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I have been very lucky with this car so far. With 80Kmi. the only thing besides brakes and rotors (reg matainence stuff) that I had to have repaired was a new HACV fan. $180.00 that the local Chevy dealer fixed. I love the 3.5L and the way the car was so well thought out. From what I've read here, it seems that build quality was the biggest problem that Olds had with the Intrigue.
Like many of you, I too have been trying to decide what my next car will be. Which brings me to my question of the night. I'm looking at a used Intrigue and I'm wondering if I should spend a little more and get an Aurora. There's really not alot of difference in price. The 01 to 03 Aurora go for about $12,500 to $16,000 for the 3.5L, with the 4.0L (2003) a little more. The 02 comes with a 4 year-48Kmi warranty and the 03 has a 5 yr 60Kmi which means I'd have alot of warranty left on the ones I've seen.
The Intrigues are about $1800.00 less on average but only come with a 3yr 36Kmi warranty which has expired on most of the ones I,ve seen. I remember reading that the 02 Intrigue came with a 5yr 60Kmi warranty but the dealer I talked to about an 02 said 3-36. What do you think?
Well I guess I've gone on for quite a bit for a first post. Maybe I'll just get a Mazda 6 instead. I'm replacing a 95 Mazda LX with 143Kmi on it that still runs great but I think I may be pushing the envelope a bit. Change is hard. Thanks all.
just drove back from a suburb (mississauga), i was doing 120 to 140 km and shifting to 3rd to pass. Whew, it sure can keep up with the traffic and more.
i would upgrade to an auroa with a v8, if money is an issue, get another intrigue and buy extended warranty. A brand new mazda 6 wouldn't be bad either.
Changes is hard only if you don't have money, otherwise, it is quite the opposite.
Aurora and Mazda 6 are nice choices. Both platforms are a bit more modern/will be more composed on rough roads than the Intrigue. I often check for used 2001+ Aurora 4.0 ads myself.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
The reason for the gigantic turning radius (my wife's Escape is much tighter) are the 18" wheels on the '04 SE. My '03 SE has 17", and it's pretty bad. However, I wouldn't want that to dissuade anyone from looking at the Max as an Intrigue replacement.
My dad is still driving my old Intrigue and he likes it quite a bit, but wishes it had my car's engine.
I went to the local (Grand Rapids) auto show, and was impressed at all the CTS changes they'd done since last year's model. With the new engine and revamped interior, it was MUCH better. The old CTS engine was from Opel, and that pretty much killed my interest in the car when I bought my Max (that and the price would have been about $7k more!). The CTS I saw was the same color blue as my Intrigue (forget the GM name, but it is very dark, almost black), and had an all-black interior. VERY sharp, and I was glad to see it didn't have that giant half-wood steering wheel that looked like an axe-handle that killed the '03's interior.
They didn't have the LaCrosse in GR, but when I saw pictures I thought it looked like they took the front end off a Jaguar, and put it on an Intrigue's body (and put on a more modern rear end to boot). Very, very nice looking car.
When I'm ready to sell my Max in a few years, I will definately give these new GM cars a chance. The impression I came away with from the show is that the sleeping giant woke up, he's pissed and ready to build some great cars.
I even thought the new Chevys they had at the show were great! They should sell thousands of the new Malibu Maxx, I could not BELIEVE how much room was in that car! Almost every other car I sat in at the show felt cramped compared to the Maxx. The backseat had more room than anything else I sat in at the show; SUV, truck, or car (and that was with the driver's seat all the way back!).
I sat in an Infiniti G35, and while it was a very nice car, it didn't feel as roomy as my Maxima and not *nearly* as roomy as the Intrigue. I'm sure the car is a blast to drive, but I'm tired of feeling cramped in my cars. I experienced enough of that when I had my Alero.
The Ford Five Hundred was nice, unfortunately they weren't letting people sit in it. Once they give it a real engine (it's the same engine that's in my wife's Escape, for crying out loud, in a car that weighs a LOT more!) and AWD it will be worth looking at. I like the LaCrosse a lot more in every area. Perhaps the Buick is meant to compete with the Montego, but IMO Mercury is a dead brand. I really, really don't want to go there again; being an Olds owner when the annoucement came was horrible, I don't ever want to go through that again.
Sorry this post is so long, once I start rambling it's hard to stop!
sda- Thanks for the info. If I go with an Aurora with the 4.0L I'll probably get an '03. I read somewhere that the '03 V8 runs on reg gas and gets almost as good milege as the 3.5 (29 highway vs 30 in the Intrigue). It also comes with the 60Kmi warranty. The did some upgrading on the engine from the '02 I guess. I'd be interested to know what you like better about the Aurora vs the Intrigue. The ride must be better, but is the back seat and the trunk bigger? This is of interest to me as we take a few long trips each year and the Intrigue is a great trip car with alot of room. Going from upstate NY to N. Carolina is about 12 or more hours that the wife is happy to let me drive. Comfort is high on my list along with performance.
