Aurora vs Bonneville

[LePrix]

Aside from looking for a super clean 97-03 GTP or a decent 04-08, I have always wanted to make the jump to full-size sport sedans. If it came down between a 97-05 Bonne(or 97-99 LSS) and either generation of Aurora I am at a stand-still.

Looks-wise both are incredibly sexy. Both, I hear, are super roomy and comfortable, and the insurance is about the same for these cars. So it comes down to performance and reliability for me to make a decision(all other things being equal, ie body condition, low kms, etc).

Performance-wise, if I go for the lesser trims in the Aurora, I am still fully loaded compared to many other cars of those years. I will be rocking a 3.5 with 215HP vs an SSE with the 3800's 200HP(or is it 205 in Bonnes?). Those numbers seen low for such heavy cars though...

Or there is the SSEi vs Aurora 4.0. 240HP vs. 250HP, but which is heavier?

Now reliability. I have not heard good things about the Short* 3.5 or the 4.0, whereas the 3800s are as close to bulletproof as possible...the V6 Auroras and Bonnes had the dreaded 4T65E tranny though, and the V8 Aurora had the 4T80E, and I have no clue about tranny...

Build quality? Top-of-the-line SSEis(not looking at GXPs, out of my price range for a decent one) is nice but Auroras are like Cadillacs on the inside...

What do you guys think?





VS.

[ctracer]

3800's arent THAT bulletproof. just maintain and itll last ya.
id go for the SSEi, its supercharged right? and if you wanted to squeeze more power out of it, it would be easy.

[machinegunsquid]

IMO, go for a Bonne. SSEI's are fun, and they are so much nicer on the interior than the GP's.

Also, the Aurora's might be nice on the inside, but damn they are ugly.

[BillBoost37]

4t80 is the bulletproof trans, 3800 is the bulletproof motor. There's no winning I'll say this.. the Bonne has much more support and modding ability than the aurora from what I've seen.

[LePrix]

4t80 is the bulletproof trans, 3800 is the bulletproof motor. There's no winning I'll say this.. the Bonne has much more support and modding ability than the aurora from what I've seen.

Did GM ever make a car withe the 4T80E AND a 3800? I'm guessing no. Goddammit GM!

[ctracer]

no but ive seen TGP people shoehorn the 4t80 into them ;P

[boostedcompg]

auroras are ugly, slow, break alot, ugly and slow. you know what it cost to replace the pretend air shocks on one of those things?

[TLSheff]

auroras are ugly, slow, break alot, ugly and slow. you know what it cost to replace the pretend air shocks on one of those things?

Truth... twice lol

And about as much as the auto level air ride struts on the SSEi's?

Either way your looking at expensive if something goes wrong, but its really what do you want?

If you find them for sale, test drive, see how it rides, performs, and feels. Go with your best sense about the car.

[dsmuts]

I used to have an aurora and it was a really nice car but i wouldn't own one again. They are super comfortable and fairly quick but it's a pain to work on it (4.0L). The bonneville on the other hand has plenty of room in the engine bay. Go bonneville and don't look back.

[blueguy]

I'd go with the LSS.

Who the **** has an Olds?

No one.

Doet.

[02 WS6 TA]

As great as the Aurora looked on paper, it was a huge pile of ****. Less horsepower and displacement than a Northstar, with all it's inherent design flaws. Ever put a starter on one?

[blueguy]

As great as the Aurora looked on paper, it was a huge pile of ****. Less horsepower and displacement than a Northstar, with all it's inherent design flaws. Ever put a starter on one?

Yeah.

And it's gay.

Like, really gay.

[TLSheff]

Comeon now... you both know its just...

[sLpGPGT]

[acidcrashdburnd]

I'd go with the LSS.

Who the **** has an Olds?

No one.

Doet.

I have one! most reliable car ever. Looks like **** runs like gold. And I have only stumbled across 2 or 3 S/C LSS the rest are NA.

I still have the Series 1 S/C motor and trans with 110k on it buried in the garage. I never got around to putting it into my olds it's a lost cause now.

[TLSheff]

I still have the Series 1 S/C motor and trans with 110k on it buried in the garage. I never got around to putting it into my olds it's a lost cause now.

It was a lost cause before, like when it was new... such a crappy motor.

Just sayin.

[acidcrashdburnd]

It was a lost cause before, like when it was new... such a crappy motor.

Just sayin.

Agreed I couldn't believe how small the pulley is on that blower. I it would have been a nice upgrade from the 160hp N/A to the 205hp S/C.

I pulled it from an SSEI

[TLSheff]

I had a 94 SSEi... Options and luxury ride was fantastic, but too old for my taste (mid 20s) so I wanted performance. That came with the 99 GTP, difference is miles between the motors.

[BillBoost37]

I had a 95 SSEi and picked up a 97 SSEi. With a pulley etc on the 95, the 97 would easily take it down. Hit the highway and the S2 really showed off.