What happened to the Oldsmobile Aurora? How the Aurora attempted to save the Oldsmobile brand.

[@fredaydaybae8450]

I owned a 98 Autobahn Aurora for 295k before I sold it still running. I decided that since GM eliminated Olds that I’d never drive a GM car again and I haven’t. That was the most asinine decision that stupid car company ever made.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yep. They rather provide customers a plethora of crossovers and take away all the “somewhat interesting” cars. Who knows, maybe the Aurora will return as an EV à la GMC Hummer EV.

[@fredaydaybae8450]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon let’s hope!!

[@AtZero138]

(GM) earned it's lowercase "gm logo".. Oldsmobile and Pontiac.... 1st Job was at Browning Oldsmobile in Cerritos CA 🇺🇸... The release of this was absolutely Paramount to GM.... The former Corvette Team Bigwig.. took over promotion.. to save Oldsmobile... He visited our dealership a lot.. He was the best part of memories working there.. Old Hot Rodder, Drag Racer.. He had the best stories.. especially about the Corvette.. ZR-1

[@kareemsmith1632]

Last year, my dad gave me my moms 2003 Aurora. She passed in 2019. I thought about trailering it from Michigan to Minnesota, but decided to drive instead. Besides the AC needing some work it drove like a dream. Filled up in Flint and made it all the way to Beloit, Wisconsin on one tank of gas, in comfort, passing anybody as needed. Kept up with all the Chicago traffic, and even surprised some folks. It was a great drive back and I look forward to keeping it for a while.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Hello Kareem. That’s unfortunate about your mother but I’m glad to hear your father took care of you. Yes they are great cars and I’m also glad to hear you plan on keeping it.

[@kareemsmith1632]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon I don’t get notifications for comments, so I’m just seeing this. I was reminiscing and watched the Aurora video again, and then saw your response. Thank you for that! A year (or so?) later and I still have the old girl. She’s still alright and because she’s 20 now, she qualifies for collector plates in Minnesota. Got the headliner replaced and still need to get the AC worked on, but she’s doing great. 💪🏿🤞🏾

[@donhigdon3356]

I bought a 1995 Aurora in 1997 when I was still in my 20's.... I always was an old soul with my car choices. I loved that car!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yep it’s unusual to see a young person piloting an Aurora. Great choice you made tho.

[@gregblanchard3438]

I worked at a Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealer as a lot guy and in service department. I drove many first gen Auroras and loved them. Very rigid body, super smooth and comfortable as hell. I still love the first gen design, hated the 2nd gen.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

First gens are beautiful. But the second gen during development was actually intended on being a completely different car and not an Aurora.

[@robertchristie9434]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon You are correct. I was a tooling design supplier for GM in the 90s and 00s and the in-house guys called the Gen 2s, "3/4 scale Auroras" due to dramatic downsizing. There were numerous programs that were scrapped or delayed for a year or two due to indecisive or incompetent internal planners and executives that were afraid to commit. During that era, GM stopped being in the forefront of the industry. Maybe it was the X-car, Diesels, the Aztek or some other debacle that made them gun shy.

[@weegeemike]

Cool cars, sad that it replaced the Ninety Eight (I had a 1990 Ninety Eight) but it was definitely time to shake things up if the division wanted to stay competitive and relevant and this car did just that. Too bad it wasn't enough to save Olds, but if it weren't for this car Olds would have been dead before the 21st century rolled around. Great video. Glad to hear and see that people still care about Olds and it's products. People like you keep the memory alive. Thanks bro.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Hey thanks for watching yeah these cars are unique and needs more recognition.

[@tingokuman]

Loved the Aurora. In the late 90s it looked like a spaceship compared to what was on the road in those days. You should review the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. One of the greatest GM cars ever made.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yeah we’re definitely going to tackle the 5th and 6th generation Pontiac Grand Prix. It was a great car.

