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The Intrigue gets a two week rest, and then during December it gets about 2 1/2 wks off.
Anybody come up with aftermarket rotors which are reasonable and durable??? I imagine by springtime mine will be ready for the fronts to be replaced.
The main reason people buy this car is becuase of its engine exclusivity. Once that is lost and buyers can get a Regal or Impala with the 3.5L, then what will be the main reason to continue to buy the Intrigue....design may be...but what else?
Intrigue is down a bunch from last year, but is selling about the same as regal. Grand prix and intrepid are at 120,000 units. Impala is over 130,000. The new deville is selling incredibly well probably at the expense of seville.
I can't understand why the explorer is still doing great. What a piece of junk.
The intrigue has relatively few options and except for PCS gm has not offered a lot of extras on this car. We need wheel,engine, and interior options.
As for the lack of Intrigue options, I thought Olds was trying to imitate Honda, which does not offer a great variety of options on its cars. When buying a Honda, after choosing the model and trim level, you're pretty much limited to choosing the color and transmission. Everything else is dealer installed (although the dealer-installed options are made by Honda). Honda has even cut down on the number of alloy wheel options it offers on each model. I guess it helps simplify production and reduce inventory costs.
In any event, don't let the lack of a political forum here keep you away. Your observations about the Intrigue are always welcome and are insightful. You have a lease running up against an expiration date as I recall, so I'll be interested to see what you do with your '98 Intrigue.
I am feeling a little more optimistic about Olds' future these days. GM has to get its act together and market the Olds line better. Still, the model line-up has gone through a complete transformation in the past 5 years. GM has accomplished its goal of lowering the average age of an Oldsmobile owner. They just need to be patient and support the brand a little better with advertising that has a message and catches on with the buying public. I don't know whether this is cast in stone, but a recent Auto Week buying guide indicated that the Intrigue is due for a redesign in '04. That is the first time I've seen anything remotely resembling a commitment to the car in the future, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
dwg
P.S. If my fellow members of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy haven't found this site yet, check out www.opinionjournal.com. It's an extended version of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page and it will definitely get the blood flowing. Peggy Noonan is one of the best conservative columnists I've ever read.
The posts are being removed for three reasons which don't include vulgarity, with the exception of one post. In addition to being off-topic, I have had to remove a number of clearly antagonistic posts creating a hostile and unwelcoming atmosphere in this topic to those who may share you opinion about the Intrigue but not about politics. You have also demonstrated that you cannot or will not use discretion when discussing politics in this topic. Subtle, infrequent political commentary would be allowed but almost every one of your recent posts contains a political message. These posts draw additional political commentary which tends to dominate the topic. This is why I had to intervene in the first place.
I do not see this conduct in other topics where you post; why can't you do the same here?
I have kindly made simple requests both in this topic and via email. These have all been ignored. Instead, you proceeded to insult me in the forum and continue to derail this topic with political discussion and complaints about the topic management.
As several other members have explained to you, this forum is privately held and will be managed accordingly. If you cannot abide by the Participants Agreement and the requests from myself or the other Hosts, then you should reconsider your participation.
At this point, since it has become apparent that you cannot employ discretion in posting political commentary, I have no choice but to remove all of it. Your posts should exclusively discuss the Intrigue or they will be removed. Any further questions regarding topic management must be directed to me via email. I'm not going to debate this with you in-topic.
Thank you,
L8_Apex
Sedans Host
My Regal, a W-body car as Intrigue, have 22 inches wiper blades. When buying a pair of replacement, at Pep Boys, looked for Intrigue in catalogue - simply because the wipers were discussed then at this board, I mean the Intrigue one. It says that Intrigue use the same 22 inch wipers as Regal.
By the way, I use the Trico wipers. They are very good, noticeable better than Bosh MicroEdge I used before. And better than the blades I had on my other cars when bought them used.
I have impression, that the "GM" wipers installed on the new car are made by on Trico: the blades I replaced looks ways too similar to the original ones. I compared them, side-by-side.
Replaced the blades only couple weeks after bought the new Regal. The original ones felt as old. The car was build about 10 months before was purchased, and probably the wipers lost elasticity while it sat on dealer lot.
I took advantage of the 0.9% 5 year program AND GMAC took my '98 back 4 months early with no penalty. The '98 had a Bose system in it and my '00 GLS doesn't. The standard stereo has quite a bit of RF in it where the '98 didn't. I don't know if that is because this is base model or what. Here's what I'm doing for the fix.
I went to my Nakamichi dealer and am ordering the TA-25 receiver with a 6 disk in dash CD changer. It fits in the double DIN slot of the Intrigue and has better RF capabilites. They also will allow me to use the steering wheel controls for volume, etc.
A yellowish-beige Volvo with chrome dish-like wheels is parked often on the downtown New-Haven street where I work. It is on the border of Yale University campus, and just a couple blocks from the inner-city.
A big man drives the car, always wearing a suit and tie. He does not looks as a Yale professor: they usually dress different and do not drive such cars. But definitely does not looks as he lives in inner-city either, in his suit. Very possible, he is a successful professional, e.g. a lawyer.
