The driver's side window stopped operating at about 45000 miles.
A mysterious tapping noise (not unlike the sound of a card stuck in the spokes of a bicycle) developed around 55000 miles. It turned out to be the hubs and cost about $1,700 to fix.
Now I am told that the a/c compressor has died at about 60000 miles.
The car is by far the most comfortable ride I've ever had. It handles beautifully on the road, although it is difficult to parallel park and get into tight spaces (obviously).
Aside from its size, my only problem with the car is its reliability. I've had the car for only 18 months and already it's been in the shop three times for separate problems, with repair bills/estimates amounting to more than $4,000. Is this just the way it is with American luxury cars? Is this normal? My other car is a '94 Toyota Corolla wagon and it just keeps going (125,000 miles) virtually without any maintenance at all. I'd like to keep the Aurora as a touring car (for that purpose, it is unmatched), but the maintenance costs keep adding up. Can anyone out there give me comfort that these problems are typical at this mileage and things will settle down on the repair front?
"Aside from its size, my only problem with the car is its reliability. I've had the car for only 18 months and already it's been in the shop three times for separate problems, with repair bills/estimates amounting to more than $4,000. Is this just the way it is with American luxury cars? Is this normal?"
For a used car, yes.
I would say that it is usual for an American car.
My 1997 Honda Civic ended up in a shop for the first time last month at 257 000 km (~160K miles) for a bearing and a balljoint.
Other than regular maintenance (fluids, tires and brakes), my total cost of repairs since new (almost 9 years) was less than $500. A girl at work has the same car down to the colour and she is at 250K km - her cost so far? $0.00.
But, a 1997 civic with 250K will cost you 3-4K to buy right now. A 1997 Ford, Dodge or Chevy with 250K km will cost just a touch more than the gas it has in the tank. So you can pay up front or in repairs, the cost in the end is about the same.
No, it not usual for a car to be as unreliable as your Aurora. It is usual for the Aurora, which is part of reason for the demise of Oldsmobile.
My '98 Aurora has 173000 miles and besides one problem with it (which nobody can figure out) it has been a great car for the 8 years I have owned it. Very reliable even with the sputtering and still powerful. A great car!
NO it's not true. The car you have may not have been taken care of by the first owner, There are so many factors that are involved when purchasing a used car, for one the original owner probably was good to it, but the owner after that might have trashed it. The Aurora is a car that USUALLY lasts for a while I'm an original owner, and now have 110,000 flawless miles, only needed new brake rotors.
Purchased my daughter's Aurora used, when she started college.
She fell in love with it, the ride, the leather heated seats, everything. After her Toy Yodel, it was a wonderful car.
Now has 200,000+ miles, doesn't use a drop of oil. Still starts and runs like new.
Maintaining it is expensive when needed, tho it hasn't been nearly as bad as the supposedly reliable Japanese car she drove previously.
She recently had to replace the alternator. I asked her if she would consider getting a different car. Her answer was a very quick, "NO".
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