[@Marc816]

I have owned a 2001 Aurora 4.0 since 2000. I am very pleased with it, mainly because it turned out to be much faster than I had expected.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Wow since 2000? Glad to hear you still own it. They are unique cars indeed.

[@Marc816]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon Yes! GM didn't know a good thing when they saw it!!!!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Totally agree with you Marc.

[@Marc816]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon I'm glad you do!

[@robertchristie9434]

Leased a loaded, black with oyster white interior, '98 Aurora with the Autobahn package. What a great car. Have owned and leased numerous Caddies and Lincolns also. Justly recently my wife mentioned that the Aurora was the best riding and highway car we ever had. It was sweet and I should have bought it and kept it.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

They definitely were great cars. I liked them a lot. Even till this day they look great.

[@dylantran8492]

Ive yet to own an Aurora, but I have owned 3 Aleros. I love these kinds of videos. Especially ones that shed an overall positive light on Olds. Thank you for making this video.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

You bet! Thanks for tuning in!

[@majorwilkesjr.5827]

When they were new , these were one of the most beautiful cars on the road. They still don't look bad at all today.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Agreed.

[@brettcannon74]

I bought a 95. Amazing car. I don't think an expensive car can ever save a division, it did bring attention to the marque

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Agreed

[@randycarlisle6814]

Drove a 2001 Shortstar Aurora for 5 years. bought it with 124K miles, sold with 210K miles. only glitches were some faulty grounds, couple bad sensors, and an occasional hard shifting transaxle. Loved that car and it would regulary get 28 mph on hwy. Wish I still had it.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Awesome cars, indeed. Definitely one that is on my list.

[@fgeiger41]

Yep. Had one of those too with the 4.0. It was amazingly bullet proof. Loved it. One day I ran over a piece of metal on the highway which cut a coolant hose. I ran it all the way home in limo mode. Another 10 miles with zero damage. They didn't lie about how tough it was unlike the 4.6. It was a great blend between sport and luxury. It touched me when when GM mothballed the division. BTW you should do a video about the GM10 derived FWD firebird, camaro, Olds sport coupe test vehicles. There's some great info and pics of them online.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yeah Auroras both 1st and 2nd gen look great even by todays standards IMO. Maybe it was better they mothballed the division, because the Oldsmobile brand would’ve been nothing but crossovers had it been around today. Maybe they would’ve kept the Bravada, but even that wouldn’t have retained the truck-tough, body-on-frame construction that it had back in the day. I’ll look into those test vehicles.

[@fgeiger41]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon Very true. I think they saw the writing on the walk because of the Recon and Profile concepts which were ground breaking. Of course GM bean counters were kind of allergic to that kind of thinking. When Pontiac debuted the Stinger I started saving up. Biggest let down ever when it never got green lit. 🙄😤😮‍💨🤣

[@penguinsniper155]

Been getting recommended a lot of small channels with high quality videos about old cars. That's exactly what yours is, hope you get more subs, great videos

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Hey thanks for the support. Yeah in due time more and more people will find out about our new channel.

[@nikkivelasquez9609]

I had one of these, a 1997, wish I still had it!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yes, they were indeed unique automobiles.

[@OLDS98]

Excellent video. Who would thought this subject would generate this video? I am glad you mentioned Toronado in this video. When you said "Regency" I said to myself he should have said "Ninety Eight" or "Ninety Eight Regency" because there was an actual Regency that ran for 1997 and 1998 model years that was based on the Eighty Eight that had Ninety Eight parts. Your video will get responses and views. I liked you added more detail to your video. It took an effort for you to put this video together in a short period of time. I was glad to see this video as well as the other on the same subject. I noted your other details too.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Hey thanks brother glad you enjoyed it. Yes, point taken regarding the “Regency” but I assumed you guys would know what I meant, especially since you guys have extensive knowledge regarding the Oldsmobile brand. I’m an avid car car enthusiast, so we will be cranking out more content similar to this. See you next time.

