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Comments
-Brian
I have tried to correct them with my Porter Cable, but no luck...this would explain some things. When I first noticed them, I thought my toweling method had been causing them...but that's not it. I'll try to get a picture tonight or tomorrow, have to wait for the light to be right...plus I just waxed the car, so they don't show up very well.
-Brian
Been lurking for awhile and thought that it was time that I checked in.
I have another interesting tidbit to share that I discovered about how to tell the 2001-2003 Auroras apart when your inside the car.
I noticed this on my 2003 Collector's Edition Aurora and other regular 2003 Auroras on the Olds dealer lot when I was buying my car. All 2001-2002 Auroras that have the BOSE CD/Cassette sound system had the BOSE moniker on the cassette tape door from the pictures and video clips that I have seen. All 2003 Auroras that have the BOSE CD/Cassette system, as I have, have the BOSE moniker now just under the digital clock and radio frequency display on the right lower side of the radio display face plate.
Does anyone know why Oldsmobile changed this location for the 2003 model year? My own guess is that the BOSE moniker could now be seen at all times and would not be hidden when the cassette player is being used. Also, it looks and matches the way they have been doing it for years on the Cadillacs with BOSE. Just thought that this way very interesting and another Aurora particular to add to the list.
I am still loving my Final 500. I finally got my Collector's Appreciation package in early August and found out that my car is #55 out of the 500. That is very cool! My plan is to try to keep this car forever and put no more than around 200 miles on it for its entire life. I want to keep it in collectible condition and status, as I hope that they will be very valuable 20+ years from now.
I currently have the car at my local GMC dealer (used to sell Oldsmobiles, but stopped selling them in 2001) for many minor flaws the car had from the factory to be fixed. The car has about 114 miles on it right now.
Let me know what you all think about this car having any chance of being a true collectible in the future and your suggestions how to properly store the car as such. I currently store it in a storage unit.
Thanks!
Bryant Tarvin
For one, that's cool about the Bose logo. I thought the tape door was a dumb place to put it. It isn't visible at all, even without a tape in (unless you are about 4' tall, or tend to rest your head on the center console).
I don't think that a Collector's Edition Aurora will really be a super valuable car 20 years from now. For example, look at the Collector's Edition Corvette from 1982. The last of the Stingrays, and one of the first Corvettes to use fuel injection since about 20 years prior. That's 21 years old, and while worth more than a regular 1982, they aren't particularly expensive. What they are though, is enjoyable and fun to drive. As is your Aurora. By only putting 200 miles on a car that already has 114, you are only cheating yourself out of the enjoyment of an incredible machine. The car will probably age better being driven than it would being parked.
Sure, don't drive it to the store, or keep it out of the rain if you want. Put some 3M film on the front to keep the paint perfect from chips if you want. Only drive it places you know you can park it from harm if you want. Only drive it to work on beautiful days when you don't have a lot of work to do and can enjoy it if you want.
But please, please, drive that thing. Drive it on winding backcountry roads. Drive it on scenic hilly highways. Take a two week vacation and drive it across the country. Drive it on a cool fall day with the windows down, colored leaves whipping above the sunroof. Drive it on a tree-lined road on a warm evening as the sun is just beginning to set. Crack that throttle open and hear that beautiful roar. Drive it around town so everyone can see what amazing cars Oldsmobile built throughout its lifetime. That's what it was made to do...
And take a lot of pictures along the way!
Just my two cents.
Many of us are not that lucky to own or in reality don't have the money to spend on a Final 500 Aurora, but if you have one, drive it and enjoy the beautiful machine, those type of cars only come one in a life time, god forbid and some thing happens were you won't be able to drive for the rest of your life and then what, you never got a chance to feel the car out there.
Bryan, I'm happy for you and your Final 500 Aurora, number 55, did I mention that's my lucky number by the way.
Well have fun, and be safe.
Peace.
