Fantastic buy Al! 👍👍I actually met & had lunch with the chief designer of the Aurora, Bud Chandler back in the early 90s!!! One of those experiences as a “car guy” you never forget!❤️I knew about Aurora’s release before the press even did!
My mother's parents are long-term OPEL dealers in Germany. For their fifty year wedding anniversary they decided to spend six months touring the U.S. They wanted to buy a car built by GM for their trip. They didn't care for Cadillac Buick or Chevrolet. It was between this car or Pontiac. Opa liked the looks of the Pontiac but Oma preferred the Olds. Once they drove the Old's they loved how much like a European car it drove. When their trip was over they gave the car to my parents and they drove it for the next fifteen years and 210 k miles.
I hate that everyone shits on the NorthStar or Shortstar engines. Yes they have head gasket problems but once fixed, they are bulletproof. I always had a love for these first generation Auroras. They were designed way ahead of their time and quite distinctive. Nice to see someone appreciate and show this car some love. It's a rare gem and I love it.
I think most people are insecure and are looking for acceptance from the world. For example, a person who wouldn't buy a North star wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2003 Subaru Forester which also had head gasket issues. I have a Jeep Liberty and a Honda Civic. Despite what people believe, I'm finding that the Liberty is slightly more reliable than the Civic. Haven't given up on the Civic though which is far better in gas, but sucks in the snow.
The Northstar and Shortstar engines are fantastic. It has always been my expeirence on Cadillac's and other cars that have a head gasket leak is always a coolant related issue. The cooling systems unfortunately is not a top priority with people and is not something that is always diagnosed correctly. These are definitely the best Oldsmobile's of the newer generation.
You have to drill out and rethread the the head bolt holes in the block in order to bulletproof a head gasket replacement. They will still leak oil like crazy.
I'm paraphrasing here, but Carroll Shelby once said the Olds 4.0 N* was the best damn engine in production, and subsequently put that engine in the Shelby Series 1.
He did say that. An dthere use to be an auto shop down here in Clearwater Florida that use to modify and build the Aurora 4.0 V8's and also the 4.6L Cadillac Northstar V8's. There are still a lot of them around down here but this shop also knew Mr. Carroll Shelby and he loved the Northstar engines.
These 1st gen. Auroras were the most impressive cars GM offered in the mid 90's... The attention to detail was very un-GM-like, nicer than any Buick or even Cadillac at the time. The interior features and overall design were extremely innovative and upscale by mid-90's standards, and 20+ years later they still don't look nearly as dated inside or out as most other cars from the era.
I have a 1995 in equally good condition , maybe a step better and I love this car ! After a lifetime of BMWs this car is almost as fun to drive but it's more comfortable. After fixing the serpentine belt tensioner it's been very easy on maintenance !
I always loved that style aurora! Friend of mine actually had one in High School, 97 same year with 39K i believe she got it with! That thing was amazing and crazy powerful!
My dad had a 1996 model he bought in 1999! Unfortunately at some point in the early 2000s, a pickup truck (early 2000s Dodge Dakota crew cab) ran a red light and totaled out the Aurora as well as the pickup truck itself. Everyone walked away fine. That car is still his most favorite car he owned today.
great car!!! I just sold mine a little over a year ago, it was a 98 I bought it at the end of 99, I got it coming off a 1 yr lease, mine was Platinum outside and neutral leather inside. I replaced the stock rims with some really nice 18inch 5 spoke rims, and performance tires, I loved that car, I stayed on top of the maintenance and it NEVER gave me any problems, I sold it in 2016. I sold it simply because I just didn't drive it anymore, and it stood covered in the garage. now in 2019, I miss the car, and wish i never sold it.
I have my 97 Aurora for years now and I love it more than even my wife lol. The funny thing is that my wife was the one who told me to buy it because she love it as well. The car now has 178432 klm and I will tell you that when it is running you dont even know that the car is on because it is so silent. When the car is driving its as if you are floating on air because you dont feel the road due to its wonderful suspension. I LOVE THIS CAR and i think that there are no other car like it..... 23 years old and this car is as if it is still new.
As a kid I loved American muscle cars from very young from movies. But now they are very in vogue , expensive and overpriced. You have got me interested in these cars. I first went to the states in 2005 and Oldsmobile and Pontiac were still in production. The first rental I had was a Pontiac Sunfire. After that they were dull as dish water.
I definitely agree with your sentiment about higher mileage vehicles. One of my toy cars, a 2003 Holden Statesman with the LS1 V8 has over 360,000km (223k miles) on the original motor & trans, and it presents just like this Aurora - phenomenal. I bought from the elderly 2nd owner and he spared nothing keeping it in top shape, and used it for long distance driving inbetween rural Australian centres. That's the sort of car you want, not a low mileage city dweller.
All Black its a Keeper, personally i think it would look great with some dark aftermarket wheels, we had a silver model i loved the ride lost the air ride compressor and the trans went out but b4 that it was good ride fast smooth strong and comfy and i like the drivers seat everything surrounds you
Wow Al, you scored big with this Aurora! Same as you, this is a bucket list car for me as well. I still can't believe how clean it is, everything is perfect! Being that the Aurora was the successor to the Toronado, i'm glad to see that the luxury feel did not stop even when Oldsmobile was going down.
