Used 2004 Oldsmobile Alero Sedan Consumer Reviews
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great used buy
Excellent used car buy. Does everything well at bargain basement price. Last of the low cg gm midsize vehicles. Recently put 245 45 16 series bridgestone potenza tires and handling is phenomenal. (have owned corvettes, lotus, and Audi a-4 turbos) 6 cyl auto mpg over 26 at real speed (75 mph+).
174,000 miles and still going
I bought my car used 2 years ago and it now has 174,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. Only problems I have had was the fuel pump and the alternator went out. Oh and the pass key thing had problems but there is a easy fix for that if you Google it and it consists of a inexpensive diode being soldered into the wiring. Would I recommend this car even with the high miles mine has.... You bet I would.
- GLS SedanMSRP: $2,495936 mi away
- GL1 SedanMSRP: $4,9501,347 mi away
- GL1 SedanMSRP: $6,9991,644 mi away
Great Ride
we bought this car with around 15,000 miles on it, and there is now around 96,000 on it, and the only thing i have ever had to do to it is have the passlock replaced and brakes, never one single problem with this car ever. this has to be one of the most reliable, bang for the buck, i have ever purchaced. i have even put on a magnaflow cat back and a K&N intake on it and watched the MPG rise even higher, on high way i can manage over 30+ mpg and i even have a V-6 and over 200hp now. if your in the market for a great car and by the years passing pretty cheap now. jump on it. im 26 and this is my 15th car and best one to date for reliability.
Best Olds ever
This is the 2nd Alero owned by my wife and me. She has been driving her 99 Alero since 2000. A super car. She has 110,000 miles on it now and it is still a great looker and a terrific little speeder - especially with the K&N air filter, which make sit roar. Both aleros, I drive the 04 have the 3.4 engine, which I highly recommend to anyone considering buying an Alero. Great styling, too, for the price range. Keep Mobil 1 in the crankcase and the engine will always show the driver its appreciation. So far, the 99 Alero needed an alternator and a front strut replaced. As well, the hazard switch broke but will be repaired free under a recall order. The 99 is super fast - much faster than the 04,
WWooooooooHoooooo!!!
I found me a 2004 Alero GL with the 6-cyl. engine with only 29,000 miles for about a little half the price of retail when new. What a deal! It took me a whole month to find the one I wanted and it's worth every penny! This car is a lot of fun to drive and is a good looker too. This what I want to be driving now and not the regular brands that everyone else is driving out there for a lot more money. Couldn't be happier, best car decision I've ever made. Made in America baby!! Whooohooo!!
Great Car for first car or retiree
The car is great on gas mileage and has needed only basic maintenance to date. Other than the need for a little more head room in the driver's seat everything else about the car was exceptional. the car was purchased to be the last car after retirement and it has filled that need beyond expectation. Durable for mid to long drives and great in the city.
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good car
I bought this car 2 years ago used and it has not failed me yet. After I first bought it I had it checked by a mechanic and the only problem was a small leak in the transmissions right axle but the dealership fixed it for me after ordering the part and I haven't had any problem since. Great car.
The performance is horrible!
This is a nice car. However, the performance stinks! It takes forever for the the throttle response to kick in. It's like they took this heavy car and put a go cart engine in it! It's loud but not powerful at all! Barley gets up to speed on the highway. I tried to go around a Sunfire and couldnt even do it! But every time I turn the key I know it will start. Oh and the handling is terrible too. And they dont make any performance or upgrades for this car! Nothing!
Don't even hesitate to buy one.
I have owned my 2004 Alero for just over 3 years now. I bought it barely used with 15k on it, and now it has about 58k. It has been an exceptional car, starting every single time, and never letting me down. The only times it's been in the shop have been for maintenance/wear and tear items. A very well made car, and well worth the money I paid for it.
200k and no major repairs
engine and trans going strong at over 200k. had to repair a rocker arm in engine as only major repair and it was only $300. weakness is wheel bearings but are easy to change. comfortable driver seat. good power in v6 and 27-28 mpg avg for my 90 mile commute with 70% of the commute on freeway at 70mph. nice padded interior vs the cheesy plastic interiors on new cars. Wish I could buy a new one.
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Great mid size car .. Severely under rated
After 12 years I would still rate this car from personal experience, an excellent vehicle ..... Now after 14 years my opinion and experience does not differ ... Oh yes, I did just replace the fuel fill cap . As an aside , with E-10 fuel the mpg did drop off about 10% ... so , did we reduce our dependency on imported petroleum ?
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Unlikely to Recommend
I have a 2004 Alero v6 4 door. Let me put it this way, I have had the car for 6 years and there is a new problem every time I turn around. I have had the brakes and rotors replaced 3 times. The wiring harness behind the steering wheel was replaced once and needs to be replaced again. This car is a magnet for old people to hit. Now my car wont start. This has to be the worst car I have had. General maintenance isn't doing anything for this car.
Family Car
For the price we paid, this is a wonderful family car. There is more than enough trunk space to carry our baby stroller and a full cart of groceries. Gas mileage is decent: we average between 20-25 MPG.
alero "the family car"
the title says it all. this car has a mature feel throughout every aspect.the ride is very nice and has the power to pass if necessary. maxes out at 97 mph. this is the car to grow old in. and i'm only 20 with no family. why do i have this car?
