You wrote: Xenon lights [which are another must have safety feature]
Let me disagree in this point. There are circumstances when extra-bright lights may help, but in most cases the they reduce safety by blinding other motorists. A pair of bluish lights behind you is as bad as tailgating pickup or SUV.
If you are going to make comparisons, then don't try to snow-job us. Obviously the 0-60 time is from a Type-S, and the warranty on the Olds is 5yr/60,000 miles. Xenon headlamps are not a "must have safety feature", and 5-speed auto's aren't inherently better than 4-speeds. The Licoln LS has a 5-speed auto that shifts slowly and awkwardly (and it doesn't result in a quicker car than my Aurora). I'll take the smooth 4T80-E 4-speed, thank you. Also, profit isn't directly tied to quality. Much of Olds problems stemmed from age-old restrictive agreements with dealers that Saturn (the other money loser) didn't have. I think shareholders can see past short-term losses, and being the oldest car company does mean something (just not everything). I've been a shareholder in GM for about 20 years now...
I think the part about Legero's car being used wasn't meant to be an excuse for his problems, but rather a possible cause that shouldn't be dismissed so easily. Legero, is the A/C leaking into the passenger compartment, or is it leaking R-13a outside? What exactly is leaking? I assume your complaint is not that water is dripping from the A/C system, because that isn't a leak but rather condensation from warm, humid air on the cooled down metal. Also, it wasn't Oldsman who was rude to you, that was me... And I believe that was the only immature comment made by anyone here (excluding you).
I'm glad to hear of the favorable results some of you have obtained by installing STB's, and I plan to do same. Would you remind me where you ordered yours from, as I recall some previous postings noting shipping delays. Thanks.
rjs200240 ::: No, no, the 0-60 times are not the Type-S, it is half second faster 6.2-6.3, the CL/TL is right at 6.7-6.9 depending on ones source. And yes I can attest to sub 7's 0-60, that is not a problem [plus, that is a full second faster either the 3.5 or 3.8 Intrigue].
I never said that profits were directly tied to quality, my point is profits is what business is all about. However if your product does lack quality, then repeat business may be a serious long-term issue. GM market share has shrunk over the years [not sure what the real numbers are], causing them to scramble to keep the numbers in line and keep pace with the competition. A lot of GM problems are that are once loyal customers switching to other more reliable brands, I think the term is "Brand Loyalty". I know a several old-time Caddy owners who've moved to Lexus, BMW, MB, Infinity lineup. And I see a lot of little old ladies driving Camry & Accords.
yurkam ::: Xenon lights are one of my personal preference, and I feel that once you have experience them as a driver you won't want to go back to standard lights [kind of like Antilock Brakes and Traction Control Systems]. And I disagree with the blinding factor, yes they are noticeable brighter, however I have auto-dimming rear view mirror therefore it has never been a problem from the rear or head-on for that matter.
dindak ::: Yes I know Honda rules no need to remind me. Alas, you have not answer my questions, have you ever owned an Acura? How many different brands have you owned in your lifetime? Or have you simply been a diehard Olds fan from the get-go?
Me, I never own or even driven a BMW [can't get past the price-tag], therefore I would even dream of stating how "Good" or "Bad" any BMW is or might be [always heard that they are pricey and a headache to maintain]. But I have had real experiences with Oldsmobile twice in my lifetime, GM several times, many foreign makes, that doesn't not make me an expert just one with some real-life honest opinions.
FYI, I know several business people in Canada that swear by Subaru. They love the AWD setup, and they feel they are virtually bullet-proof. Just passing that bit of info on to you, since you live in Canada.
Again if anyone spends $10-30k or more of their hard earn money, they don't want a rash of problems. Most people can live with one or two incidents as long as it is fixed right the first time, and not a series of on-going repeats.
There is little point in discussing anything with you. It's all just a re-hash of the same thing we did a few months ago. We all know you think the Intrigue sucks and Honda's are wonderful. It's all very old.
I like the looks of the new Caddy, but I would stay away from it for a year or two. I lucked out in getting a very good Intrigue in the first model year, but I don't like to tempt the fates with GM/Ford/Chryslers first-year reputations.
Also, when looking at the several CTS's that were at the local Olds/Caddy dealer, they were all loaded with various packages that pushed the price to about $38K. $29.9 is bascially a come-on. Salesguy said they were all coming to them like that, and that it was difficult to order them otherwise. I'm sure that will change over time. Probably could get some better discounts waiting to see what the demand is like. Would like to drive one someday. But if the price remains in the mid 30's, then we're talking serious BMW 325 territory, and Caddy will have a hard time dethroning that driving champ. The 325 is one of the best cars I have ever driven - but I would never consider owing one unless it was under warranty - you don't even want to think about the cost of reparing one of those, and they aren't all that reliable (of course, people do tend to drive the **** out of them!).
The CTS is a bit like the X-type in it's pricing. At least the CTS doesn't climb over $40 grand, like the X-type. Plus, a base CTS (if you could find one) still has the same engine, as opposed to the X-type. If you wait a year on the CTS, it should have a new 3.6L V6 that makes around 250hp. It seems like a neat car. I'm not too keen on the interior though, it doesn't seem very friendly.
