1995 Oldsmobile Aurora Review - Not As Big Of A Flop As You Think... 

Thanks again to Zack for filming one of my Olds. Love the video!

I have a 2001 4.0, bought new in 2000. It turned out to be a much faster runner than I had expected. Head gasket problems in the almost 23 years I've been driving it? ZERO!!!!! NONE!!! NONEXISTANT!!!!!

People don't like it, but this is actually peak GM. The BEST seats, the BEST ride, so simple and easy to fix and CHEAP to fix.

I had a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero. That car put up with a lot and really didn't give me any major issues. Too bad Oldsmobile has been gone for almost 20 years now!

Note: there's no Oldsmobile badges on the entire car.

The Aurora had to be crash tested on the truck machine, the front end in crash testing broke Consumer Reports and GM car testing machines in crash tests.✔✔✔✔

I was just randomly thinking about this random car that nobody talks about anymore today, and suprise suprise you make a video about it the same day

I own a 1998 Aurora in deep green metallic, with 75,000 original miles. I bought the car new off the showroom floor. It’s my favorite car ever. I recently had it re-registered as a “classic” at 25 years old. This car is 100% original, without a mark on it, nor is there even a hint of rust on or under it. Not even a crack in the leather. I have maintained it obsessively throughout the years. I consider the Aurora one of the finest cars ever built. Its current valuae according to a licensed car appraiser is over $13,000. Pretty good in my opinion. I put true-spoke Dayton wire wheels on it back in the day as well. A pure joy to drive.

My girlfriend’s mom had an Aurora and it was very comfortable and quick. Great for getting head in too.

Zack deserves more subscribers. That's it. I love these older forgotten car reviews!

I own a 1998 Aurora, with 75,000 miles on it. I bought it new in May of 1998. It’s a dark emerald green, and I put Dayton wire wheels on it. This car literally doesn’t have a mark on it. Not even a crack in the leather. Always garaged, and never driven in snow (I lived in western Wisconsin at the time; I’m in Texas these days.) Last year, I re-registered it as a classic car. I love this car more than any other car I’ve ever owned (I’m 65 years old now.) I thought you might like to hear about a “perfect” one, having done a video on the model.

At least it got a second generation, albeit dialed back quite a bit. Yes, it didn't sell well, but it wasn't a huge sales flop if it got a second generation. Not a big of a sales flop as the Lincoln Blackwood that was only on the market for 15 months.

Actually I have seen this engine in other vehicles because it has a huge racing pedigree, first used in the 1992 Oldsmobile Aerotech, the car achieved 47 speed endurance records with a modified Aurora V8 and this gave GM the green light to produce a race version of the V8 for the beautiful Aurora GTS-1 race car, in race configuration the engine produced 650hp and revved to over 10,000 rpm, race constructor Riley & Scott quickly took notice and they adopted the engine for their Mk III endurance racers which were highly successful and around the same time Carrol Shelby was working with GM to resurrect the Shelby Cobra, the new model would be called the Shelby Series 1 but GM didn’t want it to compete with the Corvette so they let Shelby use the Aurora V8, interestingly enough the base engine was supposed to produce 350hp but Oldsmobile refused to help Shelby tune the engines for whatever reason so the base V8 only made 320hp but that didn’t stop Shelby, the X50 package added 50hp bringing it up to 370hp then the supercharged versions came out with numbers varying from 450hp-600hp.

6:44, bless you Zach

The Aurora genuinely is my favorite 90s design. I've always loved it. It was Olds's last attempt to regain its identity: be the technology luxury brand. (Ironic how Tesla seized that entire envelop) A lot of boomer-aged guys in relatively successful careers bought these (a friend of my Dad's had one. He was an insurance man). Part of it was, I think, that all GM had in general by the 90s were brand loyalists for their Big 5 (people who "just wanted a car" went to Chevy, if any of the brands) and the old system of "scum to snob--Chevy to Caddy" was well dead. GM's brands were 3 grandma cars, the sporty one, and the breadwinner. One had to go. The one that had Old in its name. And it's a darn shame that corporate decided that. The people actually working at Olds wanted to bring it back, hence this car (and the Achieva, which was bodged a lot but an attempt to go for Accord buyers, and the Intrigue and so on).

I always loved this design, very forward looking for the time. It's a shame that GM seemed to abandon the direction this car was going. This car, and the companion Cadillac (Seville) really seemed to push the brand(s) in a positive direction, but perhaps too advanced for their typical customers.

To think at one point, this was sitting in the same showroom as the cutlass ciera. I could imagine customers looking at the car and being weirded out compared to the ciera.

