Oldsmobile Aurora

autobahn95

everyone, I've finally done it!
after almost 2 weeks of reading every single message from the Aurora, Aurora2, and now the Aurora3 message boards, I am finally logging in to add my two cents and hopefully some useful info to the board.
I have to say that I really enjoyed what everyone has to say about the Auroras, either good or bad.
I bought a black/black Aurora back in October and from that day on, it has been an extreme pleasure to drive.
I do have a slight problem I'm working on at the moment. when I got the car, there were no key fobs for the remote locks and trunk. I had thought it was an option until yesterday. I made a visit to a local Olds dealership just voluntarily, where they informed me that all Auroras came with 2 remotes from the factory. of course they had one in stock, and for 80 dollars i could own it and then have pay another $30 if i wanted them to program it so it actually worked.
since the cars came with two key chain fobs, i was wondering if anyone out there would be willing to sell me one that isn't of any use to them? or even information on how to get one that is alot cheaper than $80.00 would be very helpful.
Also, does anyone know what there is to programming the remote to match the car?
thank you

rocket3_50

Greetings autobahn, and others. I'm a first time poster, too. Silver V-6, 52 yrs. Thanks for all the info you've all shared. It helped me purchase my new Aurora (800 miles)earlier this month. What a treat! My first car for me, rather than for the family.

I have a question for anyone with experience. I want to keep the bugs out of the front paint. Has anyone learned anything special about buying a mask or bra for the Aurora? I would appreciate any personal experiences or advice.

Thanks,
rocket3_50

zinc1

autobahn - The FOB only cost me $60, programming was free. Me thinkst you were gouged. Look around for another dealer.

rocket_50 - I bought the Saddleman LeBra last year. Left it on for about a month and, when I removed it, the paint was 'clouded'. Cost: $100 for a colorsand treatment. Saddleman says not to put the bra on a car that's been painted, I bought mine pre-owned, so that might be it.

Henry - Thanks for the Classic site tribute. Looks like the Aurora community is slowly finding its own.

autobahn95

ZINC-thanks for the tip. i will try another Olds dealer and see what they have to say. i've been 5 months so far without the remote luxury, so i can be patient and find the best deal.

tpken

Great Screen Name! and Congrats on that beautiful 2001 Aurora. Best wishes for a great driving and ownership experience.

I really relate to that Rocket 350 - reminds me of the 74 Cutlass I had during college - my first new car - a turquise coupe with white vinyl interior - a looker in its day!

Another

Ken

etharmon

I've never been able to do more than chrip the tires on my father's 95. But again, I've never really pushed it extremely hard. I guess if I turned off the traction control, put in in nuetral and revved it up and then popped in gear I might be able to peal out but I'd hate to explain to my dad that he needs a new transmission:)

tpken, if only I lived closer I would love to come to the gathering. I'd bring my 98 Intrigue and have my father come with his classic Aurora and might even try to get my brother to bring his 99 Alero. Unfortunately, TN is more than just a morning drive away.

Henry

http://popularmechanics.com/popmech/auto3/0012AUNCBM.html

Henry

An over zealous towing company had my car on a flatbed because . . . . . .? (read - I have no f-ing idea why).

I came out the bank when I saw them and they put the car back without demanding payment. It helped that I had two folks from the bank telling them to put the car back.

MY CLASSIC being draged untoa flatbed! &)&#$ $&()&#

Anyway, does anybody know if draging the car would have caused any damamge? I was there when he off loaded it to make sure he did not tear off the infamous black plastic strip at the front of the car.

Lady Aurora had never been on the hook until today. Well I guess I should feel good cause I am not posting pictures of the damage done to my 2K1.

Life goes on.

(Got that off my chest, I feel better now.)

zinc1

Henry - The article you posted wasn't pleasant to read.

I can't believe they didn't give you a reason why they were taking your car. Maybe theft?

Speaking of towing, between the heater not working and the squeaking and whining around the A/C compressor, it's about that time again...

matrixfrog

Something I just found out that maybe you already know; The Shelby Series 1has the aurora 4.0 in it. I did not know any of this until I bought the model last night and realized the were aurora decals in the kit. I was like woa. It is virtually the same engine with different cams and other things. I thought that was pretty cool. I also found a hotwheel aurora. I also thought that was cool.

I watched a story on Dateline (I think) about how some towing companys just drive around and look for cars to tow and do that. Mostly it is cars that park for 5 mintues in a hour parking and they will just tow em away.