Bought Two Of Them
My daughter and sister each had their cars totalled. I bought low mileage used Aleros for each of them. At less than 11K for such a feature laden car you can't beat them. They both looked like new cars with very low mileage. They love their new Aleros and I feel good that they are in a dependable car.
Alero is an Arrow
I love my Alero. All is good with the car. If there were one thing I could change on it, that would be the road noise. I am running Goodyear Eagle GT,s, and the road noise is a little high. Other than that, the car is GREAT !! The handling is quick and precise. The trunk has lots of room ! Seats are great. I guess there is one other thing I would change, and that is the headroom. I am a little tall though. But with the seat adjustment, I can lower the seat to a comfortable possition and all is good. Two of the best features of the car are its suprising power and its AWESOME looks. I DO LOVE THIS CAR !!!!!
Cute and Peppy!
The Alero is just cute cute cute! Love the sporty exterior (mine has a spoiler) and the euorpean styling. I've always driven Toyota/Nissan sports cars and this is my first American choice. I love the appearance, handling and that it doesn't demand as much attention as my past cars which I've worried would be stolen. Peppy little car that hugs corners well, what more can you want?
FIRE
Unintended key rotation caught my car on fire a year before recall was announced. We fixed what we could and continue to drive it. However since we already replaced the burnt up ignition, with a new but still bad key with ignition cause it all burnt up, since it's not the same key gm WON'T fix it. They also refuse to admit that the fire was a result of the bad key, so I still drive around in a fire hazard, with no heat,air, window defrost , inside lights, lighter Port as all of the wiring burnt up.
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What a deal.....
I needed to replace a mini-van that was worn out and I was plain tired of minivans. Honda Element... too wierd, Honda Civic..too small, Accord...too $$. I have owned a couple Hondas and they have the occasional quality issue anemic heaters etc. A used car lot had a Buick Rendez. and noticed a dozen 2004 Alero program cars. They were clean, comfortable, and CHEAP. I got an 6cyl, with ABS, power seat, CD and wing. Hey this is comfy and I was out the door for $11000 and they took my Chevy APV with a bad tranny on trade. The Alero is nice, ABS is good compared to the unrefined ABS Chevy put in the APV in 1995. There is a fit problem with the center dash vent. I am HAPPY and NOT car poor.
Great car
I just recently purchased this car, and, I love it. I have never owned a car this new before, but, I love the new car feel. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for an inexpensive alternative to higher priced and highly overrated Import cars.
Olds Alero 2004
After having a Chevy 2001 Blazer this is the best car that I could have ever got with how expensive gas is. I bought it with only 9,000 miles on it and it now only has about 36,500 miles and I was the second owner of the car.
Alero Fever
This is my second Alero purchase. We also own a 2001 GL2 Sedan. I love both cars as they are both GL2 sedans; however, the 2004 is missing many features that were standard in 2001 (lighted rear view mirror, vanity mirror on passenger's side, no sun- glass storage compartment on the ceiling (just an empty hole), 2 less speakers (only 4 was 6) but same radio, no flip up drink cover next to driver and no cargo net or ancors in the trunk. I know its the last production year but please remember I am a loyal owner and paying good money for a car that looks exactly like the 2001, performs like the 2001 but is missing tons of little extras. OUCH!!!
Good Car
The car runs great, and moves when I tell it to. Good first car if you ask me. The body is an eye catcher and my friends like the ride of it. And the gas I save is great. The only problem I see right now is noise I get when I slow down. Its not bad but it is annoying. All it is the brakes need to be cleaned. All and all its a great car.
Fun car to drive!!!
I have always dreamed of owning this car since they first came out, but was never in the market for one since I already owned two reliable cars. It didn't seem like much since to buy a third until my husband was in an accident with our one car, so then it was perfect timing to buy a 2004 and we are so happy with it. It's very fun to drive and you get lots of looks from people and compliments.
new owner
Haven't owned it long but love it
MY GREAT ALERO
I HAVE NOTHING BUT FUN IN THIS CAR
one great car
THE COMFORT IS UNDER STATED THE BODY STYLE IS WONDERFUL IT'S ECONOMIAL BUT POWERFUL IT TAKES YOU WERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH NO HASSLE,IT HANDLES SO WELL IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU GET SUCH A GREAT CAR AT AND EFFORTABLE PRICE.
Keep the Alero
Its a darn good car, comfortable, affordable with good fuel economy. Its the kind of car America ought to be driving!
first olds buyer
own a final 500 edition.only three weeks old, fun to drive.Nice interior,quick for small six cylinder.GM making mistake discontinuing this car.
Alero: Good Buy, Good-bye
This Olds ends its run in fine form. Very good build quality, excellent acceleration for a four cylinder, comfortable interior and good driving experience. Handles well in snow and ice with traction control and abs option. Good for stop and go with family or solo highway driving. Good gas mileage.$4000 rebate is attractive.