For those of you that mentioned buying an Alero, SLP (Street Legal Performance, the company behind the Camaro SS/Firehawk) has some STB's on clearance.
It's time for my 2002's first oil change. It will never go to Jiffy Lube and I don't have time for the dealer so I thinking about doing it myself. I have the filter and as you guys know it is nothing like the filter on my 4cly 1993 GrandAm. Has anyone here changed the oil on the 3.5 before and have any tips and tricks they can offer.
Quick 1000 mile update: The cars seems to idle rough; it shakes a little as if I'm parked on a bridge that is moving. Other than that it has been fine. I need to get rid of the GrandAm and start driving this for my short tips. I've only put on 800 miles since mid February!
Just a thought. Disconnect your battery for about 30 minutes. reconnect it, and start it up. It might help with the idle. It works for my camaro, but may not help with the newer cars.
I took my Intrigue to Jiffy Lube and they did a great job. They even had a genuine GM Goodwrench 3.5L oil filter and they did not charge extra. I was most impressed!
Perhaps your local shop is not great though. I know they vary across the continent.
Everything everyone has said is true about the 3.5 and 3.8. Both use chains that do not need replacement. HOWEVER, the drive belt DOES need to be replaced. Pop the hood. See that rubber belt that wraps around the A/C compressor and the alternator? THAT needs to be replaced around 60,000 miles. If the rubbers gets worn and breaks or stretches so that the tension is weak, the belt can slip off and you'll go nowhere. If you have the right size socket for the tensioner, you can replace it yourself. But the cost for replacing a drive belt (@ $60) and a timing belt (a whooooole lot more than that!) is better than what Honda owners have to shell out with their rubber timing belts. Although I suspect they will go to chains also since most everyone else has.
A lot of GM dealers have a 30 minute guarantee (free if it takes longer than 30 min) on oil changes. Check that out. If you go to a non-Olds dealer, they might not have the filter (since it's unique to the Intrigue) and you'd get a free oil change. OTOH, you might wait hours for it so maybe that's not the best plan.
BTW, I enjoy this group but there's been a lot of wasted bandwidth the last couple of weeks. No one is going to convince someone who had a bad experience with his Intrigue that it's a great car so why bother trying. It's unfortunate that Legero had bad luck with his but the sooner people stop arguing with him, the sooner he'll leave.
Maybe $4000 isn't much money to you, but for me I just didn't see spending another $4000 for a TL(a car I didn't or wouldn't even consider). Even with depreciation factored. But, I'm not going to argue this like other here, you like your Acura I like my Olds, end of story.
legero8, "getting an attorney". What did I say, cut your losses and trade your Intrigue for that Passat you've been dreaming of. Your getting an attorney comment makes you sound like a whinning kid. GET RID OF THE CAR!!! It's that simple. If mine were giving problems like that, I'd trade it too. But I and many others here have not had major problems and enjoy ours.
one2one - Thanks for the info on the lack of timing belt on 3.5 and 3.8 engines. It can be quite a shock to get such a bill at the 60,000 mile mark. Combine the timing belt replacement with a water pump job (very senseful to do at the same time) and you can easily get up to a $1,000 bill.
With regard to the drive belt, I did indeed have mine changed at 60,000 miles. For the record, with 61,000 miles on my '98 Intrigue it is doing great and I love it!
Local dealer FINALLY has some CTSs in stock, 5 to be exact. 2 in copper sunburst, 1 in garnet red, 1 in cashmere, and 1 sterling. All were automatics and stickered from $33K to $39K. The latter having every option including navigation system. My choice would be one around the $33K mark as it was pretty well equipped and I would shave $1200 off the price by going with the manual. The dealer was already closed, but one of them had been left unlocked so I got in. The driver's seat was very comfortable. I adjusted it to a near perfect position and the head restraints are the type that move up, down, fore, and aft. The dash could use a little more wood trim to warm it up, but the instruments had a very neat "precision" look to them. The plastics seem much higher grade than those in the Intrigue and the carpet has that luxury car "plush" look and feel. Shut the door and there is a deep "thud." This car is clearly a step above the Intrigue(or the ever so popular-around-here Acura). Styling wise, the car looks so much better in person, but I'm afraid those that find beauty in Camrys, Accords, and Kenmore refrigerators will still be put off by the styling. Oh well, there is an Acura TL waiting for you if you fit in that group. Seriously though, like it or not the CTS is what Cadillac has been needing. Personally, I really liked the copper sunburst color after finally seeing it in person. Unless they jack the price way up in 2004, it looks like the CTS will be a SERIOUS consideration for the Intrigue's successor. My senses are begging for a test drive now while my brain is saying hold off. All of which translates into a test drive in the very near future to satisfy my curiousity, especially if a manual shows up at the dealer.