Well it is a nice day here in Michigan and Im sure I'll be out driving around in classic. Hope your day was as nice as mine and happy driving...

rocket3_50

Zinc1. I think I'll still look for a bra, since I only plan to use it on trips, not daily driving. I'm loving the Aurora. In two weeks I've washed it three times, and washed out the nose bugs another three times. Think I'm obsessing??? More on exterior finish care - - I've read a little about washing and waxing, but I haven't seen anyone take note of what seems to me to be the obvious problem at this time of year. Namely, if you're in a heavy pollen area, this is a really bad time to be polishing or waxing your car. In Charlotte right now, you can't keep a car clean long enough to be sure you won't be grinding those little hard grains of pollen into the finish. Contrary opinions?

tpken - - thanks for the memories of the '74 Cutlass. I too, had a 350 in college. A '71 sedan with the 350 cubic inch engine (that's 5.7 litres today.) Mine was gold with probably the same white vinyl interior as yours. GM had a pretty, gold metallic color for several years back then, and to my eye it's still the color I think of first when I dream about a paint job. I kept my Rocket 350 until the hard vinyl interior parts began degrading into powder. I had to get rid of it then, for $400. I wish now that I had kept it, but it needed costly work, and the $400 was very welcome at the time.

rocket3_50

autobahn95

at 22 years old, am i the youngest one here to own an Aurora ?????

Henry

You would have to scroll back to when he checked in to confirm. Or, wait till he confirms/denies what I have said.

ROCKET3_50 -- No one in this forum can say you are obsessing over an Aurora. People in glass houses . . . . <:^)

ssti

Bought a 1995 Aurora, 76,000K, loved it, worshipped it, only car I ever owned w/air conditioning and a CD player....

Bought 2-year warranty, which included coverage for engine mounts, three of which are now broken. Insurance company (WarranTech or some such company), after admitting parts needed repair, now says they will only pay for $40 CV boot repair, because the rest is due to "pre-existing condition". I drove car less than 1K, shall I injure someone? What a bunch of crap.

matrixfrog

Yes, I'm 18.

I wash my car at least 3 times a week and now that it is nice weather over here I've been waxing every chance I get. I usually use Meguiars or Eagle One Wet Wax w/Tephlon. The Eagle One fills the every so tiny chips on the hood and makes that white and very noticble so I stopped using it. I didnt think there was a flaw on my car until I used that wax. It brings out everything. To the dream part-

Last night after working on model Shelby Series 1I fell fast asleep. While I was sleeping I dreamed I made the engine modifications that the Shelby had made to its aurora v8 and some of my own. Special intake cams, revised engine calibration, low restriction exhaust, high compression pistons and rods, MSD Ignition, full metal jacket plug wire, and the almighty turbo. This put my aurora up to around 420hp. Then I installed this hood scoop that looks like something off the firehawk. I had the fastest aurora on earth that would eat mustangs and camaros for dinner. But to my dismay when I woke up it was all just a dream. If I had the money, I'd do it.

pat

Pardon the interruption - I want to explain the name change of this discussion.

Since we have moved to our new platform, we no longer have the requirement to stop and restart discussions after the numbers of posts exceed a certain limit. Since this discussion can continue as long as anyone has anything to say about the Aurora, there is no longer a need for the "3" that has been included in the discussion name. Down the road, that could confuse our newer members so I have removed it.

I've altered the name slightly of the original Aurora discussion in the Archives to differentiate it from this active one.

Please continue...

Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards

matrixfrog

Woa, look what I found

Ok so it's not real. I made with photoshop but I thought it was nice to see something different.

matrixfrog

I appologize for the the big photo I didnt know it was going to be so big. sorry!

mordecai24

Greetings All...

Well I tried... I worked my little fingers to the bone for the past week trying to get all the "Honey Do" chores done so I could go Sunday... But alas.... Nuts... Grrr... Grumble Grumble...

The last and final project of the weekend will be a Doozie...

The tools required:

1. Chain Saw...
2. Extension Ladder...
3. 2 of my bestest Redneck Friends (those of strong body and weak mind)...
4. Enough rope to tie up 2 large tree limbs...
5. 1 Case really cheap beer... (alcohol and chain saws, gotta do what ya gotta do)...

Tree in back yard is in need of some serious trimming... Trimming, thats a quaint little word I use for some major limb removal... Any one need some firewood...

If I can get the job done on Saturday I will still be there, but with my experience tells me that Redneck Friends don't come out on Saturdays...

Mordecai

hardesty

This article seems to give lower performance in almost every category for all of the cars than other write-ups I have seen. My biggest beef, however, like every other article on the 2K1 Aurora 4.0 (even Edmunds recent road test) this one includes an early production car (built prior to July 2000). OK, I don't like it when they pick on my baby, but you would think they would compare cars from the same "real" model year (early 2001 Auroras are realy late 2000 cars). Maybe I just got a car that was babied at the factory for some reason, but the fit and finish are perfect, even after 5500 miles. The performance is awesome, and the handling superb and very predictable. I live in the mountains, so every road is twisty and many have reverse banked turns. This car is a pleasure to drive and the only squeaks or rattles that I have ever found have been things like my keys, my cell phone, or some extra CDs in the console.

