Deciding Between 03' Pontiac Grand am GT and 03' Oldsmobile Alero GLS
that0neguy
09-07-2005, 09:50 PM
I am deciding whether I should get an 03' Pontiac Grand Am GT or an 03' Oldsmobile Alero GLS.
Here's where I am debating with myself and want to hear other opinions. I have mainly been focusing on an Alero recently, but found interest in the Pontiac Grand Am GT too, and my friends are telling me to take that, but I'm not sure they are the right people to go by.
This is my first car, at first, I was upsessed with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, but don't like the little room and the types I can get in my price range. It drives too much like a Sebring, and the ones in my price that keeps insurance down only have 140hp. I really want a sedan, because I'll be taking this car throughout college and chauffering people around in it. I really enjoy leather, some think I'm ahead of my time and shouldn't worry about that at my age, but that's what I enjoy. I am 16 and this will be my first car. I have $2000 saved, and my parents are putting in $10k. I will not have to pay insurance, but on my dad's policy, it will have to be under $1100 which the Alero qualifies for, not sure if the Grand Am will.
Alero:
Positives - Great leather interior, fast pick-up (170 hp) 0-60 in 8 seconds. I really like the exterior as well, the dark blue factory color. I have driven in one of these, and basically enjoy almost everything about it.
Negatives - Very limited selection in my specific area. I am going to have to buy an 03' with 18000 miles in a burgandy color for $9500. I am then going to get a paint job for it, and pay no more than $1700, I don't want a cheap paint job that I can't wax. I don't like the front end bumper though.
I really want to take care of my car and make it look good. So after the costs, the price will come to around $11800 or so with tax and licensing.
Grand Am GT
Positives - More horsepower than the Alero (175 hp), not sure about the acceleration. I like the exterior of the front end, I am not looking at one with Ram air. It looks sleek, but I don't like the tailights or the sides as much. But it still looks about as good as the Alero, can't say better or worse. You can upgrade them more, and it comes in a color I enjoy, black. It has 30,000 miles though.
Negatives - I am looking at one with leather interior, and I don't like the style at all. I don't like the lines on the back, it looks like an 03' Grand Prix with leather, sort of cheap, but I would like more interior pictures. I like the dashboard more, but don't like the leather interior.
This is listed at $12,990, and I would try and get it down to 11,300 with my dad. That would be $1300 more than the trade in value making the total around $12,000.
Please give me your input, I have posted one in the Alero section and the Grand Am section as well. Thank you for your opinions, GUYS!!
THANKS AGAIN!!
Here's where I am debating with myself and want to hear other opinions. I have mainly been focusing on an Alero recently, but found interest in the Pontiac Grand Am GT too, and my friends are telling me to take that, but I'm not sure they are the right people to go by.
This is my first car, at first, I was upsessed with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, but don't like the little room and the types I can get in my price range. It drives too much like a Sebring, and the ones in my price that keeps insurance down only have 140hp. I really want a sedan, because I'll be taking this car throughout college and chauffering people around in it. I really enjoy leather, some think I'm ahead of my time and shouldn't worry about that at my age, but that's what I enjoy. I am 16 and this will be my first car. I have $2000 saved, and my parents are putting in $10k. I will not have to pay insurance, but on my dad's policy, it will have to be under $1100 which the Alero qualifies for, not sure if the Grand Am will.
Alero:
Positives - Great leather interior, fast pick-up (170 hp) 0-60 in 8 seconds. I really like the exterior as well, the dark blue factory color. I have driven in one of these, and basically enjoy almost everything about it.
Negatives - Very limited selection in my specific area. I am going to have to buy an 03' with 18000 miles in a burgandy color for $9500. I am then going to get a paint job for it, and pay no more than $1700, I don't want a cheap paint job that I can't wax. I don't like the front end bumper though.
I really want to take care of my car and make it look good. So after the costs, the price will come to around $11800 or so with tax and licensing.
Grand Am GT
Positives - More horsepower than the Alero (175 hp), not sure about the acceleration. I like the exterior of the front end, I am not looking at one with Ram air. It looks sleek, but I don't like the tailights or the sides as much. But it still looks about as good as the Alero, can't say better or worse. You can upgrade them more, and it comes in a color I enjoy, black. It has 30,000 miles though.
Negatives - I am looking at one with leather interior, and I don't like the style at all. I don't like the lines on the back, it looks like an 03' Grand Prix with leather, sort of cheap, but I would like more interior pictures. I like the dashboard more, but don't like the leather interior.
This is listed at $12,990, and I would try and get it down to 11,300 with my dad. That would be $1300 more than the trade in value making the total around $12,000.
Please give me your input, I have posted one in the Alero section and the Grand Am section as well. Thank you for your opinions, GUYS!!
THANKS AGAIN!!
xeroinfinity
09-08-2005, 04:19 PM
both are good cars. They hav nice V6's. Both hav the same problems with the intake gaskets blowing and the wheel Hub/bearings go out occationally too. I personaly think the GA is the better of the to, it looks alot kool'r.
30k miles isnt that much for a 2003 GA. I've seen 04s with 70-80k miles and asking $12k or more. I just recently bought a 01 GA w/53k miles for $5k but it had sat for over 6 months at the dealers lot.
Leathers nice til it gets dry and tears/rips/cracks. When wet it smells bad too. But this is all realative to ones personal choice. XI
30k miles isnt that much for a 2003 GA. I've seen 04s with 70-80k miles and asking $12k or more. I just recently bought a 01 GA w/53k miles for $5k but it had sat for over 6 months at the dealers lot.
Leathers nice til it gets dry and tears/rips/cracks. When wet it smells bad too. But this is all realative to ones personal choice. XI
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026