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Comments
As far as the "great V8", it was slow compared to the other cars in it's class. 8.5-9.0 second times is nothing to scream about. The V8 may sound great, but if it isn't up to the job of actually moving the car, then you're just wasting gas!
Speaking of weight- the car had excessive body roll, and bobbing and weaving. It was not a true "drivers" car- just a wannabe. The car may have been a break through in styling because at the time everything looked the same, but it was way over the top.
Now the 2001 Aurora is more on track with Olds original mission. It is about the best handling FWD car out there. Hardly any body roll, it settles down over the bumps, doesn't float, and has a strong, advanced chassis under that great sheetmetal.
I don't know how you can compare the new aurora to a taurus. The back ends look nothing a like. The back end of the aurora makes a bold statement.
The front end looks powerful and purpeseful. The old front end was way to low, squished and long. The new one is clean, and short. From the side, the car looks elegant and classy. The great character line running down the middle. It carries the old design into the new (if you like that).
We have the 3.5, and it is just as quick as the 4.0, with better gas mileage, better weight distrubution (therefore better handling), and a much lower price, for the same amount of equipment.
What I am trying to say is that everyone hates the new aurora because it doesn't look like the old. Well in my opinion that is a great thing. Kudos to Olds for wising up. Olds is being killed because the old aurora wasn't selling well. If they had've brought this design to the market a year ago, it would've saved them.
Long live the 2nd generation aurora!!!
arcoates....All I have to say to you is look at the base price of 2k1 vs a classic and you should realize that the classic is much more car. We looked at 2k1 cars before we bought our 98, and to me it looks like an over loaded intrigue. Also you can throw all your magazine performance numbers out the window. These guys were testing luxury cars, and have no idea how to coax a minimum et from a car. I drag race for a hobby, and my aurora feels like it should run between a 15.0-15.5 quarter mile. This is pretty quick for a 4000 pound sled. I'll get some real numbers next summer.
I still say that the original was way over the top, and the new one is the better design.
On the subject of advertising- I admit that Olds did not promote it's cars a lot- but the ad campaign itself was fantastic. It took from the Cadillac school of ads- very classy. Emphasising the cars prestige, performance, and good looks. It also makes me compare it to the BMW commercials- the target audience for the new aurora.
It's just too bad that Olds was axed- it's model line up was the best, next to cadillac, that GM had. All the cars were very nicely styled. I would axe Pontiac or Buick before Olds. Pontiac is so tacky, and Buick caters to the people of West Palm and Miami. All I know is that I own a classic car now- and not in the sense of a great, groundbreaking vehicle, but the last of a dying breed. Long live Olds!
Ken
Also, I am very interested in lots of performance mods. I'm wondering if we can share some ideas...
Spikepc - what year is your Aurora?
I put P245/45ZR18 tires all the way around on my car. Since adding the larger sway bars, I no longer have any clearance issues at all. But...I haven't found a way to lower the car yet.
Speaking of lowering, do you happen to know if the Eibach kit will also fit the 2000 Bonneville?
Regarding brake rotors, the SSEi comes stock with 12" up front, and 11" in the back. Do you how that compares with the Aurora? And do you know if the KVR parts would also fit the SSEi?
If our platforms are the same, I would be very interested in getting on the serious brake rework group purchase list.
Anyways, here's a list of my mods...
Scott A. Cook, 2000 Dark Bronzemist Metallic SSEi, 18 x 8" Konig Villain wheels, P255/45ZR18 Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 tires, 1.25"(32mm.) Saner front and 1"(25mm.) rear sway bars, polyurethane front and rear frame mount and end link bushings, Thrasher Cold Air Induction System, 3.25" supercharger pulley, 71.5" Dayco Poly Cog belt, 180 degree thermostat, engine cover removed, DEI aluminized nylon fuel line covers, Jacobs Electronics Ultra Coil Packs and 8.5mm. Energy Core Spark Plug Wires, NGK TR55VX spark plugs (gapped at .065"), The Other Guys headers, crossover wrap, custom 3.0"/2.5" exhaust, catalytic converter removed, DynoMax Ultra-Flo mufflers, Borla twin tips, Motorsports Performance competition transmission pan, G-Tech/Pro performance meter, Valentine One radar/laser detector
zinc-do you still have the "modified" picture of the Bonneville for intense?
etharnon- you are correct- the 95-99 Aurora ran about a 7.6-8.2 0-60...