As for the notion (in the PM article) that the 4.0 is a detuned 4.6, I don't think that a shorter stroke qualifies as detuning. After all, the 275hp 4.6 is actually a hotter motor that the 300hp version, it is just always mated to a different final drive ratio. The 275hp motor outperforms the 300hp version until around 4000 RPMs.

Henry

I don't think it is a shorter stroke. It is just a smaller bore.

I think we can all agree that the Aurora is not as big of a BORE as the Caddie.

matrixfrog

Did anyone like my picture I guess not.

tpken

Gee I sure hope you get those tree limbs down in the appropriate space - and without injury to any other limbs if you know what I mean!

A man's got to do what a man's got to do so if you don't make it you will be missed but we'll save a space next to Henry in case you do finish up on Saturday.

Ken

tpken

Hey I thought it was cool! Love that interior too - you Aurorians sure do sit in the lap of luxury there in that great cockpit style cabin.

Ken

zinc1

This article from the BBC, about GM being down 88% in profits as compared to last year, shows a Classic pic at the top. They weren't selling Classics last year, or this. I wonder if there's some message implied - or maybe the BBC doesn't know...

Matrixfrog - Yeah, I have that pic somewhere (I suck with Photoshop, I like PSP7). Here's a real modified Classic.

hardesty

Sorry, you're right. For 2001 the 4.6 engines are BxS of 3.66x3.31 and the 4.0 is 3.43x3.31. I goobered the numbers in my head. The point I wanted to make is that the Aurora V8 is tuned like the 275hp 4.6, but uses the final drive of 3.71 like the 300hp 4.6. The best combo for acceleration would be the one GM does not make, the 275hp Northstar with the 3.71 final drive. Maybe when the time comes (a long time from now) to get a new drive train, I will go to Cadillac and tell them I need a new motor for my 2001 SLS and a new transaxle for my 2001 STS. BTW some sites list the 4.0 as having slightly higher compression (10.3 vs. 10.0) than the 4.6, don't know if it's true, even GM can't seem to get all of the specs right all of the time.

Hey! it's April 20th and snow is falling at 2500' in Northern California. Let's go try that PCS again!

b4z

I don't like hoodscoops. Especially on sedans.
I have actually seen people driving auroras with big wings on the trunk. Yuck.

joeolds

I actually though it looked kind of cool. Of coarse I also like those gaudy ram air hoods on my 71 442 and vista cruiser. I think for ram air to be functional on an Aurora it would have to come in much lower than your picture depicts.

Henry

I thought the picture was real until you admitted to your artistic creation. I do not know if I would go for a hood scoop, but I can see where a younger crowd could go for it. As a 39 year old (birthday was 4/14) Esq. & CPA I do not think I could go for modifing my Classic in such a manner.

However, if your talents can create a convertible Classic shown with the top down. PLEASE BRING IT ON!

Henri <--- How my name is actually spelled.

arcoates

I also hate it when the auto mags pick on pre-production auroras. I have had not one squeak in mine, or parts falling off. Fit and finish is great, for a change in a GM car. I would take an Aurora over a Lexus ES, Acura TL or Infiniti I30 anyday.~ A.R.

Henry

I wnet to the auto show today. Much to my surprise Olds was there with CONCEPT CARS! Who is GM kidding? If you are going to REDRUM Olds, then do it. (How is that for an obscure reference??)

There was one concept car that looked interesting and it was an Olds. You could only tell by the insignia on the car.

The show was good with more concepts this year than last. The new Escalade was there as was the Chevy version. Both SUV/pick-ups looked great.
I have to admit that the SURPRISE of the show came from Hyunda. They displayed a car that was about the size and looks of an S500.

Everybody that saw it, including me, said the same thing -- Thats a Hyunda?

The Hyunda was no ICBM. It was shaped more like a Q45.

zinc1

The L.A. show had the same. I think dcc, or someone, had the same impression you had regarding the Hyundais at the Dallas show. I don't know why the Oldsmobile concept is being dragged around to the shows unless maybe people like the car. Naw, GM knows nobody wants an Olds...

Anyway, been working on the Classic site. Still trying to get some kinks out, but there are a few new pics and such...

tlc125

All work and no play makes Henry a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Henry a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Henry a dull boy.
Yeah, I guess i picked up on the reference, LOL!

matrixfrog

I'll give the Aurora convertable a shot. It probably wont look to great though. I dont think a real aurora convertable could ever be made could it? It would essentially twist in half around a corner without some serious frame re-enfourcement.

