I got a fully loaded (except sunroof) '06 Monte Carlo LTZ for a rental down in Orlando this past week. I was very impressed. This was one of the quitest smoothest riding cars I have ever driven. It is a big improvement over my 1999 Grand Prix coupe I used to have. The car handled the highway great too. 85mph seemed just as natural for the car as 55mph. Heated leather was nice (didn't use it too much in FL) and I love the remote starter on these new GM's, I wish it was availbe on my Colorado

3.9L was pretty smooth and a nice amount of power for the Monte. Nice upgrade from the 3800, but not as quick at the S/C 3800.

I love GMs new Stereos they look good, sound good, and have a high tech feel to them (a first for GM radios in my book). It was a 6 disc in dash CD/MP3 w/ XM radio.

The only thing that would stop me from getting a Monte is the read styling. That was my least fav part about the old Monte and I don't care for how they carried it over to the 2006. This alone would make me get the Impala instead..... that and the 4 doors, I feel like out growing 2 door cars. Having the utility of 4 doors is much nicer....I hope I don't still feel this way when the new Camaro comes

If anyone has any questions let me know.

....also my domestic disliking girlfriend liked the car very much and even said it was the quitest smoothest car she has ever been in. She loved the dual zone climate controls.

 

I'm surprised they had an LTZ as a rental! Normally I would expect nothing above an LT filling in as a Monte rental. So the 3900 feels like a good step up over an n/a 3800? This is my big question, considering what I drive now

So it really is that much smoother and quieter on the highway than a previous-gen GP? I wonder how, seeing as how its the same basic car! The ability to gobble up miles smoothly on the highway was the biggest reason I chose to trade my '02 GA GT in on the GP...at that point I was driving over 30k per year.

Like I said in another post, I really think an MC SS will be my next car, despite the fact I too have the issues over the styling you share. But, the 3.9 in an LTZ could be a nice, less expensive alternative. Something tells me I'll be mad if I give up the 5.3, though. I'm kicking myself 2 years later that I didn't get a GTP when I bought my GT!

Nice review...and my fiance loves the dual zone A/C, too

 

I was surprised they had a loaded LTZ as a rental too, when the guy said, we are out of what you rented, take what ever you want, I hoped right on it (well actually the Sebring I tried to get had a bad trunk latch, so the Monte was #2, you can't pass up a free vert in Florida )

The 3.9L was a nice improvment over the 3800 you can feel the extra power, although there isn't as much as I expected for 40HP more, I guess that is because they are so close in torque. You can definatly spin the tires easier than a 3800 though.

Get the 5.3L V8, I would if I was buying this car. Not only do you get a lot more power, and a V8 rumble, but it is rated 1mpg more than the 3.9L on the hwy. (we avg. 25mpg with a 40/60 city/hwy mix with the A/C on or windows down). This car would be bad *** with a V8.

I was also surprised at how much smoother it was since it had 17"s and my 99 GP had 16"s. Granted my GP had 109,000mi. on it when I sold it, but the Monte was a definate improvement.

The Impala/Monte interior is much nicer than the 04+ Grand Prix. I'd probably get the Impala SS for the 4 doors. Who knows, If I don't have the cash for a CTS or Camaro come 2008/9, I might end up buying a used LS4 Impala SS I definatly liked the cars. If AWD was a $1995 option I'd be all over the SS. RWD just gets me into trouble with the law anyways so maybe the FWD setup would be for the better