Originally I wanted a Pontiac Grand Prix as my first car. I also happened to like Saab's but they were a little costly. So I stuck with the Grand Prix. I wanted either a Grand Prix GT (which has very similar performance to my Alero) or the lightening fast GTP (it has a 0-60 of just over a second faster than the GT and the Alero GLS however it needs premium fuel). However they were a few thousand too much and when I saw the Alero, I fell in love with it.

The GLS Coupe is the nicest looking out of the Alero's and one of GM's nicer looking compact/midsize cars. Since then I've been quite satisfied and I haven't had any issues and the previous owner didn't have any serious issues when I had a VIN History Check (I suggest you do it when looking at a used car plus an inspection, it's worth it). Anyway the Alero has been well liked by the press and it offers a lot for what you pay for. I was worried at first about depreciation because Oldsmobile has been gone for awhile but I was surprised that Alero's have kept their value pretty well over the years, although 2004's seemed to have depreciated more than 2002's.

The car itself is quite attractive, the aluminum wheels and low profile tires look sporty and the overall look is quite attractive inside and out. It's a bit more european looking compared to the flashy, american-like Grand Am. The overall quality is pretty good and a very stiff structure gives good handling and keeps away rattles and squeaks which actually surprised me.

The controls are placed close to the driver and I don't have to take my eyes off the road to adjust Radio/HVAC knobs. The 200W 8-Speaker Monsoon Stereo in my car provides awesome sound however even the standard 6-speaker setup in lesser models is quite good as well. The stereo comes with RDS which is quite a nice feature that I feel should be in all stereos and is getting more popular with the newer Ford and Chrysler models. My car comes with leather seats and while they aren't heated, it's liveable (obviously). The Power Sunroof doesn't impede on headroom which is a major plus. There's lots of passenger and cargo space but rear access with the coupe is a bit awkward.

Power comes from GM's venerable 3400 V6. It develops 170 HP and 200 LB-FT TORQUE, it gets a 0-60 of 7.8 Seconds which means you get great power at any speed. In fact I don't need to floor it to get the tires to squeal or race past traffic. The engine loves to rev and if you dare to get up to 80-100 MPH which I happened to do (not smart considering I'm a young driver I know but I'm still here aren't I) it quickly got up to 90 and it only required a slight downshift to 3rd which ran at around 2600 RPM instead of around 2000 RPM. So essentially power is excellent and if you dare to floor it, you'll end up going over the speed limit within a matter of seconds and you'll also get a slight bit of torque steer, but not enough to cause major concern. Fuel Economy is quite good, however considering the tank is puny for a 3.4L V6, I'm surprised it actually gets so good. However if you have a heavy foot, you might notice the needle go down a bit faster than you want. However filling is cheap and like I said you don't need to floor this car to get good power so if you decide to buy a V6 Alero, you should get pretty good gas mileage.

Handling is quite good and the low profile 16 inch tires on my car are a big part of it. The steering is on the light side and the variable assist does firm up a bit at higher speeds, however it's not as firm as the Grand Am's. However you get used to it and it makes turning and parking quite easy. The ride is firm though and you feel rough pavement a bit more than some might want however it's tolerable. The ABS and ETS (Traction Control) work quite well but the ETS does allow some wheelspin for some fun and the system can be turned off if you desire. Some welcome features include Daytime Running Lights with Automatic Light Control which activates the Low-Beams when it's dark out or in rainy/cloudy weather so, you'll probably never have to turn on your lights again. It has a turn-signal on reminder which is good for those who always forget to turn off their signal and it's also got a Tire-Inflation Monitor on higher models which, while isn't the most effective system, is better than nothing as I see it. However that with the variable assist steering was discontiuned in 2003.

I'm quite satisfied with the car and while I'll upgrade to a Grand Prix in a few years, I really don't have too many bad things to say about this car and would recommend it to anyone. Just research its history first, do this with any used car you buy and trust me, you won't regret it. I know I didn't!

UPDATE:
The car has been wonderful, it has been reliable each time and I feel safe and comfortable driving it. I which the rear was easier to access but considering I don't always haul a lot of people it doesn't bother me too much. Overall I'd still recommend the Alero and I plan on keeping this car for a few more years.
Amount Paid (US$): 00000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: GLS Coupe, 3.4L V6, Auto, Sunroof, Leather Seats