Does anyone know what year the Intrigue installed the improved wheel wells? I remember reading on here that they insulated them better so less road noise got into the cabin. That would be an improvement to my '00 as it is a little noisy. I'm hopping to test drive an Aurora soon but right now there aren't any around central NY that are less than an hour away. I think I've eliminated the Mazda 6 after reading my own post. Great car, but just to small.
Again, thanks everyone for the info. It's greatly appreciated.
All 2003's came with the V-8 - with the Intrigue dying after the 2002 model year, GM stopped building the 3.5L ShortStar.
I believe that all cars sold after the announcement of the discontinuation of Olds in December of 2000 could were offered with the 5/60 warranty. Later, GM was taking additional money off the cars if you didn't want the expanded warranty beyond the 3/36. Best thing to go is get the VIN of the car you're interested in and call 800-442-OLDS to find out when the warranty started, and how long it's in effect (many dealers are wrong about their cars).
I have a 98 Aurora (Classic bodystyle), but am contemplating either buying a 2001-2003 V-8 in another year or so, or else keep driving my 98 'til the wheels are square, then buying a 2006 GTO. From those who have done the Intrigue->Aurora upgrade, the biggest thing they notice is more power when the car is loaded down with people/luggage. The Aurora is also a little more luxury, a little less sporty. I personally think the 2001-2003 Auroras are exceptional values on the market, assuming you are comfortable with the service issues (i.e. no more Olds dealers starting later this year)...
Hope this helps,
--Robert
I've noticed this around town but today I drove about 100 miles on the highway and the temp gauge fluctuated between half and halfway between 3/4 and the red mark. It actually touched the red briefly and the red light came on. I pulled over and heard some strange clunking as I was stopping. I turned the car off and raised the hood. The fan was on. Waited a couple minutes and continued. It never quite touched the red again but came close several times.
I need an oil change so will take it to the dealer next week and give him the TSB. There is a "high flow" thermostat part number referenced. I don't think the problem is the flow per se, otherwise it would overheat when warm also. Clearly the thermostat was opening and closing rapidly (the temp gauge was moving almost constantly) and not opening enough to keep the engine cool.
I'm at 50,000 miles so I guess that's not too bad compared to the problems some of you have had.
My biggest problem is finding a dealer close to home in case I have service problems. So far this is the closest Aurora I've found and it's still 45min away. I know that any GM dealer can service an Olds, but I also know how most will treat you if you didn't buy it from them.
Oh well, just some out load thoughts and questions looking for some informed answers and opinions. Thanks.
Here in the metro Milwaukee area, premium costs about 12-14 cents per gallon more than regular unleaded (it can be more at the bigger Mobil/Shell type stations, less at the regional chains like Clark, Kwik Trip, Speedway, et. al.). I usually gas up once per week, putting about 14 gallons into my Aurora (remember for those of you in cold weather, not to let your tank get down much below 1/4).
14 * .14 = $1.96. Multiply that out by 52 weeks, divide by 12, and that comes out to an average of $8.50 more per month. Whoopee!
Obviously, the more you drive your car, the more this may cost you, and your mileage may (literally) vary. But I'd venture to say that most people lose more $$$ with their driving habits (not keeping tire pressure properly inflated, not using cruise control in very light traffic on the freeway) or in not getting the best deal when buying their car (doing their homework, or getting a good finance rate (I always go to my credit union and get pre-approved first, THEN let the dealer try to find a better rate)).
Just my 2 cents,
--Robert
The $13.5K deal doesn't sound that great to me for a V6, but I haven't seen the car or know what options are on it (I've seen V8's w/similar mileage with lots of options going for $16k-$18k, which seems like a huge steal to me). Be aware that Olds is a very "cold" marque, even in the used car market, due to the perception of the brand being dead. I'd take a look not only at Edmunds' TMV but also Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) and the Black Book at cars.com to see if that's a good price.
There are a lot of resources out there: edmunds, cars.com, autotrader, getauto, et. al. I would use the online resources to try locating a car. If you're concerned about service, I'd recommend that you find a good Cadillac dealer near you (since the Aurora is closest to a Caddy than any other GM), and talk to the service department first before buying anything. If you're not comfortable with your service situation, don't buy an Aurora or you'll regret it.
Hope this helps,
--Robert
I just filled up tonight... $1.799, though it's as high as $1.899 at other stations around here (pays to know which stations generally have the best pricing - i.e. not Mobil, Shell, or BPAmoco, usually...)
--Robert
Mine is an 01 GL.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
I could see how a wider wheel or tire might cause this, but I don't get the 16" vs 17" wheel or 17" vs 18" wheel turning radius (since the overall diameter is usually the same). The Aurora for example in 16" vs 17" should have about the same overall diameter. I think the turning advantage on the V6 comes from the fact that the fenderwells can cut in more due to the smaller engine/tranny.
Oh, and Aurora-thinking-about-buying guy, you ought to check out the Aurora forum here. It's pretty great. There are some differences on early-build 2001's with the suspension and OnStar and I think with the seats. I posted some about it when my dad was shopping for an '01 4.0
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
On an off-topic note, we traded our 1996 Explorer in on a 2004 Toyota Highlander. What a nice vehicle! Rides like a dream and great power compared to the old 4 liter Explorer. My better half is one happy camper. She even said she wouldn't mind taking a long trip in it.