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
BTW..he has a new 4.6 in his garage that he has for sale. I guess he taught a class for GM that had to do with the Northstar...well, they used the complete engine in the class for demonstration and just gave it to him when they were done(!!). He is trying to convince me to buy it so we can put it in the Aurora. I'll have to take some pictures of it sitting in his garage some time...quite a sight!
Of course, there is the 2005 STS redesign coming up -- maybe that will have a supercharger.
Jim
Any of you other "old timers" remember the posting I am referencing?
Henri
I'll also have to ask him if it is the 275hp or 300hp version of the engine. I should have been over there last summer with the camera...when he and my brother rebuilt his Northstar, that would have been fun to watch!
The 4.6 sits higher under the hood then the 4.0. That is why if you park a caddie and an Aurora side by side the 4.6 looks bigger than the 4.0 (you are seeing more of the engine).
By "packaged", I mean that the attachment points could be quite different, so putting a caddy engine in an Aurora may be more trouble than it's worth.
My 98 Classic has been giving me this error more and more often as of late. The car will simply not turn over and afte the DIC initializes, the message "Clean key and wait 3 Mins" displays on it.
I have tried gently cleaing the Pass Key with a soft eraser (old computer tech trick for cleaning contacts). I have switched from my primary iginition key to my spare and the problem continues. It has not been only mildly aggravating so far, but I don't want to end up stranded due to a computer error. Perhaps I need to get some pipe cleaners and try to clean out the ignition on the column itself. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Otherwise the car is running great. Past two years since I picked it up and I still love the thing. One of GMs bests line ever produced IMO.
You can also use the Advanced Search (link below the keyword search). The search features here have been enhanced tremendously and are extremely helpful now.
DETROIT - Cadillac today announced pricing for its all-new 2004 CTS-V high-performance luxury sedan. The CTS-V will arrive in dealerships beginning in January priced at $49,995, including destination and delivery.
CTS-V is the first in the new V-Series line of Cadillac luxury performance vehicles and features a 400 horsepower 5.7-liter V8, six-speed manual transmission, large Brembo performance brakes at all four corners, 18-inch wheels and tires, retuned shock absorbers and a host of interior and exterior styling refinements.
Like the original CTS, CTS-V was refined and validated at Germany's famed Nurburgring to meet the expectations of the world's most avid driving enthusiasts.
"V-Series will take Cadillac's performance credibility to an entirely new level," said Jay Spenchian, Cadillac V-Series marketing director. "As the first in a series of high-performance luxury vehicles, CTS-V proves we are serious about winning over a new generation of luxury performance car enthusiasts."
About all the import enthusiasts can do is regurgitate the same-ol (subjective/imaginary)fit/finish, "cheap" plastic and maybe the jab at the pushrod engine when this thing hits the street. It's only natural I guess when a car like this delivers the same performance and respectable luxury for 10k to 30+k less.
I'm excited about the GTO, but admit that someday I might want a CTS-V. I'd go the slightly used route though. I'm guessing that a used CTS-V would not likely be abused.
I realize the GTO isn't under $25K, but it's only $33K. A guy I work with paid more than that for a used 350Z (he paid more than I did for my brand-new, ordered-just-for-me Aurora)...
kirstie_h
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MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Henri
Personally, this is the #1 thing I'm waiting for once my car is paid off next April (as long as Corsa will still offer the STS system). I already know a good exhaust shop (my co-worker used them to put FlowMasters on his '69 Firebird convertible). I look at the pictures of Greg's Aurora, which mine is a clone of (black '98, though I have the stock chrome wheels), and have lust...
--Robert
who should really get back to work :-)
Is there a copy of it anywhere?
I know that Zinc sold his Aurora Classic a while back and was not going to continue to develop the site. But it was such a great repository of information.
I, for one, will miss it. ;-(
Steve
1996 Aurora
79,200 miles
Autobahn
Black / Black
Borbet Wheels / Bridgestone Turanza LHS Tires
KYB Struts
Unfortunately, the PDF is about 50 MB in size - a little large to email... maybe I'll post it to my web site. If I do, I'll post the URL here...