It was about 85 here today with about 65% hunidity and I noticed a pool of water under my Intrigue after driving it with the A/C on. Better get a lawyer now, better yet a horse because after all, a horse would be better than this piece of $*&@!! After all, horses never leak anything:)
Dindak replys ::: <<< There is little point in discussing anything with you. It's all just a re-hash of the same thing we did a few months ago. We all know you think the Intrigue sucks and Honda's are wonderful. It's all very old. honda rules!! >>>
Wow, I must say is that the best you muster up? You really disappoint me, not even answering my simply questions. Although you must truly think that Hondas are not all bad, as you do have the new 2002 CRV on your current list. My guess is that you are very "price/financing" & "GM/brand" driven when it comes to your vehicle purchases, hence the recent Alero purchase at 0.9%.
Please rest your eyes and typing fingers, I don't really to care engage with you or anyone else for the matter.
I just want you to truly acknowledge the poor souls that have had more than their share of problems with Oldsmobile/GM products. And throw them with a little sincere sympathy and kindness their way, instead of pouncing on their misfortunate as nothing more than just a way to upset your good dispositions. Trust me, they are simply looking for a place to vent, knowing full well that GM may not be of any real help, especially along the Olds lines.
Dindak ,,, please re-read that last paragraph more than once.
Imacmil ::: I guess you want this thread to be only be for those who have had "POSITIVE" Intrigue experiences, all others should go bury your heads in the sand.
You people think "get rid of the car" is that easy? The car is not paid off for 2 more years! I owe about $8,000 on the car...the car itself is worth about $6,000. SO if I sell it I am 2K in debt which I don't want to be. I dealer might even give me less. Besides I already bought an extended warrenty I want to at least hope this car will make it to 60,000 miles I am hoping...
THE INTRIGUE IS JUNK! Today my passenger side floorboard was soaked in water. Probably a leak from the AC but now my carpet is discolored and smells like mildo inside. This sure doesn't help sell the car! The car is in the shop AGAIN and I have a rental car now a Dodge.
This IS the most unreliable car I have ever come across. My parents, friends, brothers have had many cars none this unreliable. A Ford Tempo is actually more reliable..A TEMPO!!!!!
Honda rules...I never said that Didak more like ANYTHING RULES...except Oldsmobile.
It is getting interesting here, with Accord v Passat v Intrigue all over again. Our 2K Intrigue GL (midnight blue) now has 38 K on it.Only problem so far of significance, cam shaft position sensor failed in the mid 20K., symptom was car not starting on first turn of key. Not quite sure if we have steering clunk issue - sometimes there seems to be a groan when turning right at 0 - 2 mph. Other than that it is wonderful ride for any trip longer than 30 miles, especially between 75-90 mph. I am not sure if people coming over from camcords, do really know the huge difference between Msrp and street price for domestics. Either that or price must be not be an issue for these folks. As for me, I consider the number 1 GM brand to be the GM card, followed by (for me) Saturn (after getting 160K+ on an 92 SL2 with mostly minor problems). Like Dindak here I too could n't pass up on the Alero, with the Olds credit and Gm card rebate etc. Have an ecotec ,ruby red too, GL1 with sun roof and sound. The Ecotec is surprisingly smooth and quiet for a domestic. I used to think that only Toy and Honda had the magic ingredient for quiet idles. It is a good enough car for the commute(1500 miles so far in a month). I also get to drive a 2K2 PF or a 99 Passat quite often. So my preference would be 1. Intrigue for fun and moderate high speed interstate driving, covering distance in least amt of time. 2. Nissan PF for relaxed family fun,conversations when driving etc. 3. Passat for short bursts of 'how fast can I go' and satisfying cleaning urges(those metallic pads and brake dust, and silver Audi/VW's really look classy after a good wash). 4. Alero for multi tasking, commute + music + save on gas + easy on the planet. Is there a Hindu Accord in my future ? Maybe if I am forced to buy a car when my GM card $$ are under 1K, but I would probably go for the Nissan's - Alt,Max or G35 depending on how tight my hold on the wallet at that point. With >1 K of GM card $, It still is not easy, I have already bought all the GM cars that appeal to me, I like DOHC v6's but I would consider Impala LS, or the Buick Rendezvous nothing else from GM, F,or DCX.
Alero is a really nice midsize car. The Oldsmobile credit really helped make the decision easy. As we have a small family and a limited budget, it's about the best we could muster. Two car payments with day care and home payments certainly do pinch the wallet hard. Can't wait until the Intrigue is paid off.
I think if you read my post again, you will see that what I'm opposed to is beating threads to death, regardless of topic. As an Intrigue owner, I want to hear about everyone's experiences, good and bad. What I would rather not waste time reading (or having to wade through to get to real information), are unresolvable arguments of whether the Intrigue is a good car, a bad car, or just another run-of-the-mill transportation vehicle.
I sympathize with Legero (and you too I guess) who had bad experiences with their Intrigues. If Legero had come here and said "I've had bad luck with my Intrigue, etc." he would have received the appropriate amount of sympathy. His inductive reasoning which says "since my Intrigue is junk, all Intrigues are junk" not only flies in the face of logic and the available evidence, it serves no purpose other than to rile up the satisfied owners who feel compelled to respond, ad nauseum.
