I would agree with mike that it's a luxury coupe. GM introduced an SS version and made it sporty, which you could term the sport coupe version, but the car was initially meant to be mostly a luxury coupe in its 1970 debut. The SS was offered in 1970-71, 1983-88, and 2000-07. I would definitely consider the 7th Gen SS, with the 5.3L LS4 V8's, a sleeper. Hardly anybody knows what powers those cars and what they're capable of.

 

GM called the Monte Carlo, Luxury Sport. But I think they put the word sport in there because it was their Chevrolet car in Nascar. The 2000-2007 Montes always get connected with Nascar because GM designed the Monte to look like the Nascar racecar of that era. Which also made it funny to see Ford and Mopar racecars on the track. They looked like Monte Carlos with the wrong headlight/tail light stickers.

The fact GM put out so many Nascar themed 6th gen Montes also helps push the performance car reputation too. Pace cars, driver editions. You get the idea.

And of course 4th gens have always been extremely popular in racing. Especially in drag racing.

 

I wouldn't even consider the LS4 'fast'... again it's just quick and sounds great.

I haven't had many people ask me about mine in relation to NASCAR but everybody here considers it fast because they all have ugly civics lol

 

I'd like to add that if it wasn't for Nascar, there probably wouldn't have been any 2000-2007 Montes.

When Chevy brought the Monte back in 1995 (5th gen), it got unfairly labelled as being "just a two door Lumina". Previous Monte enthusiasts didn't like it because of the FWD V6. But it was a cool, modern looking Monte. Chevy used the 5th gen Montes in Nascar. With guys like Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon driving Monte Carlos, it really helped boost sales.

And if it wasn't for the 5th gens, there wouldn't have been any 2000-2007 Montes. Without having the Nascar connection, who knows how well the Monte may have sold? GM had tons of competing models. The Grand Prix, being part of GM's so-called "performance division" Pontiac, was being marketted by GM much better than the Monte. The Grand Prix had the L67 engine long before the Monte did.

 

The above comment brings up another question. Were the 2000 - 2007 Motes the best sellers?

 

I don't know for sure. But I doubt it. Considering how popular the 4th gens are, I'd have to think the 4th gens were the best sellers. But I could be wrong.

 

I think the 4th gen had the highest production numbers.

 

Okay, I have an honest question for everyone. The 4th gens are my favorite generation so far. If the 4th gens were such great sellers, why did GM decide to retire the Monte Carlo name after the 1989 model year? Why didn't they call the 1990-1994 Lumina Z34 the Monte Carlo? Wouldn't it have been better to go with a well known established name over a completely new one?

I'm interested in hearing both, the official reason and MCF members opinions!