Noticed lately that the driver's door is "in" a little at the bottom - not fitting flush against the bottom of the front fender - and is "out" a little at the diagonally opposite corner.
Is it just a simple matter of loosening a couple of bolts, "finessing" the door into position and tightening the bolts again, or could the hinge pins be shot?
I have to admit that the panel gaps are pretty even throughout the car and the five years I've owned it I've only had this one fit problem.
Thanks,
Deke
http://www.autosite.com/Previews/2005-buick-lacrosse.asp
Why does GM want to mimic the looks of a Lexus (Toyota, Nissan,)? I agree that better build quality and the GV6 are steps in the right direction, but it looks like you'll have to pay a heavy price to get them. As for the plastic wheel covers, fake wood trim, old push rod 3.8 (like version 5 maybe) and no abs in the lower trim lines, its obvious that things have changed little in the thinking of GM. Hopefully they'll put the new V6 in all the trim lines in'06 like they did the 3.5 in the '00 Intrigue.
Besides the better build quality (which remains to be seen) the new Buick= '99 Intrigue in my book. Hope I'm wrong. I also think the front looks more like a Ford Taurus than a Lexus. Just my $.02.
However, the previous Regal always offered a V6 and ABS standard in any trim while these other examples didn't, but nobody pointed that out, just the usual "ooh, ahh" because of the moronic used-car salesman attitude prevalent among reviewers.
No, the LaCrosse is not perfect, but the benchmarks aren't either. All this anti-GM bias is utterly stupid.
What I was trying to say is that GM is trying to emulate the worst parts of what the imports are doing. Why would you want your car to look like the plain jane styling of the imports (IMO)and have the same options package choices? Your right about the past Regal and other GM products. They offered great value for the money. Why are they going backwards now? The new LaCrosse may turn out to be a great car and only time will tell. I truly hope it does. I, like many others on this forum have seen GM moving forward with the Intrigue and other cars that were well thought out, only to have build problems. Now it seems that (based on a probable biased review)GM has decided to join the imports in many areas including price. The thought in the review that Buick (GM) should "mimic" the imports is insulting. The fact that it seems they are is hard to understand. With the size of their R+D dept. they should lead the imports. The Intrigue in its base form had more features that some fully loaded imports. So I agree that the auto press is biased against GM in many areas, but I think some of it is more GM wishing (as in where's the next Intrigue-Aurora)than bashing. I know that one of the reasons that I continue to read this forum each day is because when they build that car, I'll be one of the first to learn about it(thanks to all you good folks here). I would very much like to buy another GM if the right car comes along.
And I'm sorry, but the fake wood trim has got to go (IMO). Just a pet peeve. Later
I have a 2000 LaTaurus SES in my garage, with a DOHC engine, no less.
I agree with you that removing several standard features is a step behind. Yet, GM couldn't beat the sale price of some imports. You know, that price for a couple of units that shows up in the Saturday paper just to bring customers to the dealers... But, like you, I'm not appreciating seeing GM prices climb up. For instance, do you remember some 5 years ago when a Seville could be had for about $40G?
badgerfan, I agree on the similitude with the Taurus. From any angle I see the LaCrosse, it's impossible to me to not see a Taurus. Except inside, they really hit a touch-down there.
As for the wood trim, I dislike it, but, hey, it's a Buick, not an Olds. ;-)
So....
anyone know what the hell this is about, they mentioned some kind of atmospheric thing maybe (EMI pulse or?). How the hell do I fix it. The car (2000 GL) ran great so no effect on the PCM it seems. Let me know if anyone has a fix or what the dealer may need to do- thanks.
p.s. No yucca mountain radiation leak jokes.
Might be an explanation for why my brain gets scrambled sometimes... :-)
ANy ideas?
Deke
it turns out that edmunds has changed it format again. it seems everytime edmunds do something to their website, they are stepping backward.
whoever is reponsible is doing a lousy job!!
An announcement ran up there for several weeks explaining what was coming and how to deal with it, but it's inevitable that some folks might have missed it.
There are messages in the discussions linked above that explain what happened and why, and that's the place to ask for help.
I hope everyone gets everything smoothed out - we certainly don't try to make things difficult; it's just that for various reasons this had to happen. As I say, see the discussions linked in the gray box above for further conversation about this.
This is pretty funny since my hobby is building scale models (has been since about 1965 when I was 6) and I can usually get them together without a second look at the instructions! Whenever my wife looks over my 200+ kits, I just tell her it's the only way I can own every car I ever wanted and not have to own a hangar!
Deke
Thanks, e-mailing you shortly!
Deke
-thanks!
white6 wrote:"Console surround pops off (screws in the back, under the lid, as I recall) and there is a little bulb that had to be replaced; same type used in all those little interior lights. I actually had one leftover from some years ago (they usually come two to a package). Just checked my service manual, it's a "194" bulb. "
HTH