Hi Guys, new here. I have a 2003 Monte Carlo LS. I'm in love with this car and have been since my mom gave it to me a year ago (btw, im 18 so yea, lol) and Its 40 miles away from rolling over 200,000. I want to keep the car, and with the little dents an scratches it has, and restore it.

My main question is, with the car getting ready to roll over 200k, should I keep it? How long does it take for Monte's to start kicking the bucket?

Any feedback is appricated.

 

How do you plan to restore it? at this point it's very important to check the condition of the body, look for rust. Check the top of the strut towers, if there's any rust there, you might as well look to sell or scrap it.

Other places to check are the radiator support and other small pieces of metal both up front and in the rear.

200k miles are a lot but the 3400 is a good engine with the proper caring. As long as you take care of the LIM gasket problem (which I assume has been done) you should be okay. You may encounter some lifter sticking (very common 3400 problem) or piston slap (also very common).

Do you know when the last tune-up was or any maintenance like that?

Be sure to check everything on the underbody and in the engine bay.

 

Well, the car has no rust at all on the body, i have webbing in the paint, but thats about it.

As for maintenance, uhhhm, just a recent oil change, thats about it. I plan on getting more involved here and adding pictures and whatnot, so yea. You'll have a better idea of what I have.

So yea, I want to keep it. Just dont want to dump a load of money into it and 2 days later, it breaks down and blows a gasket or something. O.o

 

Have you checked the undercarriage and strut towers? Those are the more common but rarely seen spots, they are also more dangerous than rust on just the body.

Gasket repairs are fairly easy on the 3400, there's plenty of walk throughs on how to fix certain gaskets and what-not.

 

No, never thought of it. I'll check on it. But in the case that it doesn't, how it look in keeping it?

 

Can you afford a new car and car payments?

If not, then keep it. It clearly isn't giving you any trouble right now. You can't guarantee a lower mileage car being trouble free either.

 

Hi JDY & Welcome to the Monte Carlo Family.
Has your Monte Carlo been in your family since new ?
Do you know how it's been driven/maintained ?

How do your rate your Monte: Brake system/lights/suspension/ac/cooling system/electrical system: wipers/windows etc./exhaust systems/interior condition ? Are they in decent condition ?

Below is your estimated present trade in value from a dealer on your Monte Carlo. Good luck on your decision.
It's difficult to say to keep it or not without more information/pictures/ & history of maintenance.

Excellent
$3,793
Very Good
$3,493
Good
$3,343
Fair
$2,593



<LI style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; CURSOR: auto" class=hideForPrint>Verify Condition < Click & compare your to their ratings

^ From Kelley Blue Book

 

Based on these two statements I say keep it. Seriously tho if its running good and it looks good putting a little money at a time into it is way less than a car payment.

 

As long as your gentle with it, do regular maintenance the car should be good to you. Keep up with the same routine oil changes, tuneups, exc..the thing should last.

I was that way with my first car(93 bonneville; 3.8l) Didn't want to give it up, car was in great shape for 190k. I regret not fixing the oil leak sooner though...oil pan gasket blew & a week later I blew a rod and the oil pump began to fail. It truly is up to you to keep the car. At that many miles your gaskets may need changing. If you got the cash, do it. And don't forget to baby it.

 

Don't get me wrong.. I love my monte.. but if I had the money to get something different.. I probably would.