Oldsmobile Intrigue

bjl3

I have a question. If items like the ISS are replaced under warrenty. Then, go bad once out of warrenty. Aren't these parts under lifetime warrenty per the GM Goodwrench service plan?

sda

I sold my Intrigue about two months ago. There are several features that I've found I miss. Trunk hinges that don't intrude into the trunk and crush boxes and grocery bags. Split rear seatbacks that fold down almost flat. (I can't tell you how many times I used those to carry bulky items.) Headlamps that can you can change bulbs without tools. Cornering lamps that shine brightly when the turn signal is activated. Wipers that sweep all the way to the driver's (left wiper) edge of the windshield. Interior activated lights with the pull of the exterior door handle. Good gas mileage. I easily averaged 23mpg+. My Aurora 4.0 gets 20mpg in similar conditions. I think I drive it even more conservatively so it won't be worse. It's not that much quicker, either. Midnight blue color. It was so sharp when clean and waxed. It had such depth. Thick, soft leather wrapped steering wheel. The Aurora's leather steering wheel is even thicker, but it lacks the padding the Intrigue had. Tight turning radius. I was always surprised and delighted how sharp the Intrigue was able to turn. Made for very easy U-turns, parking lot maneuvers and such. About the same overall size, the Aurora is cumbersome in tight maneuvers. What would have been a quick turn in the Intrigue is a multi-step task in the Aurora.

v8lincolnguy

Those 17" wheels on the Aurora probably make the turning radius larger. I noticed this with a Cadillac Seville that I had as a rental a couple of years ago. It is not that much bigger than the Intrigue, but sure felt it in a tight turn. Seems I remember the person who replaced their Intrigue with a Maxima(can't remember who it was now) also noticed this. I haven't really noticed this on my LS as it has 17 inchers, but it is actually several inches shorter than an Intrigue overall. I do miss the cornering lamps as well, seems GM is one of the few people who still put those on cars and it appears that even they are getting away from them. And yep, the trunk hinges were nice as the LS has your typical trunk hinge system which intrudes into the compartment.

dindak

It's amazing how this feature has not made it on to all sedans. It's just common sense to build a trunk like the Intrigue's.

sda

Good point v8lincolnguy. I think the 17 inch tires could prevent allowing a sharper turn in, otherwise they might rub the fenderwell. I think another benefit of rear drive on your LS is the ability to allow the sharper turn in without compromising other suspension components. I wonder if the final 500 Intrigues with the 17 inchers were adversely affected. Does anyone in the group have a final 500?

taycron

Cool features on my Intrigue

- I agree with sda on the trunk hinges.
- The way the interior lights dim slowly when you close the door.
- The way the stereo keeps playing until you open the door. although I will be replacing the stereo.
- It's looks.
- The dash lighting.

Things I don't like

- No ashtray. Yes I know smoking is bad for me.
- one touch window down. I can never get this to work right. It only goes all the way down when I want to crack the window to let the smoke out. I wish I could disable this feature.
- No light under the hood. maybe other have this. My car is the GX.
- steering wheel is uncomfortable. I wish I could get a leather one from salvage.
- gas mileage is the pits even though the car is running great.
- I wish I could replace the seats.
-

ab348

About your dislikes: my car has a lighter but no ashtray. But it would be easy to get one because Olds used a plastic "can" with a lid that flipped up that fits in the front cupholder. I agree with you on the steering wheel and underhood light, but I like my seats. I usually want my window all the way down so that isn't a problem for me, but I have noticed the switch is pretty sensitive.

GM sold (at least until recently, possibly still) an underhood light kit that was the type that Olds used on the older '70s cars, with a mercury switch integral to the unit. All you'd need to do is find a hot lead somewhere under the hood and wire it in, and mount it under the hood.

dindak

I remember when I got the Intrigue I was disappointed it didn't have a lumbar adjuster, but after almost 4 years with the car I have to say it wasn't needed. the seats are great IMO. Ash tray, don't care. I have the leather wheel so I don't know anything else. Lights would be nice under the hood, but not many cars have this.