Sweet find! I've have always had a soft spot for Olds and Buicks. First high school car was an 83 Olds Delta 88 Royale 2 door coupe. A beautiful land yacht with a big block 6.6L 403 V8 (very rare option my grandparents ordered from the factory) vinyl top, front bench, and 8 track. You could floor it and literally watch the gas needle drop, but fuel was $1.09 per gallon.
The head bolts problem was fixed in 2004.5, a few months before the DTS & Lucerne production started. They used LS6 head bolts which were longer and had a much coarser thread.
Dont be scared of higher mileage, It just means the vehicle is reliable. I just bought a 96 aurora, pulled the engine and transmission, rebuilt the trans due to a torque convertor clutch failure. and everything inside looked brand new, and I resealed the lower end of the engine while it was out. I love it. Drive like its new.
This was my first car when I was 16 years old , I bought it with 42k miles and it was only 4 years old , drove it to 173k miles , that engine was smooth till the day I sold , never left me stranded !
Now thats a Beautiful Aurora. Look at that well kept Interior. And the Garage kept Black paint. I give you mad props Al. Awesome video. And CONGRATULATIONS on the new member of your Sweet collection.👍
Nice find. If you want the best ride, change out the springs with the struts. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only way to go. Will probably raise up a bout an inch, but suspension is much tighter. Thanks for sharing,
Bought a 1995 Aurora in 1998. Looked just like this one. You're never supposed to buy the first year of a new car, but I couldn't help it. Turned out to be a great car. Never had head gasket or transmission issues with it. Sold it at 200k still in good running condition. Found out it had the Autobahn package running it up to 138 mph on a closed course.
God bless you for saving these 90's GM greats! this is my first time commenting on your channel but just had to say how much i respect you in saving such awesome cars for and uncertain death. Thank you
Dude I watched a video you posted last october and joined copart myself here in Utah, i'm a new englander out here in the west. Have since bought 3 vehicles included a 89 corolla gts with 163,000 miles, a 94 lexus ls 400 with 126k original miles from the original owner and most recently an 06 mazda 6 with 162k on it. LOVE the page and Videos. Keep it up!
I liked the oldsmobiles of the 90s, they transformed their brand from being looked at as old man cars into strong competitors to the foreign brands. In the late 80s, the foreign brands started becoming popular in america, especially with cars like the Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Honda Accord, Mitsuishi Galant, Mazda 929, and even the luxury sedans like the Infiniti Q45, Lexus LS400, Acura Legend, BMW 5 series, Mercedes E class, Audi A4, and the Volvo and Saab sedans
The Aurora looks amazing. It is uncanny the cars you find and the stupid rediculous prices you pay for these cars. I would assume this is a keeper. The inside is amazing. Congratulations on this beautiful purchase
That thing is super nice I've always wanted an Aurora. 550 dollars for that is an absolute steal! People don't understand the beauty in a cheap older car that was well taken care of
Hi Al - I was a little late watching this one. I actually grew up on Oldsmobiles. The first was my dad’s new 1957 Olds 88. That was replaced by a new 1965 F-85. My first car was a one year old 1969 Olds Cutlass S. My father retired with a 1973 Olds 98 Regency. That Olds Aurora is fantastic. I also had a 1994 Volvo 850 station wagon. I saw your Volvo in the background. If I had more room, I would try to buy some gems like you have. If you are ever in Naples, and have the time, I would like to meet you. You seem like a great guy! Wishing you continued good luck, Jim in Florida.
Al you got a screaming deal for this vehicle whoever owned it before you took immaculate care of it and they were proud to drive it around this is one of those vehicles that to this day is still a head turner for its looks it was pure luck at the spelling to your lap and not the junkyard I also want to mention that you’re awesome cutlass I had one just like that it was a 97 white with black interior fantastic vehicle I wish I had kept it. Keep us posted as you go along with this one.
olds is will always be a true classic that knew how to design cars. The Northstar is engine that doesn't get enough credit for what it can do with the right service and care.
$550 out the door at auction? Dude, you gotta steal on that Oldsmobubble! But how did it wind up at an auction? Often when I hear "auction", it's a red flag (salvage/rental/police/taxi/ultra high mileage). But if it was a dealer trade-in, or sold at an estate sale auction, then no red flag.
I agree wholeheartedly. Ahead of their time for sure with engineering. I had an 88 Olds 98 Regency Brougham and a 90 Touring Sedan in years past....some would argue, just made over Buick Park Avenues, which is true, but man, there was that "special feel, in an Oldsmobile" about them. Loved those cars and wish I still had them.
I drove a new '99 Aurora and recall that the sticker was $42k, which was astronomical for the time. It was a nice car and ahead of anything in production then. The thing that made this car a pariah was that so many parts were "aurora only", and that made them expensive. I recall a mechanic I know who agreed to work on a used one for a friend. He needed to change the gas tank and it required him to drop the entire rear suspension assembly. He refused to work on an Aurora after that. That said, I still liked the cars and felt it was sad that they didn't do better than they did.
You got a good deal. Living in So. Fl. I don't have the luxury of lots of land for parking a "fine collection of vintage American Engineering". You definitely see the best in these old American cars and that's a good thing. Needless to say, I enjoy your videos.
