Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I put Dunlop SP Sport A2's on in March, and they were excellent in a late-season snowstorm. We haven't had any real snow around here yet (go figure - Illinois and Indiana got pounded) so I can't say how they hold up - but I've got about 16k mi on the Dunlops now...
--Robert
Also, I made some sound/movie clips of my car accelerating. My exhaust is stock, but the new Aurora seems to have less intake noise than the classic we test-drove, so you hear a bit more of the exhaust note (at least it seemed that way to me). The first is like 3MB and the second is 1MB. You may just want to save them locally and then play them. They are filling up my yahoo account, so I will probably delete them at some point. My wife and I have a digital camera now, so I will probably post more pictures and such.
Noticed your speedometer from a dead stop as I watched the tach. Bet that would shock a few rice burners (not to mention those rice loving magazine editors)!
I want to increase the rumble a little at idle/slow speed on mine. At WOT all V8s sound good!
I realize that there are widely varying views on this subject, but the Town Hall's position remains that because of the offensive ethnic orgin, those terms are not appropriate in our discussions.
Please do not argue with me here because I have no control over this policy and the policy itself is off-topic. If you have comments to make, please either email me or our Community Manager, Sylvia, at sylvia@edmunds.com.
Thank you for your understanding.
Thanks.
I was quite disappointed to learn that my '97 classic could not display trouble codes through the DIC. I erroneously assumed that capability would have been carried forward, since my '86 Toro could display its OBD I codes.
All other aspects of my Aurora are far superior to the Toro, but the lack of easily (and inexpensively) available OBD II codes is sorely missed.
You Decide.
The salesman also mentioned that they couldn't order Auroras anymore. I guess you'd just have to buy one that's been made. Not sure what's up with that as they had zero 2003's on the lot. Looking at the production they seem to crank out less than 20 Auroras per week. That's pretty dang slow... I guess I'm not surprised, though, especially with the 3.5 gone.
I don't know how I can show you all the clips of the Aurora from the DVD, but it is really cool. It would be an incredible ad campaign if only Olds cared about tooting its own horn to someone other than a die-hard Olds fan... The little video has like 6 different segments, each about 30-60 seconds, on things like performance, style, interior, luxury, and other stuff. Great commercial material...
Yeah, just glancing inside a G35 and I noticed right away - there really isn't anything "luxury" about it.
It sure sounds like GM is really going for it with the powertrains. I think they will have to get cute with the "first drive" test cars if they are to compete in the marketplace of public perception. If Honda is sending in "first drive" Accords that beat G35's and BMW 330's (in separate tests) in the same magazine, then whatever GM comes up with will likely be 2nd in performance as well.
I really wonder if the marketing guru's at the big 3 have a clue sometimes about what makes the consumer tick, and what the competition is doing to push their buttons - honest or otherwise.
As a very small example (I feel silly pointing this out) is the 140+ speedometers the imports put on V6 and 4 banger grocery getters. Well, as stupid as that is, if it impresses Joe Nonothing, then do it as well.
I have some doubts if GM knows that it is just as important to also create a perception of superior performance to go along with their powertrains. Otherwise, as you pointed out with Olds, people do not know and don't buy your car.
The Oldsmobile Aurora was a natural choice for pace car of the 1997 Indianapolis 500, after serving as pace car for all Indy Racing League races (except Indy) in 1996 and 1997. The Aurora's standard 250-horsepower, 4.0L V-8 engine meant the car needed no performance modifications. A 650-horsepower version of that same engine went on to win the 1997 Indy 500, marking the first time the same engine design had both paced and won at Indy.
1997 also marked the first time since 1947 that a four-door sedan was chosen to lead the race, and the first front-wheel-drive four-door ever.
Only 64 Auroras were built for use as pace cars and parade cars. Oldsmobile did not produce a replica of this car.
The 1997 pace car was driven by three-time Indy winner Johnny Rutherford.
I bet that there are some of those 64 pace cars still out there. Would love to get my hands on one.
We finally put down the old Ford Areostar van, after 11 years of service. Also have a 2001 Pathfinder, great vehicle, that serves us well.
Working through some kinks with the Used Car lot. It is an independent (non-GM) car lot, family run and very nice people. Small town called Alliston, about an hour north of Toronto. Thought I'd list the problems under investigation and repair in case any of you have had similar and can provide any advice. include
o clunking in the sunroof when opening/closing...fixed via adjustment
o headlamp out...to be replaced
o rear seatbelts shoulder straps are fraying (both)...to be investigated. Anybody have a problem with these? I think the retract mechanism must be damaging them.
o rear door window switch will not open window, however will close the window...to be investigated. I suspect a defective switch or connection
o gauges on dashboard very dim in spots (ie. first 2/3 of the speedo, first 1/4 of the tach, volume switch on steering wheel and the temp guage). Service Garage pulled the dashboard out and said there is a burnt bulb that is the source for the fibre optics, but they don't have the equipment to repair. May need dealer service, as the garage is an independant not a GM dealer. Under investigation.
The car lot is providing 30day bumper to bumper, afterwards I'm on my own as the car is out of GM warranty due to the mileage. I'm on the fence regarding buying an extended service contract. Granted I have some initial kinks here, but nothing major. Any recommendations? What has the reliability been for you folks?
Anyways, thought I'd say hello. I read many of your posts prior to making the purchase and found the many discussion threads interesting and informative. Glad to be a new Aurora owner.
