New Car/Review
2000 Oldsmobile Alero GL Coupe
by Carey Russ
2000 Oldsmobile Full Line Factory Video
Today's Oldsmobile lineup has nothing in common with the
company's offerings of only a few years ago. The old Oldsmobile
was the purveyor of large sedans to a dwindling, aging clientele. Its
future was in doubt. Drastic measures were called for, and drastic
measures were taken. Beginning with the Aurora luxury sedan in
1995, Oldsmobile's entire line was revised. Out with the old, in
with the new - in the image of the Aurora. And the makeover has
been successful. Sales are up, and to younger, more upscale buyers.
Today's Oldsmobiles are appealing to people who otherwise would
have purchased a non-General Motors car, most likely an import.
What a difference a few years and a concentrated effort can make.
APPEARANCE: In a class where bland styling is the norm, the
Alero turns heads. But it is expressive, rather than excessive, with
its sleek shape and unique Oldsmobile grille-less front end. The
twin air intakes integrated into the bumper fascia are reminiscent of
several high-performance European sports cars, but really come
from the larger Oldsmobiles, the Aurora and Intrigue. The low,
wide elliptical headlamps and subtle bulge in the sloping hood are
the other major Oldsmobile styling cues. The coupe and sedan share
a semi-fastback roofline, and discreet chrome trim surrounds the
side windows. A high tail gives a noticeable sporty wedge profile
and increases luggage space. Large oval taillights help the Alero
stand out day or night.
COMFORT: The Alero, like all Oldsmobile sedans and coupes, has
an airy, modern, European-inspired interior with anti-glare two-
tone coloring and a thankful lack of imitation wood. Very
intriguing... The soft-look, soft-touch synthetics used for the
instrument panel and door trim and the grippy cloth used for the
GL's upholstery give it an upscale look. Instruments and controls
are placed to benefit the driver. Leather wrapping of the steering
wheel and shift lever make them easier to use. The front bucket
seats are comfortable and supportive; the 60/40 split folding rear
bench is roomier than some in the class and should be good for
people up to 5' 9" or so. Convenient interior storage spaces and a
good-sized trunk help make the Olds Alero coupe a good car for
everyday use.
SAFETY: All 2000 Olds Aleros have safety-cage chassis
construction with side-impact protection, four-wheel antilock disc
brakes, dual next-generation air bags, all-speed traction control, and
daytime running lights.
ROADABILITY: The sport suspension now offered on the Alero
GL is the same setup previously available only on the GLS. It's not
hard-core, but its stiffer spring, shock, and anti-roll bar calibrations
and 225/50 VR 16 Goodyear Eagle RS-A performance tires give
better grip and less body roll than the stock setup in cornering, with
little compromise in ride comfort. This is a sporty car for the real
world, and provides plenty of fun.
PERFORMANCE: The five-speed Getrag gearbox helps get the
most out of the Alero's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. With 150
horsepower at 5600 rpm, and 155 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm, it's
well-matched with the Alero's major competitors. It has a flat
torque curve, which makes the standard four-speed automatic a
good choice, too, but the manual gearbox lets the driver choose
when to shift, to get the most possible performance from the
engine. And, there is a pleasant surprise in store. Up between 4500
rpm and the 6500 rpm redline, the engine has noticeably more
power than below, and a pleasant exhaust snarl. Shift linkage that is
better than that of most front-wheel drive cars and a light clutch
make driving easy, even in traffic.
CONCLUSIONS: Sport-compact Oldsmobile? You bet! The
newest version of the Alero is most definitely not your father's
Oldsmobile.
SPECIFICATIONS
2000 Oldsmobile Alero GL Coupe
Base Price $ 18,440
Price As Tested $ not available at press time
Engine Type dual overhead cam, 16-valve inline
4-cylinder
Engine Size 2.4 liters / 146 cu. in.
Horsepower 150 @ 5600 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 155 @ 4400 rpm
Transmission 5-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 107.0 in. / 186.7 in.
Curb Weight 3026 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 20.2
Fuel Capacity 14.3 gal.
Fuel Requirement unleaded regular, 87 octane
Tires P225/50 VR 16 Goodyear Eagle RS-A
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc,
antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut /
independent tri-link strut with coil
springs
Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 22 / 31 / 24
0 to 60 mph 8.4 sec
1/4 mile (E.T.) 16.6 sec
Coefficient of Drag (cd) 0.321
OPTIONS AND CHARGES
NOTE: usually I get a "Monroney" price sheet with test cars.
Unfortunately, none was available with this car.