High maintenance for sure. But worth it when you’ve got it running! In the same breath I just unloaded my Oldsmobile aurora as I quickly realized it’s not the budget luxury boat I wanted. So I settled for what I should have.. an 07 corolla! Lol. It’s got power windows and a spoiler! So I mean.. it’s got that going for it. I loved my time with the Oldsmobile .. glad I got to at least try my hand at one for a hot minute.
I like your choices of cars, I definitely would choose a lot of your choice cars as well. I have a 1998, made in 1997 Original Oldsmobile Intrigue with a 3.8 Series II (no shortstar thank god) second owner in family. It has 108,000 Original Rust Free Miles. Take Care Al. The Aurora, and Intrigue was ahead of its time that's for sure.
My cousin had one for his first car we did the head gasket on it got it for 500 then sold it for 1600 was asking 2000 but it had 198k on it miss that car dearly even tho it wasn’t mine we was looking for it it had sunroof all the options just like this one same color exact car this one is a lot better shape on the inside
used to have an 01 olds aurora, was our family car for 7 years when my pops bought it for 800 and worked on it a ton, the thing ran strong but eventually the damage from it being totaled at one point caught up with it, sad to see it go since it was a favorite of mine especially after he passed
I miss my 97 identical to this one Fun Fact: if the tires are v-rated you've snagged a autobahn package with a higher gear ratio and speed. and the problem with northstarts are usually headstuds that lead into other issues like head gasket..
That's a bucket list car for me too! You are lucky to find one in such good condition! I would buy it from you for about 5 times what you paid for it! A friend of mine had a 96, I think, back in the early 2000s and I got to drive it often and fell in love! One of the most comfortable rides I have ever experienced and very powerful for its time!
I have the 97 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 L v8 I bought for $500. I need to replace the water pump, Right Cv joint, and the front Shock/Strut assembly, just the right side but I’m going to replace both sides. I don’t have the owner’s manual and I can’t seem to find many repairs videos.
What a great buy! I think the Aurora could have turned Oldsmobile around if GM had allowed Olds to really own the car as an Oldsmobile, and if the Aurora innovations would have trickled down more to the rest of the Olds line. For whatever reason, GM seemed to be afraid of truly associating the car with Olds, so there was no Olds badging until later. That half-hearted corporate enthusiasm, plus a rather eyebrow-raising high price kept the success to a minimum.
Awesome buy, can’t wait to see more. I also loved the outro clip there. Really a great way to end the video. I would definitely love to see more outros done it that style if possible.
Wow, you got a beautiful car for a super great deal,Liked The only weird thing about this car is that they put the starter in the top of the motor under the intake
John B Public auctions. I go to the same auction company Al does. They get weird shit like this from time to time. Got a 1998 Dodge Neon R/T from them. Also tried bidding on a 1988 Mazda 626 Turbo and 1995 Mercedes-Benz S600 from them.
Great car, they did great design to these bodies but always hated those factory wheels. New nice wheels would set this car off. I have a car channel here on UA-cam and mostly do old school Trans Am''s or Jaguars but always wanted to do a review on one of these.
@@bigalsbikeandauto That is the only thing I would have changed on the design. They have the taillights totally correct when they designed it, and the exhaust tips, Great find again, damn, you get so lucky. ;-)
Great video. I also love these 80s and 90s cars, but I've often wondered what your attraction to GM brands is particularly. There are some good GM cars, but as you mention in this video GM cars seem to come with quite a lot of cost cutting and cars of this era in particular were infamous for having their interiors slowly but steadily fall apart on you even if the mechanicals kept running well.
frankaguilo I prefer GM because as the old saying goes “a GM vehicle will run like crap longer than most cars will run at all”. I’ve owned multiples from all brands, Honda, Mercedes, Ford, etc, and have had the least mechanical issues with the GM vehicles. Also prefer GM styling over the others
Congratulations on finally finding a car that you've been after for a long time and is no longer at all easy to find. You can definitely see that the Aurora was intended to really chase the Dodge Cirrus and that range of vehicles. It's just a shame those cars were a little ahead of their time as they really could have been market leaders, not just in the US but potentially in Europe too but the designers ambitions were just a little ahead of what was technically possible at the time. The styling cues of the cab-forward design certainly did take off though, in Europe if not in the US, just take a look at the '90s Renault Laguna and Safrane and the Peugeot 605 and 607...
@@bigalsbikeandauto Yes, it certainly shows, they really stepped the interior quality and fittings up to compete against what were the big boys in the class in those days...
I have not seen an Aurora in along time. I miss Oldsmobile even more than Pontiac. Even when GM killed it off Olds to free up cash to buy Hummer, I thought it was a stupid idea ... and it was! I always felt that (both new and used) an Olds was a better luxury “bang for the buck” buy than a Buick. I guess everyone has there favorites; when it came to cheap lux, I always voted Olds!
These are very cool. I have a black one too that I have posted a video on in my channel. Keen to know any more tips of what to look out for or how to overcome known issues. Mine has around 75-80,000 miles.
Aurora by Oldsmobile. Now the imports are the ones with some catching up to do. It's your money. I am glad to see another Oldsmobile in your fleet! The Aurora should have been called Toronado. Intrigue should have been called Cutlass. You have a nice one there. I often wondered about Shortstar and the 4.0 V8 used in Aurora. I thank you for the info on the engine. My Ninety Eight shares parts with the car. The steering wheel, the seat controls, the radio and a few other things. Eighty Eight and LSS did too. You are not lying about GM cutting costs.. I enjoyed the video.