[@PoseidoncapsizesHi]

This car did not only share the platform with the riviera it also had the same platform as the Buick lesaber and Pontiac bonneville

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yep, the G-body platform.

[@pdennis93]

Remember in the late 80s when Olds alienated the majority of their buyers with the "this is not your father's Oldsmobile. This is the new generation of Olds " ad campaign?

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

I can definitely recall that. Miss the late 80s too!

[@dosgos]

That stupid ad campaign was fawned over by the advertising industry and the press. Who uses a negative to sell consumer goods?

[@dosgos]

The Aurora and Alero were odd-looking cars that came from another planet. Oldsmobile had a big niche within the GM global line up and just gave it away.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Right on.

[@Browningate]

Alero was so exceedingly ugly though. They really don't even belong in the same sentence with Aurora.

[@ajanderson2787]

I was only 4 when those came out in January '94 for '95, & i still remember seeing the commercials for them. I especially remember seeing those commercials during the '94 Winter Olympics. They were nice and futuristic. Back when GM was still truly GM!!!!!!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yeah bro I miss those days. The glory days. That’s why this channel is dedicated to the good ‘ol 80s and 90s era vehicles.

[@jrighteous1984]

My first car was a 97 Aurora back in 2000 , man i loved that car , it turned heads and was absolutely beautiful, ran that car to 168k miles and that engine was so smooth till my last day .. i was sad when i sold it after 8 years ..

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Was it reliable?

[@jrighteous1984]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon yes very! I took it up and down the country, Chicago to Houston like every month for 4 years . Loved it .

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Cool

[@MrSmartAlec]

Oldsmobile did themselves no favors with the advertising campaign they came up with for their line at this time. The ads were head scratchers that dealt more with concept than the actual vehicles. The ads did not provide anything concrete that prospective buyers could focus on. My dad had been an Olds man for years and while the Olds 98 was not for me he convinced me to check out the 2000 Intrigue. It was a fantastic car that had the v6 version of the Northstar engine. That car was powerful, quiet, and got amazing gas mileage. I would have bought another one if Olds had not gone out of business.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Agreed. And unfortunately the Intrigue was seriously underrated.

[@joemorsman6531]

I bought a 1995 Aurora about a year ago with 110K miles. I absolutely love the car. I don’t drive much, but it is my daily driver.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Right on!

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Cool video ! I own and drive a 1981 Oldsmobile Delta 88 sedan which I enjoy driving it , the car feels like a time capsule .

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yeah I knew someone with an 81 Delta 88 Royale Brougham. Don’t see too many of those nowadays either.

[@OMARAB-s2v]

Your reviews are amazing

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

I’m very ecstatic to hear you are enjoying the videos. Thanks for tuning in.

[@thethomasj1795]

If you ordered the Aurora with the Autobahn package the 112 MPH speed limiter was removed and the car could do 140 MPH easily.

[@ajanderson2787]

What a shame that the Aurora didn't sell that well, & it was a really nice car.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

They were a tad bit pricey upon the 1994 release. And remember, it was supposed to initially release for 1992.

[@markopolo945]

Just bought a One Owner 1998 in Thousand Oaks California and this car is like a land yacht! Basically like riding a V8 powered Couch Lol. I wished they would remake an updated 1st Gen body style now. Do you know if it's true about the design is derived from the rumored Aurora Spy Jet?

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

What’s poppin bro? Yeah those 1st gens are clean, glad you like it. Don’t know if the design was derived from the Aurora plane since that plane itself never actually made it to production.

[@markopolo945]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon thanks for the reply and man I've been researching engines on eBay and I didn't realize that they have a Shelby engine for the 1st Gen Oldsmobile Aurora. I was told that if I install the coarse threaded head bolt kit for my Aurora. It will bulletproof the engine for years since the Oem fine threaded head bolts are the biggest flaw for these Northstar engines.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Interesting. I didn’t know they had a Shelby engine available either. I’ll have to look into that, thanks for the heads up. Let us know how it goes.