I don't want to see this forum deteriorate into name calling and whining like so many other internet forums and newsgroups have.
The problem is that the drain (forgot exact which one but it's not the A/C... I had reasoned the same way) is clogged. Do you live on a street with lots of trees? That happened to me with my '98 and I've seen on the Regal forum that the same thing happened to someone. It's a cheap fix... less than $40, if even that. I noticed that the problem occured only when it rained.
A quick update on my latest repair. I had my 99 GLS 3.5 (up to 67K miles now) in for what I thought was a recurrence of the intermediate steering shaft problem. Turns out, the clunk I was feeling was caused by some bolts being loose in the front right suspension. I admit, I don't routinely check the suspension closely enough to catch that. Have any of you, especially those who have made suspension modifications, noticed anything being unusually loose? Could it have been a result of the work the dealer did replacing the steering rack? Any insight would be appreciated.
Folks, that is enough of this bickering that we've been all through before. It makes no sense - as most of you know - to categorize an entire line of vehicles by one experience - postive or negative.
Some of us need to calm down and understand that we have experienced different events in our lives and we are all entitled to form our own opinions based on those events, but we are not entitled to keep bashing others because they disagree with us.
The Town Hall is a place where folks expect to have polite and reasonable conversations about just about anything car-related (and sometimes not car-related) - and your Membership Agreementl requires that the conversation be civil and respectful.
So please let's get back to a friendly exchange of thoughts and opinions. If you are unable to post a message that is civil and respectful, then don't post at all. We are talking about the car, not each other.
Any further posts that are judged by me to be uncivil, attacking, off-topic in a disruptive manner or otherwise non-compliant with the Membership Agreement will be removed.
No, not that because I didn't have a moonroof. It has something to do with a plug somewhere in the vicinty behind the glove box on the inside and where the leaves build up under the right wiper. In fact, it seemed like it was coming up from the ground into the car because I only really noticed it when going to work and only when the car was moving. Turns out I was wrong but it was still odd.
Funny, I only had it once and most Intrigue owners didn't/haven't had it at all. The technician said decomposing leaves built up. On my street you could power a small town if you burned all the leaves that fall. legero8 is the first one in 2 years that has had this problem since I originally posted the problem.
I know some of you have said that you don't like the styling of the new Aurora but I sure do. The prospect of having a smaller Aurora would've definitely "INTRIGUEd" me. Too bad we won't get to see it. I think it's the most handsome interior I've ever seen in a domestic car.
I've done some measuring and have figured out that the Oldsmobile rocket emblem that is on the back of the Alero can fit above INTRIGUE on the rear (on the little lip thing). I'm thinking how handsome this would look. I've never liked the cheap looking oldsmobile on the rear and want to remove it. Not because I'm embarassed that it's an Oldsmobile but because I don't think it fits with the rest of the car. Placing the rocket emblem would announce it as an Oldsmobile with greater appeal. By the way, moving the rocket emblem from the hood to the front fascia was one of the best things I've done for the appearance of the front of the car. Only thing that would be better is to have an even bigger emblem that is on the current Bravada.
Imacmil ::: Your Point is well taken. But I'm certain, that there maybe some people reading way too much into what message(s) are trying to be convened.
I've been involved with this Intrigue forum for almost 4 years [I think long before some of the other current regulars]. And within any given few months time period, the same items are being discussed over and over [heck, I speed read thru most of it]. Granted mostly "positive" and little stuff, but ALL over and over. Every 3-6 months I pop-up to make a statement or two, and then lay low for a while.
I'm only here for the "Free" exchange of personal opinions and ideas. Thus everyone is entitled to them, and in a lot of cases there is NO one right answer(s).
Trust me guys, I really did NOT want to sale my Intrigue 4-6 years prematurely. I didn't lose my shirt, but I also was not able to enjoy the benefits of 2-4 years of NO car payments. [I'm not a rich man, wish I was then I be over on some Luxury Car Forum].
There are more important things in life than one own personal car.
Agree with you on the logo, the little Oldsmobile name looks like they pulled them off old 80's cutlass ciera's. The symbol on the Alero is nicer. Let us know how you make out/part number info.
I agree with you completely!! As a 2001 Intrigue owner who is very satisfied thus far, I enjoy hearing about other people's experience good or bad. I have the factory service manual on the Intrigue and would gladly offer a troubled owner some advice or tips from the manual. HOWEVER, I don't want to hear how good Acuras, VWs, Toyos, et. al are and just how bad Intrigues and domestic cars are. If your unhappy, post your problems and be done with it. If you want to debate domestics versus imports, find a thread for that. Trust me, there are plenty here at Edmunds. Traded your Intrigue for an Acura, thats fine. I'll post here when I trade mine for something else someday. But don't tell us how good Acuras(or whatever else) are. Save that for the Acura forum because few here really care about Acuras,had we cared we would have bought one.
