Been reading these forums for a while now, great site! Looking seriously at a few Monte's as fuel prices+truck+ 500 miles/week is killing me! My question is were there any major model year changes between 00 and say 03? I have always been a little skeptical of first year model changes (2000) in anyvehicle. Did the 2000s have any specific issues being the first model year?

What im looking for is something with70-80,000 miles in the $6-10,000 range. Trying to find a SS butprices seem to be crazy high for these. I know the 3.8 is legendary but what kind of performance an reliabilty canone expect from the 3.4? I know someof the 3.4s in the90s were nothing to brag about.

Finallywhat kind of mileage difference is there between the 3.4 and 3.8?

Any suggestions or commentson buying a higher mileage monte welcome...

 

Ok here is a few:

2003 MC SS 70K Black - Asking $7995 http://www.getauto.com/vehicledetail...springfield/va

2000 MC SS 68K Red- asking $9999 http://www.getauto.com/vehicledetail...-ss/taunton/ma

2002 MC SS 62K Silver - asking $9999 http://www.getauto.com/vehicledetail...o-ss/lisbon/oh

2001 MC SS 61K Red - asking $9999 http://www.getauto.com/vehicledetail...-ss/lincoln/ne

2001 MC SS 58.6K Black - Asking $9995 http://www.getauto.com/vehicledetail...farmingdale/nj

Is it worth driving or flying to get... Sometimes. If I can save $1,500 I am willing to drive up to 400-miles. If I can save $3,000 I will go 1,500-miles away. The better the deal the farther I am willing to travel. I calculate the cost of travel vs savings and decide.

 

 

3.8 actually gets better gas mileage than the 3.4...exactly how much depends on how u drive, im gettin between 26 and 27 mpg with my3.8

 

YA'LL SUCK! As I get 14-15-MPG! Should have stayed with my Honda Accord (28-MPG consistently) $3.47 a gallon last fill up, $40 for half a tank.

 

The 3.8 is a much stronger engine with many less problems. As for changes between those years there is nothing to really note except for color options.

I would check ebay as well.

Here is a sweet 2004 Dale Jr edition - 5,100 right now!!Only 3 hours left!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-...em260178168192


Otherwise here is a quick search for some: http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Tru...f14=20001774be

 

yeah, no real differences in the years and no real problems to mention with any model year. i hear some people swear by the 3.4, some swear they are the devil. i know the stats say they 3.8 only have 20 more hp, but i've driven both, and the SS feels like its got about 50 more hp. some claim the SS gets better mielage because the 3.4 isn't enough car to pull the engine.. some say the 3.4 gets better mileage. personally, i have an SS, and i love it. if you're into the aftermarket, definitly get a 3.8, the aftermarket on the 3.4 is all but dead.

 

Doesn't your SS have the 8 cylinder? Even if half the cylinders cut off most of the time, won't the occasional use of all 8 affect your MPG?

Eric (powderpro) if you're looking to save money on gas, don't get the supercharged SS. They call for premium gas only. Although a lot of people put regular in occasionally.

 

Taz... That is the problem withthe car -- according to the mechanics -- is the fact that I still have the DOD working with all the other setup they have on the car. Ok.. so here's the thing... At first I thought I could have the best of both worlds (Power & Fuel Econ). Besides I figured I would buy the Diablo Predator,andchange the tune at will...

Well, on "another" forum everyone is complaining about the DP not having the TCM support that the HP & EFI Live have, and the DP reps keep saying it will be soon (30-days type of thing). Well, it just doesn't make sense to buy the current model, if the current model is going to be replaced soon, so I have been holding off. 30-days has turn into 60-days, that has turned into 90-days, which is now going on 120-days for the DP with TCM to arrive. Meanwhile, my car struggles when it goes into 4-cyl mode if I am traveling less than 50-ish. WHY? No backpressure and the timing.

THE FIX:
1. have the boyz kill the DOD and waste money paying them to do what they wanted to do in the beginning...

2. Stop being a cheap butt, and buy a HP or EFILive tuning software...

3.Buy the DP and do it myself and worry about buying the new version later...

OR

4.Have the Boyz put the New Stock exhaust system I have coming, kill thetune and go back to being Joe stock... Well... stock with auto cut-outs (stock to open headers to stock with a flip of a switch). Then buy the DP when it comes out or sell the car and buy ?????

 

Went and test drove an 01 SS last nite briefly after work, wow what a car. The handling is amazing and the power is refreshing. This one is black with leather and seemingly every option. Suprisingly quite interior with little if any wind noise. At first seemed like limited head room, I'm 6'2 but after I got the seat adjusted seemed very comfortable. Supposedly a one owner ect but they are waaaaayy too high in my opinion. It is at a large dealer with an as is price of 8450 showing 114,000 miles. The check engine light is also on an it needs 2 tires. I told the salesman to call me when it gets down to around the 6,000 range. He said he knew8450 was too high but they'd pry sell it on an auction before they go that low. Oh well plenty of miles for my likes but wow an amazing car. Will definately be looking for more with better prices!