Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Comments
Note that it is a polish that contains no abrasives (like most waxes do). This means you have to clean the car thoroughly before applying (claying works wonders).
Best testimony I can give is that after applying 3 coats in October to my wife's daily driver, it was still beading water in April during the first rains. This after a particularly nasty and salty Chicago winter.
But I didn't look hard at it because I had 1800 in GM credit, and I've been driving a Mazda Protege for 9 years, which is quite similar... I just wanted more of a change.
ehaase : It's too bad about the 3.7L. I hope GM puts a decent DOHC engine in the 2003 GP. If they don't I may go to a Maxima for my next sedan.
On a sedan,even the caliber of a Mercedes,alloys are almost completely cosmetic.Of course,they can be quite attractive,too.The first design for the Intrigue is outstanding.But in general they go against my "less is more" taste in cars.I often prefer the plastic wheel cover.I got them on my Passat-I thought the alloys quite ugly.They often add too much flash.So I don't think we should automatically want alloys-cars are getting to have too much junk on them.Often,the auto companies just foist them off on us-they are huge profit makers.
From www.zainobros.com:
Z-2 is a hydrophobic-based formula and contains no abrasives, harmful silicone oils, or yellowing carnauba wax.
I use the mother's three step process. Cleaner/Sealer Glaze/Carnuba Wax.
It has worked great for me.
Everytime i wash and wax the intrigue it amazes me how long it takes. I can do the camaro in about 4 hours using the three step process. The intrigue takes over 6.
Anyway..what I'd like is some info/advice on the best type of extended warraty to get before this one goes away...I don't really care all that much about price..if it'll last for another 5 years without me having to pay for any repairs, I know it'll pay for itself and more. Should I get it through GM/Olds dealer, or through a warranty company? What are some of the normal catches and ways they'll screw you wil the wording of the warranty that you won't find out until it's too late? What are some of the things I should be certain to have on it? I know this isn't exactly an Intrigue-specific question, but any thoughts/experiences would be much appreciated!
thanks!
I would check into the GM major guard.
I think there is a forum for warranties somewhere in here.
My intrigue is going bye bye May 20th.
I will be driving the camaro until i find something else. Possibly another intrigue if i can buy it right.
You get about the same shine level as a regular wax with one coat but it gets noticably better with two. The benefits aren't quite as dramatic with the third and forth coat so I usually just do two.
Another product that I highly recommed is a clay bar. It easily removes specs and rail dust, etc. that are seemingly embedded in the paint.
ehaase : I wouldn't be surprised if the 3.0L variant in the Catera/L-series gets slightly enlarged for use in the Grand Prix and other GM sedans. The 3.0L is a sweet engine as it is, but needs a little more power for the bigger cars.
Most important of all, test drive, test drive! The Passat, Intrigue, Accord, Max, etc.. Rent one for a day, realizing the rental may be a bit beat up and will probably be a stripper have less features, but hopefully will give you a good idea of what the car is like.
We sure could use some more Intrigue owners in hear, it is getting pretty quiet.
Edmunds has not done a great job with their reviews. They have too many inexperienced young people on staff.
She needs more cargo room than the Tracker was providing for her business, and these all fit the bill. She has driven SUVS before like the Blazer, Grand Cherokee and disliked them and the style over substance that goes along with them. She won't be towing a boat or going offroad.
PT Cruiser - I'm hot and cold on the stylling and she likes it. Too underpowered for my liking and I wasn't thrilled with the ride. After driving the Tribute she agreed.
Tribute - The most car like SUV I have ever driven. Nice steering feel and didn't feel too tall and skinny around the corners. The V6 was a nice match for the car. The seats I wasn't crazy about, the rest of the interior was nice (nicer than the Escape to me). If only it wasn't taking so long for them to build it right. A year from now maybe it or the Escape would be worthwhile.
v40 - The only wagon that turns my head every time I see it. Not very big and pretty expensive but if I was unable to see the cargo space behind me when driving I would swear I was driving a nice sporty sedan (limited by small tires :-(). Not exactly Intrigue power but its light weight and 5-speed auto keeps performance as a positive. Fuel economy on paper looks great.