I like the badging on my 2001 GLS. I know earlier models(99s and maybe 2000s) had a very small Oldsmobile badge and I like the look of the larger one on my 2001. I'm also glad Olds didn't do overboard with the badging like they used to do. The emblem on the front and Olds badge on the rear is good along with the emblems on the wheels.
A/C drain is either clogged or the drain spout has come loose from the HVAC module. Shouldn't be a hard fix. Hate to say this guys, but the very same thing could happen on an $8999 Kia or an $89,000 S-Class. Heck, the same thing happened to the air handler unit in my parents house. It was mounted in the attic and the condensate water leaked and spotted the ceiling.
Has anyone been able to activate the "delayed exterior lighting" feature on their Intrigue? Last night I was reading the service manual and under driver personalization one of the features was this. It is supposed to allow the headlights to stay on for 90 seconds after the ignition is turned off at night. This is a feature that I would like to activate and I followed the instructions in the service manual and have not been able to get it to work. I know the owner's manual does not mention this feature, but the service manual does and I also know that the Intrigue's counterparts(Regal and Impala) do this.
There was some recent posts on 0-60 times (comparing to Japanese rivals). I have seen the Intrigue numbers from many sources for both the 3.8 and 3.5 - generally in the 7.8-8.1s range. What I have not seen is a comparison between the 3.5 with stock gearing and a 3.5 with the PCS-gearing. It seems to me that all the 3.5 times I have seen are with the 3.05 gears. Has anyone seen 0-60 times listed for 3.29-geared Intrigues? I would expect the gearing to help a good tenth or so.
harlanc told us that the 3.05 gearing that was added to the '00 intrigue slowed the car two tenths to 60 mph. 0-60 is 8 seconds for the 3.05 cars. 0-60 is 7.8 seconds for the 3.29 cars. Those are the '99 cars and the 2000 and laters with PCS.
Interestingly, similiar numbers are posted for the 3800 impalas, but mine feels like its 0-60 time is about 8.5 seconds. C&d recently reported a mid 8 second number.
So ibelieve from my experience that the 3.5L is more powerful than the 15 hp increase indicates.
but jgriff left out a couple of Acura details: TL/CL requires premium fuel (Intrigue uses regular); TL/CL WILL need that timing belt replaced (cha-ching). I will be one of the folks on this thread to say, even though we have had more problems than average with our Intrigue, my wife and I still very much like the car. And GM's rebate certificate saved me $1,000 on the purchase price of my 2001 Formula, so that helped offset the reduced resale value of the Intrigue a bit. Poor Legero8 is living in a fantasy world. Cars break. All of them. No make is immune. Sometimes you get a good one, and sometimes you get a bad one. Your remarks only prove your immaturity. He believes if he complains about it long and loud enough, someone else will make his problem go away. Typical youth of today.
White6: Yep, I do agree with you on the chain vs. belt, but we are talking at 105k miles not the typical 60k. And "me" personally I can't remember the last time I kept a new car long enough to break into the 6 digit column of the odometer. Tires will cost me a lot more, long before I get to the timing issue.
Prem. vs. Regular, lets do the math on the big bucks there. Say one puts about 15k miles in a year at an average of 22mpg. They would consume roughly 682 gallons annually. So at 10 cents per gallon difference between Prem & Reg that is a whooping $68, even at 20 cents difference we're only talk $136. That breaks down to about $2.60 per week or $11 dollars per month. Again I'm pretty tight with my money, but if gas prices are one of your biggest concerns in driving a family sedan, than maybe you should be looking at a smaller 4-cylinder vehicle, and step away slowly from the V6/8's on the car lot.
Where gas prices kills me, and everyone else is when it goes from 1.25 to 2-dollars or more per-gallon, but I'm still only 10-20 cents difference from regular fuel.
BTW: does the Intrigue come with memory seats and mirrors? The TL/CL do, and it is very handy when sharing with the wife. What about a standard 6/in-dash CD, or is it still single in-dash and a trunk mounted option. No heated mirrors, or locking gas covers. And "Heated" seats are optional not standard as well. Right?
Yeah, I know another cheap shot, but I couldn't resist. Shame on me.
Let it be known that an Acura TL or CL is much nicer than an Intrigue. First off these Acura's are around 30K you can get a loaded intrigue for around 23K. The Acura also has more features, better resale, and more reliable. Though I will amit the Acuras have bland styling.
Intrigue with memory seat and memory mirrors? No way..An Aurora might but no Intrigue has such features. And I am glad it doesn't means more stuff to break. Intrigues are JUNK.
I am so mad at this car I can't take it anymore. Shop called and they say this so called $60 repair you people talk about will actually take 5 days to fix...which is no way $60.
"If there is a reason to do a comparison between the TL or CL and the Intrigue, THE COMPARISONS BOARD IS THE PLACE TO DO IT."
Even so, I think the debate here has been stimulating. The Intrigue begs comparison between itself and imports because that's what it was created to do: compete with imports.
If you're not a rich man jgriff can I ask you why you bought a TL instead of a V6 Accord?