Hey, just a note, if you are interested in a performance exhaust from Corsa, you have about one day to let them know as they will crank out a few specially for the Aurora. You can search the Accessories & Mods board here for more info on Corsa. Also, check out this discussion for info how to contact Corsa. I don't know if you are interested, it's just that the boat for the Corsa is sailing so you might want to know. They have to custom fit the Seville system, so if you don't order it now you may never be able to.
I see that you read past posts, but just in case you missed mine, it might help you for me to repeat what I reported to this board before.
I have a 2001 3.5L silver Aurora. Built just for me and delivered in April 2001. 32,500 miles in 21 months since then. Maybe my repair history could help you down the road. (All of this work has been done under the original new car warranty.)
1. Replace power steering unit with revised design unit. There's a Technical Service Bulletin out on this. Symptom - occasional moan or groan on low speed or start up turns.
2. Lubricate intermediate steering shaft. Well known problem in the GM shops. Symptom - a sort of rubbing or grabbing felt while turning the steering wheel.
3. Replace defective crankshaft position sensor. Symptom - the car stalled on me twice while driving very slowly looking at houses for my parents.
4. Replace plastic push rivets as they pop out from the wheel well trim and front air dam trim. Maybe half a dozen in 21 months. It would help if I didn't keep pulling the front of the car up on the curbs, sidewalks, bumpers, large dogs, sleeping drunks, etc.
5. Aim driver's side front fog lamp. Dealer first told me that they weren't adjustable. But they are.
6. Replace burned out bulbs:
a) both rear fog lamps. The dealer told me that the replacement bulb was a longer life bulb.
b) right side steering wheel buttons. (The left temperature button has now burned out too, but I haven't had it replaced yet.) There does seem to be a differnce in brightness between some of the four buttons.
c) instrument cluster bulb. Sounds like your complaint about the dash. I didn't actually notice this defect in mine. The dealer noticed it and replaced the bulb when he pulled the intermediate steering shaft. I guess either he broke it, or more likely, it just went bad the day I took the car in for the intermediate steering shaft rubbing.
d) heated seat switch bulb on console. WARNING!! The walnut veneer on the console is mounted on some fairly flexible plastic. If the technician is not very careful, he will flex the plastic while removing it. This will pop off a chip from the walnut veneer, and the appearance of your console is damaged. This happened to me. The dealer replaced it, of course, but it would be less aggravating if it hadn't happened. There is a technical service bulletin out on the removal of this piece. But it doesn't do you any good unless the technician knows about it and pulls it and reads it and follows the guidance before he does the work, not afterwards. Just because there is a technical service bulletin doesn't mean that the technician is aware of it. To my eye, my replacement console has a nicer looking piece of walnut than the original, so I'm happy. ALSO, the clips that hold the console top in place have some sharp edges, and upon removal of the piece, these clips can cut the small vinyl lip around the console. This happened to me. Again, the technician must read the TSB.
7. The coat hook on one of the rear grab straps broke. It's fairly flimsy plastic, and I haven't bothered to repair/replace it. The grab strap looks fine without the hook.
8. Replace the console storage compartment (armrest) lid hinge. The first hinge wore out pretty quickly. The replacement is not spring loaded, i.e., it won't stay in the up position, it's just a hinge. So, I have to take a little extra care closing the compartment, or else the lid slams down. I'm not happy with the replacement, but it's minor.
Good luck! I smile every time I get in my car. I wish I could afford another one right now. Keep us informed of your life with the princess Aurora.
Ken
I was interested in finding out of the 01+ floormats will fit my 95. The new ones have the Aurora badge on them, and I can get one for probably a lot cheaper then $75+ for custom ones.
I not to worried on them being an exact fit since I can get them so cheap and mine doesnt have ANY mats currently.
Thanks
Shawn
Go to ebay home page........search box, type... flag aurora ....and press go you should find it listed with a bunch of other flags but it is there.
R
--Robert
(who is avoiding buying any more Aurora stuff on eBay - actually, there's very little new that I don't already have :-)
He did purchase an extended warranty to 5years (Canada we don't have the 5yr warranty on olds).
One day I had to listen to the crew tell me that everything from a 1970's Eldorado to a 1999 Maxima will dust my "slow" Aurora.
In response to this Aurora bashing I printed out the picture of the Aurora beating the Hemi at the start. NO EFFECT! (they saw it was bracket racing and never read the stuff about the other race)
I then printed out the picture of the Aurora engine in the Indy Car. That had them on the ropes. However, they still tried to put the Aurora down when I said it won in 1997. Their response "1997, look how long ago that was."
I just turned to them and said in a quiet voice: "Yeah, what year did you win?" THAT SHUT THEM UP!
No more talk of slow Auroras. However, now they want to race me.
Personally, at 40 years old, I have no real reason to race this guy. It would be an interesting race. The race would be from a 40 mph start and go for 2 miles. I already conceded to him that he would take me off the line in a 1/4 mile race. So that is how we got to the 40mph start for 2 miles. Any of you guys out there with the Corsa and throtlebody mods want to take him on?
P.S. Where would you be able to race for 2 miles? You'd most likely hit the speed limiter doing that.
Henry - you really have to just do the throttle body and exhaust (I hope you at least have a K&N). The mods would be transferable to that 99 you get too. Oh wait, the TB is different for the 95. Oh well.
The other cool thing last night was that it was fairly still out. So sitting at lights I got to see those two wisps of steam drift up from both sides of the car... Man, I love dual-exhausts in the winter. And accelerating away from the lights I could see those two trails left behind in my rearview. I envy those people behind me because they got to see the tips in action. And soon I'll be envying them because they'll get to hear those straight-through mufflers in action...
I love my car...