1999 Oldsmobile Alero GL V6

Summary:

Cheap in more ways than one

Faults:

Gas gauge suddenly stopped working accurately. It never goes below 1/2 now, and stays above full until I've gone at 100 miles on the tank.

Driver's side seat will not fold forward.

Blinkers only work when they feel like it. It's an odd feeling to press the lever and have nothing happen.

The black glossy finish on the doors (next to the window) is chipping off.

The "leather" boot on the emergency brake is coming apart at the seams.

The lid on the little cup behind the emergency brake won't stay closed.

General Comments:

Even though this car has a lot of cosmetic problems, I still am very happy with the performance and handling. It's got great styling, and if fun to drive. I have the performance package with the V6 engine and upgraded suspension, and although my gas mileage is poor (usually 22 mpg on average) it handles well in all situations. (I live in Southern California though, so it hasn't seen ice or snow.)

The rear seat on my coupe is easy to access from the passenger side. There's room for adults back there on shorter trips.

My 6'5" husband is comfortable in this car.

This car was a great deal, however I was disappointed to see the sticker on my friend's brand new Honda Accord SE... she paid about the same for a much higher quality car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th July, 2002

1999 Oldsmobile Alero sedan gls

Summary:

A headache that I don't need

Faults:

The brakes have had to be replaced twice in the past year. It has required new brakes pads and rotors each time. The brakes did not squeak. They went from no noise to a loud grind.

The electrical system has a short that is difficult to find. My car is currently 600 miles over warranty and now the electrical system is out! How convenient!!!

The upholstery has shown great wear very quickly. The driver seat has worn so much that you can feel metal when you sit on it. The lining on the doors has been coming loose since I purchased the car.

General Comments:

I would not purchase another Alero due to the poor wear and tear the car exhibits.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 2002

1999 Oldsmobile Alero GLS Coupe V6

Summary:

A powerful, fun-to-drive car for a pleasant price

Faults:

I have not had any problems with the Alero at all, except for a recall on the console latch which was easily corrected at the dealer.

General Comments:

This is a great car for the money and includes many standard features that add up to $5000-$7000 in options on competitor vehicles.

My only complaints:

Bumps can be a little jarring.

Interior room could be more spacious as I'm over 6 feet and almost 300 pounds.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 29th June, 2002

1999 Oldsmobile Alero GX 4 cylinder

Summary:

Bad breaks and window problems seem common in these cars

Faults:

The Alero's brakes went bad at 12,000 miles. Rotors had to be replaced by the dealer under the car's warranty. The brakes were then extremely hard to press, and were never fixed correctly. I had to have the rotors replaces again 10,000 miles later. Until I traded the car in, I had to buy new brake pads every 10,000 to 12,000 miles as a result of the faulty break system.

I did not have power windows, but early on the manual window handle started making a very loud scraping noise when I would roll down the window.

Gas mileage was not as efficient as I'd expect from a 4 cylinder.

General Comments:

The Alero had excellent pick up. In fact, those who rode with me wanted to bet that it was a 6 cylinder and said that I didn't know what I was talking about when I said it was a 4 cylinder.

The car clung to the road and rode very well around corners and curves.

I was extremely impressed with the way the Alero handled the road, but very dissatisfied with the brake system in particular.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 17th May, 2002