So I see a black 97 monte for sale for a grand even. It has 197K on it (YEOWTCH!) but the owner SAYS it drives like new. However, I doubt it so I DO want to take the car for a test drive.

Question is... since the place is kind of ... out of the way from where I live... do I even want to bother, and check out the 98 that is hunter green (god i hate that color) with 150K on it for 1400??? The green won't match my hot pink color scheme (so I'll go green for the money, gold for the honey and look like the green bay packers mobile)?

or are they both worth looking at?? I'm not going to waste my insurance check on a car that's gonna blow up the minute I get it home.

 

I would steer clear of the 97. It has WAY to many miles. Even though the price is right. Unless you can get yourself another motor for whats left over, i would not get it. The 98 seems like a better buy. Even though it is a little on the high side. But still i would test drive it before hand.

What ever you decide, make sure you look things over on both. Check the all the fluids. Ask to see documentation of repairs. See if the engine bay is excessively dirty OR extremely clean (they can be hiding the fact that it leaks). Things like that.

I hope this helps.

 

Is the 98 a Z34? If so... those miles are nothing for the 3.8 :P

 

X2 on JJ's advice about the 97. Not worth the time going out to see it.

The 98? Well.... I'm not a fan of hunter green on a 5th gen Monte. I'd look into getting it painted soon after buying it. But that's just me.

Would you really paint a Monte pink?

 

Taz: No!! I wanted it black, with the hot pink and black insides... my other one was going to be white with hot pink... well... instead it was white with... smashes all over it. lol.

JJ.. i want to test drive them both.... and i will look both of them over... with a fine toothed comb... i can't touch a 6th gen for what i'm getting for my car... it won't happen... and people love those cars so they drive them to death... i figured if i was going to be in the area i might as well look at both of them... however the green one hasn't emailed me or given me a number to reach at so i can set up a time to look at it. i'm hoping to be able to do this on my days off....

 

Guess I got lucky with my '04 LS I bought 3 months ago. Paid $6000 cash and it only had 28,xxx miles. The seller was going to trade it in on a new Camry and that was all they were going give her for it. Right place at the right time....

 

Lucky you!, Great find. Enjoy. I love driving my monte.... <3 my car. ^.^

 

Great find!!

 

OK guys... here's another find for you... a 2001 monte carlo SS loaded, for 1650 needs a trans or a torque converter, have a guy that will do the job for the cost of parts and he's REAL GOOD, comes recommended around these parts. Found a tranny for 400... dad is financing whatever else needs done... she's red, tinted all around, you name it. Has 181 K but you know what, my 98 had 181K on it and it ran so as long as it starts i'm not too concerned...

What you think? She's BEAUTIFUL.... Needs no body work at all.

 

Sounds like my car :P

See if you can get a warranty on the used tranny. I got a one year on a transmission that cost me $600 and only had 80k miles on it. (more than half the mileage of my car)