Oldsmobile Aurora thoughts?

[SpecM]

-What's you guy's thoughts on an Olds Aurora, the first-gen body? My parents are moving, and will most likely be giving me their '98 Aurora, has about 150k-ish miles. My dad just had a full tune-up, and replaced the trans and some other little stuff. Runs well now, but like they say, GMs run bad longer than other cars run period. I'm going to take it no matter what, I just wanted to get some opinions here.

-Olds Aurora, first sold in late 94 as a 95 model. The have a DOHC, 32v 4.0l v8, which is really a Northstar (Cadillac) engine with a smaller bore (the Caddy Northstar displaces 4.6l). It is the lightest car sold by GM with a FWD Northstar (the lightest now is the rwd XLR), 250hp, 260 lb-ft, about 3900 lbs (heavy, yes!). Its accually not a bad looking car imo, good lines and all, and even though its a pig off the line, it hauls it pretty good at highway speeds. "True" 4.6 Northstar swaps are popular, and that extra displacement and compression nets another 50hp, iirc.
-The engine suffers from the same problems Caddys do, inadiquite cooling leading to popped head gaskets. From what I hear, tho, the head themselves are NOT prone to warping. Also some drivability issues from faulty crank/cam sensers, and overzealous EGR valves. In case anyone's wondering, yes this is the car I posted about a month ago, and yes I fixed the A/C in it.

-So any ideas? I don't want to flip it, these things are near worthless (kbb is about $2000 in good shape) and I really wouldn't mind a big cushy American v8-powered "whooshmobile", as a second car. Any experiance with Auroras, or Caddys?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Had to replace an engine in one at the shop I ran. IIRC it was overheat and low oil. Don't these take 7.5 qts of oil like the 4.6?

[SpecM]

Had to replace an engine in one at the shop I ran. IIRC it was overheat and low oil. Don't these take 7.5 qts of oil like the 4.6?

-yep, 7.5 quarts

[Bimmerista]

Drive it until it dies

[uofom3]

It's a free car. BUT, it's an Oldsmobile.

[uofom3]

BTW - awesome yorkie in the avatar!

[StereoInstaller1]

GREAT car for booming stereo shit.

Drop it on dubs, rule the hood.

[Roberte]

I've had two Cadillac STS's & have had reasonable luck w/ both. The engines were smooth and fairly powerful... Big, heavy, cars that have a good ride and handled surprising well for a large car. Fairly decent gas mileage on the highway (mid 20s). My biggest complaint was the electrical bugs those cars seem to have.. If you can keep on top of them, you're golden.

[gearheadE30]

Sounds good to me. They reallly aren't bad cars, just not a fan of the FWD.

[ldsbeaker]

I went on a road trip in one about 8 years ago... It was pretty good...
Like was said above, 25mpg, great ac, driving pretty fast on the highway, good looks, will top 140 easily (was that out loud?), and was rather comfortable.

overall, I'd say 8/10, if you're just looking at driving it as an appliance.

[m3_eater]

Have lots of experience with the Northstar engines (my dad-in-law is a Cadillac driver exclusively), and I still own a >250K-mile Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme DD/winter beater that I just love. I say keep it!

[SpecM]

BTW - awesome yorkie in the avatar!

-Thanks! He's half-Yorkie, half-Maltese. Great dog, all 7 lbs of him

-Yea, sounds like y'all think the same way I do. Not my first pick of cars, but not my last. For a free car, I can't be too picky! I prob would put some wheels on it, maybe a 4.6 swap if I find one cheap or the head gaskets pop on the 4.0. I just found out it has the "Autobaun" package that has a 3.71 diff (rather than the stock 3.48 ) and no top-speed limiter. I too have heard that they will top 140 easy. Hell, this car outran my gutted '88 five-speed s-eta stroker, with all the "i" bits, with a 4.10 LSD, from a 40 roll to 120 mph, with my mom driving the Olds. Like REALLY outran. Like by four car lengths. (From a stop my BMW would pull a bit, but drop back by 55-60)

-I'm almost ashamed to admit that I'm kinda excited about it...

EDIT: my dad claims high 20's mileage if you keep your foot out of it.

[Sam Cogley]

Good source of custom mirrors for C3 Corvettes. :D

[Jordan325iC]

Here's pictures for those of us who had no idea what an Aurora was.

[SpecM]

Here's pictures for those of us who had no idea what an Aurora was.

-yep that's it. I like the looks. Maybe some five-spoke Craiger-style mags?