Mileage on our Intrigue has been better than I would have hoped for. We get about 32-33 highway and about 20-21 city. Have you had the dealer look at this issue?

msw13

Are your figures in miles or kilometers? I thought you had your odometer set up in kilometers. What average speed do you set to get that high of highway mileage. My '99 3.8 is turning about 2100 rpm at 80 mph, and that usually nets about 27-29. Not bad IMHO. The original EPA estimate was 19 City 30 Hiway. BTW I just had it smogged for the 2nd time and it was so low on emissions it was unbelievable.

taycron

Thanks for the suggestion,ab348.

dindak, I bought my Intrigue in October for $3,500. It had 109,000 miles on it and I haven't had it tuned up because it's running good. I'm olny getting 19mpg in mixed driving so something has to be done but I really don't trust dealers. I guess I'll have to bring it in though.

I'm not a fan of lumbar support in car seats. I never use them. The Intrigue seats always feel uncomfortable to me as if they forgot add padding. maybe I'll get a seat cover or something..

msw13, I usually drive 80 mph on the highway and thought that was part of my problem. I see you do the same thing and get much better gas mileage..

focus

sold my second car (89 audi), take the intrigue out of storage today and activated "low trac" twice.
it's my intention is to add two woofers (7") i have on hand to the back and a dedicated subwoofer amp to power my 15"; rocking in the winter wonderland

dindak

msw13 : MPG. I converted for y'all. The car is just spectacular on the highway. In the winter, mileage goes down though. Probably get around 28 on the highway now.

focus : We sure did get a good dump of snow yesterday. Intrigue handles snow very well though.

rocketman71

Since I bought my 2002 Intrigue GLS in October I have compared features with my 97 88 LSS. Now, I realize the 88 is of somewhat a higher line car than the Intrigue and was subsequently replaced by the V6 Aurora, I still think GM could have offered a few more features on the Intrigue for minimal cost without "stepping on Aurora's toes". A couple of nice items would have been an opening rear centre armrest that incorporates the coffee cup holders and other storage - this in turn frees up space for a centre rear A/C duct in the rear of the console. Power seat switches and courtesy lights, both located on the door panels, and a switch to go from metric to US readings for temp and speed would be nice. Another great feature of my LSS is power recliners, although the Intrigue offers power lumbar and the LSS has manual - go figure. The other omission, which they use to have, are heated outside mirrors - why would they decontent a useful feature when more and more lower line cars offer them? I do like the cornering lights a great deal though, whereas the LSS doesn't have them. Now unless my car is an exception, I can't believe there isn't a courtesy light in the console compartment- both my LSS and my 71 Cutlass have one! These are minor points as I do love the car - fantastic handling and smooth engine! GM needs us to help them do it right.

ab348

We're in the middle of a bad spell here on the east coast. Extremely low temps, windy, some snow. I hate driving in this but have no choice. I got the Intrigue washed last weekend before it got really bad but within 2 days it was a salt-covered mess again and it's too cold to wash. It's been so cold that the wipers won't flex.

The roads are a mix of bare, frozen snow/slush, and packed-down ice. Today I activated the low trac light for the first time - never knew it was there - and the ABS kicked in a half-dozen times. It saved me from potential trouble one of those times. It's a great car for this time of year except the ice and snow I track onto the rubber mats thaws, then freezes, with every cycle, and in doing so the inside of the windows ice up. The car could use a more powerful heater/defroster.

vcjumper

First winter with winter tires for me, I'm a believer for sure. I think I drove 500km this week in the snow and they have been awesome.

Canadian Tire is having a big sale on Michelin snow tires starting tomorrow.

