The 108 imposed in part because of the Eagle LeSs tires really frustrates me. I've just gotten through an 80 hour work week and I'm pretty sure I have another one ahead to wake up to in a few hours. With the irregular drive times, I've bounced off the limiter about a dozen times this week and it is a drag, the car has so much more left to offer at 108.
Bras of the car type are ugly and I would rather experiment with that 3m see-through sticker. I have a few chips to fill in before next winter though, thats for sure.
Yes they are ugly, no point in discussing that. However, bras do provide a level of protection from road debris and junk. Car Bras in the 1980's were the worst ones yet. Many of these ruined car's paint finishes. The 'Perfect Fit' car bra is perhaps the best one in the market. Excellent fit and the best blend of materials for the job. These covers do demand constant CARE and they are not intended to be installed and left alone for ever. All it takes is 5 minutes to remove and put back before and after washing the vehicle.
I guess some owners come from a wealthy bunch...they do have enough money to re-paint front ends. I guess people's concept of car care do vary from owner to owner.
I have used the perfect fit car bra (Which by the way is a GM OEM part) for over 1 year with ZERO problems. What's uglier? A car with the front end cover or a car ruined by rock chips and bug splatter??
1*15::: Who are you trying to fool?? Don't tell me the front end of the Intrigue is immune from the effects of road debris...am I missing something here...invisible shield protection included??
None of the Impala's first year problems have left anyone stranded on the side of the road. The ISS has been the same malady that plagued early production Intrigues and the engine cradle issues have already been fixed for the 2001 model year. The radio AMP problem is another classic example of why no one should ever buy a first year GM product...but happily that one item has also been addressed in the 2001 model year (cars built after 11/00). The owners having the intermittent A/C problem are in the majority 2000 model year holders.
Sorry to rain in your parade but the Intrigue is also no perfect car and in fact it blew its only chance big time in the market place to establish otself as a quality automobile. Perhaps the newer Intrigues are better but the earlier ones soured a lot of people to Olds and GM due to the lack of basic quality control. The Intrigue was supposed to be the Maxima by GM but the car fell short of its objective. Olds dealership experiences have also been nothing to write home about.
This is why people like B4z got fed up by the ultimate GM driving machine and went the Impala route. Others have gone with the Grand Prix as well. Yes the 3800 is a 'low tech' engine but still works remarkably well and outperforms some of the 'High tech' sewing machine engines out there. The 3800 will be phased out in 2005 so don't worry it will be hanging around but too long when the SULEV emissions requirements kick in.
The 3.5L DOHC powerhouse is impressive but still needs work and this is why GM will be bringing an updated version in the 3.7L format. The 3.5L lacks off the line punch and sorry to say this but GM's clientele still likes neck snapping acceleration over rocket thrust acceleration at high RPM's....Hopefully the next generation dual cammer V6 will cater to both preferences.
The Impala is still a much better car quality wise and has had fewer problems than the Intrigue at introduction time. Intrigue owners do complain about banging suspensions, body creaks, squeaks and rattles which are virtually absent in the Impala.
The Intrigue is a great concept in paper but quality problems tarnished its reputation forever... Olds ceased to exist not only because of poor marketing efforts, but also for poor quality and high sticker prices...like water and oil these last two don't mix.
I hope you do enjoy your 2002 Intrigue, the last of an already extinct breed...keep it for 10 or 15 years for its resale value is dismal among the GM W body corporate cars. What a shame what GM did to the Intrigue..
The Impala ain't a perfect car by any measure but the fact remains that it is a higher quality car over the 'best' car GM had to offer in the Intrigue. What's wrong with this picture?
The bra is just another item to clean and reinstall..the front end of the Impala versus the Intrigue is quite different; with the grille feature of the Impala no doubt much harder to debug than the solid nose of the Olds.
Admittedly, my exterior car maintenance does tend to drag at times with once a week pass through the commerical car bath and I usually do an annual in the driveway scrub down.. If the front end becomes a liitle tacky then we will take a bug/tar remover sponge for the Intrigue's nose is easy to clean compared to a normal grille..
The darker colored cars do age more gracefully in spite of being prone to the adage "showing dust/dirt".
The Impala is assembled from the corporate "parts bin". The Intrigue deviated from that route and started its own image with different concepts and stayed away from the proven elements. Got into a little trouble in some areas and some bad press to go around..Blame it on marketing or dealers response to correcting problems to appease ones fancy; whatever works..
I will attest the fact where factory involvement in problem solving is a non-event..The dealer usually goes alone in trying to work it out..The dealer in most cases avoids getting the factory involved in the case of Olds. I have always found Cadillac eager to please and if factory is unable to see it in a timely manner then the dealer is king..