Well, some people need or like to show to neighbors, co-wokers and all passer-by, that they purchased a loaded car. But is this so widespread? Or this is what GM thinks about its customers?
Personally, my wife and I would rather pay to delete the chrome wheels, than pay to have it it. And we practically did this: We bought a loaded GS, but not GSE, thus giving up the package discount.
BTW, it is a pity that PCS is not available with Regal.
in the Intrigue forum than in our own.
Now I know that's not true; it's more that this is
a more lively forum.
Yes, it is a pity PCS isn't offered on the Regal.
Maybe in the redesign. And maybe the inline
6 or the 3.5 too... I guess they don't want to
startle us (Buick Drivers) with too much technology all at once!
Even though they supercharge the GS engine,
I guess GM doesn't think Buick drivers
would want a stability control system.
Pity indeed.
Yet, of all mid-price divisions (i.e. except Cadillac) the PCS feature is available exclusive for Olds. Of all W-body cars, only with Intrigue. Not unlike HUD, available exclusively with Pontiac.
That, an inline 6 and PCS would be sweet
in a car at this price point.
As to why no PCS in Monte or GP; why indeed.
....sigh....
These cars are sharing so many features (an some problems), that I continue to visit the sites even after selecting and buying a Regal GS. I can get a lot of interesting info, pertinent to my Regal, when reading about Intrigue, etc.
I consider, right or wrong, the different makes of W-bodies as being more trim sets (sheet metal / dash instruments), than genuine separate models. And the exclusive availability of some features with some makes looks for me as being nothing more than marketing ploy, the same as bundling of options.
Personally, I would like more, if all options would be available with all sheet metals - and could be bought from every GM dealer. I like a much my Chevrolet dealership, and would prefer to buy my Buick from them.
Interior trim packages? etc. etc.
GM shows concept cars but never builds them. Remember the supercharged cavalier and malibu that were in the car magazines a few years ago?
Everytime they try to do something different the screw it up. The impal engine cradle, intrigue steering and suspension are just a couple of examples.
Harlanc are you listening?
The Bose vs standard is noticeable for the better sound quality. Is it $500 better?? That's the part that I plan to give to Nakamichi for their system. I wouldn't have considered it unless the the local audio shop could make the steering wheel controls functional.
Then they put the jounce bumper on top of the strut which makes noise, and there is no long term fix yet. The struts are too stiff also.
On the impala they should have used a steel engine cradle.
Any time they try something different they mess up. They are incapable of proper engineering and or manufacture.
I haul some items that need the space and that chews up some valuable real estate.
I do not like the option bundling on the 2001, but assume its a cost savings done to simplify assembly at Fairfax. Did they also do this to the GP, also built there?
htwired: I took a similar trip a couple of weeks ago. I hooked up with my dad in the Iron Mountain area before the deer hunting season began in Michigan. There is a stretch of two lane highway in 141 (between about Crivitz and Niagara) that is an absolute blast to drive on. Unfortunately, the deer were out in full force, so I had to keep my eyes peeled and my speed in check. Did you pick up your Intrigue at Renner?
dwg
http://www.american-automobile.com
The info is in German, but not hard to read. As you can see, the top speed for Buick Regal GS is 220 km/h, 195 km/h for Regal LS:
http://www.american-automobile.com/regal.htm
this is 137.5 mph and 122 mph, respectively, vs 115/109 mph for cars available in USA; the American speeds can be found here:
http://carpoint.msn.com/Vip/Heraud/Buick/Regal/2000S.asp
Very likely, the only differences between the American Regals and ones exported to Europe are higher-rated tires and electronic governor settings.
Personally, I do not care about the 137 mph top speed: 110 mph is already crazy for US public highways. But I would select performance tires, would they be available as option when I bought my car. Not for speed, but for road holding ability, especially when turning on wet pavements.
You can find the info on Oldsmobile for Europe here:
http://www.american-automobile.com/oldsmobi.htm
If you choose the GLS with the Performance Option group, you're actually paying $600 more than you would if you got the GL with the exact same options.
Final analysis: You're paying an extra $600 for an electrocromic mirror,OnStar and faux (read:FAKE) wood. Personally, I don't think that's worth $600. If wood is something you want, check out www.exoticwooddash.com or www.woodtrim.com. For less than $300 you can get REAL wood placed exactly where YOU want it.
Just to get an idea of the cost on both models with the trim you choose, go to www.driveoff.com, do an Instant Quote and run the numbers. You'll be surprised at how Olds is "taking" customers when it comes to options. Just as another example, do the numbers on a V-8 Aurora vs. a V-6 with the same options. You wind up paying about 3 grand more simply for the engine.
For the record, I'd still pay the extra $3K for the V-8 Aurora. Guess I'm just a sucker
http://www.edmunds.com/newcars/2000/buick/regal/ls.html#options
By the way, after using the mirror, my wife and I would be happy to pay more for installing this in our other car. Very useful and convenient feature; it improves not only comfort, but adds to safety. Both of us value it very high.
You wrote that the $100+ mirror, fake wood trim and Onstar, bundled together, cost $600 this year.