I vaguely remember it being reported, that the only place the Oldsmobile nameplate was shown, was the head unit 4:50. This is when GM was trying to repair its reputation after coming from a decade of downsized, albeit still successful, cookie-cutter sedans, so they attempted to set the Aurora apart from Oldsmobile. It was a special project, but all their nameplates were going through an upgrade period at the same time as this. There was also talk that the Aurora name might spinoff as a separate brand altogether, since, at the time, the newly formed Saturn brand was a hit with its no-haggle pricing strategy. Another weird fact: the Aurora was supposed to be a Cadillac originally. Yes, the Cadillac Aurora. PS: The Aurora's looks were an acquired taste even back then. It was considered good-looking even for 1995.

I had one of these in a sandy beige color and enjoyed it. It looked and felt like no other GM car at the time which was refreshing after all the body sharing they did in the 1980s. The V8 was definitely underpowered for the weight of the vehicle. Silky smooth but soooo sluggish. Interesting note: The only place you see "Oldsmobile" on the entire car is the radio.

This Aurora and the same gen Buick riviera are so incredibly beautiful.

Finally!!!! ❤ I’ve been waiting on this review since I discovered your channel. Thank you!

My grandma had a similar Oldsmobile model. It was blue - not sky blue, not royal blue. Grandma blue. That faded, grandma look. All of the Oldsmobile really worked hard to put Olds in the name. Now there are no more Oldsmobiles for the olds, and I’m getting old, and where’s MY Oldsmobile? Come on GM…

Thank you for the Oldsmobile Aurora review. There are parts of this car that were shared with the Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight/LSS. You really did a good job and said so much that is true about the brand. You really said it quite well what happened. Management at GM messed up. They did not market the car or the brand correctly, and so many other things. This car should have been called Toronado. There are many other factors, but you did a grand job. Thank you.

This is awesome!! Ive actually driven this specific car! I would love to own one someday! Glad to see it here on your channel!

Your are among the few who note what killed Olds; inner management. Aurora was a fun driver.👍🏾

A fair, honest review of the Aurora. Thank you! Well done!

Thanks for another great video. You are an inspiration for when I produce my own car reviews.

Besides the paint on the trunk, this think looks pristine on the exterior

Watching this makes me wanna get my 1999 Aurora running again so bad, Great video Zack! Maybe you can come review mine when I get it running and looking good lol

Always loved the look of this car. It was futuristic for the time.

I was a simple child when I saw this car in showrooms and auto shows. the tail lights, headlights, the shape of the car, but the icing on the cake? those Cupholders!!! still smooth open and shut for those front cup holders! I think Chrysler motors might've done it first with their LH platform intrepid, vision, concord.. but those were also cars of my dreams.. I think the Aurora (this first gen model) definitely made a better car then those Chryslers.

I owned one of these back in the early 2000's while I was in college, I loved it! At least until the electronics failed and the headgasket blew on it. I had an exhaust system on it and it sounded pretty good.

So interesting to think that in 1995 you could go car shopping and find "new luxury" like this being sold right alongside "old luxury" like a Fleetwood or Roadmaster

This is still a good-looking car. Mid 90s-mid 00s GMs were incredibly comfortable, decently well built, and fairly reliable. It's a shame GM neglected Oldsmobile and made it into the old man's brand. Then again, GM had too many brands selling essentially the same car. Never underestimate GM's ability to kill a good thing.

I love the Aurora. If I lived in the US and had the money, I'd probably be buying all the examples I could find just to restore, maintain and tweak them.

Wow adjusted for inflation this cost as much as a loaded BMW 530ix or even a 540ix today if you don't go crazy with the options.

A lot of these features that are in the Oldsmobile aurora were in my 1991 Oldsmobile Park Avenue that I owned eons ago.

Love the looks especially the nose and mk4 Supra-like dash!

Nice review. Although, surprised it wasn’t rear wheel drive.

I always thought that GM should have kept Oldsmobile and dumped Buick. And 20 yrs after Olds left us look what Buick has become, a small variety of mundane and uninspiring crossovers.

I freaking love this car! I always wanted to sister-swap my 98 Riviera for one, even after the body change. Just somethin about them.

Funny that Dylan is the name of the owner of this Aurora and Alero. Twin girls I went to school with drove a dark red 2001 Alero, which they had named Dylan! When I received a nearly identical Alero from my grandmother, they unofficially named my car “Dylan Jr.”

The dark cherry color was also use by Kia on the 2nd generation Sorento!

One of the most beautiful sedans ever made

I always loved the way these looked! So luxurious from gm!

