Who let that Lumina guy in here?
 

Yes, I currently own one of those "family friendly fifth gens". I'll elaborate on that later, but first, here's my past ownership pedigree.

I was a late bloomer in the first car category. I didn't jump in until one week before I turned 23. It was a one-year-old 1997 Monte Carlo LS, with alloy wheels and finished in Torch Red.

I owned that from 1998 to 2000, when I traded it in on a brand new 2000 Monte Carlo SS. Black with black leather interior, fully loaded with everything. That was back when the the sixth gen first came out, and I was one of the earliest in Calgary to have one. It was my first, and to date only, brand new car. I was determined to keep it until it was a future collectors' item.

That all changed in August 2006 when an inattentive moron in a Volkswagen Golf blew past a yield sign and wiped out most of the passenger side. It was repairable, but a writeoff. I bought it back with intent to fix and keep it, but then decided I didn't want to deal with all of the hassles and BS associated with rebuilding a salvage vehicle. I sold it to a guy who did rebuild it, and it's still around as far as I know.

For the next six years I was Monte Carless, as I focused on my first love which is AMC products. I drove an AMC Eagle daily for six years and loved it, and still own a few of them. I should also add that during this same time frame I got married and had two daughters, now ages 2 and 5.

In 2012 I started looking more and more at fifth gen Monte Carlos, and thinking about how well the design held up 17 years later. But, now that I was no longer a carefree twentysomething and supposedly a mature (yeah, right) and responsible thirtysomething husband and father, I would have to compromise... and compromise had a name. Lumina.

I could find base and LS Luminae all day long, but I wanted an LTZ - specifically a 1998 or 1999. I knew finding one wouldn't be easy, but this month I finally landed one at a very reasonable price. I paid a hefty sum of $350 for it, so needless to say, it's a bit of a project. It runs, though only on five cylinders at the moment. It's a 1998, in a turquoise greenish color.

Boy, that was a long winded intro. Kudos to those who hung in there long enough to read it all. :thumbsup:

Welcome to the Forum..

:welcome: to the forum!

It's a shame about your 2000, we know that is the best year ;)

My first car was a 95 Lumina :D

:welcome: to mcf! :( about the 2000 monte

Welcome to the Forum! That's too bad about your 2000. My first car, a 2003 Monte Carlo SS, was totaled almost two years ago now so I know all too well about what you went through.

welcome!

Welcome to the Forum

welcome aboard

Welcome!

welcome, and look at it this way, more fuel efficient running on 5 cylinders:rotfl:

Welcome to the Forum! Got any pics of your lumina? I've only had one a 1994 still runs like a champ though sold it to my dad :) my brother had a 1996 LS it was pretty cool it was maroon with matching interior not bad for a "granny" car.

Greetings!

Welcome!

Greetings and Salutations..

Welcome to the site! I had a 92 Z34 as a winter beater a couple of years back.

Welcome, good luck with your "new" Lumina!

Welcome! Now would be the perfect time for an L67 swap :D

Definitely a great intro, welcome!

Welcome to the MCF family!

Welcome to the forum. My first monte ish thing was a 94 lumina euro coupe. Became a monte carlo in 95. I was one year off.

Welcome to the forum from Ontario, Canada. Congrats on your 1998 turquois-greenish 5 cylinder Lumina. The price certainly sounds good. Do you plan on re-building/repairing that engine, or are you considering swapping the engine for a good used one?

Welcome to the site. My grandparents had Luminas for years till their last one finally started losing the tranny and they got a newer Impala. My grandpa still has his Ranger, but as far as their vehicle when they go somewhere together, it was always a Lumina. I'm Monte-less myself, but I've stuck around (eventually I'll have another). It's a pretty good group of people here, and even when you don't have a Monte, they still consider you one of the family.

From one Canadian to another... thanks for the welcome, eh. :thumbsup:

I know the "turquoise-greenish" color has an official name, but I just haven't had time to research it yet. The initial purchase price was hard to beat, but my expenditures will definitely go up as I go through it and fix all of its various problems. I'm trying to stay within a total budget of $1500, and so far I'm at $537.

The engine is showing a misfire in cylinder #2, and low compression (65psi) in #4. I'm hoping this engine can be saved, because I really don't have the equipment at my disposal to do a complete swap. I'm going to take the heads off and hopefully discover that the problem with #4 is a burnt valve or something of that nature which can be cured with a head swap.

If it's something deeper than that, I have access to a large Pick-n-Pull yard here. I can find a good used 3800 Series II somewhat easily and cheaply if it comes down to that.