And I have to say...its quite a ride.

The local Chevy dealer has 8-9 MCs in stock (a total rarity...before the '06 re-design, the most I ever saw on ANY dealer's lot around here at one time was 2-3), 4 of which were SSs. I have to say...Lazer Blue is a gorgeous color on this car with high-polished wheels.

I finally had enough of looking at it, and decided to drive one. The salesman was great (Central Chevy for you Western MA residents), and let me take the car by myself...a rarity around here. Other than some mild torque steer, I have nothing but positive comments about this car. The sound is sweet...the transmission kicks down instantly and the car just PULLS...the interior is nicer than I gave it credit for, with the new HVAC panel and radio...visibility is excellent, unlike a Charger...the car just looks right in person. If you haven't seen an MC SS in person, its amazing what the SS group does for the car...it really pulls it together, and makes it modern IMO, despite the '00 era overall design.

How does it compare to the GXP? I honestly believe it handles better than the Charger R/T I drove last weekend, but it is not up to GXP standards by any stretch. The MC SS reminds me of a GT car in the way it performs...great power, excellent ride, controlled, supple handling. The GXP makes me see red and want to blitz down every backroad I can find, BEGGING it to squeal a tire. It doesn't, and it never lets you down. The MC SS feels like a well controlled, lighter-on-its-feet version of my own car, which it basically is.

The MC SS is for an afternoon cruise with the windows down, the sunroof open, the tunes cranked and a Borla exhaust singing a sweet song out the back. The GXP can do all that, in a 4 door package with an admittedly not-as-nice-looking (but more gadget oriented) interior, and can make you embarrass many of your RWD buddies in the twisties.

Which would I buy? Advantage: MC SS. I know it seems crazy, but I love the look, the interior feels significantly more luxurious with its nicer look, and its meant for the kind of driving I do. If I could only have ONE car, then maybe the GXP would get the nod. The MC SS is about confident, spirited driving, a comfy interior, a sporty look, and its all ate up with motor I want one, pretty badly...

But for me to spend $500+ a month on a car I don't need now that I'll have a demo (which may be an '04 used Crossfire, actually )? It doesn't make sense for me personally...but oh, do I want one

 

Thanks for the report. I wonder could a person take the gxp performance pieces of the suspension and put it on the mc ss? And make a mc ss the handle as well as the gxp?

 

How is the interior better....asside from the new radio and HVAC it didn't look like they changed it much?

My neighbor had newer Monte as a rental, and I must admit it looks badassed with the new frontend. Only thing is, I am so used to HUD and TAPShift, and loved the nav on the GP, so the Monte or Impala were no goes

All I really want is a GP Coupe...

 

I was wondering when you were going to get the time to drive one, as much as we talked about the MC SS being a big sleeper performance vehicle for '06 in some threads. How does the power feel vs. the 4-door W-Bodies?

I have yet to drive any of the new V8 W-Bodies unfortunately. Though as soon as I get a chance on a nice day off I will. In a small town just south of here a Chevy dealer has a Black Impala SS and a Black MC SS with silver ground effects and high polished wheels. I must say the pkg. looks really good but I was shocked at the $30K sticker. For $30K I'd rather have a GTO.

I love testing cars at that dealer, one: they don't ride with you, and two: the small town doesn't have much traffic and has a good mix of roadways close by including nice twisty country roads and very straight limited access highway. The only drawback is usually they don't have a good selection of cars, they mainly have a truck lot. But I still like it, after all its where I bought my Z.

I am kind of disappointed that GM doesn't advertise the MC SS with the new V8, back a few years ago they did a lot of advertising with the MC and the Looney Tunes Tazmanian Devil, showing the aggressive side and a soft side to the MC. I always thought those commercials didn't fit the MC SS back then with the 3.8 w/200hp being the top engine. But now those commercials would be great for the V8 Monte Carlo SS.

 

I really wish they would've done more when they updated the MC SS (the back). Because of that reason, I would choose the ImpySS over the MC SS. I just saw a white MC SS today (03?), with black ~19" wheels and it looked awesome. But looking at the 06 MC SS from the rear, it has a somewhat dated look. The shape of the MC interior looks better than the GP, but at the same time it also looks kinda bland. The Impy is the same way but doesn't seem as bland, mostly the gauges on the Impy...The GP GXP handles way better, less body roll, more grip and less squealing when pushed. The only thing I don't like is the different size tires. The Cobalt SS's driving dynamics is even better, I prefer this one more than the MC or Impy, but it's smaller and it looks like it belongs to the kiddy demographic....

 

I think you just pissed Threxx off.

I would love to pull the boat anchor 3.4 DOHC outta my car and swap in an LS4, my gas mileage would likely improve as well averaging 22 at the moment.

 

They're fun aren't they?

 

The LTZ I had for a week was awesome. It is funny, the exterior is what would keep me from buying the Monte over the other LS4 cars. Plus I think I'm getting old (26 now) I kind of prefer a 4 door car I loved the ride of the car and my "Import car only" girlfriend said it was the nicest riding/driving car she has ever driven.

With all these rav reviews of LS4 cars I got to go out and try one now.

 

Now put your briefcase in the back seat twice a day and teill me how you'd prefer it to a 4 door. Had that discussion with the Impala/MC dude in Detroit and was told it was a "trade-off"

 

Branden,
The '04+ GP interior has always looked like the center stack and the IP were designed by 2 different people. Add in the fact that the MC's new radio is FAR nicer looking, and that the HVAC controls are FAR nicer looking, and I feel the MC interior is superior. I loathe the plastic door handles and the semi-plasticky upper portion of the dash, but IMO it beats the GP hands down. I agree that it would be nice to have a GP coupe. Maybe if they made a GP GXP coupe, my opinion would be a little different? I just love the look of the SS with the new nose, wheels, gfx and revised tailights.

poSSum,
And they wonder why they're at 24.4% market share? We don't...do we?

91 Z28,
We have a 10k mile black '04 Crossfire M6 that just came in on a leftover '05, and the owner of the dealership mentioned offhand "you could always take that for your demo when you start next Saturday...it's being prepped now."

I don't think I have the ***** to drive it for too long, because we have a decent markup in it and I'll be driving 600 miles a week...I don't want to depreciate it too much before we sell it. Seeing as how I get a chunk of the monthly gross profit, driving it too much hurts my own wallet. But for a few weeks??? I think I'll eventually end up with an '04 300M, or even an '05 300 once they come down in price a little more. Then again, once I have the Crossfire, I might have a VERY hard time giving it up...

 

Yes...but the Nav...looks better than any radio

 

Eh, Jason, I think I saw you driving that Monte SS the other day:

http://videos.streetfire.net/Player....0-2354ABC81DD2

 

Sounds like they were either in water or had wet/slicked the tires before shooting that.

 

Branden,
Agreed on the nav, but I'd personally never spend the $$$ on it in the first place. I made it all the way to Bowling Green KY from MA without nav...I don't think I need it in a daily driver, putzing around town

Lew,
I love the Lazer Blue with the silver...looks sweet. I think I'd probably stick monotone though, personally. I wouldn't want to be the service department that services that car Nor would I want to be the person who buys it used!

 

That Monte belongs to a member on the Monte Carlo board that I'm on. According to him, all he did was take traction off and hit the gas.

btw, he just got an exhaust system put on, and is getting the SS hood, I think in a week or two.

oh, and it's a lease