I have not gotten rid of the car yet... Today move the climate control temperature and then a lot clicking to no end=Cheap build quality.

 

Are you talking about the AC actuator? thats a easy fix. plus that part was actually made in mexico lol

 

Sorry you are having problems. I've owned 2 6th gen Montes and I haven't had one single problem with either of them (and my 05 had high miles on it). But I am biased - I do like the interior of my 03/05 SS Montes better than the 06-07s. My Dad owns an 08 Buick Lucerne and it does have the similar interior as the 06-07 Montes and I have found that his seats aren't as comfortable as mine. But my Dad hasn't had any quality issues with his Buick (but it does have the 3800 III engine in it though).

 

I drove my Monte to school (2.5 miles) everyday of my senior year. I only let it warm up when it was below freezing. I also drove it to and from work (3 miles one way), same thing, only letting it get warm when below freezing.

Almost all of my past 2 years of driving have been short trips like this. Last year I drove it maybe 50 miles a week with an occasional 300 mile trip once a month... Everything seems to be fine? Should I be concerned that it won't last because of my ignorance of not allowing the engine to heat before all of these small trips?

I guess to me it just seemed pointless to sit in the car and allow it to warm up all the way to normal operating temp. when the town I grew up in was less than 4 miles from one side to the other at most. In all of my experience, my parents or other people that I was around never allowed their vehicles to get to temp. before driving somewhere. Are you suggesting that all of these vehicles will fail sooner than a car you let run for 10-15 minutes every time you want to go somewhere, even if it's only a few blocks? I'm not doubting anyone's statements, I'm just curious on some statistics for this. (Example: If you don't allow the car to heat up ever, will it only have a 50% life expectancy vs. a car that heats up all the way, every time, before you drive, no matter the distance? Not trying to argue at all, just curious.)

 

I do have the 3.5L and you are right, it does warm up quicker than the 3.8. That said, my family has also had a 3.8 in a Bonneville, and it didn't take that much longer to warm up. The Bonnie was always close to full operating temp by the time you go to the hwy from the house, which is about 3 miles/ 5-7 min. The only time is wasn't up to temp or about 2 small marks away from full temp, was when the thermostat was bad and sticking open.

 

Shut up CA, you don't know what cold is :p

 

Saw my co-worker's wife 2004 Accord today that has a nicer quality interior than by 2006 Monte Carlo. The dashpad and interior door panels are far superior and you don't here the latch rods rattle crossing over track or on uneven payment. All Chicago City miles 40,000 has just needed a driver's door actuator for $25, oil changes, a set of tires and is due from brakes.

The thing about Consumer Reports is in July 2006 the Monte Carlo was one of their "recommended buys". A year and half after I had the car along with all the many issues I looked up the 2006 MC in CR and it was one of the used cars they said to avoid. All the black hits in the magazine I could relate issue to. I can say they got that one right. I had a chance to get a low mileage '07 Impala a year ago and I avoided it like the plague.

These low-end GMs have the same issues throughout the model years and then acquire new issues, but I must say the 3500 does not have piston slap. Annoying belt-chatter and lookup toque converter bounce in 4th gear at 30-40 mph... I think I would rather have the startup piston-slap.

 

Just get a different car. Obviously your never going to be have with your Monte. FWIW, I have working at the GM dealer for 3 months, and I have only seen 2 Montes from any generation. One needed a headlight and the other struts.

 

Clearly you have a chip on your shoulder with your car. I agree, go with something else then.

I get NOTHING but compliments on my car from everyone. I'm always in the work parking garage looking at OTHER people's cars for them because they are having problems. Hell just yesterday I was trying to help diagnose a friend's 02 Accord for brake light issues.

I guess that Accord must be a bad car... It had a problem when it was 10 years old.

Anyway. Sell your car, get into something else that looks boring and go from point A to point B. When you are bringing that foreign car in for service and it costs more, you'll miss the Monte.

Every car maker has a few cars that have more problems than others, you just either didn't get lucky, or your vehicle conditions are poorer.

Ending this thread now.

 

Hi `Eric,
I'm sorry 2 read that your Monte Carlo does not like you ,
and you don't like your Monte Carlo...

I think it's time for a divorce 4-Sure....Life is 2 short to stress out as much as you have 4-Sure!

Every make & model has problems (That's why they all have service/repair shops)...

Like any relationship, it can be expensive to `End, but we hopefully learn as we travel our journey of `life...

Wish you better luck with your future auto investment...

Peace/Happiness on your journey of `Life