Don't plan to keep any Intrigue beyond 5 yrs and certainly know it ain't a collectors item.. I am glad to see the 3.5 grow into a 3.7 with refinement to boot. If the 3.5 wears quicker; we can blame ourselves for just enjoying the ride with a heavy foot on the gas..
I think "one2one" has a high mileage 98 rolling toward 90k w/o any concerns other than steering kinks.
I like the accessability of the 3.8 components for the packaging is superb which replacement of alternator and a/c compressor a snap.. The 3.5 packaging is terrible with those two items buried out of sight.. That's the reason i bought a major guard warranty on the Intrigue for i am sure one item will fail..
Th Impala of yore was a totally different structure which it's own identity whereas the current model lineup is a cookie cutter committee standardized offering.. Decent wheels; nothing great, and better resale probably than Intrigue, but low on the fun factor..
Have a good day teo!!!!Any hurricanes working offshore???
9899olds : Welcome to the forum!!! Nice to see some new blood. How are things in sunny Michigan? I was down is the Detroit area visiting a friend 2 weeks ago.
teo : I have one small chip on the plastic bumper after 1 1/2 years. I think the key is to not tailgate and wash regularly. Nothing wrong with bras, they just aren't my thing. As for my Intrigue, I plan on keeping it for 7-8 years. It will eventually retire to 2nd car status but for now it's proudly our primary car and is serving well.
Changed the oil on the 99 GL; After 5400 miles (I know, I was a little late on this one) down 1/2 quart. I attribute to hotter summertime temps and stretching the interval a bit. Brakes are still fine (knock on wood); alternator is so-far-so-good. Aquatread III's continue to impress with their great bad weather ability and smooth, quiet ride. They will be rotated in a month or so for the first time; I'll check the brakes thoroughly at that time. No squeeks or rattles (45,500 miles); averages 24 to 25 MPG in weekly commuting. Gas has dropped to $1.14 range for regular. $1.28 for premium in the Formula. Paid $1.839 only a month ago for premium. 9899olds: Getting close to 2,000 miles on the Formula; she's really beginning to shine now. I've made some cosmetic upgrades but have held off on performance upgrades (other than K&N filter) till I get a few more miles. Guys in the local F-body club are dynoing their 2001 f-body's at 295-305 hp at the rear wheels completely stock! My car is rated at 310 hp at the flywheel. Can anyone say underrated! These cars (2001-02 LS1 f-bodys) are making 340-350 hp straight off the showroom floor. Whisper lid intake and cat-back exhaust bumps them to 375-380 hp. Get 'em while you can... they're going away soon.
teo, you sure have done a 180 on your feelings about the Impala. I recall you posting how disappointed you were with your last one and how much you wanted to get rid of it and leave the General. And with hardly any miles on your new one you make it sound like the best car GM makes. And how can you say that the first-year Impala never left anyone stranded on the side of the road? I'm sure somebody somewhere experienced a breakdown, as with any car.
And I have to disagree with you about the 3.5L still needing work. I think it provides an excellent combination of low-end torque and high-end power. More so than the standard V6's from Honda or Toyota.
Again, the Impala is far from a perfect car either. I had my 2000 and it did give me problems with the ISS and the A/C seizing prematurely at 7K miles. The General went out of its way and bought it back in April and in return I decided to give it a second chance with a new 2001 LS. None of my problems left me on the side of the road but I also found them annoying on a car with less than 12 months of service. The car never ever gave me a problem with the engine, brakes, body or electrical. As with any automotive product, buying a first year model model increases the odds for problems and this is specially true of most GM products...read the new GM SUV 'Trio'....
There has been a number of improvements (Which I personally took the time to verify) on the 2001 Impala (Cars built after 11/2000). Engine cradle is no longer an issue as well as the poor sounding radio trunk mounted amp..both of these were fixed accordingly. Jury is still out on the ISS and the A/C compressor. Today it has been exactly 8 weeks since I took the keys to the '01 and with 1,400 miles the car continues to perform flawlessly in the 95F+ Florida weather.
I hate to imply that the Impala is the best car in the world...is far from perfect but it is a blast to drive (Yes this car is FUN)and gives an excellent equipment to price ratio for its class.