Getting back to the Intrigue... who was mentioning that stiffer springs and softer shocks would work? Was it oscarz? I'm thinking how right you probably are. On the way home last night I was swerving from side to side (on a quiet street) and could feel the springs give way and allow the car to sway, even with the STBs and next level rear sway. Problem is, how does one find a stiffer spring without it being a lowering one.
The badging on the rear has improved only slightly with the larger Oldsmobile moniker. It is still the same font (created in the 70s) and spread out a bit. It's still bland and doesn't match the Intrigue font at all. I, also am glad that the car isn't OVERbadged. I just happen to like the new rocket emblem and wish it was on the rear.
I've got about 3K miles left on my factory warranty. I had my tranny rebuilt (the OD clutch failure) at 24K miles. Although I've had no problems with it, I'm considering extending the warranty as insurance against a future problem. Anyone have an opinion on 3rd party warranties vs. what the dealer has to offer? I haven't done any comparison shopping yet.
Comments
Let me disagree in this point. There are circumstances when extra-bright lights may help, but in most cases the they reduce safety by blinding other motorists. A pair of bluish lights behind you is as bad as tailgating pickup or SUV.
jgriff : Go help legero buy a Honda, QUICK! I'll pay for your air line ticket.
Honda RULES!
I think the part about Legero's car being used wasn't meant to be an excuse for his problems, but rather a possible cause that shouldn't be dismissed so easily. Legero, is the A/C leaking into the passenger compartment, or is it leaking R-13a outside? What exactly is leaking? I assume your complaint is not that water is dripping from the A/C system, because that isn't a leak but rather condensation from warm, humid air on the cooled down metal. Also, it wasn't Oldsman who was rude to you, that was me... And I believe that was the only immature comment made by anyone here (excluding you).
I never said that profits were directly tied to quality, my point is profits is what business is all about. However if your product does lack quality, then repeat business may be a serious long-term issue. GM market share has shrunk over the years [not sure what the real numbers are], causing them to scramble to keep the numbers in line and keep pace with the competition. A lot of GM problems are that are once loyal customers switching to other more reliable brands, I think the term is "Brand Loyalty". I know a several old-time Caddy owners who've moved to Lexus, BMW, MB, Infinity lineup. And I see a lot of little old ladies driving Camry & Accords.
yurkam ::: Xenon lights are one of my personal preference, and I feel that once you have experience them as a driver you won't want to go back to standard lights [kind of like Antilock Brakes and Traction Control Systems]. And I disagree with the blinding factor, yes they are noticeable brighter, however I have auto-dimming rear view mirror therefore it has never been a problem from the rear or head-on for that matter.
dindak ::: Yes I know Honda rules no need to remind me. Alas, you have not answer my questions, have you ever owned an Acura? How many different brands have you owned in your lifetime? Or have you simply been a diehard Olds fan from the get-go?
Me, I never own or even driven a BMW [can't get past the price-tag], therefore I would even dream of stating how "Good" or "Bad" any BMW is or might be [always heard that they are pricey and a headache to maintain]. But I have had real experiences with Oldsmobile twice in my lifetime, GM several times, many foreign makes, that doesn't not make me an expert just one with some real-life honest opinions.
FYI, I know several business people in Canada that swear by Subaru. They love the AWD setup, and they feel they are virtually bullet-proof. Just passing that bit of info on to you, since you live in Canada.
Again if anyone spends $10-30k or more of their hard earn money, they don't want a rash of problems. Most people can live with one or two incidents as long as it is fixed right the first time, and not a series of on-going repeats.
honda rules!!
Also, when looking at the several CTS's that were at the local Olds/Caddy dealer, they were all loaded with various packages that pushed the price to about $38K. $29.9 is bascially a come-on. Salesguy said they were all coming to them like that, and that it was difficult to order them otherwise. I'm sure that will change over time. Probably could get some better discounts waiting to see what the demand is like. Would like to drive one someday. But if the price remains in the mid 30's, then we're talking serious BMW 325 territory, and Caddy will have a hard time dethroning that driving champ. The 325 is one of the best cars I have ever driven - but I would never consider owing one unless it was under warranty - you don't even want to think about the cost of reparing one of those, and they aren't all that reliable (of course, people do tend to drive the **** out of them!).
For those of you that mentioned buying an Alero, SLP (Street Legal Performance, the company behind the Camaro SS/Firehawk) has some STB's on clearance.
Quick 1000 mile update: The cars seems to idle rough; it shakes a little as if I'm parked on a bridge that is moving. Other than that it has been fine. I need to get rid of the GrandAm and start driving this for my short tips. I've only put on 800 miles since mid February!
Thanks
It works for my camaro, but may not help with the newer cars.
Perhaps your local shop is not great though. I know they vary across the continent.
BTW, I enjoy this group but there's been a lot of wasted bandwidth the last couple of weeks. No one is going to convince someone who had a bad experience with his Intrigue that it's a great car so why bother trying. It's unfortunate that Legero had bad luck with his but the sooner people stop arguing with him, the sooner he'll leave.
legero8, "getting an attorney". What did I say, cut your losses and trade your Intrigue for that Passat you've been dreaming of. Your getting an attorney comment makes you sound like a whinning kid. GET RID OF THE CAR!!! It's that simple. If mine were giving problems like that, I'd trade it too. But I and many others here have not had major problems and enjoy ours.