I have had 4 1998-1999 Auroras. GET RID OF THE DEXCOOL!!!! I also had a 1996 DeVille and a 2001 Eldorado ETC. None gave me a problem. In fact the DeVille has gone over 250,000 miles and still going.
Kewl interior, we were so behind with our 90s car, loving watching what you had if offer we we just about central locking or power steering! Loving the cabin layout very luxurious Adi
Nice Aurora. Interesting motor a 4.0 V-8. I know a person that has a Lincoln LS 2002 with a 3.9L V-8. It is a Jaguar motor. Interesting about the 4.6 Northstar. I looked at Buick Lucerne with the 4.6 Northstar. It was like a 2008. In researching online the 4.6 Northstar was the head bolt issue in those cars. I am not knocking the 4.6 Northstar. I would love to find a Buick Park Avenue Ultra with the 3.8 supercharged motor. Nice riding cars. Or a Lincoln Continental
Man another awesome steal! I had a 2001 from 49k to 140k miles, not many issues, but towards the end it started to have lots of smaller issues. Did end up selling. Was a nice cruiser that's for sure. Definitely a garage kept winner!
My grandfather bought a black one in 98 off the show room floor when I got in the 10th grade I use to still it 12 grade 2002 he gave it to me boy I use to race everything
Whenever I'd see this car on the road, for some reason I always thought it was some sort of Lincoln Continental. Now after closer inspection, this thing reminds me a lot of the 8th-gen Buick Riviera, only with four doors instead of two.
Man l love your channel. I'm subscribler . I love big american sedans , from the 90's and early 2000's . Keep it up the good job. Thanks for posting. And greetings from Brazil.
These Aurora's were some of GM's best efforts back in the day.Very advanced for an American car.Wonder if they were introduced 10 years earlier if Olds would still be in business today.
Really annoyed...its fantastic Edit: the a/c will want to run all the time, also be careful of the little door covering the key pad for gas mileage/date/time display bc it’ll break off super easy, and the cup holders will open when you reach over to grab a backpack and slide it over. also the engine is a gem! Oh and you’ll need at least 7quarts of oil for changes and mine hated anything below 89 octane. Also- one more cool thing, if you need to charge a phone, use the rear door lighter and hide it in the map pouch behind the driver seat. battery is under the rear.
Love the Aurora. I'm on my 2nd 1st gen. Been driving them ten years. I would be VERY surprised if you really have no oil leaks. That would be some luck if the engine has been pulled and the block re-sealed. The half case will leak on these almost 100% of the time. Although like you said if it indeed had the headgasket taken care of, maybe they took care of that at the same time. Either way great looking car! You only have 30k miles on my '98/ 250hp 260tq. All the power button on the trans does is change the shift points.
Fantastic buy Al! 👍👍I actually met & had lunch with the chief designer of the Aurora, Bud Chandler back in the early 90s!!! One of those experiences as a “car guy” you never forget!❤️I knew about Aurora’s release before the press even did!
Sweet 😀
LRL Official
I always wondered why they didn’t put a front split bench seat in it. I feel that would have went well with it!
Not exaggerating when I say this: the first generation Aurora is one of the best looking sedans ever made
Agree.
💯💯
Ever made? Take it easy ill give you some time to think about your response
My mother's parents are long-term OPEL dealers in Germany.
For their fifty year wedding anniversary they decided to spend six months touring the U.S.
They wanted to buy a car built by GM for their trip.
They didn't care for Cadillac Buick or Chevrolet.
It was between this car or Pontiac.
Opa liked the looks of the Pontiac but Oma preferred the Olds.
Once they drove the Old's they loved how much like a European car it drove.
When their trip was over they gave the car to my parents and they drove it for the next fifteen years and 210 k miles.
It’s nice to have an Oldsmobile, especially since the company is gone
My dad bought my grandpa a brand new Oldsmobile Alero. It was a good realible car ,until my dumbass cousin crashed it.
I hate that everyone shits on the NorthStar or Shortstar engines. Yes they have head gasket problems but once fixed, they are bulletproof. I always had a love for these first generation Auroras. They were designed way ahead of their time and quite distinctive. Nice to see someone appreciate and show this car some love. It's a rare gem and I love it.
I think most people are insecure and are looking for acceptance from the world. For example, a person who wouldn't buy a North star wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2003 Subaru Forester which also had head gasket issues. I have a Jeep Liberty and a Honda Civic. Despite what people believe, I'm finding that the Liberty is slightly more reliable than the Civic. Haven't given up on the Civic though which is far better in gas, but sucks in the snow.
The Northstar and Shortstar engines are fantastic. It has always been my expeirence on Cadillac's and other cars that have a head gasket leak is always a coolant related issue. The cooling systems unfortunately is not a top priority with people and is not something that is always diagnosed correctly. These are definitely the best Oldsmobile's of the newer generation.
Very well said loving my 96 Aurora right on💯
You have to drill out and rethread the the head bolt holes in the block in order to bulletproof a head gasket replacement. They will still leak oil like crazy.