For me it smells as the fake wood costs next to nothing. The $480-$500 price difference accounts mostly for OnStar: the gizmo itself and bundled first-year basic service contract. Given contract is priced $200 per year when sold separately, the OnStar equipment costs about $300.
Look about reasonable for electronics, combining the GSP and cellular-phone. Except very few car buyers want the service. This "free OnStar included" looks is a text-book example of monopoly power, of forced bundling. I mean Economics 101 textbooks.
Personally, I do not see much use of OnStar in densely-populated New England, where I live and work. Hardly would agree to pay even $15 for the service per year. Even this on condition of GM guarantee, that I will understand the operator and vice versa: English is not my native language.
I am also somewhat uneasy that OnStar let GM to spy on every movement of car. With OnStar, all technical possibilities and infrastructure are here, even if the service contract is not activated.
Privacy depends only on GM goodwill and pledges. GM promise never let your spouse to know your whereabout, and to provide the information only to law-enforcement.
Well, I would prefer the opposite. Even while never committed any crime in my 49 years. What about a creative police department, asking GM about your speed?
2) When I turn the wheel, the steering is no longer smooth, but kind or ratchets and is sticky. Do you have a clue what this could be?
American cars due tend to be durable in the long run and they are cheaper to repair.
...But we have to say that most of GM's pass-car range - with a few exceptions, notably the all-new for '01 Aurora already on sale -- is a veritable snore. (Oldsmobile, too, is out of time and out of excuses; it needs a strong sales year to reflect its reputable product lineup. If Olds is a failure, then so is brand management -- and both should be abolished.)....
Come on Olds, build the OSV to get some needed attention in your product line.
Down in Fla----passed Knoxville @ 3;30pm, Altanta was full of Nascar folks!!!Who won!!!
OnStar is already bundled and mandatory for several years on luxury GM cars. From 2001 it is became mandatory on higher-trim mid-size, mid-price GM cars. And, according to what I had read, GM is going to make it mandatory on all cars, larger than Cavalier and Metro, in few years.
You are free to not subscribe to the OnStar services. Can pass paying $400 per year for needing to know where the nearest IHOP or 7 eleven is when traveling. But you cannot pass paying for the gizmo itself, if you want a GM car, better-equipped otherwise. Nor can you pass being monitored by GM.
One of basic OnStar services is "stolen vehicle tracking". I presume it means that switching OnStar off, while possible (GM dealers can install them on older cars), is very hard.
The first idea of switching OnStar off would be to remove fuses and/or connectors.
But OnStar is not just a cell-phone. It let GM know about air bag deployment, even with unconscious or dead car occupants. It let GM unlock the doors remotely. And, last not least, GM can perform remote diagnostics of car engine and other important parts.
This means, OnStar is at least somehow connected, and very probably integrated, with all important car electronic modules. This must made it hard to remove.
See also the following story:
http://www.onstar.com/service/stolen.htm
The story shows, that GM can activate OnStar remotely, without aid nor knowledge of the car driver. Even if the service was never activated before. Or, probably, the gizmo was sending information all the time, just was ignored before the account became activated. No service without payment.
This feature is really very nice-to-have for tracking stolen cars. I would expect in the future some insurance companies will offer discounts on comprehensive insurance for OnStar-equipped vehicles.
On the other hand, the technology can be used as well for remote monitoring the car with the legitimate owner behind the wheel. Without even let him know that he is continuously tracked.
The first idea is law-enforcement applications. Would it be against drug traffickers, or just speeders.
But, more important, the GM computers will be continuously fed by data on position of millions of cars. GM will know the streets and roads the owners are driving, where they are fueling, in what supermarkets they are shopping - and how long, what restaurants they are patroning, the doctor/dentist they are visiting etc.
The information potentially is bonanza for marketing purpose. Comparable in volume and value to the credit card data for MasterCard / Visa.
If you already like the car, then you might go for the OSV, but if you don't like the car, it is just an iteration of something you already don't like.
GM needs to work on their structural rigidity, I have 28,000 on mine now and it does not handle bumps as well as it did when it was new.
GM should go to a one piece body stamping instead of several pieces welded together. It would help a bunch.
How would you like ALL of your internet travels to be tracked and recorded???
As far as OnStar, you're right. If ever Big Brother was watching you, it's now. (It didn't happen in 1984 but hey, 16 years isn't far off.) The issue of privacy in our technological world is a big issue. The fact that the LAW says technology can't be used without your knowledge doesn't mean it WON"T be be used without your knowledge. The way it appears to me,when it comes to information the rules of organized basketball apply---"Everything's legal if the ref don't see it."
The fact that information about you can be populated without your knowledge is disconcerting. I'm a Systems Engineer and when it comes to monitoring networks, you'd be amazed at the things that are being tracked about you--what files you accessed, when you did it, how many times you printed to a certain printer, what web sites you'd been too, how long you were there--heck, there are even programs that your employer can put on your desktop to track every single keystroke (including backspace and delete) that you've typed!!!
My car is a personal purchase. I don't like the POTENTIAL of a company obtaining information about me for purposes I don't want or didn't ask for.
Be careful where you tread on the Internet. Big Brother really IS watching you.