I don't remember having cold like this while owning the Intrigue.. It definitely could use a better heater.

msw13

Dindak: You are right about spectacular on the highway. I have hit the speed limiter a few times on the way to Las Vegas. I can't imagine the cold you guys up north are getting. Here in San Diego, its been very nice.
Taycron, there are a few DIY items you can check yourself. Air filter, fuel filter, plugs and wires. The plugs are probably originals. I have 78K and have not changed them yet. Nor do I think they need to be. It runs so well that all I do is change the oil at 6-7k mile intervals. You should be getting better in mixed, but not a whole lot if your foot is heavy. I get somewhere around there in mixed too, but I tend to run it up if the need presents itself. I have owned my '99 GL for just over 2 years now and 26k miles. I got it for 8k from the original owner. I used to have an SHO, and I like the Intrigue better. It is nearly as fast, and more reliable with less maintenance. I am taking it to ski at Tahoe next weekend so we'll see how well it does in cold weather. I have the heated mirrors, but really dont need them. Stay warm and good luck.

b4z

Your Intrigue does have rear air.
There is a duct under both front seats.

dindak

ab348 : ABS is a must as is traction control. Intrigue's systems work well and the car feels good on snow. You are right, the Intrigue could have a better heating system but it's not a unique issue to this car.

vcjumper : If I had a place to keep winter tires I would get them. Just no room, our garage is packed with cars and kids toys.

msw13 : I would love to move south, my buddy moved to AZ and I'm jealous! That said, I've lived in cold all my life and it's fine. It has some advantages like skiing and snowmobiling.

bravedave

When I look at the dismal trade in of my Intrigue, it almost makes me sick. She has been a great car, and deserves much better.

When the time comes, I wonder if I could get more $$ out her by finding a legal chop shop to scavage for parts? I'm trying to get creative in getting as much out of the car as I can. I get the impression the car as a whole is worth much less than the sum of its parts-- from a $$ standpoint... Junkyard ideas, anyone?

rjs200240

There isn't a cubby light on the Intrigue? I'm surprised by that. My '97.5 Regal has one in that cubby in the center console in front of the shifter. There's a little switch that flips it on when the cubby is open. It only comes on when the car is on, though, probably a good idea as some people tend to leave it open all the time.

dindak

R U trying to sell now?

Resale suck, no doubt. We will be keeping ours for many years.

;-)

taycron

Thanks msw13,

I'll check on those things..

I have to say my Intrigue has been taking this cold cold cold weather rather well..

bravedave

I do not plan to be rid of her anytime soon, but I am tempted to do so. It has been my experience that GM cars do well for about 120-150k miles with minor niggles here & there. After that, something catastrophic happens. The Intrigue is my 6th GM car, so I have some experience with how they age, and eventually wear out. Your experience may be different. When I use the term catastrophic, I mean something like a major engine issue or transmission problem which would cost more to fix than what the car is worth. My 98 Intrigue with 115K miles is fast approaching what has traditionally been the maximum life span of GM cars I have had before, & I drove the snot out of those.... I am also meticulous in fixing things when they break. Luckily, my 3800 seems to run OK. She has not had the ISS problem. However, the tranny does sometimes do wierd things at random, like sputter on takeoff, esp. when the car is cold. BUT to be fair, this is a rare occurrence-- maybe once every 2 months or so... I may as well try to get as much out of her before she turns into a useless hulk... I will not spend a chunk load of cash on that car for a major repair... if it had less miles, it could be justified, but not now--- esp. given Olds is now an orphan division with cars that depreciate faster than light can be sucked back into a black hole--- which is unfortunate, as my overall experience with the Intrigue has been quite positive.

v8lincolnguy

The Intrigue doesn't have full rear air as the vents under the front seats are just for when the climate control is in the heat(floor) setting. A slight omission, but with the center dash vents mounted so high, plenty of air flowed to the rear.

rocketman71, your car is not an exception as the Intrigue does not have a courtesy light in the center console. My old 89 Olds Touring Sedan did so I know what you mean. On the same note though, my Lincoln LS doesn't have a light in there either.

