Beginnings are wonderful times, full of hope and anticipation. They give us a burst of energy to face the unknown and they inspire us to start anew with fresh ideas. Of course, beginnings can be scary, too, since they represent a change in the familiar, comfortable status quo. Yet those who embrace change are often rewarded with exciting life experiences and opportunities to learn new things. It is with this attitude that Oldsmobile, after celebrating its 100th birthday, is approaching the new millenium.
A fleet of new, distinct vehicles branded with Oldsmobile seals have been steadily seeping into dealer showrooms since 1995. The latest addition to the company's all-new Centennial Product lineup is the 1999 Alero, which arrived on our doorstep with shiny black paint coating its chiseled sheetmetal. The pretty styling on our Alero GLS test car reminded us of its bigger Oldsmobile siblings, with low-mounted dual air intakes, fluted side sculpting, large taillights and plump wheel openings.
Characteristics of the compact sedan were designed to appeal to import-oriented buyers looking for style, functionality and refinement at a low price. Oldsmobile decided that unique exterior styling was an essential element in their efforts to best competitors like Nissan, Toyota and Honda, whose cars offer reliability, quality and performance but fail to excite consumers with their look-alike sheetmetal.
In our opinion, Oldsmobile succeeded. "This is a nice car," complimented a woman who works at the dry cleaners as she helped load my clothes into the back seat. "I used to have an Oldsmobile," she added fondly.
"I love this car!" exclaimed a friend as we picked her up to go shopping. "What do you think of it? It feels pretty powerful. How much is it? Where can I get one? I really like how it looks."
But what lies beneath the sheetmetal is important, too. Our GLS model came equipped with a standard 170-horsepower, 3.4-liter V6 engine that made sprinting around town on errands more fun than should be legal. Though the engine was noisier than we'd have liked, the car hopped to attention when the pedal hit the floor, sending us quickly through pockets in traffic and accelerating adequately on the highway. The Alero's V6 makes 200 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,000 rpm-providing a nice burst of power off the line. Like most small cars, the Alero was breathless in the higher altitudes of Colorado, but despite its unrefined noise when pushed to the limit, the speedometer needle remained steady.
We had a blast driving the Alero on our test loop, which wound up Highway 285 through Turkey Creek Canyon and into Conifer, Colo. Wind noise was kept to a minimum, road noise would never quell a conversation, the suspension soaked up road quirks and potholes like a sponge, steering was responsive, the interior was blissfully void of squeaks and rattles, and the car handled the twisty mountain turns with finesse. Alero's chassis also boasts a stiff body structure with a vibration frequency of 25Hz, making for sporty, nimble performance. Built with a four-wheel independent suspension system, antilock brakes and traction control (which engages liberally), the Alero was impressive on both dry and wet pavement.
Inside, we found more to praise. Sitting in the driver's seat is a nice experience overall, with power adjustable leather seats that are soft on top and supportive underneath, and a thick steering wheel that is easy to grip. Our six-foot-plus editor-in-chief noted that the car's narrowness made the interior seem small and made him feel a bit claustrophobic, while his wife found it difficult to turn around to comfort their crying daughter in the back. The main complaint for smaller drivers, however, was the obstructed visibility. Despite a high seating position, the cab-forward design coupled with thick B- and C-pillars made changing lanes a nerve-racking experience. Because it was impossible to judge the rear corners of the car, parking or maneuvering in lots was also difficult. To top it off, the sun visors are too short to block the glare when flipped to the side in sunny Colorado.
On the upside, controls are intuitive and simple in layout. Door locks, mirror adjusters and window controls are well-laid out on the driver's side door, along with a trunk release button that is out of the way but easy to find. We were happy to discover a one-touch down driver window button and long door cubbies that are perfect for storing maps, treats or books. Stereo and climate control knobs are large, uncluttered and easy to grip, contributing to the Alero's user-friendly interior.
On the way to the car in a dark parking lot one evening, we discovered that neither the remote keyless entry nor the panic button worked until we were approximately six feet from the car. Whether the battery was worn down, other vehicles were blocking the way or the remote range itself was limited, we don't know, but it did not elicit a feeling of safety. Upon reaching the vehicle, we were delighted with the car's trunk space, however, managing to fit 21 bags of groceries into the Alero's trunk with room to spare.
Our biggest pet peeve with the vehicle had to do with its cupholders. There are two in the front center console-one is directly behind the gear shifter with a pop-up lid and one is in front of it. The rear cupholder works fine and holds a multitude of cup sizes and shapes, but the front cupholder is simply worthless. It is hard to reach because the gear shifter is in the way and it can hold nothing taller than a soda can. We ended up using the space as a cubby for keys and money, but became irritated when more than one person was enjoying a beverage in the car.
Other complaints centered on the extremely loud blinkers, which were annoying to listen to at traffic lights or stop signs, and a hard-to-reach cubby, which extended way under the radio and climate control panel. Finally, the horn works only if you hit it in a specific spot; test it out before you need to bang on it in an emergency situation.
Despite these grievances, Oldsmobile's Alero is an entertaining drive, smartly styled, and respectably priced. It is more appealing than the domestic Malibu/Cutlass, Cirrus/Stratus and Contour/Mystique models it competes against, and, though mechanically identical to the Pontiac Grand Am, the Olds exudes much better taste. With a distinct flavor all its own and a brand-new century around the corner, Oldsmobile's new Alero has a promising future.