With regard to the drive belt, I did indeed have mine changed at 60,000 miles. For the record, with 61,000 miles on my '98 Intrigue it is doing great and I love it!
<<< There is little point in discussing anything with you. It's all just a re-hash of the same thing we did a few months ago. We all know you think the Intrigue sucks and Honda's are wonderful. It's all very old.
honda rules!! >>>
Wow, I must say is that the best you muster up? You really disappoint me, not even answering my simply questions. Although you must truly think that Hondas are not all bad, as you do have the new 2002 CRV on your current list. My guess is that you are very "price/financing" & "GM/brand" driven when it comes to your vehicle purchases, hence the recent Alero purchase at 0.9%.
Please rest your eyes and typing fingers, I don't really to care engage with you or anyone else for the matter.
I just want you to truly acknowledge the poor souls that have had more than their share of problems with Oldsmobile/GM products. And throw them with a little sincere sympathy and kindness their way, instead of pouncing on their misfortunate as nothing more than just a way to upset your good dispositions. Trust me, they are simply looking for a place to vent, knowing full well that GM may not be of any real help, especially along the Olds lines.
Dindak ,,, please re-read that last paragraph more than once.
Imacmil ::: I guess you want this thread to be only be for those who have had "POSITIVE" Intrigue experiences, all others should go bury your heads in the sand.
THE INTRIGUE IS JUNK! Today my passenger side floorboard was soaked in water. Probably a leak from the AC but now my carpet is discolored and smells like mildo inside. This sure doesn't help sell the car! The car is in the shop AGAIN and I have a rental car now a Dodge.
This IS the most unreliable car I have ever come across. My parents, friends, brothers have had many cars none this unreliable. A Ford Tempo is actually more reliable..A TEMPO!!!!!
Honda rules...I never said that Didak more like ANYTHING RULES...except Oldsmobile.
Other than that it is wonderful ride for any trip longer than 30 miles, especially between 75-90 mph.
I am not sure if people coming over from camcords, do really know the huge difference between Msrp and street price for domestics. Either that or price must be not be an issue for these folks. As for me, I consider the number 1 GM brand to be the GM card, followed by (for me) Saturn (after getting 160K+ on an 92 SL2 with mostly minor problems).
Like Dindak here I too could n't pass up on the Alero, with the Olds credit and Gm card rebate etc. Have an ecotec ,ruby red too, GL1 with sun roof and sound. The Ecotec is surprisingly smooth and quiet for a domestic. I used to think that only Toy and Honda had the magic ingredient for quiet idles. It is a good enough car for the commute(1500 miles so far in a month). I also get to drive a 2K2 PF or a 99 Passat quite often.
So my preference would be 1. Intrigue for fun and moderate high speed interstate driving, covering distance in least amt of time.
2. Nissan PF for relaxed family fun,conversations when driving etc.
3. Passat for short bursts of 'how fast can I go' and satisfying cleaning urges(those metallic pads and brake dust, and silver Audi/VW's really look classy after a good wash).
4. Alero for multi tasking, commute + music + save on gas + easy on the planet.
Is there a Hindu Accord in my future ? Maybe if I am forced to buy a car when my GM card $$ are under 1K, but I would probably go for the Nissan's - Alt,Max or G35 depending on how tight my hold on the wallet at that point. With >1 K of GM card $, It still is not easy, I have already bought all the GM cars that appeal to me, I like DOHC v6's but I would consider Impala LS, or the Buick Rendezvous nothing else from GM, F,or DCX.
legero8 : Intrigues are all junk. Sell it ASAP.
I sympathize with Legero (and you too I guess) who had bad experiences with their Intrigues. If Legero had come here and said "I've had bad luck with my Intrigue, etc." he would have received the appropriate amount of sympathy. His inductive reasoning which says "since my Intrigue is junk, all Intrigues are junk" not only flies in the face of logic and the available evidence, it serves no purpose other than to rile up the satisfied owners who feel compelled to respond, ad nauseum.
I don't want to see this forum deteriorate into name calling and whining like so many other internet forums and newsgroups have.
I know this is a technical question, but can you describe exactly what is leaking? Water or refrigerant?
I know my Intrigue a/c tends to leak a lot of water on humid days.
Some say that is a good sign but how do you replace that water? Does it have a little tube from the radiator?
Maybe there is a technical bulletin on that. ;=)
Folks, that is enough of this bickering that we've been all through before. It makes no sense - as most of you know - to categorize an entire line of vehicles by one experience - postive or negative.
Some of us need to calm down and understand that we have experienced different events in our lives and we are all entitled to form our own opinions based on those events, but we are not entitled to keep bashing others because they disagree with us.
The Town Hall is a place where folks expect to have polite and reasonable conversations about just about anything car-related (and sometimes not car-related) - and your Membership Agreementl requires that the conversation be civil and respectful.