[@markopolo945]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon Will do! Can you do a Video on the Dodge Conquest? New Sub here love your videos! Have a good Weekend!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

We can certainly make that happen. Give us a few weeks and you’ll have the video. Glad to have you onboard.

[@JeffAntonucci]

Great review - one of the best I've seen on the Aurora.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ramoncarter6585]

I love the Aurora all the Oldsmobile lineups in this video maybe gone to China would had been around probably be some beautiful machines before the brand died toward end had some nice vehicles. Do believe people really wanted a Oldsmobile afraid of warranty work and repairs who in the world bypass such an unique brand as Oldsmobile wish older enough around that time bought the Aurora, Intrigue or Alero.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yes, they were unique cars. Definitely underrated, but I still see a few well-kept examples riding around every so often. Thanks for watching.

[@mrdaykurutakuchannel]

One of the prettiest GM sedans of the 90s, and it's one great car! And I love the interior that looks so similar to a jza80 supra!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yep. The design was approved in 1989, and it still looks great today.

[@mellyzaurora1277]

I still daily drive my 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora 94,653 miles 💨💨

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Nice. Super low mileage too for a 90s car.

[@mellyzaurora1277]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon I PURCHASED this car from an older gentleman in his 70's 1 owner for $4,000 at 71,000 miles in 2019 . I've driven this car from Colorado to Los Angeles. Still floats like a dream.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Only $4k? That’s was a heck of a deal.

[@DanielLopez-me9mh]

I’ve always been a fan of the Oldsmobile brand since my father owned several cutlass supremes and sierras and Calais it’s such a shame that GM gave olds the axe love this video it’s good to hear some are keeping olds legacy alive

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Indeed, we will keep the legacy alive. Thanks for tuning in.

[@NP-ek7dl]

Great content ! I subbed

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Glad to have you onboard!

[@jamesruiz4005]

I miss my 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora with 220k

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

I’m sure you do. Consider purchasing a second generation car.

[@arnepianocanada]

You have a fantastic voice and manner of speech!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Hey there! 👋 Thanks again for the compliment and thanks for watching the videos.

[@ebk4l365]

Wish they would’ve kept making them 💯

[@realestateinfonet9041]

Awesome video! Thank you very much!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Welcome

[@ka24de-t]

great videos! you sound very similar to another channel by the name of 'Stunted Growth'

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Hello there 👋 thanks for watching. Never heard of Stunted Growth but I’ll be sure to check them out.

[@markallen2984]

Aurora was actually a pretty cool car. The problem is that General Motors decided to stop building embarrassing, under engineered crap 10 years too late .... At that time, it was always genuinely surprising when any car built by General Motors wasn't a poorly designed, uncompetitive pile of garbage. Reason that Oldsmobile and Pontiac were discontinued is that General Motors had so devalued the brands that they were simply unappealing to the car buying public.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Those are all good points you made. And the Aurora was a cool car.

[@rodger7029]

I add they wasted billions on the Saturn experiment

[@glenntremblay5406]

I loved these cars when they first came out and indeed much prefer the first offering over the second styling wise. What a shame that GM was run into the ground by inept executives that no doubt kept taking their corporate bonuses all the while losing market share. They should all hang their heads in shame. I drive, in the summer, a very well preserved 1999 Buick Park Ave with the bullet proof 3.8L power train and I love. It is tight as a drum still with over 300,000kms on it. I've come to learn it owes the strength of its body structure to the fact it shares the Aurora/Riviera platform. A little trivia for those who might not know...when GM was crush testing the G platform during development it actually broke the crusher for cars and to get the info needed GM actually used the truck crusher to do the deed. Now that's one tough structure.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Great comment and I was unaware of that info you shared with us regarding the crush testing and the G platform. That’s one tough platform!

