Oldsmobile Aurora

**paul8488** · 06-06-2005, 10:33 AM

How does history look back on the Aurora (which, I realise, isn't really all that ancient yet)? I saw one of the first-gen cream-coloured Auroras on the highway last night, and it's still a head-turner. Did it ever sell as well as expected? Did it sell better or worse as time went on? After the re-do for the second gen? I believe it had some quality concerns that kept it down. Is this true? It's unfortunate it didn't take off... it really stands out even today as a beautiful design, and was a very unique vehicle in an era when GM wasn't always at the forefront of design. On looks alone there isn't a single other luxo-sedan from the 90's that I'd prefer.

atomicshark · 06-06-2005, 11:00 AM

I think when the Aurora came out in the 90's it sold well. I remember seeing a bunch of them in my area. The cool thing was that they were being bought in place of some German and Japanese cars. Too bad Olds was killed off, I think they had just about turned things around when the plug was pulled.

DrewMeister · 06-06-2005, 11:58 AM

Why did GM kill of olds in the first place?

1BadPig · 06-06-2005, 12:11 PM

I always like the Gen I's nose, but wasn't too crazy about the rear. Gen II looked more hunkered down, but kinda lost the edgy-ness. Overall I like them and almost got a 2001 V6, but due to growing family bought a Silhouette instead.

atomicshark · 06-06-2005, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewMeister

Why did GM kill of olds in the first place?

I think they felt there were too many overlapping brands. Buick and Olds specifically. Personally I think they chose to keep Buick over Oldsmobile just because the Olds name had the word Old in it giving off a bad marketing vibe. Remember this was the time when GM was run by marketing types that knew of dish soap and other household products, but knew nothing about the car industry.

1BadPig · 06-06-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomicshark

Remember this was the time when GM was run by marketing types that knew of dish soap and other household products, but knew nothing about the car industry.

I don't even have confidence that they knew dish soaps and other household products... talk about overlapping brands at P&G!

Tiger · 06-06-2005, 10:24 PM

I've always liked the Aurora! Plus the motors used to wax the Infiniti models in the IRL (?) series. The reslae is poor, but I'd buy one instead of a boring sedan in a sec!

RWD60 · 06-06-2005, 10:46 PM

i think it will be viewed as a last burst of greatness before olds's death, and one af many reasons it shouldn't have died.

atomicshark · 06-06-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWD60

i think it will be viewed as a last burst of greatness before olds's death, and one af many reasons it shouldn't have died.

I agree. Even the Bravada was the best looking of the GMT360 platform SUV's. Now I think the new SAAB takes the cake. It's a pity. Imagine what the next refreshed Intrigue would look like or the next gen Alero? Those would truly put Olds well ahead of Buick and Saturn combined.

FoMoCo Fan · 06-07-2005, 12:37 AM

The first gen Aurora's didn't even have the Oldsmobile name on em, right? At least not the Olds badge. They're not the most beautiful cars ever, but they are truly unique and better than most anything else GM was putting out at the time.

IAMCANADIAN · 06-07-2005, 12:47 AM

The first gen looked nice and unique but the GEN II looks the best in my mind

atomicshark · 06-07-2005, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

The first gen looked nice and unique but the GEN II looks the best in my mind

I agree totally. The dashboard on the second gen was the best GM had at the time it came out. It reminded me a bit like a upscale SAAB dashboard.

pkd87 · 06-07-2005, 08:55 AM

he Aurora was one of my favorite cars. i loved the newest version. It looked sleek and the interior was have bad eather. I was sad to see olds go. Lets hope Buick can win over some olds customers.

DanCBJMS1988 · 06-07-2005, 09:23 AM

Would the Aurora have been exported, like how GM exported the Alero?

Vintalage · 06-07-2005, 02:46 PM

I liked the first gen better than the second gen. My uncle has a 1997 model. It still looks good...inside and out. Problem is, it is very unreliable. Extremely. He's constantly having engine problems. Just a week ago, he had trouble getting it to start. So although it rides good and is quiet, it is a head ache to have.

06-06-2005, 10:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
paul8488 GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: France Drives: 2007 MBK Flipper Scooter Posts: 13,397	Oldsmobile Aurora How does history look back on the Aurora (which, I realise, isn't really all that ancient yet)? I saw one of the first-gen cream-coloured Auroras on the highway last night, and it's still a head-turner. Did it ever sell as well as expected? Did it sell better or worse as time went on? After the re-do for the second gen? I believe it had some quality concerns that kept it down. Is this true? It's unfortunate it didn't take off... it really stands out even today as a beautiful design, and was a very unique vehicle in an era when GM wasn't always at the forefront of design. On looks alone there isn't a single other luxo-sedan from the 90's that I'd prefer. __________________ *The department of redundancy department.*

06-06-2005, 11:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
atomicshark 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 4,429	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora I think when the Aurora came out in the 90's it sold well. I remember seeing a bunch of them in my area. The cool thing was that they were being bought in place of some German and Japanese cars. Too bad Olds was killed off, I think they had just about turned things around when the plug was pulled.

06-06-2005, 11:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
DrewMeister Walking Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora Why did GM kill of olds in the first place?

06-06-2005, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
1BadPig 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 2,104	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora I always like the Gen I's nose, but wasn't too crazy about the rear. Gen II looked more hunkered down, but kinda lost the edgy-ness. Overall I like them and almost got a 2001 V6, but due to growing family bought a Silhouette instead. __________________ Current Rides 2006 Chevrolet HHR 1LT Sunburst Orange Metallic 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LT3 Gold Mist Metallic

06-06-2005, 10:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tiger 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Denver, CO USA Drives: Sold the 04 Avalanche! Posts: 1,425	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora I've always liked the Aurora! Plus the motors used to wax the Infiniti models in the IRL (?) series. The reslae is poor, but I'd buy one instead of a boring sedan in a sec! __________________ "Eli got lucky..." - CobaltSSCrazy on 2/4/2008

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06-06-2005, 10:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
RWD60 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clemson SC or Irmo SC Drives: 2 legs and feet... sometimes the bus... Posts: 1,682	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora i think it will be viewed as a last burst of greatness before olds's death, and one af many reasons it shouldn't have died. __________________ Push, dont pull.... cars are only better than carriages if the horses are in the rear!

06-07-2005, 12:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
FoMoCo Fan 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,014	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora The first gen Aurora's didn't even have the Oldsmobile name on em, right? At least not the Olds badge. They're not the most beautiful cars ever, but they are truly unique and better than most anything else GM was putting out at the time.

06-07-2005, 12:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
IAMCANADIAN 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,979	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora The first gen looked nice and unique but the GEN II looks the best in my mind

06-07-2005, 08:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
pkd87 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,416	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora he Aurora was one of my favorite cars. i loved the newest version. It looked sleek and the interior was have bad eather. I was sad to see olds go. Lets hope Buick can win over some olds customers.

06-07-2005, 09:23 AM	#14 (permalink)
DanCBJMS1988 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pawtucket, RI, USA and Ottawa, ON, Canada Drives: none Posts: 3,691	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora Would the Aurora have been exported, like how GM exported the Alero?

06-07-2005, 02:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
Vintalage Level I Members Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Maryland Drives: 2002 Pontiac Grand Am GT1 Posts: 2,858	Re: Oldsmobile Aurora I liked the first gen better than the second gen. My uncle has a 1997 model. It still looks good...inside and out. Problem is, it is very unreliable. Extremely. He's constantly having engine problems. Just a week ago, he had trouble getting it to start. So although it rides good and is quiet, it is a head ache to have.

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