The car is beautiful. It was purchased brand new in 2002. The styling is what ultimately made me buy it. I had a used 2000 previously but it had problems with electrical. The performance was fine but gas mileage wasn't the best, although it has improved with age. There have been a few issues that required service but most were during warranty period. I don't like the design of where the rust begins at the wheel wells. I also don't like the way the snow and ice fall into the trunk when opened. There seems to be some paint issues on the drivers door which I have seen on other Monte's of similar years. A common problem that I have also noticed is the wheel bearings require replacement often. The traction control system also has some issues at times where the lights will go on for no apparent reason. The CD player didn't last very long, I think it worked property for maybe the first 5 years or so.

The seats remain in high quality condition after all this time, as well as the functioning of the radio. One of the seat warmers has broken. Some of the buttons have been worn away so they are becoming more difficult to read. The car remains safe to drive, which is great because I have driven over 120,000 miles. I have owned it for three years and it drove smoothly until a month ago when I discovered I had to replace the tires and power-steering fluids. The gas mileage is average, not expensive. The car rides low and it is built very long. Also, it doesn't turn on a dime so I often do a 3 or 4 point turn in order to park. I enjoy the large trunk space because I am often traveling with tools and supplies. The car is relatively reliable, which is why it has lasted the last three years. This was my first car so it was able to safely transport me from one place to another. However, I had to completely replace the exhaust system within the first year. The air conditioning stopped working in the first year also. I bought the car at 90,000 miles.

I purchased this car from a friend of mine and I bought it as is. I've owned the car for a little less than a year. What I like about the car is the styling, the car is sleek and looks like it was well built. The car handles and responds well; I think its because it sits low to the ground. While the car has a couple of flaws (one is a serious safety issue), but other than that I'd say the Monte Carlo is a well built, dependable, economical car and I would purchase one again.