I always loved these. I love how much newer they look considering it’s a 1995.

My first car at 16. It was 6 years old and had a 100,000 miles on it, but I loved it.

The colour looks like cherry mica that holden used too in the same time period.

Underappreciated then, even more so now. Better car than you thought or think. 2nd gen isn't bad either, though it sacrificed some individuality. Almost bought a 2nd gen 4.0 but went with the Lincoln LS V8 Sport, partially because of RWD and better handling. Black Cherry was a great choice and contrary to our reviewer, I would say this had both very distinctive nd very attractive design. I believe reviewers at the time agreed.

The Aurora wowed everyone back then, but it absolutely did not fit into the Oldsmobile lineup. It didn't fit into any GM lineup. Maybe it would have worked better as a Pontiac. 🤔

That shifter is such a Big Chungus.

6:42 Bless you!

Power seats, which is cool option nowadays

Im here for the BFB TEST! lol

If GM would’ve placed a 3.8 v6 supercharged engine in all Auroras they would’ve Soared!!!! And you’d still see it driving the streets today

Same year as my roadmaster. Crazy

At the Oldsmobile dealership where I worked at we called the short star because of it being 4.0 litre

6:42 Hilarious

My uncle used to have one of these, same color as well.

The styling is nothing if not unique! It looks very cool.

Hey zack- dig this; I was finance mgr in Bay Area for a 5 line store then n had one as a demo. Smooth as silk, nice torque, awful build quality but sexy as Hell. I wanted the STS but couldn’t swing the payments after my Olds went away n sadly picked the new Catera. Fast n well made but no parts n no one knew how to fix them. Great channel u have as I’m 63 btw the car that was really a flop?! The Olds intrigue💩👍

Buicks had the twilight sentinel as well

One of the few cars without a grill. Unique styling for the time.

I definitely still love these and remember when they were new

Zack, that's so freaking weird. I was watching reviews of this car a couple days ago

That first generation is beautiful bar none

Really a car that was ahead of its time in a lot of ways, but just the victim of a dying nameplate that nobody cared about anymore.

This car is beautiful, the color is very original.

GM also mismanaged Saturn. The Aurora didn't sell as high as GM had hoped.

90s luxury babyy

I had one. FUN CAR but engine leaked lots of oil.

Why do the front of these remind me of the 4th Gen Honda Prelude??

I've owned a used ’99 Autobahn Edition purchased in late 2007. I love the exterior style and interior aergonomics. The quality of the interior in my opinion was not good at all and that Northstar derivative was a POS indeed. GM had great vision that wasn't backed up by quality to match.

Imagine if Lexus had a version of this Oldsmobile Aurora?

I really liked the first gen exterior

Neat looking car!

that bottle fail almost😝 90% cars you show us 😏😂😂😂😂

This car eventually turned into a Cadillac a while after Olds was closed. Cadillac turned into the futuristic non- traditional car that GM unsuccessfully tried with Oldsmobile trying to save the brand.

I WISH I HAD THE MONEY FOR THIS CAR BACK IN 1995.

I miss mine especially since I have the money to fix it nowadays

Definitely checkout my boy Jake @ Northstar Performance. He is true to the craft & lives these motors

Also the car had fiber optics to the doors front doors and rear

The exterior is a beauty and a set of proper wheels and tires away from being totally modern. Unfortunately, the interior is typical GM Fisher-Price plastics with poor fit. To me, the interior was a total letdown, and the main reason I wasn't too interested when they were new.

You were able to take the lighter out and charge your phone with a carcharger that plugged in.

This was one bad as car in the mid nineties. I had so much fun in mines every day

Aurora Borialis at this time of year?

This was huge in my area. Certainly not a flop. I thought they were too ugly versus Chrysler's LH cars as a youth.

No, It's a northstar engine through and through, just smaller bore size that's all. I should know, I have a 1997.

Still running OK after 182,631 miles is a feat for a GM product of that era. Thanks for the video.

Also antifreeze leaking

i love oldsmobiles

I cant fond one. I had a 97. Loved it

The Cutlass was the number one selling car in the U.S. for a number of years in the 80s. Oldsmobile died because GM took all of the profits out of the company to fund the creation of the Saturn brand, which eventually failed.

I got one a 95 as a daily commuter. Alert doesn’t compare.

wouldn't be surprised if the Aurora was Elon's inspiration for Tesla

They really don't make them like this anymore. The big four door sedans are dead.

I think I may be in the minority here, but I always preferred the styling of the second generation.

Premium Fuel Only

Nice 🥰

😍😍