focus

for 225 60r16 is only $95 cdn. But they charge $24 per tire for balancing/install when you mount/dismount your tire; that's $100 x 2 per year. May be better to buy new all season tire every 2 years?
they only have 4 tires available in 2 different location in GTA toronto area and would not give raincheck.

dekester

Was under the hood this morning filling the washer fluid (the standard "blue" stuff froze, so I added the "winter" fluid and it was enough to unclog the system) and noticed a sticker on the radiator support that reads GM Campaign with IIRC a 110 written in, then underneath is the dealer code#. Sticker also had "do not remove" printed on it top and bottom. Any idea what this campaign was/is? Could it be the ISS replacement or lube? Would be a nice way for other service departments to know what was done and that it'd be covered under a lifetime parts warranty.

Gotta say that the Avids performed flawlessly in the last snow we got in NYC Wednesday night/Thursday morning.Traction only came on twice since it was so cold the roads froze up as soon as the salt was dropped. Temps were around 0. When I see the TRAC light come on, I ease off the gas; guess I still drive like I did before I had a car with traction control. Anyone else do this either voluntarily or involuntarily?

I let the car warm up for about five minutes before heading out and took it easy for the first few miles. Only problem was like I said above - washers froze. Made for some interesting driving with the filthy windshield.

Deke

dindak

bravedave : Any car that hits 150K is going to have issues. Even Accords and Camrys. At least GM transmissions are generally solid and the 3.5L should be fine also.

focus : Saw that in the paper last night. No room for tire storage, too bad.

evandro

I finally had the opportunity to check out how the Yokohama Avid Touring performs under heavy rain and I can say that the tire is excellent. As a matter of fact, I'd rate it better on wet (excellent) than on dry pavement (good).

After 8000mls with it, I now feel comfortable reporting my experience with it at Tire Rack's survey.

vcjumper

Other places will do it for around $18-$20.
Might be wiser to go for something a little skinnier and taller like 215/65R16's if they exist or similar.
My all seasons are in my parents' basement :-).

focus

what snow tires do you have, how much and from where?

vcjumper

I have Michelin Pilot Alpins, but I bought them minimally used (1 season) for $250CAD for all four tires.
I got them put on my regular rims at Johnston & Magwood.. I think it was $18 per tire. I think if I knew I was going to have the car for 3 winters more, I would have bought steel rims. But I think next winter may be my last with the Intrigue. Depends if car love overcomes paying down the mortgage sense.

rocketman71

I just picked up the February edition of Hemmings Motor News as they did an article on the 2003 Olds Nationals held last July. What was unique was the fact they showed a small picture of a 442 prototype based on the Intrigue that Oldsmobile had prepared. It was white with gold side stripes and hood panels, strongly reminiscent of the Hurst/Olds of 69 and 72. It had 17 or 18 inch wheels, special front fascia - it's nice to know someone at Olds had high hopes for the Intrigue - my 2002 GLS is white - um, I wonder.....

ab348

You could make it into a parts bin special!

rocketman71

Touche! How's the road salt looking on that Tropic Teal? Too bad!

lmacmil

A year from now, after my youngest graduates from college and I have about 3 years to go before retirement, I plan to replace the Intrigue with a "really cool car" (which my son doesn't think I'll do because I'm "too cheap.")

Right now the leading contenders are Infiniti G35 sedan, Acura TL or Mazda RX8. If my cheapness gets the better of me, I might consider an Accord coupe. I will probably lease so at the end of 3 years I can turn it in and get something more my style (i.e., cheap). I've pretty much ruled out the BMW 3-series due to cost and American cars due to reliability (nothing the Big 3 offer really excite me anyway.)

If you were going to replace your Intrigue, what would you be looking at?

dekester

Hhhmmmmm.. I really like the '05 Mustang..... reminds me of the 65-66 fastbacks that I always liked as a kid.

