2003 Oldsmobile Alero GL review from North America

It all depends on what engine you have in it, the ecotec 2.2 in the newer models is a very solid engine and good on gas, the 3.4 has been around for a long time as the 3.1 and was just beefed up a little for the newer car models in 97 but to be expected it is a tad bit of a gas hog sometimes, I've never calculated the exact mpg but comming from a 2.4 4cyl pt to a 3.4 v6 alero I guess I shouldn't be expecting much else but what I'm getting but having that extra power definitely makes up for it, I pry wouldn't go back if I could to that little 4. anyways the only thing that you can expect without a doubt to go wrong with these are the power windows. since this car shares all its traits with the grand am, it also receives its downfalls, the only bad thing I have really ever had happen is the window motor going bad which is common on almost every single grand am or alero, so you should just prepair for it to happen eventually. more or less if you take care of it like a baby, it will take care of you, take it from a mechanic himself, a 17 year old one at that, if I can do it I'm sure you can too.

Honestly the alero is a really good car, I see many people are really talking down on it but as an owner of one and a part time mechanic at a car dealership i'd like to help calm anyones nerves about them. first off you should know that the alero is pretty much just a pontiac grand am with diffrent body moldings and interior features than the grand am has which makes getting parts for this thing a breeze, so no worries if you think that just cause oldsmobile isn't around anymore you can't get parts cause that's definitly not the case. the v6 has plenty of power and if your lucky to find parts from a grand am gt like the ram air box, and more or less anything else they will go right in without a hastle (v6 model only) I have the entire factory ram air system from a 02 grand am gt mounted in my alero right now and even though its just a extra tube into the box it makes a good bit of diffrence in power. the breaking is strong but if I had my way I would definitly take the 4 wheel disk break system that the grand am gt has and put it on the alero any day, probaly my next project. the ride is nice and smooth, even at high speeds, ill be cruising down the road sometimes and look down and see I'm going 80, but because the ride is so nice and solid you don't even realize your going that fast at all. the interior is roomy and comfortable, so roomy I once fit 8 people inside at one time! but I wouldn't recommend trying it for a long term drive. the gauges clear and easy to manage, the speaker locations are perfectly placed for amazing sound quality, many difrent containers to hold things, 2 on doors, one under climate controls, and the glove compartment and center consol are roomy enough for all your junk to go in. over all the alero is a very well build car and rightfully so being pretty much a grand am undernieth it all. I've always liked the newer styling of the oldsmobile lineup and now that I have one it is really a priviledge to own one of the last remaining oldsmobiles to be made, but when every car in the line up is pretty much just a copy of annother gm car with a diffrent look one should expect that the end would be soon comming. either way if you want a nice dependable and affordable car I would recommend the alero anyday.