What is the best year in the first gen aurora?

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

So as some of you might have read, Im a little worried about my current 2g.  That forum is over in mechanical maintenance.  If I had to get another aurora, which I honestly would like to do, I would like to get a 1G because I believe they look nicer and I honestly prefer the more sleek shape.

However, I remember seeing a forum last night about someone trying to repair a bushing but they changed the style of that mount, which makes that part hard as heck to find.  My question being then, which of the (4?) years of 1g have the "best" features and would a V6 or V8 be better, I currently have the V6.

[Marc]

The 1995 to 1999, called the "Classic" at ACNA, has only the 4.0 V8. The V6 was in only the 2001 & '02 2G.

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

Oh I didn’t realize lx5 was only 2001-2002. Why not the 2003?

[Marc]

Because the GREAT GENIUSES at GM decided to shut Olds down, they arrived at the conclusion not to make the V6 available for the last year of Aurora production.

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

It never ceases to amaze me how people with these masters degrees in engineering, doctorates in business, and years of experience can be so unintelligent.

[Marc]

Sept 21, 2018 15:23:33 GMT -6 AuroraGirlFromMars said:

It never ceases to amaze me how people with these masters degrees in engineering, doctorates in business, and years of experience can be so unintelligent.

Me too!

[quixote]

I thought someone else might chime in, but since Marc is the only one who has (& he's a 2g guy)...

Just from reading through here, there were a few odd issues that didn't get addressed until the 1997 model. If memory serves, the first year or two had an oil cooler, which didn't make it to later years. (There may be others, but that's the big one I've seen mentioned as worth picking off a junkyard car, if you can find it.) '95's had an odd shape to the rear window, which distorts the view. (When I told Lance I put on a backup camera, because it was so hard to judge distance, he suggested I might have a replacement window off of a '95.)

The 1997 had different control arms, I believe, & so replacements for those are harder to find. This is why I was a little disappointed, when I went looking for a parts car for my 1998 and ended up with a 1997. 

So, that leaves you with 1999 or 1998.  (You may have noticed, there was no 2000 model.  They continued to sell the '99.)  It could well be that the control arms for the '98-99's are equally hard to find, which would add the 1997 back to the list.

If you read old posts a bit, people have used some parts off of certain Cadillacs and the Buick Lucerne, with little or no modification. I have no particular knowledge of these, how common a given replacement part (like the control arms) is could vary quite a bit.  If there's a difference in compatibility of something like those control arms, I don't know, and it could take a whole lot of looking (or trial and error) to get that knowledge.

Some of those newer model parts -because Oldsmobile is done- are an upgrade. I went looking for the smaller Buick Lucerne brake calipers, for a brake upgrade, and ended up with calipers from a Cadillac DTS. (I forget what model year, but they work well.) 

There is the parts swap list (I always need to Google it, to find the list), but you need to check and read through, because things that are recommended are not recommended later on, sometimes.  I don't recall that the DTS brakes were on the list, but I found them listed for sale as compatible with the Lucerne brakes I wanted.    I bought a front shock tower brace from a Bonneville, because it was recommended --only to find that while the length and bolt holes match, the shape of the brackets is wrong, so the fit is fair at best.

If I have forgotten something, anyone else feel free to correct me. 

I haven't been driving my car, which makes me sad & leaves me with very little to post here.  (I also have a job where working 40 hours a week feels more like 50-60.)  The decline in posts and participation here is depressing.

[southstar]

I would not rule out any year well kept rust free machine. The 97 control arm issue can be retrofitted. The 1995 model is not so much the back window optics . The problem is the lack of obd 2 . The scan tool to read the codes is hard to find.
I have a 95 so I can’t talk too bad about it. Doesn’t have that pesky obd 2. Better oil pump with cooler.
To answer your question though: 98,99,96,97,95.

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

What makes the 98 better in your opinion than 99?

[southstar]

GM changed the front engine mount for 99 causing the need for a unique AC hose that is unavailable new. The hose may outlast the car and not be an issue.
The 98 model lack of the “improved” motor mount is the reason I gave it the top rank.

[human]

Another reason the 3.5L V6 was discontinued after 2002 is because that year the Intrigue became the first of Oldsmobile's final lineup to be discontinued. Since the Aurora was the only other car to use the 3.5L "Shortstar" V6 and 2003 production numbers were too low to justify offering both engine options. Fittingly, they decided to stick with the Aurora's signature 4.0 V8 engine as the sole option, which was probably also more cost effective to produce since it was almost identical to Cadillac's 4.6L Northstar. The only thing that would have made more sense would have been to discontinue the 4.0 also and just stick Northstars in the laat year's Auroras. A year or so later, Northstars started showing up in Pontiacs and Buicks.

Daily Driver: 2011 Impala LT
Weekend Toy: 1995 Cutlass Supreme convertible
For Sale: 1995 Aurora

[randnon]

I currently have both a 95 and 99 and would pick the 99 hands down. The larger brakes, better ride, better motor mounts, softer leather, al control arms (they are available )ob2 , better engine management.There were some minor cost cutting that did happen on the later models but the improvements outweigh them.

[RapMastaC1]

This is good to know, Ive been playing around with the idea of picking up another Aurora this Summer. Ive been working at a dealership and have had high mileage cars for the last couple years so I have learned enough (and have the tools and shop at my disposal) to get another Aurroa back on the road. Im thinking 97 to 98 is my best bet, but honestly a better taken care of and lower mileage one will trump out anything else.