Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Chevrolet
RIP: Chevy kills off Monte Carlo
A member of the GM Inside News forum posted today that he received an email from General Motors announcing the end of the Monte Carlo. We rang up the General for confirmation and received word that the Monte Carlo is indeed being offed. May 4th will reportedly be the last day you can order a Monte Carlo and production of the car at GM's Oshawa plant in Canada will cease on June 20th. Apparently production of the Monte Carlo is being cancelled to make room for all those extra Malibu orders the automaker is expecting when the new 2008 model sedan begins production in October. This is the sixth generation Monte Carlo, and when asked if we'd see the name return on a new model in the near future, we got the canned answer from GM, "We do not comment on future product." Sigh. Monte Carlo sales were off 64.2% in January of 2007 with only 1,639 units being sold. In 2006, 34,113 units were sold, a slight improvement over 2005.
[Source: GM, GM Inside News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Allen Klosowski 5:35PM (2/28/2007)
About time. Now let's replace it with something mean and RWD from Holden.
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Bob R. 5:49PM (2/28/2007)
I never really liked or understood what the Monte Carlo was. All it was was an Impala with the rear doors chopped off, and it didn't really look good compared to the Impala sedan. Maybe we will see a new Monte Carlo when a new RWD Impala comes out.
This makes more sence for GM to kill it off to concentrate on a much more impartant vehicle, the new Malibu.
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jscro 5:56PM (2/28/2007)
I never understood this car either. Even the SS's were dogs over the years weren't they? The only car that did this platform justice from GM was the Buick Grand National.
Currently, it's one of the goofiest cars on the road. It's even funnier in full Nascar dress.
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jgp 6:04PM (2/28/2007)
A friend of mine has a 2000 Monte Carlo.
It's a damn good car. It's had minimal problems. The interior is good. The ride is good. It looks distinctive and impressive.
The interior space is absolutely wonderful. Even though it's a coupe, it has a bigger backseat than most sedans, and the trunk capacity is glorious.
It's perhaps the only coupe out there that's actually practical to own.
R.I.P.
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lzaffuto 6:08PM (2/28/2007)
Well we know the Impala platform is rumored to be replaced with a RWD chassis. But GM may decide not to come out with a coupe version of it since they could just make a more luxurious version of the Camaro to fit in that niche.
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JC3 6:11PM (2/28/2007)
This car reminds me a holdover from the large personal luxury coupe era of detroit in the 70's when coupes were big(Monte Carlo,Grand Prix,Eldorado,Cutlass,Riviera,Regal,Cordoba,Town Coupe ,etc.).
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Jaymez 6:12PM (2/28/2007)
What a shame. I wanted to buy one in '09 when my truck is paid off. I love the body styling on this and the last generation Montes.
I hope they replace it with another Mid-size FWD coupe. Yeah, RWD would be nice, but, I live in the snow belt. I *really* don't want to have to buy a sedan in '09.
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Secret Squirrel 6:26PM (2/28/2007)
NASCAR Popularity = Monte Carlo Popularity
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whofan 6:28PM (2/28/2007)
I wish GM would stick with the Monte Carlo. Its a nice car and in time I think consumer taste will sway back to cars as we get hit again with higher gas prices. They could kill it in exchange for a Chevelle though.
The Japanese don`t flip flop on car models. People take a long time to learn a new name.
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whofan 6:32PM (2/28/2007)
Wish I had a 1970-1972 monte. Those cars were beautiful. GM butcherd the Monte in 73.
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Very Upset 6:35PM (2/28/2007)
It's a shame they don't kill off the Malibu - nothing but problems, and GM doesn't honor their warranty. I used to love GM... I don't think i will ever purchase one again
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Accordsforall 6:36PM (2/28/2007)
Hmmm..
I amm so damn thrilled.. that that damn car got canned. It was ugly to look at. Cheap to produce and the most gutless p.o.s that chevy has had for the longest damn time!!!
The only type.. that drive that damn POS.. is the mullet headed NASCAR type.
The body isnt good looking, its not inspiring. Its also been around longer than god himself. Heck.. the last time the Monte Carlo was even remotely interesting.. is the late 70s.. when it actually had some design to it. Now.. its just a smoldering load of hot monkey piss.
Im glad its gone. AMEN!
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Very Upset 6:37PM (2/28/2007)
Oh, i forgot to ask - does anyone know who i can contact about resolving my Malibu issues?!
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dearyou 6:42PM (2/28/2007)
win on sunday, sell in bulk to rental companies on Monday.
Boy am I glad I soon won't be getting stuck with one of these when I travel for work.
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He just doesn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 6:46PM (2/28/2007)
4. A friend of mine has a 2000 Monte Carlo.
I think that generation (the one inthe pic above?) - I believe the first after the 80's RWD cars - was nicer looking than the bloated characature they have now.
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jg 6:51PM (2/28/2007)
'It's perhaps the only coupe out there that's actually practical to own.'
My 99 Grand Prix is pretty practical for a 2 door. That's because like the Monte Carlo its not really a coupe. Its a 2 door sedan.
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Carlos 6:54PM (2/28/2007)
Its segment (old person coupe) has pretty much died. The nearest equivalent is the Toyota Solara, and rumors are it's not going to be replaced. Its interior, engine, and ride are just so much better - but ugly coupes are no longer popular with the elderly.
With the Camaro and a Pontiac coupe on the way, I don't think GM will want to re-release the Monte Carlo as a young people's car. So it'll remain dead until the old people coupe segment recovers.
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Phewop118 6:55PM (2/28/2007)
Everyone knew that this was coming, as it was already public knowledge that the Monte Carlo nameplate in Nascar is being changed to Impala, as Nascar vehicles must share a name with a production car.
I love Monte Carlo's, but they are rather impractical with their 2 huge doors and FWD. But they look fantastic in SS trim and the V8 is quite powerful. Too bad the market (and marketing) is no longer there. RIP Monte Carlo. I will miss you.
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010111 6:56PM (2/28/2007)
"The only car that did this platform justice from GM was the Buick Grand National."
what? the current Monte Carlo that is getting killed off is a W-body car. a FWD mid-size platform. there is pretty much nothing interesting on the W platform.
the Buick Grand National shared the RWD mid-size G platform with the Monte Carlo over 20 years ago. the platform itself is close to 30 years old at this point.
i can't understand how one could confuse a car from 20-30 years ago with one from today.
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jg 6:58PM (2/28/2007)
'The only type.. that drive that damn POS.. is the mullet headed NASCAR type.'
There's a guy in Phoenix who owns one. Its painted to match Dale Earnhardt's 3 car. He wears a Dale Earnhardt Goodwrench jacket and hat, dark glasses and even has the same mustache Dale had. Creepy.
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