I'm paraphrasing here, but Carroll Shelby once said the Olds 4.0 N* was the best damn engine in production, and subsequently put that engine in the Shelby Series 1.
carroll Shelby was a crook
He did say that. An dthere use to be an auto shop down here in Clearwater Florida that use to modify and build the Aurora 4.0 V8's and also the 4.6L Cadillac Northstar V8's. There are still a lot of them around down here but this shop also knew Mr. Carroll Shelby and he loved the Northstar engines.
These 1st gen. Auroras were the most impressive cars GM offered in the mid 90's... The attention to detail was very un-GM-like, nicer than any Buick or even Cadillac at the time. The interior features and overall design were extremely innovative and upscale by mid-90's standards, and 20+ years later they still don't look nearly as dated inside or out as most other cars from the era.
Love it!! Very nice condition!
My mom bought one new in 1995 and only put 22,000 miles on it in 5 years. Brings back memories.
Gen-1 Olds Aurora = four-door version of Gen-8 Buick Riviera :)
I have a 1995 in equally good condition , maybe a step better and I love this car ! After a lifetime of BMWs this car is almost as fun to drive but it's more comfortable. After fixing the serpentine belt tensioner it's been very easy on maintenance !
I forgot to mention I paid $200 for mine with the bad serpentine belt tensioner which I replaced myself
Thats a sweet Oldsmobile. I rarely see them anymore. defiantly in that nice of condition! Great find on that one for sure!
I always loved that style aurora! Friend of mine actually had one in High School, 97 same year with 39K i believe she got it with! That thing was amazing and crazy powerful!
My dad had a 1996 model he bought in 1999! Unfortunately at some point in the early 2000s, a pickup truck (early 2000s Dodge Dakota crew cab) ran a red light and totaled out the Aurora as well as the pickup truck itself. Everyone walked away fine. That car is still his most favorite car he owned today.
great car!!! I just sold mine a little over a year ago, it was a 98 I bought it at the end of 99, I got it coming off a 1 yr lease, mine was Platinum outside and neutral leather inside. I replaced the stock rims with some really nice 18inch 5 spoke rims, and performance tires, I loved that car, I stayed on top of the maintenance and it NEVER gave me any problems, I sold it in 2016. I sold it simply because I just didn't drive it anymore, and it stood covered in the garage. now in 2019, I miss the car, and wish i never sold it.
Love that Aurora. Always wanted one but couldn't afford it at the time. That is a major score.
The first gen Aurora is definitely underrated, at least in terms of styling
I have my 97 Aurora for years now and I love it more than even my wife lol. The funny thing is that my wife was the one who told me to buy it because she love it as well. The car now has 178432 klm and I will tell you that when it is running you dont even know that the car is on because it is so silent. When the car is driving its as if you are floating on air because you dont feel the road due to its wonderful suspension. I LOVE THIS CAR and i think that there are no other car like it..... 23 years old and this car is as if it is still new.
I have a 99 with 88,000 miles today feb 6 2021
As a kid I loved American muscle cars from very young from movies. But now they are very in vogue , expensive and overpriced. You have got me interested in these cars. I first went to the states in 2005 and Oldsmobile and Pontiac were still in production. The first rental I had was a Pontiac Sunfire. After that they were dull as dish water.
I definitely agree with your sentiment about higher mileage vehicles. One of my toy cars, a 2003 Holden Statesman with the LS1 V8 has over 360,000km (223k miles) on the original motor & trans, and it presents just like this Aurora - phenomenal. I bought from the elderly 2nd owner and he spared nothing keeping it in top shape, and used it for long distance driving inbetween rural Australian centres. That's the sort of car you want, not a low mileage city dweller.
All Black its a Keeper, personally i think it would look great with some dark aftermarket wheels, we had a silver model i loved the ride lost the air ride compressor and the trans went out but b4 that it was good ride fast smooth strong and comfy and i like the drivers seat everything surrounds you
Wow Al, you scored big with this Aurora! Same as you, this is a bucket list car for me as well. I still can't believe how clean it is, everything is perfect! Being that the Aurora was the successor to the Toronado, i'm glad to see that the luxury feel did not stop even when Oldsmobile was going down.
Sweet find! I've have always had a soft spot for Olds and Buicks. First high school car was an 83 Olds Delta 88 Royale 2 door coupe. A beautiful land yacht with a big block 6.6L 403 V8 (very rare option my grandparents ordered from the factory) vinyl top, front bench, and 8 track. You could floor it and literally watch the gas needle drop, but fuel was $1.09 per gallon.
The head bolts problem was fixed in 2004.5, a few months before the DTS & Lucerne production started. They used LS6 head bolts which were longer and had a much coarser thread.
My first job out of college in 1997 at an accounting firm my boss Dora had a new Aurora in red. Such a nice car!
Dont be scared of higher mileage, It just means the vehicle is reliable.
I just bought a 96 aurora, pulled the engine and transmission, rebuilt the trans due to a torque convertor clutch failure. and everything inside looked brand new, and I resealed the lower end of the engine while it was out. I love it. Drive like its new.
In 97 the range rover was also equipped with also a 4 or 4.6 liter v8. Think of the size difference. Amazing.
This was my first car when I was 16 years old , I bought it with 42k miles and it was only 4 years old , drove it to 173k miles , that engine was smooth till the day I sold , never left me stranded !