--Robert
You should've talked to Taylor before he got rid of his car. Maybe you can still salvage it from him if they didn't sell the car yet. A few bucks for the old one to get re-installed, a few bucks to ship, and a few bucks for his time and I bet you could do it under $1000...
http://members.fortunecity.com/zincster/
I still have it bookmarked in my browser and visit it from time to time to get pictures and various info. Actually, I was just on there a day or two ago to get that wallpaper he had posted.
-Brian
I would really like to restore the suspension on my 1996 Aurora which is about to hit 80,000 miles.
I recently installed KYB struts in the front.
I am about to install Bridgestone Turanza's LH-S with a forced-wheel balance and 4 wheel alignment.
I would like to replace the front, lower control arm bushings at this time.
Are Polyurethane Bushings available for the 1996 Aurora?
If yes, could someone share this information.
If there a recommended alternative to Polyurethane?
TIA,
Steve
Henri
And Robert, I did post to Taylor saying I would buy his whole car and use it to put in the 4.6L (try anyway) but he never responded and sold the car.
I was reminded by my "friend" that I had already blown a few thousand on the 84 Riv. Therefore, I might want to cool my jets on the Aurora since the Classic is out of warranty and known for high repair costs.
I wish I could show you guys my toy Riviera, but I do not know how to post pictures to this board.
Henri
As for the expensive stuff - well, just wait and get one slightly used. Save 5 figures in $$, and look hard for a nice one. It's amazing, but there are a lot of people that buy something and then change their mind of whatever for something else. These people are great. They can pay for up to half of your new car.
Anybody getting a Corsa exhaust for the classic, just let me know and I'll e-mail you pictures and a description of what the guys did to make it work on my 98. The only thing I'd do different is have the connection between the converter and the resonator welded. I'm going back to have this done. It's loose now. No biggie, it still sounds the same and performs the same, and isn't going anywhere but I want it solid.
Make sure you find a shop that can weld 304 stainless steel.
Also - keep in mind that it's difficult to get the tips just right. Mine are exactly the same height from the floor or the bumper, but they are angled just a tad different (in the vertical axis) which makes one seem "low". If you are exactly behind it at the right height, and look for it, you can tell. But it's very minor. It's tough to get it just right as they do have to make some adjustments to make it fit the Aurora - just so you know.
The ride is now much firmer AND the high speed vibration (between 72 and 75 MPH) is much MORE noticeable.
I will be replacing my Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce (after 40,000 miles) with Bridgestone Turanza's LH-S. According to my research and discussion with my tire dealer, the Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce have a rather stiff side wall which results in a somewhat stiff ride.
I chose the Bridgestone Turanza LH-S tires because they are supposed to be a much smoother riding tire than the Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce's.
http://www.tirerack.com/survey/SurveyComments.jsp?additionalComme- - - nts=y&commentStatus=P&tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=- - - Turanza+LS-H
The LH-S's will be mounted on Borbet Type E wheels that I have had for the past four years.
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?changeColo- - - r=Choose+Color&filterSize=16&filterFinish=All&filterS- - - pecial=Pricing&autoMake=Oldsmobile&autoModel=Aurora&a- - - utoYear=1996
The tires and wheels will be "forced balance" of on a Hunter GSP9700 machine:
http://128.242.141.111/pub/features/intro.cfm
Based on information in this forum and at the Aurora and Cadilac forums at GMForums.com, it appears that the forced balance of the wheels and tires is the most likely fix for the high speed vibration problem on these cars.
Here is how you can find a local shop that has a Hunter GSP9700 that can do a forced four wheel balance.
http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Since I have made the investment to improve the ride of my Aurora, this seemed to be an appropriate and logical time to renew/replace the bushings in the the suspension. After all, my Aurora is (7) years old (mfg. date April 1996) and has approximately 79,500 miles.
