Thats correct. The 4.3 is a 350 minus 2 cylinders, and the 3.8 is a 305 minus 2 cylinders. And you can get 400-500k miles out of both of them when properly maintained. You can be biased toward the newer engines all day, but bottom line is they don't have the proven track record or history for you to back them up with.

a 3.8 (231) is derived from a Buick V8, not a Chevy V8 like the 4.3.

Not necessarily biased to newer engines, just better designed ones. Even a 1960 GMC V6 would be fine. Or almost any straight 6.

I test drove the Buick yesterday. What an amazing ride. Solid performance. The salesman looked a bit surprised when I hammered on it and took a turn at about 40mph. This will be a good car, going to pick it up tomorrow morning. Will post pictures :)

so the alero is off to the scrapyard? buy it back and sell us parts!

Can't afford to buy it back man. If I didn't owe so much money I would have taken it back. I really hated to see it go, it was my favorite car.

Uh, did you even ask how much they would charge to buy it back?

Butler County FTL
Beaver County FTW!