[@glenntremblay5406]

@@MotorMaster_Stunticon I'm very certian about this but before you post it I'd double check it... But as I said I'm certian of it...

[@akrocuba]

Beautiful cars! I always wanted one but couldn't afford it at the time.

[@mrdaykurutakuchannel]

I would love to modify a hot wheels version of these, bosozoku style! It'll be downright wicked!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

🤔 Yeah, I guess it would! 😉

[@breed8912]

Loved that car , I had a 1996 aurora back in 2000

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

2000. Ah, yes. Those were the days.

[@Browningate]

The thing that bothers me the most is that those "full-width" taillights were a lie! Only the outer edges light up when using the brakes and signals. Very cool rear look otherwise.

[@ThomasDonofri]

How reliable are these short star engines?

[@rongendron8705]

I looked into buying an Aurora in the 1990's, but when I got out of the car, in the showroom, I hit my head on the odd shaped overhead door frame! I'm only 5'9", so I knew that this must be a design flaw, so I leased an Nissan Altima & eventually replaced it with a 2004 Toyota Camry, which I still have! Glad I did!

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Thanks for tuning in. The car’s low roofline was just to give it that “coupe-like” look and feel.

[@jeffshadow2407]

My dealership took in several Mercedes-Benz S class sedans in trade for the 1995 to 1999 Auroras.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Interesting.

[@rodger7029]

Great cars. GM should have deleted the Saturn experiment

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yep, they were great cars.

[@vassa1972]

At the time my cousin Eve's husband Phil bought one it was cool

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yeah they were cool cars indeed.

[@ajc5869]

These were such good cars. Just so misunderstood at the time.

[@LaytonKnightt]

There’s a house up the street from me that has two of these in their driveway.

[@vassa1972]

Awesome

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@TaelsDoll]

very pretty car

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Indeed

[@kwaza8574]

Amazing how Buick survived, but America’s oldest car brand didn’t. GM has done a lot of questionable things.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

I thought the same. It’s a shame that was the outcome for the Olds brand.

[@dang328]

Just bought a well kept 95 as my backup car. Put antique plates on it.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Awesome. Don’t see too many of those nowadays, especially ’95s. Yeah definitely gotta have those antique tags, no pun intended!

[@GuyNelson-vd1wu]

I miss Oldsmobile

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Same here

[@hadleymanmusic]

Same as a grand prix?

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Not quite.

[@spencerolson1532]

I have seen too but it's been a while

[@aidaaliten8817]

All the brands that were only sold in usa and canada dont exist anymore

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Good observation.

[@RomanJockMCO]

I test drove a first generation car several times. I loved the styling and it drove and felt like a more expensive car. Tight, responsive and excellent road manners. To this day i simply do not understand the American "logic" of building a halo car and expecting that to trickle down to your entire line up. You build one great car and then offer the same mediocre garbage as the other divisions. One thing they missed is that luxury car buyers pay for exclusivity. They like the badge. If Oldsmobile moved its entire lineup up market it might have worked. Lexus wouldn't be nearly as successful today if it was sold as a Toyota - something it almost was.

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

It was a nice sedan. It did look and feel expensive. Too bad the brand is irrelevant nowadays. Thanks for the comment.

[@Greutung]

It makes no sense to offer the same car under different brands. What makes an Olds, Buick or Pontiac the independent model if it's still a Chevrolet?

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Exactly, just like the W-body Lumina, Regal, Cutlass Supreme and Grand Prix.

[@busybee2033]

If the company would've changed their name from Oldsmobile to Newmobile the cars would have sold...back then we wouldn't by the cars because the name was (Oldsmobile) and that wasn't cool for the young people. But we did know those were nice cars. just wrong name

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

😂😂 great point

[@kc0lif]

v8 aurora was ok.

[@sunnohh]

GM is so hilarious, lowers average age of buyer to 58, continues to fail

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

Yes, unfortunately.