Since I'm a Mopar nut, I'd want to see something sporty, RWD and V8 from them, but don't like anything they have now.

Maybe, if $ was no object, I'd go for a new Crown Victoria LX Sport with Marauder upgrades (air box, 3:73 gears, etc).

Or, if I hit the lottery, I'd take a 68 Plymouth Fury III hardtop, drop in a 5.7L Hemi, four speed auto, 8 3/4 rear with Sure Grip, heavily upgrade the suspension, ABS, 16 inch American Torque-Thrust rims in full chrome, paint it Bright Aqua metallic with one of the three coats of clear in pearl. Mighty nice daily driver, huh?

Then again, the wife's new Camry LE V6 is kinda growing on me, though the seats are too short and shoulder room is lacking. The 3L V6 with VVTI and the smooth 5-speed auto is nice and quick. Maybe an SE V6 and full sport package....

Deke

vcjumper

Depends on how much I decide to spend. Mazda 3 at the low end/if I decide to pay cash, Mazda 6, Acura TSX at the top end. Accord maybe if it undergoes its minor restyle by the time I buy (fall 2005), and that would require some aftermarket sway bars.

Pontiac G6 may surprise me but I don't have high hopes for its handling with the cast iron block up front.

v8lincolnguy

I'd put the Cadillac CTS on that list as it is as impressive as the G35 is. If you really want to surprise your son, you might want to consider the Mazda RX8. The more I see those on the road, the more I think what a cool looking car they are. Not sure about spending nearly 30K on a 4 banger, but then again it's not your typical 4 cylinder engine either.

msw13

I went to the GM Auto Show In Motion yesterday and got to drive 3 very cool new cars. 1. Pontiac GTO with 6-speed manual. Very nice looks and feel. 2. Z-06 Corvette, and got it up to 85mph in second!! WOW, what an awesome car. 3. Cadillac CTS, very poised and corners well. Notice something yet (RWD) in all of those cars. After my Intrigue hits 100K, I may start to look. I also noticed that the 'O4 Bonneville GPX has a 275 hp NORTHSTAR on board. Its about time!! Decisions decisions......

taycron

A friend of mine just bought a used 2002 Nissan Altima. The car is pretty good looking. He paid 16k and it had 35,000 miles on it. I bought my Intrigue for $3,500.00 with 109,000 miles on it. I was afraid to drive his Altima because I figured it would be so much better than my Intrigue.. Not only was it NOT so much better, it wasn't nearly as nice as my Intrigue.. after driving the Altima I came to appreciate my Intrigue even more.. I wouldn't trade it straight up for his Altima..

lmacmil

Yes, the RX8 is on my short list. My son test drove one last summer and said it was awesome. It's not really fair to call it a 4-banger since the rotary engine doesn't have pistons. It is a dual rotor Wankel. The only apparent shortcoming is a lack of torque. I don't see that as a problem for my typical driving.

I'm afraid I can't get past the looks of the CTS. It is striking no doubt but not necessarily in a good way.

rjs200240

Why would an iron block determine the handling? It may weigh more than an aluminum block of identical design, but it may not actually weigh much more than an aluminum-blocked DOHC engine. Plus, an iron blocked OHV would have its weight down low. Not sure if you knew, but the 6-banger in the IS300 is also iron, and it is probably the best-handling car Lexus makes (not that that really says a lot). I'm not saying the G6 will be a dream, but I wouldn't dismiss it based on one spec on paper...

vcjumper

Small differences in engine weight will have a bigger impact on FWD vehicles for sure though wouldn't they?

Pretty good assumption on why Honda chose to put a 4 banger in their TSX and why Saab sticks with 4 cylinder designs as much as possible. These are cars I expect the g6 will handle as well as to be a success in my eyes.