Now thats a Beautiful Aurora. Look at that well kept Interior. And the Garage kept Black paint. I give you mad props Al. Awesome video. And CONGRATULATIONS on the new member of your Sweet collection.👍
Nice find. If you want the best ride, change out the springs with the struts. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only way to go. Will probably raise up a bout an inch, but suspension is much tighter. Thanks for sharing,
Bought a 1995 Aurora in 1998. Looked just like this one. You're never supposed to buy the first year of a new car, but I couldn't help it. Turned out to be a great car. Never had head gasket or transmission issues with it. Sold it at 200k still in good running condition. Found out it had the Autobahn package running it up to 138 mph on a closed course.
God bless you for saving these 90's GM greats! this is my first time commenting on your channel but just had to say how much i respect you in saving such awesome cars for and uncertain death. Thank you
Dude I watched a video you posted last october and joined copart myself here in Utah, i'm a new englander out here in the west. Have since bought 3 vehicles included a 89 corolla gts with 163,000 miles, a 94 lexus ls 400 with 126k original miles from the original owner and most recently an 06 mazda 6 with 162k on it. LOVE the page and Videos. Keep it up!
I liked the oldsmobiles of the 90s, they transformed their brand from being looked at as old man cars into strong competitors to the foreign brands. In the late 80s, the foreign brands started becoming popular in america, especially with cars like the Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Honda Accord, Mitsuishi Galant, Mazda 929, and even the luxury sedans like the Infiniti Q45, Lexus LS400, Acura Legend, BMW 5 series, Mercedes E class, Audi A4, and the Volvo and Saab sedans
The Aurora looks amazing. It is uncanny the cars you find and the stupid rediculous prices you pay for these cars. I would assume this is a keeper. The inside is amazing. Congratulations on this beautiful purchase
That thing is super nice I've always wanted an Aurora. 550 dollars for that is an absolute steal! People don't understand the beauty in a cheap older car that was well taken care of
Hi Al - I was a little late watching this one. I actually grew up on Oldsmobiles. The first was my dad’s new 1957 Olds 88. That was replaced by a new 1965 F-85. My first car was a one year old 1969 Olds Cutlass S. My father retired with a 1973 Olds 98 Regency. That Olds Aurora is fantastic. I also had a 1994 Volvo 850 station wagon. I saw your Volvo in the background. If I had more room, I would try to buy some gems like you have. If you are ever in Naples, and have the time, I would like to meet you. You seem like a great guy! Wishing you continued good luck, Jim in Florida.
Al you got a screaming deal for this vehicle whoever owned it before you took immaculate care of it and they were proud to drive it around this is one of those vehicles that to this day is still a head turner for its looks it was pure luck at the spelling to your lap and not the junkyard I also want to mention that you’re awesome cutlass I had one just like that it was a 97 white with black interior fantastic vehicle I wish I had kept it. Keep us posted as you go along with this one.
I had a 99 Oldsmobile aurora and I loved it but the frame end up rusting out. So had to get rid of it. The engine still was in great shape.
Tay Man they all rot out in the front behind the front cradle mounts. A little flat stock and some welding and they’re good as new
@@bigalsbikeandauto man I wish I would of known that. I would of kept that car everything in the car still worked
@@bigalsbikeandauto What would this job be called? I have an alero and the passenger side has rust I'd like to get that fixed
olds is will always be a true classic that knew how to design cars. The Northstar is engine that doesn't get enough credit for what it can do with the right service and care.
I have an 99 Alero is mine that brand?
@@briizcustoms9543 yes it is
an Olds
I loved these when they came out i really hope you keep this one
$550 out the door at auction? Dude, you gotta steal on that Oldsmobubble! But how did it wind up at an auction? Often when I hear "auction", it's a red flag (salvage/rental/police/taxi/ultra high mileage). But if it was a dealer trade-in, or sold at an estate sale auction, then no red flag.
I agree wholeheartedly. Ahead of their time for sure with engineering. I had an 88 Olds 98 Regency Brougham and a 90 Touring Sedan in years past....some would argue, just made over Buick Park Avenues, which is true, but man, there was that "special feel, in an Oldsmobile" about them. Loved those cars and wish I still had them.
There’s nothing like a compact V8 in an Aurora. This was the Mercedes-Benz CLS of its time. Great find, Al!
I really love these Olds Auroras! They're just a beautiful car and are a Gem!
My friends always laugh at me for having one of these. At the time I had no choice, but after having it almost 7 years I don't regret buying it!
I drove a new '99 Aurora and recall that the sticker was $42k, which was astronomical for the time. It was a nice car and ahead of anything in production then. The thing that made this car a pariah was that so many parts were "aurora only", and that made them expensive. I recall a mechanic I know who agreed to work on a used one for a friend. He needed to change the gas tank and it required him to drop the entire rear suspension assembly. He refused to work on an Aurora after that. That said, I still liked the cars and felt it was sad that they didn't do better than they did.
You got a good deal. Living in So. Fl. I don't have the luxury of lots of land for parking a "fine collection of vintage American Engineering". You definitely see the best in these old American cars and that's a good thing. Needless to say, I enjoy your videos.
Wow i didn't even know this car existed. Apparently Oldsmobile made cars up till 2004 Nice to see it look as it did when it was new.
High maintenance for sure. But worth it when you’ve got it running! In the same breath I just unloaded my Oldsmobile aurora as I quickly realized it’s not the budget luxury boat I wanted. So I settled for what I should have.. an 07 corolla! Lol. It’s got power windows and a spoiler! So I mean.. it’s got that going for it. I loved my time with the Oldsmobile .. glad I got to at least try my hand at one for a hot minute.