So please let's get back to a friendly exchange of thoughts and opinions. If you are unable to post a message that is civil and respectful, then don't post at all. We are talking about the car, not each other.
Any further posts that are judged by me to be uncivil, attacking, off-topic in a disruptive manner or otherwise non-compliant with the Membership Agreement will be removed.
Pat
Sedans Host
Funny, I only had it once and most Intrigue owners didn't/haven't had it at all. The technician said decomposing leaves built up. On my street you could power a small town if you burned all the leaves that fall. legero8 is the first one in 2 years that has had this problem since I originally posted the problem.
I've done some measuring and have figured out that the Oldsmobile rocket emblem that is on the back of the Alero can fit above INTRIGUE on the rear (on the little lip thing). I'm thinking how handsome this would look. I've never liked the cheap looking oldsmobile on the rear and want to remove it. Not because I'm embarassed that it's an Oldsmobile but because I don't think it fits with the rest of the car. Placing the rocket emblem would announce it as an Oldsmobile with greater appeal. By the way, moving the rocket emblem from the hood to the front fascia was one of the best things I've done for the appearance of the front of the car. Only thing that would be better is to have an even bigger emblem that is on the current Bravada.
I've been involved with this Intrigue forum for almost 4 years [I think long before some of the other current regulars]. And within any given few months time period, the same items are being discussed over and over [heck, I speed read thru most of it]. Granted mostly "positive" and little stuff, but ALL over and over. Every 3-6 months I pop-up to make a statement or two, and then lay low for a while.
I'm only here for the "Free" exchange of personal opinions and ideas. Thus everyone is entitled to them, and in a lot of cases there is NO one right answer(s).
Trust me guys, I really did NOT want to sale my Intrigue 4-6 years prematurely. I didn't lose my shirt, but I also was not able to enjoy the benefits of 2-4 years of NO car payments. [I'm not a rich man, wish I was then I be over on some Luxury Car Forum].
There are more important things in life than one own personal car.
Take care, Gentlemen.
What I have not seen is a comparison between the 3.5 with stock gearing and a 3.5 with the PCS-gearing. It seems to me that all the 3.5 times I have seen are with the 3.05 gears. Has anyone seen 0-60 times listed for 3.29-geared Intrigues?
I would expect the gearing to help a good tenth or so.
0-60 is 8 seconds for the 3.05 cars.
0-60 is 7.8 seconds for the 3.29 cars. Those are the '99 cars and the 2000 and laters with PCS.
Interestingly, similiar numbers are posted for the 3800 impalas, but mine feels like its 0-60 time is about 8.5 seconds. C&d recently reported a mid 8 second number.
So ibelieve from my experience that the 3.5L is more powerful than the 15 hp increase indicates.
Prem. vs. Regular, lets do the math on the big bucks there. Say one puts about 15k miles in a year at an average of 22mpg. They would consume roughly 682 gallons annually. So at 10 cents per gallon difference between Prem & Reg that is a whooping $68, even at 20 cents difference we're only talk $136. That breaks down to about $2.60 per week or $11 dollars per month. Again I'm pretty tight with my money, but if gas prices are one of your biggest concerns in driving a family sedan, than maybe you should be looking at a smaller 4-cylinder vehicle, and step away slowly from the V6/8's on the car lot.
Where gas prices kills me, and everyone else is when it goes from 1.25 to 2-dollars or more per-gallon, but I'm still only 10-20 cents difference from regular fuel.
BTW: does the Intrigue come with memory seats and mirrors? The TL/CL do, and it is very handy when sharing with the wife. What about a standard 6/in-dash CD, or is it still single in-dash and a trunk mounted option. No heated mirrors, or locking gas covers. And "Heated" seats are optional not standard as well. Right?
Yeah, I know another cheap shot, but I couldn't resist. Shame on me.
If there is a reason to do a comparison between the TL or CL and the Intrigue, the Comparisons board is the place to do it.
Pat
Sedans Host
Intrigue with memory seat and memory mirrors? No way..An Aurora might but no Intrigue has such features. And I am glad it doesn't means more stuff to break. Intrigues are JUNK.
I am so mad at this car I can't take it anymore. Shop called and they say this so called $60 repair you people talk about will actually take 5 days to fix...which is no way $60.
Even so, I think the debate here has been stimulating. The Intrigue begs comparison between itself and imports because that's what it was created to do: compete with imports.
If you're not a rich man jgriff can I ask you why you bought a TL instead of a V6 Accord?
Getting back to the Intrigue... who was mentioning that stiffer springs and softer shocks would work? Was it oscarz? I'm thinking how right you probably are. On the way home last night I was swerving from side to side (on a quiet street) and could feel the springs give way and allow the car to sway, even with the STBs and next level rear sway. Problem is, how does one find a stiffer spring without it being a lowering one.
The badging on the rear has improved only slightly with the larger Oldsmobile moniker. It is still the same font (created in the 70s) and spread out a bit. It's still bland and doesn't match the Intrigue font at all. I, also am glad that the car isn't OVERbadged. I just happen to like the new rocket emblem and wish it was on the rear.