I don't have the weights of the 3.5L or 3.9L engine to compare.

lmacmil

I thought this was interesting:

GAPS ABOUND BETWEEN REAL AND PERCEIVED VEHICLE QUALITY.
Some vehicles are much better than people think, but others enjoy a far better reputation for
quality than they deserve. So says Morgan Stanley, the New York-based financial services company, after comparing indexes for perceived and actual quality. The firm’s conclusion: Many European brands don’t measure up to their perceived quality, and several Big Three nameplates have considerably higher quality than
consumers recognize.
The top 10 brands whose actual quality exceeds perceived quality, and the percentage gap:
1. Mercury 42.3% 6. Lexus 17.4%
2. Infiniti 34.1% 7. Porsche 14.2%
3. Buick 29.7% 8. Oldsmobile 13.6%
4. Lincoln 25.3% 9. Saab 12.2%
5. Chrysler 20.8% 10. Acura 10.5%

The 10 most overrated brands, and the percentages by which their actual quality falls below consumer perceptions:
1. Land Rover 75.3% 6. Mitsubishi 34.1%
2. Kia 66.6% 7. Hyundai 27.4%
3. VW 58.3% 8. Audi 26.4%
4. Volvo 36.0% 9. BMW 12.4%
5. Mercedes 34.2% 10. Isuzu 8.5%

Morgan Stanley looked at how brands stacked up in the Perceived Quality Survey from CNW Market Research in Bandon, Ore., and the Vehicle Dependability Study by J.D. Power and Associates in Westlake Village, Calif.
USA Today says OEMs prefer to be on the second list because they can fix quality problems faster than they can build a perception of high quality among consumers. A quality reputation, Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche tells the newspaper, “takes about three times as long to get back as it takes to lose.”

v8lincolnguy

I never test drove an Altima, but from the moment I was sat in one at an auto show, I was disappointed in the quality of the inteior. The V6 offers alot of bang for the buck and is one of the few cars in that class which offers a V6 with the manual, but it seems to lack refinement. Unless your looking to just win stoplight races, a Mazda 6(which also offers a V6 with the manual) is a more logical and more refined choice.

dindak

Next car almost certainly will be a G6. I just love the looks and the 3.9L would be sweet. That said, who knows what will come over the next 4 years. Camcords won't likely ever get my money. Good but DULL and EVERYWHERE. Mazda 6 still catches my eye though I hate the local Mazda store. If I have a bit more money CTS for sure.

Next buy is a van / SUV. Just got a loyalty $750 gift card in the mail today so I may have to buy before April.

taycron

I was wondering how often other Intrigue owners change their oil.. I have driven my Intrigue over 3000 miles but my "change oil light" hasn't come on yet. I figure that the light will come on after 5k or something like that. I understand that the Intrigue does burn some oil and my car has the same small oil leak like other Intrigue owners have. It's a small oil leak that my mechanic doesn't think I should worry about. I never see an oil stain under my car..

My "low oil" light came on so I need to do something. I don't know if I should add oil or just get an oil change. What do you guys think?

evandro

If I were getting new wheels, I'd avoid the Altima. Not only for its sub-par interior, but mainly because of its horrible torque steer. It's so bad with the I4, that I have to think that it's pathetic with the V6.

People can say anything about GM cars, and the press can pretend to ignore it, but none of them, even with torque between 200 and 300 ft.lbs. driving the front wheels, have nothing close to the torque steer of any FWD Nissan.

evandro

Do keep an eye on the oil level. Even in the manual is stated that the oil monitor doesn't rule out frequent level checks.

I think that oil is so cheap and so good for the engine, that if I notice it being too low before the oil monitor telling me so, I just have it changed instead of just topped off.

Of course, I do keep a qt. of oil in the garage in case it's too low and I don't have the time...

dindak

Intrigue is very torque steer free.

I'm not a big fan of Nissan products. Lots of flash designs, but I don't think they are neccesarily very good products. I much prefer what Mazda is doing these days.