I like your choices of cars, I definitely would choose a lot of your choice cars as well. I have a 1998, made in 1997 Original Oldsmobile Intrigue with a 3.8 Series II (no shortstar thank god) second owner in family. It has 108,000 Original Rust Free Miles. Take Care Al. The Aurora, and Intrigue was ahead of its time that's for sure.
I miss mine, I love the crisp start up of the Northstar V8.
My cousin had one for his first car we did the head gasket on it got it for 500 then sold it for 1600 was asking 2000 but it had 198k on it miss that car dearly even tho it wasn’t mine we was looking for it it had sunroof all the options just like this one same color exact car this one is a lot better shape on the inside
Family friend bought one almost new when I just started driving. I was in love with how sophisticated this car was at the time. Good memories
used to have an 01 olds aurora, was our family car for 7 years when my pops bought it for 800 and worked on it a ton, the thing ran strong but eventually the damage from it being totaled at one point caught up with it, sad to see it go since it was a favorite of mine especially after he passed
I miss my 97 identical to this one Fun Fact: if the tires are v-rated you've snagged a autobahn package with a higher gear ratio and speed. and the problem with northstarts are usually headstuds that lead into other issues like head gasket..
That's a bucket list car for me too! You are lucky to find one in such good condition! I would buy it from you for about 5 times what you paid for it! A friend of mine had a 96, I think, back in the early 2000s and I got to drive it often and fell in love! One of the most comfortable rides I have ever experienced and very powerful for its time!
I have the 97 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 L v8 I bought for $500. I need to replace the water pump, Right Cv joint, and the front Shock/Strut assembly, just the right side but I’m going to replace both sides. I don’t have the owner’s manual and I can’t seem to find many repairs videos.
As back in days the commercial used to say This is not your Father’s Oldsmobile. Great 👍 find .needs a detail and polish and it is a still.
What a great buy! I think the Aurora could have turned Oldsmobile around if GM had allowed Olds to really own the car as an Oldsmobile, and if the Aurora innovations would have trickled down more to the rest of the Olds line. For whatever reason, GM seemed to be afraid of truly associating the car with Olds, so there was no Olds badging until later. That half-hearted corporate enthusiasm, plus a rather eyebrow-raising high price kept the success to a minimum.
My brothers first car was a 99 aurora, it was incredible took everything he gave I wish he kept it. Super comfortable too
Another Aurora. Remember the one you had in Florida. Those are so cool. Like the original body style.
That is a sweet car. If I had a car like that I wouldn’t be in debt with car payments.
You hit a homerun with that find. Can't beat getting that much car for under $600.
Awesome buy, can’t wait to see more. I also loved the outro clip there. Really a great way to end the video. I would definitely love to see more outros done it that style if possible.
Wow, you got a beautiful car for a super great deal,Liked
The only weird thing about this car is that they put the starter in the top of the motor under the intake
Its a Rome Thing Everyday Toyota did that too
I owned a 95 I believe it was great car I had no problems with it good buy all
Thats a real GEM, how do you find these cars for so cheap in such good shape? Lucky!
John B
Public auctions. I go to the same auction company Al does. They get weird shit like this from time to time. Got a 1998 Dodge Neon R/T from them. Also tried bidding on a 1988 Mazda 626 Turbo and 1995 Mercedes-Benz S600 from them.
Clean slick looking car! This video wasn't available to watch for a while.
Congrats! But how the eff do you get these cars in such good condition, at an auction no less????
Brad Miller I don’t look for them...they seem to find me!
Great car, they did great design to these bodies but always hated those factory wheels. New nice wheels would set this car off. I have a car channel here on UA-cam and mostly do old school Trans Am''s or Jaguars but always wanted to do a review on one of these.
Mitch Grooms I absolutely love the wheels
@@bigalsbikeandauto That is the only thing I would have changed on the design. They have the taillights totally correct when they designed it, and the exhaust tips, Great find again, damn, you get so lucky. ;-)
Great video. I also love these 80s and 90s cars, but I've often wondered what your attraction to GM brands is particularly. There are some good GM cars, but as you mention in this video GM cars seem to come with quite a lot of cost cutting and cars of this era in particular were infamous for having their interiors slowly but steadily fall apart on you even if the mechanicals kept running well.
frankaguilo I prefer GM because as the old saying goes “a GM vehicle will run like crap longer than most cars will run at all”. I’ve owned multiples from all brands, Honda, Mercedes, Ford, etc, and have had the least mechanical issues with the GM vehicles. Also prefer GM styling over the others
Thank you for the NICE COMPLEMENTS about OLDSMOBILE!!
Gm gets rid of anything good cause they want to go to china
Congratulations on finally finding a car that you've been after for a long time and is no longer at all easy to find. You can definitely see that the Aurora was intended to really chase the Dodge Cirrus and that range of vehicles. It's just a shame those cars were a little ahead of their time as they really could have been market leaders, not just in the US but potentially in Europe too but the designers ambitions were just a little ahead of what was technically possible at the time. The styling cues of the cab-forward design certainly did take off though, in Europe if not in the US, just take a look at the '90s Renault Laguna and Safrane and the Peugeot 605 and 607...
gosportjamie the Aurora was actually designed to compete with the E class, LS400, etc
@@bigalsbikeandauto Yes, it certainly shows, they really stepped the interior quality and fittings up to compete against what were the big boys in the class in those days...