This is the reason for my interest in polyurethane bushings for the suspension on my Aurora.
http://discussions.gmforums.com/showthread.php?t=47005
I welcome your thoughts and comments on this topic.
Steve
2001 V6 - There's a keyhole in the front passenger door handle.
2003 - There is not a keyhole in the front passenger door handle.
What about the other New Classics?
Ken
New Classics? Don't you mean new Aurora's vs. classic Aurora's?
2001 V6 keyhole
2001 V8 ?
2002 V6 ?
2002 V8 no keyhole
Speaking of Classic styling, I finally parked my 84 Riviera along side the Aurora. I believe that the Riv is actually longer than the Aurora! I then parked the Riv along side my neighbor's Saden deville and they were the same overall length.
WOW these cars are long.
(No wonder I can never find a parking space in NYC.)
Henri
2001 V6: keyhole, trunk lid piece, steel pipes
2001 V8: ?, solid trunk, steel pipes
2002 V6: ?, trunk lid piece, stainless pipes
2002 V8: no keyhole, solid trunk, stainless pipes
2003: no keyhole, trunk lid piece, stainless pipes
Have I got that right?
Oh, yeah, on the "New Classic" - I just call it that as a kind of a joke to myself because it reminds me of "New Coke" vs. "Classic Coke". Production of New Coke didn't last very long, either, just like the new Aurora.
If the tire or rim is 100% - no "high spots" then of course it won't matter where the tire is mounted on the rim. The high spot in one cannot be positioned with a corresponding low spot.
Personally I think it was a Cadillac conspiracy??? any takers on that theory?
The 1992 Seville was planned for a later introduction on the Aurora platform, but Cadillac realized that the Seville was in trouble and needed redone sooner than the Aurora platform could be finished. This also explains why the northstar V8 was not available till a year later. The entire Cadillac line was upgraded to the 92 Seville body in 94. The Aurora platform was put into production a few months later, but they were not ready for the 94 model year.
b) they contemplated renaming Oldsmobile to Aurora. The stylized "A" logo almost became the Olds division logo. Frankly, I wish they'd done that - would have been a clean break from the past. The "traditional" Oldsmobile buyer wanted a bench seat, and was unhappy with the model lineup in 2000.
c) they were going after the "import" crowd with the Aurora/Intrigue/Alero. Yet, wasn't Saturn supposed to do that? I still think the styling between the Aurora and the first-generation Saturns was complementary. I would have tried to combine the divisions - Saturn has just recently got an SUV, and will soon get a minivan, revamped mid-size car (the L-series still isn't selling), etc. Think of what they'd have had if they had the Oldsmobile product in 1998/1999.
d) the dealer network. Frankly, it sucked, especially service. This is another place where "Saturnizing" the brand might have saved it. I know John Rock (ex-Olds head) wanted to go fixed, non-negotiated pricing on the whole Olds line, but the dealer body revolted. Disgusted, Rock eventually walked away from Olds and retired.
e) the Aurora did have a number of lemons. Likewise, the Intrigue did have a number of build issues. UAW-GM relations were in the pits in the late 90's, and this led to some of those things. Had the Aurora been built somewhere other than Lake Orion, MI or the Intrigue built somewhere other than Fairfax, KS, it would have certainly helped.
Someday there will be books written (if they aren't being worked on already) about the colossal mistakes GM made with marketing the Oldsmobile brand since 1989 or so (the original date of the "not your father's Oldsmobile" tagline).
Bottom line is, as someone who buys only GM cars (I'm not pro-union or Buy American, but I have relatives who are autoworkers, and I want to keep them employed/insured), the death of Olds means the demise of the most attractive car lineup (IMHO) that GM offers. Caddy is coming on, but one size ($$$) does not fit all.
*sigh*
--Robert
I really dont think there is a more passionate group out there than us Aurorians.
"Don't Tread on Us"