Available eight-passenger seating, optional rear parking assist, sporty handling, numerous optional entertainment features (MP3, DVD, XM Satellite Radio).
Cons
Weak offset crash test scores, ABS not standard, can't get side curtain airbags, cheap interior materials, unrefined powertrain character.
What’s new
The Montana's model lineup goes under the knife this year -- trimmed away are the regular-wheelbase and all-wheel-drive models.
Edmunds says
If you can stomach the heavy doses of plastic trim both inside and out, the Montana offers peppy performance and comfortable passenger accommodations in a feature-laden package.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 4dr Minivan w/1SA (3.5L 6cyl 4A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.14 per gallon for regular unleaded in Maryland.
Bought this van in 2005. I have the one built in Canada. I use this car on a daily basis and drive it 5 hours a week on the highway. I have not had any major issues with this fantastic vehicle.
Issues in 5 years:
replaced tires 4 times in 8 years
the engine icon lights turns on occasionally, but after check up everything is alright.
Sometimes the front a/c vent stops working for a … couple of minutes and automatically starts again.
I had never owned vehicle for this many years. I am a satisfied customer.
I bought my 2005 Montana used 4 years ago and actually loved it during that time, but in the last 2 months, I've put over $4000 into it in repairs which seem neverending.
Overheating was the initial problem and I've had coolant leaks fixed, a new water pump and thermostat put on.
The problem continued and I've ended up with a leaking head gasket, then the battery died and now it has … electrical problems.
Door locks have never worked properly, the temp gauge sticks so I don't even know anymore if it is overheating.
I love it for comfort and roominess but I've lost all faith in it, and I only have 72k miles on it and drive it gently.
I'll be trading it in as soon as I can get to a dealer.
The manual says when the ABS service light comes on, pull over, shut off the car, and start it again and the indicator light should go off. If the ABS system turning off randomly is a problem, they should have fixed it instead of leaving the issue in the car the sale and asking the driver to reset it 7 times a month. It seriously comes on ALL the time. Now the check engine light is on … and the message says to check gas cap. I've replaced it with two different caps and had a certified mechanic try a few different "fixes" but the check engine light keeps coming back on with the same message. At 72k miles, it already won't pass emissions and the Blue Book value on it is not worth the price of repairs. The seats inside stain easily and are ugly, keyless entry already not working, and the DVD player is broken too.
This is the last of the old-style Montanas, sold in Canada as a 2005 model. I was attracted to the low price (used) - half the cost of an Odyssey or Sienna. I had also heard the bad head gasket had been solved. Ours had about 42,000 miles on it when we bought it. It has performed well over the past year, though we had to replace a bad front wheel bearing, the rubber door gaskets came … loose and the wind stretched the driver's door hinges (fixed at our local college). Recently replaced the crap General tires with Michelins and vastly improved the ride and noise; gas mileage is better too. The one thing we can't address are the rattles in the sliding doors. Overall, great value in a used van.
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