As far as the old ones go, I have seen two bronzemists on the road, but I live in Canada. Other than the Pearl colour, it's the best one going.
colors, the bronemist that I was talking about was on the classic. 99 was the only year that model had it and it looks very good in that color. I've seen numerous 2001s in that color. Both the Intrigue and Alero are also now available in bronzemist as well as some Cadillac and Buick models. I've seen one 2001 in the new Chesnut color and it looks very good on the Aurora.
Thanks
Ken
Ken
Just curious.
Once again, I am NOT saying that there is something wrong with the 97 suspension. I don't know. I can only speculate that something better came along for the 1998 and 99 model years.
P.S. Good to see so many "kids" on the board. The 2nd generation aROARa owners have a different take on the cars that share the same name.
P.P.S. - I heard that Pontiac is getting the 'roara, Chevy the Alero, and I forget the rest.
The interior is just sooo rich in that Aurora - Cadillac quality without the Cadillac image and price tag.
I wonder if a Pontiac Aurora would include a smokin V-8 high performance model - if not, the SSEi guys are going to be more than just disappointed.
Ken
http://i17.yimg.com/17/8fc7c218/h/2bfa7663/aurora+32.jpg
Ouch!
http://i17.yimg.com/17/8fc7c218/h/ea914d55/Aurora+34.jpg
Looks OK from this angle.
http://i17.yimg.com/17/8fc7c218/h/19f28de3/Aurora+33.jpg
It has to go to the shop!
I just bought the 98 Aurora on Ebay you talked about in post 309. I feel that the my winning bid of 15,490 seems good. I was looking at 300Ms, but just could not find one I could afford. This seemed like it would be a nice car, and the site I checked out gave it good reviews.
How do some of you 98 owners feel about yours?
More importantly, anybody want to buy a 93 Grand Cherokee....got to get rid of it now!
The only hitch will be getting all the buying long distance.
Anyone can check out the auction (closed) at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=553029320
BTW - out of curiosity - had you already seen that car or was it my post that alerted you?
Again - congratulations on finding a superb car.
Ken
I have just recenctly sold my 68 Chevelle on Ebay. It has gone well. Some guy in Canada bought, I live in SOUTH Louisiana. Kinda funny how distances are not as much problem anymore.
I'll keep you all posted.
Brett
I started bidding on the car on Ebay first, then I saw your post this morning doing a little more research on the car.
But remember, they can rebuild it.
They can make it Better
Faster
Stronger
Still no Iced green Sightings.
The bronze mist Classic I saw on the lots of dealerships. I have not seen them on the road.
Henry, I live in a small town, so the the only available rental today is a Ford Taurus (not a bad car, but NOT an Aurora), I'll keep posting on the repairs ...
Condolences to you on that crying shame!
Ken
1997 white with sunroof 47k $15,995 - Crown Olds
1995 black (don't think it has roof) with 58,639 for $9,995 - Elite Olds
1997 pearl white with roof 62,086 miles for $15,595 - Fisher Olds
It is not unusual to get additional money off the advertised price if you are a good negotiator.
I posted this because of our prior discussion of how values change across different markets. I should mention that all of the cars are at delerships in northern New Jersey. I have found that prices are cheaper in the southern part of the state that gave you Whitman as head of the EPA.
Henry
Henry, is it the silvered sage?
Wingnut396, that sounds like an excellent deal. I may seriously look at a 98 or even a 99 Aurora this summer when it comes time to replace my leased Intrigue. I was leaning toward another Intrigue due to the long warranty and good finance deals, but those prices on a late model Aurora are VERY tempting as I do prefer luxury cars.
Ken
Just sprung a leak in the fuel rail assembly in my 95 with 82,000. Parts,labor and taxes $552. Water pumped seized up on me in September, $189.
Henry- My heat went out again, blowing only on passenger side. What actuator got replaced? I see one on passenger side and 3 on driver side?
Hope you have bounced back pretty good from your surgery.
Oh my 95 was built in 5/95 and has garage opener by my sunroof.
Iced Green or Saged Silver seems to be the color that nobody other than me has seen in person. I think it wins the rare award.
I have seen the Bronzed mist Classic. Personally I never liked the color. Made the car look old.
ZINC - We must be over the same hill with Steve Austin.
It is interesting to hear that some folks have had minimal repairs on their 95's and have well over 100K and sometimes 200K on them. While others have had many repairs, I guess i am in the middle, but then again I am only at about 62K on mine. I am still operating on the orgina facory air conditioner and any number of folks have had problems with theirs.