A fleet of new, distinct vehicles branded with Oldsmobile seals have been steadily seeping into dealer showrooms since 1995. The latest addition to the company's all-new Centennial Product lineup is the 1999 Alero, which arrived on our doorstep with shiny black paint coating its chiseled sheetmetal. The pretty styling on our Alero GLS test car reminded us of its bigger Oldsmobile siblings, with low-mounted dual air intakes, fluted side sculpting, large taillights and plump wheel openings.
Characteristics of the compact sedan were designed to appeal to import-oriented buyers looking for style, functionality and refinement at a low price. Oldsmobile decided that unique exterior styling was an essential element in their efforts to best competitors like Nissan, Toyota and Honda, whose cars offer reliability, quality and performance but fail to excite consumers with their look-alike sheetmetal.
In our opinion, Oldsmobile succeeded. "This is a nice car," complimented a woman who works at the dry cleaners as she helped load my clothes into the back seat. "I used to have an Oldsmobile," she added fondly.
"I love this car!" exclaimed a friend as we picked her up to go shopping. "What do you think of it? It feels pretty powerful. How much is it? Where can I get one? I really like how it looks."
But what lies beneath the sheetmetal is important, too. Our GLS model came equipped with a standard 170-horsepower, 3.4-liter V6 engine that made sprinting around town on errands more fun than should be legal. Though the engine was noisier than we'd have liked, the car hopped to attention when the pedal hit the floor, sending us quickly through pockets in traffic and accelerating adequately on the highway. The Alero's V6 makes 200 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,000 rpm-providing a nice burst of power off the line. Like most small cars, the Alero was breathless in the higher altitudes of Colorado, but despite its unrefined noise when pushed to the limit, the speedometer needle remained steady.
We had a blast driving the Alero on our test loop, which wound up Highway 285 through Turkey Creek Canyon and into Conifer, Colo. Wind noise was kept to a minimum, road noise would never quell a conversation, the suspension soaked up road quirks and potholes like a sponge, steering was responsive, the interior was blissfully void of squeaks and rattles, and the car handled the twisty mountain turns with finesse. Alero's chassis also boasts a stiff body structure with a vibration frequency of 25Hz, making for sporty, nimble performance. Built with a four-wheel independent suspension system, antilock brakes and traction control (which engages liberally), the Alero was impressive on both dry and wet pavement.
Inside, we found more to praise. Sitting in the driver's seat is a nice experience overall, with power adjustable leather seats that are soft on top and supportive underneath, and a thick steering wheel that is easy to grip. Our six-foot-plus editor-in-chief noted that the car's narrowness made the interior seem small and made him feel a bit claustrophobic, while his wife found it difficult to turn around to comfort their crying daughter in the back. The main complaint for smaller drivers, however, was the obstructed visibility. Despite a high seating position, the cab-forward design coupled with thick B- and C-pillars made changing lanes a nerve-racking experience. Because it was impossible to judge the rear corners of the car, parking or maneuvering in lots was also difficult. To top it off, the sun visors are too short to block the glare when flipped to the side in sunny Colorado.
On the upside, controls are intuitive and simple in layout. Door locks, mirror adjusters and window controls are well-laid out on the driver's side door, along with a trunk release button that is out of the way but easy to find. We were happy to discover a one-touch down driver window button and long door cubbies that are perfect for storing maps, treats or books. Stereo and climate control knobs are large, uncluttered and easy to grip, contributing to the Alero's user-friendly interior.
On the way to the car in a dark parking lot one evening, we discovered that neither the remote keyless entry nor the panic button worked until we were approximately six feet from the car. Whether the battery was worn down, other vehicles were blocking the way or the remote range itself was limited, we don't know, but it did not elicit a feeling of safety. Upon reaching the vehicle, we were delighted with the car's trunk space, however, managing to fit 21 bags of groceries into the Alero's trunk with room to spare.
Our biggest pet peeve with the vehicle had to do with its cupholders. There are two in the front center console-one is directly behind the gear shifter with a pop-up lid and one is in front of it. The rear cupholder works fine and holds a multitude of cup sizes and shapes, but the front cupholder is simply worthless. It is hard to reach because the gear shifter is in the way and it can hold nothing taller than a soda can. We ended up using the space as a cubby for keys and money, but became irritated when more than one person was enjoying a beverage in the car.
Other complaints centered on the extremely loud blinkers, which were annoying to listen to at traffic lights or stop signs, and a hard-to-reach cubby, which extended way under the radio and climate control panel. Finally, the horn works only if you hit it in a specific spot; test it out before you need to bang on it in an emergency situation.
Despite these grievances, Oldsmobile's Alero is an entertaining drive, smartly styled, and respectably priced. It is more appealing than the domestic Malibu/Cutlass, Cirrus/Stratus and Contour/Mystique models it competes against, and, though mechanically identical to the Pontiac Grand Am, the Olds exudes much better taste. With a distinct flavor all its own and a brand-new century around the corner, Oldsmobile's new Alero has a promising future.
Add A Comment »