Henry

Would have been nice to have more Auroras at the meet at the Rockaway Mall in N.J.

Turn out at the meet was not great but the five of us had a good time comparing cars and talking.

AN INVITATION:
I had gone to a Porsche club track that morning. Apparently for $30.00 you get 8 runs on the track they set up in the Meadowlands parking lot. They are timed runs and appear to emphasize handling over high end power. ((IF you do not have a good 0-60 time the track is not your best friend.))

I was going to take my Classic on the track, but I got there too late to sign up. I would also like to have a few more sedans there with me doing the track. ((HINT)) The next time they set up the track will be May 3rd.

I would like to know if any one would be interested in coming to the next meet?? Put the car through its paces. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A PORSCHE TO DO THE DEW!

Come on guys/gals come and back me up! Let's show them that an American sports sedan (there were BMWs) can keep its time below 60 seconds.

Henry

Henry

The dates for the times track runs are:

5/6
5/20
6/10
7/15
8/12
9/8
10/13

There is no May 3rd date as originally posted.

matrixfrog

Here's the convertable. Doesnt look quite right but it's the best I can do.

img src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1548204&a=11739935&p=47114697"

matrixfrog

Let me try that again.

img src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1548204&a=11739935&p=47114697"

matrixfrog

Well I guess somethings not working right(or Im not) so just cut and paste to see it.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1548204&a=11739935&p=47114697

zinc1

You may have seen this UPI story last year, but it's good enough to post again. Seems an amorous male moose mistook a 1998 Aurora for a female moose. (I thought those 98s looked funny)

tpken

Twin 1995s belong to Henry (right) and his mechanic, Jerry

tpken

Henry's pride and joy

tpken

Jerry (Mr Goodwrench) techs at the nearby Olds, GMC and now Pontiac dealership. He is a wealth of infomation about Auroras. Note the pinstriping - actually twin painted lines.

tpken

tpken

If anyone is interested in the Bonneville pics, please drop by the Bonneville Owners Club and check them out in the Bonneville Picture Gallery.

Best wishes to all Aurorians

Ken

arcoates

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Even if I did live in the area, I would've felt a bit overwhelmed driving in in 2K1, surrounded by classics.

bdreggors

Beautiful Aurora, Henry. That color seems to be the most prevelent one, judging from the ones I've seen.

mordecai24

Greetings One And All...

I am sorry that I could not make it to the meet, but the pictures are great...

Henry... The look on your face says "Proud Papa"... But I bet it could turn to "Get Away From My Girl" in a heart beat... We are all so protective of our children...

I need to get some film for my camera and post of few of my second born... Happily singing "Welcome to the Machine"...

Mordecai

mordecai24

Greetings Y'All...

Well this evening I decided to go out and do some under the hood cleaning... Got my rags out... Bottle of Armor All... Windex just in case there was some need... I was primed and ready for some cleaning action...

I even so far as brought out a can of flat Coke to clean the battery terminals... (As you can tell I have done this many times before)... And what should be the first thing to catch my eye you ask... I can hear you asking... (Snicker snicker)... No BATTERY!!! All the times I opened the hood up to look at a lot of stuff I could not recognize at first glance, I never noticed there Ain't No Battery...

Three things came to mind:

1. This car is so advanced that you don't need a battery to start her...
2. The car is actually nuclear and the rotten gas mileage is just an evil joke Olds is playing on us...
3. Or somewhere in that owners manual is a chapter on where the hell the battery is...

So I had to do the most un-masculine and un-American thing in the world, I had to read the instructions... AAaaaak..... They hid the battery under the rear seat, great concept... Give me a set of jumper cables and some wire mesh and I will invite my ex-mother in law out for a drive in the country... Paybacks are hell...

This Has Been Another Episode In The Continuing Saga Of Mordecai And His Aurora...

Mordecai

Henry

TPKEN - Thanks for the pictures! It was GREAT meeting you and talking with the few and the proud that came by.

HEY NEO! - Thanks for the convertible aROARa picture. I guess you would need to find a pic where the car had the windows rolled down in order to make it look right. Thanks for the effort. Judging from your pic, the car would look too weird as a convertible (body is too long).

ARCOATES - I wish you could have been there. It would have been great to have a 2k1 there. Talk about a Kodak moment! A picture of a 2K1 flanked by 2 Classics (i.e. the proud parents).

BDREGGORS - Yes, my color seemed to have been the colour of choice. I still think the Classic looks best in the dark purple.

MORDECAI24 - The Manual? What's next, asking directions?