I know the way US cars are viewed upon on most car boards but I'm curious to see what you guys think. Maybe I like weird looking cars(hey I bought a Max) but something about the Monte I really like. I realize that the Chevys will have a few more probs perhaps than a Nissan but to tell the truth....Nissan has not impressed me at all with the build quality of MY Max.

Do you think the Monte can hang with the Max ?

What do you guys think of the 3800 engine?

I was in California for the last 2 weeks and we rented a Chevy Impala.....to tell the truth I actually miss that car a little! It had the smaller 3.4 but it ran really nice. Very roomy comfortable car as we drove the PCH from San Diego up to San Fran...it also got a LOT better milage than the Max...and I mean a lot! No problem cruising at 90.

I felt like I was getting into a gocart when I got back home and in my Max.

If anything the US cars have over the Max is it is SO quiet inside when you shut the doors....I really liked that.

Another reason is I'm a HUGE NASCAR fan and feel sort of funny putting anything NASCAR on a Max

Guess I'm rambling....

 

A guy at the Ford dealership across the street from me has a Monte SS, occasionally we leave work at the same time, merging onto a busy interstate access. Even if he's in front, the 5-speed Maxima will run away & hide from that thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a reformed Chevy nut (still own 2 of 'em), but the 3800 can't hang with a VQ30DE!
Regards, David Burnette

 

the 3800 is the same that is in the cameros think that it is 200hp ....... the max will walk all over one.....not a chance unless auto max with a damn good 5-speed driver in the camero (if they even make a 5-speed for the v-6) but nah dont think so........ at a low end battle maybe but the max has all its power up top

 

Yeah, I agree with the already mentioned opinions on the new one. I drove a company car which was an Impala for a while (same car). Performed well, but wouldn't touch the Max. 200hp is correct.

However, don't race the old ones. Impala of the mid-ninties with the LT1 or the old-school Monte Carlo SS with the same 5.7. Those will smoke us...although they'll probably blow a rod at 120mph.

Loved my Caprice Coupe...5.0 305 and my '66 Fish...rebuilt Mopar 318.

 

The US cars were always quiet. I rented once a Oldsmobile Aurora(V-8), it had 4 liter and 250 hp and you didn't even felt the difference between 80mph and a 100mph. The US cars are much more quieter than the Japanese and also much more roomier. The suspension is also soft, you can't feel any bump at all. But the reliability suck. After 50,000 miles you are in trouble and need to waist a lot of money on fixing stuff.

 

As far as the walking the SS Mote, not true. Maybe in a 5spd, but even then its not a huge victory. He is asking as a 5th gen automatic owner anyhow. In that case, it will be close, and if you don’t launch just perfect, he may in fact win.

Looking at the numbers, and the 200HP, you might not think it, but its true. I've seen it first hand. I think the SS has about 205-215 or so due to the dual exhaust.

Anyhow, I like the looks of the car, but there is something funny and just wrong about a long, low, 2 door big a$$ed (long rear)car that is FWD, and 3.8 16V powered. Just not right, plus the 3800 engine is played out, and used in too many GM cars and is very low tech by today's standards.

Despite being low tech though, it does get better gas mileage, and in stock auto to auto form, can in fact nudge out a 5th gen Max. Push rod engines be damned

Perfect example is the 3800 in the Pontiac Grand Prix GT (not GTP) was tested as a slightly faster car the 5th gen SE auto by Road and Track, though the SE could out handle the "wide track pontiac" mind you and beat it in all other performance tests beside acceleration.

Anyhow, if you’re a NASCAR fan, and a Chevy nut, just wait a year or two tops and enjoy your Maxima. I hear by then, rumor is the Monte SS will be RWD, V-8 powered, and with killer race heritage looks. If this is true, which is a huge posiblity with the future demise of the Camaro, I may even need to get one and trade one of my cars I can’t wait till they get back to chevy heritiage, not sure what they’ve been things lately. If the current Monte SS was RWD, V-8 powered and under 32G, I would likely be driving it now!