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ Aluminum Wheels
6,900 Blair, NEBlair, NE at autoshopper.com