So Chevrolet sold these in Europe apparently

"BATC42" (BATC42) 11/07/2014 at 09:33 • Filed to: None

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So one while I was going to a meeting. It was registered in Nice (southern France). Also saw a pretty cool Jeep picku-up while going to work the other day. (Potato pic in reply)

Cé hé sin > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:36

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They did? What is it? Never seen one.

Cé hé sin > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:36

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Oooh, a Smart Roadster! Not as good as the hatchback one but still.

BATC42 > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:36

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KnowsAboutCars > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:38

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They did. I've never seen one with Chevy badges though. The ones sold in here (and in Estonia and probably other countries too) still wore Olds badges.

BATC42 > Cé hé sin 11/07/2014 at 09:38

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It's an Oldsmobile Alero

Cé hé sin > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:41

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But that's not a Chevrolet is it? Either way I've never heard of before. Unlikely to hear of it again too, Chevrolet being deadder than a very dead thing now.

BATC42 > Cé hé sin 11/07/2014 at 09:44

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It was sold as an Oldsmobile in the US, but it was Chevrolet sold it here. First time I've seen one

duurtlang > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:50

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I've seen a few in the Netherlands. Not any more, but a decade ago you'd see them around sometimes. I wonder why people bought these cars new though, was it a better or cheaper vehicle than a Vectra?

They did have Chevy badges here.

Cé hé sin > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:51

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So it was. According to Wiki: "The Alero was also sold in select countries in Europe and in Israel as the Chevrolet Alero, and was only available as a sedan . The car still featured its Oldsmobile badges even though sold under the Chevrolet brand. However, in Israel it featured only the Chevrolet badge. Since most European consumers would not recognize the badging, Chevrolet badges were added to the grille and rear fascia for the 2000 model year. Since the phase-out of the Alero, it was replaced in Europe, Israel and Canada by the GM Daewoo -sourced Chevrolet Evanda/Epica".

Never heard of the Chevrolet Evanda either. I'd be surprised if it (the Alero) was ever sold officially in France, it's not the kind of thing that would appeal there and it was petrol only anyway.

kanadanmajava1 > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 09:59

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Finland had them as Oldsmobile Aleros. They didn't sell well but you still see them occasionally. I have only been inside one that was displayed in a dealership. Huge amount of plastic is the only thing that I remember from the car.

DuckDraper > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 10:12

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ly2v8-Brian > KnowsAboutCars 11/07/2014 at 10:22

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That's hilarious

Svend > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 10:54

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Quite a few American cars made it over to Europe but we never saw any here in the U.K. as they were all LHD. Living in the Netherlands I got to see quite a few American cars which just didn't fit in some how but maybe it was me not being used to seeing so many about the place when your only used to seeing a couple a week to seeing a dozen a day.

BATC42 > Cé hé sin 11/07/2014 at 16:55

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It was. It cost between 22 and 27k€ at the time.

BATC42 > duurtlang 11/07/2014 at 16:58

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According to wikipedia, at the time it was sold at prices between 22 and 27k€. And I don't get it either. I'm sure you could get much nicer car.

duurtlang > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 17:06

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I looked at Dutch prices around the year 2000. With the base 2.4L 140 or so hp engine in base trim it cost about as much as a Vectra 2.5 V6 with 170 or so hp. The Alero was considerably slower, but when it comes to size it was halfway between the Vectra and Omega. A Vectra as a 4 cylinder was far cheaper.

I guess people bought them because they were different but not horrible.

ranwhenparked > BATC42 11/07/2014 at 19:12

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Using the plural "these" might be presumptive, without proof that GM Europe ever actually sold more than the one example you saw. Seriously, I have to wonder the decision making process that would have resulted in a French person winding up in a showroom to buy an Alero.

BATC42 > ranwhenparked 11/08/2014 at 05:02

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That's the first thing that came to my mind. I understand someone buying a Tahoe, a Raptor (I've seen around a dozen in France), or any other truck/suv/sportcars. But the Alero ? WHY, there are much better alternatives.