A couple years ago I came close to buying an 02 Alero GLS fully loaded. It was a sharp car. I searched for reviews on it to help me decide, and for the most part decided not to get it based on those reviews. But as Don stated, a lot of people will neglect their cars and b*tch about them claiming they are pieces of junk.

I was afraid of having the same issues others wrote about, like the warping dashboard (Alero only), and a couple others. So I passed on it. It was a quick car on the test-drive. The interior was like a mini-Aurora (not quite as nice of course). It had everything. The 1-2 shift felt a little too harsh so that didn't sit well with me either, and I knew the trans was a weak spot.

I don't think the GAs or Aleros are bad cars though. Every car has their weak spots, but if taken care of they should be great cars.

Wow, guess this car is just hit and miss with problems. I don't know if the first owner changed the LIM'* but it is likely. He did put in a 180 T-Stat, CAI, and some cosmetic work before we got it. I have the oil change every 4000 miles with Mobil-1 full synthetic and I just put in Prestone Coolant in today. The car drives like a dream, the only thing I know that may need replacing this year is the shocks. The tranny is nice and smooth, kicks in right when it should. We just went from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Winston Saleem, North Carolina, averaging about 30-32mpg the whole way.

I'd say the only down side to his right now is that he has a bit of rust below the drivers door, but that happens in Michigan and Indianas winters.

Hell of alot better car than his Civic. That thing had no power and was smashed from the front to the wheel base at 20mph from that wreck. The guys 198x F-150 had a dent and he drove it home from the wreck.

Personally, I think the 3400 is a pretty good engine, overall. My mom drives an 03 Alero. Currently has ~65,000 miles. She'* owned it since new. She'* had two main issues - at 37,000 it puked the LI gaskets. GM repaired them for $75. Then, just a couple weeks ago the alternator went out, so I replaced that for her. Oh ya, the passenger side hub went out at the beginning of the summer. Had roughly 58K at that time.

My wife has an 04 SE V6. So far, the only thing it has needed was regular oil changes and brake rotors. It does leak something in the belt area that spays on the hood liner. The dealer said it was a steering pump seal leak and replaced it under warranty. But it still does it. Gets 31 mpg regularly (mostly highway) and shifts great at 72,000 miles.

Oh, I did have to take apart the turn signal module to clean out excess grease that was shorting it out. And get one new HVAC ****.

I would honestly drive one. A GA GT coupe, with a little bit of tweaking they can run high 14s

I'm not a fan of 60^ engines. They are hard to work on doing normal maintenance..

I'm going to assume that the LIM gaskets were replaced because it hasn't lost any coolant from when we bought it and when I flushed the Dex it was pretty fresh looking.

Huh? :?

You mentioned that yours LIMs went out pretty early, mine haven't went yet, so I'm assuming mine were replaced before I bought it.