I have not seen an Aurora in along time. I miss Oldsmobile even more than Pontiac. Even when GM killed it off Olds to free up cash to buy Hummer, I thought it was a stupid idea ... and it was! I always felt that (both new and used) an Olds was a better luxury “bang for the buck” buy than a Buick. I guess everyone has there favorites; when it came to cheap lux, I always voted Olds!
I literally said wow watching the fan adjustment. 😮
Was worried you might be running out of space at this stage but no your good 😁😁 thanks for uploading , always a treat .
These are very cool. I have a black one too that I have posted a video on in my channel. Keen to know any more tips of what to look out for or how to overcome known issues. Mine has around 75-80,000 miles.
Aurora by Oldsmobile. Now the imports are the ones with some catching up to do. It's your money. I am glad to see another Oldsmobile in your fleet! The Aurora should have been called Toronado. Intrigue should have been called Cutlass. You have a nice one there. I often wondered about Shortstar and the 4.0 V8 used in Aurora. I thank you for the info on the engine. My Ninety Eight shares parts with the car. The steering wheel, the seat controls, the radio and a few other things. Eighty Eight and LSS did too. You are not lying about GM cutting costs.. I enjoyed the video.
I have had 4 1998-1999 Auroras. GET RID OF THE DEXCOOL!!!! I also had a 1996 DeVille and a 2001 Eldorado ETC. None gave me a problem. In fact the DeVille has gone over 250,000 miles and still going.
Kewl interior, we were so behind with our 90s car, loving watching what you had if offer we we just about central locking or power steering! Loving the cabin layout very luxurious Adi
I like ur channel u r my brother from another mother!!! You save these cars not hoard. U r a hero.
Nice Aurora. Interesting motor a 4.0 V-8. I know a person that has a Lincoln LS 2002 with a 3.9L V-8. It is a Jaguar motor.
Interesting about the 4.6 Northstar. I looked at Buick Lucerne with the 4.6 Northstar. It was like a 2008. In researching online the 4.6 Northstar was the head bolt issue in those cars. I am not knocking the 4.6 Northstar.
I would love to find a Buick Park Avenue Ultra with the 3.8 supercharged motor. Nice riding cars. Or a Lincoln Continental
Man another awesome steal! I had a 2001 from 49k to 140k miles, not many issues, but towards the end it started to have lots of smaller issues. Did end up selling. Was a nice cruiser that's for sure. Definitely a garage kept winner!
My grandfather bought a black one in 98 off the show room floor when I got in the 10th grade I use to still it 12 grade 2002 he gave it to me boy I use to race everything
Whenever I'd see this car on the road, for some reason I always thought it was some sort of Lincoln Continental. Now after closer inspection, this thing reminds me a lot of the 8th-gen Buick Riviera, only with four doors instead of two.
Man l love your channel. I'm subscribler . I love big american sedans , from the 90's and early 2000's . Keep it up the good job. Thanks for posting. And greetings from Brazil.
Looks like a batmobile actually with all those buttons... Another great score for your collection 👍
Now you need to find the first gen silhouette and Oldsmobile Bravada and possibly Achieva
These Aurora's were some of GM's best efforts back in the day.Very advanced for an American car.Wonder if they were introduced 10 years earlier if Olds would still be in business today.
E Meyer Most of that "American car" was made in Canada and Mexico and that's a big part of why Oldsmobile died.
Most people don't know or care where a vehicle's parts are sourced from.
@@emeyer6963 They don't care now but back then they did.
Great buy! My parents owned Oldsmobile's my whole life. Love them! Great video!
the 4.0 is a northstar series, they are just not called northstars are a cadillac name for the same engine as the 4.0 . All northstar parts fit
I remember when these things were new around $30k back then. This was Oldsmobile luxury car.
what a beautiful survivor and in such great shape - good buy man - congrats
You're comments on the northstar are perfect and people need to know this info.
"essentially no wear" ............ehhhh a little
You buy cars that i like, or have owned. This 97 is clean!
You need to add a Saturn S series to your fleet.
Really annoyed...its fantastic
Edit: the a/c will want to run all the time, also be careful of the little door covering the key pad for gas mileage/date/time display bc it’ll break off super easy, and the cup holders will open when you reach over to grab a backpack and slide it over. also the engine is a gem! Oh and you’ll need at least 7quarts of oil for changes and mine hated anything below 89 octane. Also- one more cool thing, if you need to charge a phone, use the rear door lighter and hide it in the map pouch behind the driver seat. battery is under the rear.
Yeah "once the headgasket work is done". But if done properly, it costs $2000-$3000 to do it right.
Love the Aurora. I'm on my 2nd 1st gen. Been driving them ten years. I would be VERY surprised if you really have no oil leaks. That would be some luck if the engine has been pulled and the block re-sealed. The half case will leak on these almost 100% of the time. Although like you said if it indeed had the headgasket taken care of, maybe they took care of that at the same time. Either way great looking car! You only have 30k miles on my '98/ 250hp 260tq. All the power button on the trans does is change the shift points.
Awesome!! I just came across our channel the other day. Great collection of cars. Good times good times.