First Impressions of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo for 1997

As time has gone by several things can be said about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo series: including the strong reaction most buyers have towards their car. The 6-cylinder engine is at the core of the strong emotions, it is reliable for its class and delivers a huge amount of torque.

Performance

The restyled Monte Carlo Z34 is equipped with a General Motors 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 24 valves. The Chevrolet engine is paired with a General Motors 4-speed transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.

The Monte Carlo uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.

The fuel system for the 1997 Monte Carlo is a traditional SFI, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 16.10 gallons.

Monte Carlo Z34 Statistics

The dimensions of the Monte Carlo Z34 are 72.50 inches wide by 200.70 inches long. It sits a comfortable 53.80 inches off the ground. It seats a standard six passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 107.50 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

There is a 50,000* mile, 60* month warranty with this vehicle, including a powertrain warranty of 50,000*/36* miles/months. This is normal for this price range.

The listed retail price in 1997 (MSRP) was $17,445, with an invoice cost of $15,788. This price is slightly higher than the industry average price for a two-door Coupe.

Fuel Efficiency

The 1997 Monte Carlo gets 29 miles/gallon on the highway and only 20 in the city. This is average for a coupe car.

The vehicle is available in several colors.

In Summary

The 1997 model year was unsuccessful for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the Z34 version) meant that buyers had several options to choose from..