opinions on Olds' Alero please

[RedFrk13]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

I DD a white 2003 Alero GX Coupe. It is the 2.2 ecotec 5-speed and was not easy for me to find. The only problems with mine are the manual windows and rear drums(soon to be fixed).

N-bodies are good cars, the front brakes really suck on them though. The rotors warp all the time, otherwise they do brake well. Might want to consider throwing some brackets/caliper/rotors from a w-body on to save money in the long run and brake better. I will be putting on fbody brackets/dual piston calipers and 12" rotors on soon.

3400s are a pain to work on, but are good engines. Watch the lower intake manifold gaskets, they are a common problem.

[Everglades W68]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

that consumer reports website gives the Alero a pretty bad review...49/100...the Camaro only gets a 38/100 and a 3/10 for reliability.

I wonder to what extent that reflects the bias for Japanese cars. I never understood this...I've owned a Ford Escort and my buddy has a Cavalier and these are two extremely reliable cars, except for my Escort's rust.

Consumer Reports FTL on car ratings. They are completely biased.

[camaroman1181]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

not a bad car... yes, the rear of the engine can be hard to access for things like tune ups.... the engine is the same basic configuration as the 3.4 in the camaro... differences being heads and intake, and i believe the 3400 uses a dished piston because the AL heads it has has smaller combustion chambers.

and who says you need to have a crappy car as a beater? I'd say go for it... youll be driving a nicer car year round that way, not just in the summer with the camaro...

[Mike88]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

the problem is I'm a student and I deliver the newspapers to make ends meet. Its a job which tends to beat the crap out of a car. I'd keep my escort cuz its a great reliable car but its really starting to rust out and I'd like to get rid of it before the doors rot off. I've already done body work, including new rocker panels and part of my door frame. The other day the rear bumper cover fell off right side of the car cuz the rear rocker panel where it attaches rotted through.

The Alero is definitly a step up. I'm really looking forward to power windows, doors and moonroof on my daily driver.

[Fireball27]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

the problem is I'm a student and I deliver the newspapers to make ends meet. Its a job which tends to beat the crap out of a car. I'd keep my escort cuz its a great reliable car but its really starting to rust out and I'd like to get rid of it before the doors rot off. I've already done body work, including new rocker panels and part of my door frame. The other day the rear bumper cover fell off right side of the car cuz the rear rocker panel where it attaches rotted through.

I see no problem there

[Mike88]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

the problem is the job...trust me its a problem.

I've been getting up at 4am every morning since, I don't even know when...

One of my 5 days off for the entire year is Sunday morning tho!...gotta love Easter!

[stlunatics2oo3]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

i drive a 04 alero with the 3.4 all the time and its hell of a lot quicker then my camaro. i would almost take the alero all year round instead of the camaro only thing stoppin me is the looks ya get from chicks when ya pull up somewhere in a nice car like that with the system poundin and tops off

very good car though i would get it for sure. very quick

[Mike88]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

i drive a 04 alero with the 3.4 all the time and its hell of a lot quicker then my camaro. i would almost take the alero all year round instead of the camaro only thing stoppin me is the looks ya get from chicks when ya pull up somewhere in a nice car like that with the system poundin and tops off

very good car though i would get it for sure. very quick

Okay a couple of questions:

1) are you talking about a manual or automatic Alero that is faster than your Camaro?

2) how does it compare in gas mileage?

[IDoVoodoo]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

my girlfriends 3.4 auto Alero was faster than my buddies 3.4 manual Camaro. The engines had similar mileage too. I don't know how the gas mileage compared.

[stlunatics2oo3]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

its an automatic and it is for sure faster then my camaro on take off not sure on long term but faster. and it gets better mileage then my camaro but mine only gets like 14-17 mpg cause all i do it start it and drive like less then a mile never warms up

[Mike88]

Re: opinions on Olds' Alero please

what about mpg on the 3.4 alero (city and highway if possible)? I don't trust epa reports.