OF INTEREST TO ALL -- I was at a Pontiac dealer in southern Jersey and he had a guy that was clamoring to get a Classic but the dealer could not get one in. The guy had been calling for about 3 months. Another example of market fluctuations. If the propective Auroran were in northern Jersey he would not be having this problem.
The funny thing is that now that the Classic is no longer being made, people seem to be waking up to it. I guess it is the Star Trek of cars. It will become a hit in syndication as opposed to it first run. I have to believe that the engine and the styling is what is doing it. The Y2K1 kids should also benefit from this if they keep their cars.
The thing I have noticed is that those Aurorians who own thier cars have NO intention of selling it (for the most part). As the car moves from leased to ownership, it will probably become hard to get them (kind of like a convertible Riviera).
The Aurora will never be a 57 Corvette or 62 Camaro, or a 442 for that matter (most sedans don't get to that level). But I think it will become a CULT CLASSIC.
(((((( Let's do the time warp again. It's just a step to the right . . . . . )))))
Henry
As far as increased popularity of the classic, perhaps some of it has to do with its newfound affordability. When you can buy a car of this caliber, thats only a few years old, and cost less than 1/2 of the original sticker, its hard to say no. But maybe the Star Trek thing is more accurate. I would prefer to think of it more in terms of people looking for the next Avanti.
Hey! Thats funny! Avanti and Aurora both Start with "A", have six letters, and were supposed to save their respective companies.
Thanks for leads.
The rear end is so unique that today I had a cop that was in his cruser with a car between us say over the loudspeaker. "Hey you in the Aurora, go through the red light I am NOT pulling you over."
Nice to have a car that recognizable from the back. Even nicer to hear the words "I am NOT pulling you over."
NEXT TOPIC THAT WILL probably get more comments then it deserves (Remember the red light??).
Question - When you guys use the windsheild wiper cleaner, does the fluid spray over the top of the car and unto the rear window?
If yes, how did you correct this, or do you just live with it???
For those who asked, the air bags did NOT deploy in my recent accident in my 2K1 AV8 (I'm glad they did not), the speeds were not high enough and the side impact was ahead of the passenger door. The right front tire was ripped open and the wheel damaged, so I will get a new one. I was supposed to get the repair estimate yesterday, but since we have had 18" of snow in the last 24 hours, and more is expected through Monday, I'm not sure when I will know the extent of the damage. I think when it comes home that I will order some additional wood trim to make it feel loved.
I believe i have a new winner for the "Rare Aurora Award." I work at the Buffalo Airport and i saw in a reserved parking lot for airport administration, a '98 Aurora. Why was it rare? This Aurora was Midnight Blue(rare in it self), had chrome wheels and CLOTH seats! Needless to say, it didnt look good. That same car, clean and with some black, grey, or tan LEATHER seats would be the Aurora of choice for me. My next color choice would be one they offered in '97, Medium Green. They didnt have one available when my dad was in the market, so he got stuck with tan. But ive seen it, and it is beautiful. It looks nice on the intrigue too.
Yes-Our windshield washer shoots over the top. Not too concerned about it. I'm making a list of little nuisance things and at some point will take it to a dealership to be fixed before our bumper to bumper runs out.
Met a purple classic on the road this AM. That is a really good looking color. Car would have looked better in chrome wheels. I think some colors (like white, pearl white,and the lighter colors)look better with the silver wheels. The dark colors look better with the chrome wheels
Does the U.S. Aurora have standard daytime running lights? Does it have standard leather? It is interesting to see the differences in the two cars, just from across the border(s).
A.R.
The car was designed by Raymond Loewy in the early '60s. It featured a fiberglass body on frame construction. It was Studebaker's last gasp, and even came in a supercharged version.
When Stude went out of business production of the Avanti continued. After a series of different owners production stopped in the early nineties.
Throughout the '70s they were powered by corvette.
In the early eighties they were powered by a 5 liter chevy called the L69 it had about 190 hp and was about as quick as a camaro.
The company was sold and there were a lot of production problems. So much so that Avanti quit making their own chassis and bought complete Chevy Caprice's!! They shortened the frames and used them for the cars.
There were also 4 door models shown to the press during this time, but i am not sure if any were built.
Production ceased completely in the early nineties.
There has been an attempt at a revival and the car being shown now is based on the camaro/firebird. A good source of info is www. avantisource.com. The car shown on the home page is a camaro based version not the original.
Probably more info than you wanted, but at the age of 38 i constantly amaze myself on how much trivia i know about cars.