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Oldsmobile Alero
3012 messages, Last post on May 28, 2012 at 5:28 AM
You are in the Oldsmobile Alero Forum.What is this discussion about? Oldsmobile Alero, Sedan
#1350 of 3012 2002 GL1 with Ecotec 2.2L by benhum
Apr 15, 2002 (12:43 pm)
Back in February I started a new job that requires a 170 mile round trip commute each day. Rather than destroy my Jeep Grand Cherokee, I decided to get a smaller, cheaper car with better gas mileage. I started looking at the Pontiac Sunfire but then the wife said "What does Oldsmobile have"? So I started looking at a Bright Red Alero GL1 coupe. I immediately fell in love with the styling of the car. I took it out for a test drive and proceeded to buy it. The list price was $20,570. I used the GM Supplier discount to get to $18,977. There was the $2,002 GM rebate plus the $1,500 Olds loyalty rebate. And I had about $1,300 in GM Credit Card points. So I paid just over $14,000 plus tax which I thought was a great price for the car. So far I have just under 5,000 miles on the car in 7 weeks. The only problem so far is that the lighter is shot. I'll have to stop in and get another one. The 2.2L Ecotec seems very smooth to me for a 4 cylinder. It also has decent power although I don't do any tire squealing starts anymore! Most of my driving is highway at a speed around 75 mph which has the engine going around 2,750 rpm. Of course there is also the expected expressway congestion that I sit in every day here in Chicagoland as well. The mileage is averaging around 27 mpg. This is a little less that I expected. I was hoping that with all highway driving I would get close to the 32 mpg EPA estimates. Perhaps if I slowed down a little bit I might get closer, but I don't really want to add any more time to my commute than necessary.So far I've been very happy with the Alero and I hope that the reliability will be there in the long run. I am not too worried about depreciation because with all the miles I'll be putting on it it doesn't matter. The intent was to save putting so much mileage on the much more expensive Jeep. Besides, my oldest son is going to start driving soon and this will be a good car to send him off to college in in a few years.
#1351 of 3012 benhum by oldsman01
Apr 15, 2002 (3:31 pm)
Good move on getting the Alero over the Sunfire. The J-body Cavalier/Sunfire are aging quickly(last redesigned in 1995) and the Alero/Grand Am twins are not alot more expensive and are far superior cars.#1352 of 3012 I Love My Alero... by cpwingnut
Apr 15, 2002 (5:16 pm)
In case I haven't mentioned it yet! LOL. I'm in Ajax didak. I cant believe the salesman thought it had drum brakes. The 4 wheel disc is one of its selling features. When I thought about getting the GX instead, I wasn't bothered about no keyless because it still had power locks and with an aftermarket remote starter you can get the keyless feature too. I actualy reconsidered my choice because the GX 4dr wasn't available with a spoiler or aluminum wheels. I like to ride in style
Let us know how the negotiations go. My offer still stands if you want a hardcopy of all my figures from GM to help in the negotiations.
Glad to hear that you like your GL benhum. I cant believe that you commute that far. Wow. I thought I had a long commute everyday at 150km(105miles). Unfortunately mine is in rush-hour trafic accross the city so I cant enjoy the ride as much.
#1353 of 3012 '75 Cutlass 350? I had one by heng
Apr 15, 2002 (6:49 pm)
but not the Supreme. If you get one you better set aside time and money to work on the motor. It was all low end. It had a 4 barrel Rochester but with the gas pedal floored it took forever and a lot of pavement to get up to 85 mph from 60 mph. It definitely would need intake, exhaust and cam work.Todays cars are much quicker and we will save ride and handling for another discussion.
#1354 of 3012 cpwingnut by dindak
Apr 16, 2002 (5:17 am)
Well, the day ended up differently than I expected. Fully intended to buy from the local dealer, but their best price was about $700-800 more than the price I got from Humberview via www.Autobytel.ca. Local refused to match it so I agreed to buy from Humberview.Price was C$20886 + freight ect. and tax for a ruby red GX with auto and power seat. Pretty fair and almost what I thought I could get it for. I wanted polo green, but then my wife decided she liked the red better so I caved as I like the red just so much.
Still have to sign the papers and finalize it all. Should pick it up the end of next week as we have paid for this month's lease anyway. Looking forward to getting the car!!
#1355 of 3012 used Alero review by dindak
Apr 16, 2002 (5:58 am)
Check it outhttp://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jc/99-01alero.htm
#1357 of 3012 Looks Like A Great Deal by cpwingnut
Apr 16, 2002 (3:19 pm)
I'm sure you'll love it. We thought about the Ruby Red too but my bro-in-law just bought an Accord in that same color so we chose the silver. It has been great at hidding the dirt and salt, it never looks dirty.I've heard good things about Humberview. Its a little out of your way though! I work close to them and was there two weeks ago to test drive a 99 jetta for a second car but we were too far apart on the trade of my 96 jetta. Should have taken the offer because a few days later my engine blew. $3500 later and I'm rolling again. But it was nice driving the Alero for two weeks while it was down. I hate to put too many k's on it though.
#1358 of 3012 cpwingnut by dindak
Apr 17, 2002 (6:32 am)
Humberview is not far, it's 15-20 minutes down the QEW. I actually know the dealership also as we have tested a couple of cars there in the past. Gray would have been great, but our Intrigue is gray and I don't want two cars the same color. Red should not be too bad to keep clean, better than the black we have now for sure!Sorry to hear your Jetta died. Are you still getting the $12K Cav?
#1359 of 3012 Test Drove One 2Day by cpwingnut
Apr 17, 2002 (4:31 pm)
It was pretty peppy for a 115hp 2.2L. After the last two days though I'm not sure I want to get a car w/o air. My Jetta has a 3 month warranty with the used engine I had put in so I'll ride it out till June. At least it has air.I looked at some 99-01 Aleros but I have read lots of posts about brake rotor problems and other things like that. And the 2.4L is not supposed to be very good either. Maybe thats just compared to the 2.2L though. They had a nice Black one there. But no 5 speed
Your right about black though. My Jetta is black and it always looks dirty. Even one day after washing it. And all the scratches show very easily.
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