Odyssey - The most car like minivan I've driven, she would rather drive this than an SUV larger than the Tribute. After driving it, I have to agree. The 3.5 is almost as nice as the Intrigue motor. The interior is very well laid out and has nice materials, from my rental car experience, nicer than the Chyslers by a pinch which are nicer than the GM's (only been in a Montana) by a bit more than a pinch.
I'm hoping she goes for the v40.
Overall i think a new Intrigue would make a very satisfying and wise buy right now.
BTW, I've been putting tire silicone on the black trim piece running below the doors. Gives it a shine and gets rid of that dusty look.
Focus: I have about 3,800 mis on my '01 GL and give it a thumbs up. It's a nimble sedan and fun to drive. The rigid body also gives it solid and predicable handling at higher speeds. What sold me aside from the handling is the heart of the car, which is the 3.5 engine coupled with the GM 4-spd auto. This is a great combo.
It's really amazing listening to an Engine with the Oldsmobile Aurora logo on it rev up to 10000+ RPM. And, they had a couple of the pace car Bravada's running around (which I must say look much better in person). Needless to say it was a "proud to be an Olds fan day" for me.
I got some good pictures of the pace car (truck) sitting at the part of the track with the old original bricks and one of an Olds Indy motor sitting on a cart. I will post them to my website later and post a link.
Another "minor" problem I had been having was the outside temperature gauge. Many mornings I noticed the gauge was about 10 - 20 degrees too low. After about 15 minutes it would shoot up to the proper temperature. They tested it and found some abnormal readings. They replaced the entire A/C controller. Looks like it would have been a $500 repair, all covered under warranty.
My only charge for all the work today was $26 for oil/filter change. Kudos to Bert Smith Oldsmobile in St. Petersburg, FL.
The 2000 GX with 30,000 miles on it was advertised at $13,900. It recently appeared in the paper at $12,900. I noticed today that it was sold.
It had high miles, but i don't feel good about a car that is worth only 54% of its value after one model year. Thats a depreciation of over $800 a month!!
I took the Intrigue (99, GLS, 29k) in on Friday for the front end noise, for the wood molding on a rear door that had come loose, and a lock on the passenger side that does not always open when the remote locks are pressed. As you can guess, the broken molding (which was obvious) was fixed, the door lock opened for them (but did not for me as soon as I got home), and the front end sound could not be found.
After I picked up my family, I put the car in reverse, and received a new growling sound? So, I have now contacted a friend of my a the local Pontiac dealership, to see if he can take care of my warranty issues. I must say, my local Olds dealer's service is the worst I have ever experienced in many years of driving! NO MORE Olds for me! No matter what the rebate! No matter what the interest rate! My Olds has been at the dealer for over ten days since I bought it.
I am thinking of trading for a Bonneville; if the Pontiac proves to be a lemon, it will be the last GM I ever own!! Maybe this is the biggest reason why GM continues to loose marketshare.
Anyway, I think it would be great if Buick were to be the recipient of the Aurora V8, even for production models. Honestly, I think Buick has an interesting past (specifically the turbo years). Plus, they are about the closest thing to Olds out there, so why not.
I feel like I bought a stock at it's high point and dumped it at is low. But, I'm glad to be out of it because I think it will go even lower.
My intrigue is supposed to go bye bye around May 20th. I am doing early termination.
I will drive the camaro this summer, then take a deep breath and plunge into another new car or SUV, don't know which yet.
My dealer's service is the reason for the termination. I have never been treated with such a complete lack of care.
rbb2 : Sorry to see you leave the Intrigue group. I have a growing family also so I understand. I think you over estimate the "low" you go out at. The Intrigue may not be selling well (mostly due to lack of any marketing), but it's still a fine automobile to drive and that's what counts. I dragged a guy in a V6 Camry on Friday night. Sweet seeing him in my dust. Still love my Intrigue and wouldn't trade it for anything similar on the market today.
By the way, does anyone know what the end cut-off date was for the GM loyalty coupons? I bought my Intrigue on Dec 27th, about 3 weeks after the announcement of Olds closing. (I wouldn't use it myself if eligible, but I might give it to a family member.)