Luxury car hypermiler... Olds Aurora?

[cfg83]

jpgmtech -


I liked the Aurora's design when it first came out. Very close to the concept version. Are you thinking first generation ...


Curb weight 3,967 lb (1,799 kg)

... or second generation? ...


Curb weight 3,627 lb (1,645 kg)

The second gen will save you 300 lbs, but I have a hunch you are quoting the .Cd of the first gen. In either case, those are pretty heavy cars.

CarloSW2

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[jpgmtech]

Yah, I was thinking first-gen.

Weight difference is likely mostly in powertrain - second gen came with V6/4T60e powertrain in the base models. The first gen only had the V8/4T80e powertrain (very heavy!)

[gascort]

I saw one the other day and thought about how aero it looked...
Good idea to swap the powertrain; the northstars in those were AWFUL and every tiny part will break the bank due to rarity.

I do agree with Daox, however, other cars will be easier and/or cheaper.

My wife's intrigue is similar in size/comfort/aero and already has the 3.8.

[gascort]

I saw one the other day and thought about how aero it looked...
Good idea to swap the powertrain; the northstars in those were AWFUL and every tiny part will break the bank due to rarity.

I do agree with Daox, however, other cars will be easier and/or cheaper.

My wife's intrigue is similar in size/comfort/aero and already has the 3.8.

[Frank Lee]

Well yah for ultimate fe this isn't gonna do it.

But I like the project; the cars look great and the 3800 is a very efficient and powerful package. Too bad there isn't a 5-speed that would slide right in there. Man, if it isn't too much extra work, that's the way I'd go.

[jpgmtech]

Originally Posted by gascort

I saw one the other day and thought about how aero it looked...
Good idea to swap the powertrain; the northstars in those were AWFUL and every tiny part will break the bank due to rarity.

I do agree with Daox, however, other cars will be easier and/or cheaper.

My wife's intrigue is similar in size/comfort/aero and already has the 3.8.

I forgot about the intrigue...

Honestly this Aurora has been sitting behind the dealership snowed in and stuck in the ice for months. I couldn't help but think that the body spent at least a little time in the wind tunnel.

No, ultimate FE would not be the goal, but excellent FE for 3500lb+ sedan with all the bells and whistles would be.

My thinking is that the OEM's could have built much more efficient cars with more thought to aero and still have retained considerable passenger comfort and convenience.

I would like to make a project out of this just to prove the point... cost for me would be minimal, but it would take time...

[jpgmtech]

BTW, 3800 V6 w/4T60e transmission would constitute a considerable weight-loss for this car. The 4T60e came with a tall final-drive on some of the 3800's, running the engine around 1600rpm at 60mph (and a variable-displacement oil pump I might add, minimizing it's parasitic loss). The 3800 did have the torque to pull that. I could gear it even more aggressively in the future, slowing the motor down to around 1200rpm's. The 3800's parameters are readily available for engine simulation software, a custom ground camshaft, higher compression, etc relatively easy to do. I also do custom ECM programming - timing advance, shift-points, EGR, etc. are all fully configurable for me.

I'm not sure how much more weight could be removed (besides the powertrain transplant) but I'm sure something could be done.

There are a few manual transmissions that would somewhat bolt-in, but would require custom half-shafts and a couple of rethought transmisison mounts.

Where I would really need the help is planning and fabricating the aero mods.

[almightybmw]

Over on clubgp.com someone removed the 4T60e and installed a manual fwd transmission. I can't remember which, as it was a year+ ago I read about it. My opinion? he did it not for FE but for power handling and uniqueness. stick with the 4T60e, it works well.

If you can get the body for cheap and the drivetrain for cheap, I'd say go for it. I can get 35mpg with my Grand Prix with 5 people. I have the 3.1 with the weaker and slightly lighter auto. I've thought of swapping to the 3.8 just for the extra tq, but decided it only benefits me in town and at lower speeds. At interstate speeds the 3.1 works just as well and consumes less fuel than the 3.8.

I'd bet you could find a complete car that could do just as well without the mechanical work involved to get running. Maybe even something newer. I'd personally hold out, as the Aurora just isn't "good enough" in my book.

Price is right, any project can be a good project....

[jpgmtech]

Good thoughts... I have to take a look at the olds intrigue again, it's a W-car like the grand prix, slightly smaller than the Aurora but still quite comfortable. And there is alot more W-cars around the auto wreckers than the Aurora.

doax, you mentioned you could think of several cars that would be a better choice. I'm open to ideas - any the fit the bill? Larger, well-equipped, and GM products?

The grand prix did roll through my mind as well - but i thought that the Aurora was a better starting point aerodynamically. I could be corrected on that though.

[MazdaMatt]

goal is cheap, FE and comfort? has to be GM... as a previous olds ninety-eight owner with the 3.8L engine, i can tell you you will not get good FE... i use literally half the gas in my mazda protege5 which has wonderful seats for the 6-7 hour trips to my parent's place. No sag-seat back-aches that you get from big cushiony seats (which are great for short trips).

If you want GM, eco and comfort you don't NEED a big car. Get a medium/small car with a 2L 4cyl and buy aftermarket comfy seats - they would be better than ANY OE seats.