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Old 09-26-2006, 10:32 PM   #10 (permalink)
WhenenRome
2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC
 
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pasadena / Los Angeles area
Drives: 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 2004 Olds Bravada Final 500
Posts: 132
Re: New Owner of Olds Aurora 3.5 - the total impulse buy

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Congrats. .... One of the best looking and luxurious cars out there.
Thanks... and I can't disagree with you there!

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Watch out for the engine though, the 3.5 engines are great, but when it comes to repairing it.....
I can't say I ever worry too much about future engine repair costs. Even though this is my first "pre-owned" car (unless you count my very first - a hand-me-down), I know it's been maintained very well.

Apart from that, I've had 6 new cars - and though there have been issues, engine was never one of them. I guess I tend to think that, with certain unfortunate exceptions, premature engine problems more often have to do with how a driver runs/maintains the car. That said, I hadn't really heard that the Shortstar has a bad rep.

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something was goofy with this cars ride, though...
how peppy is the v 6? what would this car have been like with AWD?
Nothing goofy about the ride for me. It seems to be doing what I understand it's mission is. It feels tuned for handling - and at that it is very capable, but still compliant as far as absorbing bumps. It's not as quiet as our LaCrosse, and the LaCrosse diffuses road commotion better. But the Aurora corners and holds the road even better than the LaCrosse; it feels much more athletic...

The acceleration is great. Not as fast off the lines as the LaCrosse, but certainly more than you'd ever need. Again, very, very athletic feeling - like you'd expect of a sports sedan. For sake of comparison, my friend drives an '02 BMW 5-series that leaves an essentially similar impression on me.

And as for the question of what it would be like with AWD, I really don't know... I guess like my Bravada?

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Oh nice! I loved the original AND the second gen. Hope to own either one of those or a last-gen Riviera someday. Get some pics up!
I love both generations, too. I remember how wowed I was when I first saw an Aurora at the LA Auto Show (wow, over a decade ago - how time flies!), and later on the road. I understand why some people didn't embrace the second gen, but I love it. Though it streamlined its styling a bit in contrast to the original, it still grabs attention. Just today, I caught this guy (an Acura TL driver) who was parked next to me looking in the windows and at the rear (of course when I approached, he said nothing and just headed toward the store I was coming out of)... The second gen is also an evolution as far as ride/handling, as well...

As for the pics, I'll work on those ASAP. We're putting our house on the market starting this weekend (barring any complications), so we're working our rears off trying to get everything sparkling here. But I'll get some pics taken and post them relatively soon.... and thanks everyone for all the sentiments!
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Current...
2007 Saturn Aura XR 3.6
2004 Oldsmobile Bravada Final 500 (#405)
2002 Oldsmobile Alero GLS Sedan - FOR SALE!

2005 Buick LaCrosse CXS (Extended family!)


Previous...
2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 3.5
1994 Ford Thunderbird LX-V8
1992 Chrysler LeBaron GTC Coupe
1991 Chevrolet Cavalier RS Coupe
1977 Chevrolet Camaro (my first, a hand-me-down)

Last edited by WhenenRome : 09-26-2006 at 10:39 PM.
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