OK, I guess
When I bought this I did not know the resale value was going to plummet into the ground, so it's a good thing it's a fairly dependable car. It gets decent mileage, but I hate the interior design, specifically the center console. It's as if it were an oversight that only one person would have anything to drink in the front, and the rear cupholder is cheap and keeps pulling out of its sockets. However, it has decent "zip" and has ample trunk room.
my alero
i love my new alero. i have alway drove imports and this is my 1st american made vehicle. i would say that it is as good if not better than any import on the road!!!!
Great car
There has been problems with the hazard switch pushing up into the dashbord.
cars
I like the car alot, I have rented it a few times and always try and request it again at times i cant get it--i wonder y. I have had the Grand Am and the Malibu,. I like the Alero alot better
Terrific Car
This is my second Alero in a row. It's easy to drive, fairly comfortable.
THE BEST CAR OUT THERE
THIS IS MY FIRST CAR.....MY OWN CAR...AND I LOVE IT..I HAVE DRIVE OTHER CARS FOR ALONG TIME BUT IN THE YEAR THAT I HAVE HAD MY CAR I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT AND IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY CARS THAT I COULD AFFORD THAT I REALLY LOVED
Best for the Money
This is a beautifully designed sweet running car. Sure I might like some more Hot Rod Power with a heavy foot on the highway but I'm not willing to give up the nice mileage to get it. Well over a year now and not the first problem. Great sound system, great comfort, nice leather, feels good to drive and you and the wife can each have one for the cost of a small BMW that really is no better and certainly doesn't have a five year warranty.
Olds Alero; Not Just for the Older Set
We purchased this car from an individual. We had never been big fans of the Oldsmobile line, thinking this was an "old" person's car. However, we test drove this car and were blown away. The Alero drives very well, with clean reaction to steering and is very comfortable to boot. It's a nice size for the family and yet is very sporty. We couldn't beat the price either, bought it for under 5,000.00 (2000 model, w/47,000 miles and light hail damage) and still are happy after almost a year. The only complaint is that there is alot of road noise.
Nice car for the $$$
I bought this car used and the price was easy on the wallet for what i got its a good buy.
I love my car!!!
I love my Alero! Since the first year they came out I had my eye on them and finally I was able to buy one. It's sporty looking, yet good for the whole family! It treats me well and I plan to do the same to it.
A very good American-Made car!!
This is one of the & possibly the best cars I've ever owned! It is better than most imports that I've driven. ( Toyota, Honda, Nissan) About 18 months ago... I purchased myself a used 2004 Oldsmobile Alero base model with the 2.2 motor and the automatic transmission. The main reason I bought this car was for long distance commuting, averaging 160 miles daily. Needless to say that this little 2.2 motor pulls the car strongly, it's nearly as fast as some V6 sedans that I've owned!! It is very fun to drive, even with the automatic transmission. It handles very phenomenally. It gets crazy good MPG. I average 30 MPG for mixed driving, I am surprised that it gets this much mpg, considering the amount of power it has. As far as repair goes, I very rarely have to put any money to this car repaired, & when I do, it is usually not much that I have to spend. In the 18 months that I've owned this car, I had to replace it's starter, alternator, and timing belt. It was about $180 for everything, so this car isn't perfect, but then again, no car really is. All in all, I'd rate this car 9/10. It has 210,000 miles and is still going strong. I own another car ( VW Passat with the 2.8 V6 & Manual Transmission) If I had to choose between my Passat & my Alero, I would choose my Alero <3 all day any day. The USA and particularly General Motors should be proud to have manufactured a good car like this one.
Grreat car
Have had the vechile for a month now, and it's been great. Extremely happy with the very peppy 4-cyc engine and great gas mileage.. 35+ so far. Love the look and feel of it, as it handles like a sports car. Should have bought it a year ago, instead of putting more money into my old caravan.
A truly fantastic American car!
My husband and I compared several cars when considering our next purchase. I was wanting to sell a Honda Accord that I had been talked into buying, and it turned out to be an expensive car to maintain and keep on the road as it got older. I looked at the Pontiac Grand Am, the Alero, and just to be fair, another Honda. The Olds was simply the best looking, best driving, most comfortable and well thought out car out there . . . and I love it!
Great Value
Great Value (factorty rebates plus GM card and drives smoothly. Good power, nice handling, big trunk
nice car for the money
like the way it looks mine is RED and looks great. Nice car for the money. wish Olds didnt end.
hey hey
I really like it. It has great speed and is easy to handle. It looks sporty and is alot of fun.
My car is my baby.
I have had nothing but good things happen in this car. It gets good mileage.
Why does this car exist?
I can't imagine why anyone actually likes this car. It's uncomfortable, the brakes are terrible, the interior is very cheap, and the steering in loose. This car is why Americans by more foreign cars. Thank goodness this is a "company" car for me. I drive a VW Passat, and the difference is incredible. I can't believe, my car costs almost the same! The Passat isn't the greatest sedan, but it feels 100 times more solid and upscale then then this hunk o' junk.
2004 alero 6cyl
It gets you from point A to point B
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Pretty Bad Car option
One of the worst cars I have ever purchased as a sales rep on the road.