97 Aurora
March 8th, 2012, 08:34 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Perryville, MO
Posts: 634
97 Aurora
Thinking about buying a 97 Aurora as my daily driver and letting my truck sit as the fuel prices go up. The car has a 4.0 out of a 99 with approx 100k on it. the trans is out of a 98 and has approx 90k. The car just got a NEW RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AT THE END OF 2011.
Any thoughts on reliablity and fuel mileage? Anything I need to look at closer before considering?
Any thoughts on reliablity and fuel mileage? Anything I need to look at closer before considering?
March 10th, 2012, 04:50 AM
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Mass
Posts: 1,119
I had a 96, i really liked the car but there are things they are notorious for.
Input Speed Sensor failures, poor head light switches, gas tank tabs rusting, head gaskets.
If you are looking for mileage I would consider an Alero with a 4 cyl.
Go over to acna , lots of aurora info there.
Input Speed Sensor failures, poor head light switches, gas tank tabs rusting, head gaskets.
If you are looking for mileage I would consider an Alero with a 4 cyl.
Go over to acna , lots of aurora info there.
March 10th, 2012, 11:55 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Perryville, MO
Posts: 634
Thanks. Kinda worries me that most of the cars around here dont have the original engines in them anymore also. My truck gets 11mpg, and driving each way to work is 35 miles, so anything is an improvement in the fuel mileage!
But I think I just found a 00 Grand prix with 133k miles for $1k less money...so Im going to look that direction also.
But I think I just found a 00 Grand prix with 133k miles for $1k less money...so Im going to look that direction also.
March 24th, 2012, 06:20 AM
#4
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 422
Bought my college age son a '97 Aurora 1.5 years ago. Wanted him to have a safe but cool car to get through school & winter (Michigan). We were seeing 17 -18mpg around town & mid 20's on the highway. Car has 105,000 on it and a K&N filter. We bought it for $3500 and have put about 800 into it ($550 was tires). Car runs great and he really likes it - lots of luxury. Only current problem appears to be a valve cover leak that we will fix when he gets home later this spring.
When I was looking, I was also looking at Grand Prixs, but they were all too expensive around here. Saw alot of Auroras with 150K, 175K, 200K miles in solid shape. Problem with the Auroras seems to be that even minor engine repairs are very high labor due to packaging. Mjor repairs (head gasket) are cost more than the car is typically worth, so people dump them for parts. If you can find a nice GP with the 3800 engine, I would go with that, unless you really like the Aurora. They are very cool, drive nice, and if you look hard you can still find a nice, well maintained, original owner car. There are way more GPs available, however.
When I was looking, I was also looking at Grand Prixs, but they were all too expensive around here. Saw alot of Auroras with 150K, 175K, 200K miles in solid shape. Problem with the Auroras seems to be that even minor engine repairs are very high labor due to packaging. Mjor repairs (head gasket) are cost more than the car is typically worth, so people dump them for parts. If you can find a nice GP with the 3800 engine, I would go with that, unless you really like the Aurora. They are very cool, drive nice, and if you look hard you can still find a nice, well maintained, original owner car. There are way more GPs available, however.
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