The 3.5L DOHC is an excellent engine, but as clearly stated by the Ward's automotive people (Remember that they themselves gave high award praise to this powerplant a couple of years ago) this engine is like a baseball team made up with the best players...yet they somehow can not play together well in harmony all the time. The 3.5L is light years away from the days of the Quad 4 engine but remember that it does have its quibbles....oil consumption, hard to reach key components, lacks serious low end punch, alternator issues. But beyond that the 3.5L is a great engine and I wish that GM will only keep perfecting upon it. And yes, the 3.5L and even the 3800 offer superior driveability, performance and economy over the Asian duo Singer sewing machine engines.
The Intrigue camp is divided between 3 distinctive groups...the ones who hate the car and still own it or got rid of it, the ones that have never had any problems and claim that this car is the best thing since the invention of sliced bread and the last group is made up of those who have had some problems but still love the thing enough to keep coming back to more like our fellow AARP friend..
The Intrigue had all the right ingredients to succeed. The problem lies in the final execution of the product and the quality control issues. If GM wanted the Intrigue to be the American Maxima or Acura TL alternative they should kept close tabs in those areas were buyers at this price range are more suceptible..reliability, good initial quality, decent resale value, etc, etc.
The Intrigue really never has had a problem in the powertrain dept. All problems have been with suspension/brakes/steering/body integrity and interior trim...was this supposed to be the BEST GM had to offer??
GM abandoned Olds once it realized it was a sinking ship. Olds products were made to look more 'Import' if you will but aside from the engines found in the Intrigue/Aurora sedans, most everything else about Oldsmobile products was shared from the same exact corporate parts bin. The platform of the Intrigue is the same exact W-body architecture found elsewhere in the line up. Trim pieces are similar to to other GM corporate cars..they were made to look different but the beef is the same. The Silloutte, old Bravada are the same thing Chevy sells minus some bright trim work, paint colors and leather seats..nothing special there. The Aurora is a Bonneville/LeSabre with different body shell and engine..the rest is pure H-Platform corporate full size sedan chassis.
I think that GM failed promoting the 'Myth' that Olds cars were a different breed from the rest of the divisions. For Olds to have been truly different it, for starters, should have developed its OWN platforms (Not sharing allowed), own transmissions, own trim pieces, own sheetmetal, etc. The only thing it had was different engines and different design..the rest under the skin was the same you could get at Chevy, Buick and Pontiac. This is where Olds/GM failed..they couldn't fool buyers into paying higher sticker prices in exchange for run of the mill quality. GM taught that the Wrapper was enough to make people feel different about GM...the substance was omitted from the final package and this is why Olds, sadly doesn't exist anylonger.
I still think the Intrigue was a great experiment in shaking up a stodgy product image, but its quality problems, poor safety ratings and uncertain resale value were enought to drove people away.
While I agree to some extent with a lot of what you say, I think the real MAIN reason Intrigue didn't sell well is marketing. There are still way too many people who ask me who makes my Intrigue. Nobody says that about the PT Cruiser and it's been out for only 2 years. GM didn't market the car enough or to the right people and they hid the Oldsmobile name rather than tell people that Oldsmobile is different or better than it was. VW reserected a dead name and Oldsmobile could have done it also.
It's all too late now anyway. I'll enjoy my Intrigue and move on when it's time. Blaming isn't going to bring back Olds, but I hope GM has learned from it. Things at GM have been looking up in the past few months and I hope it continues.
At the Olds camp. I remember how heavely the Intrigue was promoted in TV ads at launch time back in late '97 early '98. After that, the car fell into oblivion and no one really knew what the heck was an Intrigue and much less so who made it. But the ones that bought it were welcomed with quality control problems and at large some of the bad rep of the Intrigue was passed along verbally or word of mouth.
I really liked the Intrigue ads...made me interested in the car at some point..but when I started to hear the truth behind the scenes..it was just another run of the mill GM car with a higher price tag.
The engine is great but a car is a whole package in the end.
The Intrigue was not entirely built from the GM parts bin. I believe some of the suspension components are exclusive to the Intrigue, and also the now non-existent Autobahn braking package was created for the Intrigue when it debuted. Don't forget the stability system that isn't offered in any of the other W-bodies. I'm sure the list is probably longer, but I don't know every part in the car.
And I still feel the Intrigue is the best GM has to offer in a W-body. No plans to buy another though as I won't be buying a car for myself for many years. I've had mine for two years now, and I plan to keep it another 4 or 5. I bought an extended warranty when it had 50 miles on the odometer, so I won't have any out-of-pocket repair costs over my length of ownership.
The 3.5L may give up a little low end to the 3800 but it has noticeably more than the camry, accord and mitsubishi. It has 34 ftlbs more torque than the honda. I drove the intrigue and accord within a couple of hours of each other and the intrigue was much stronger off the line.
That's what I'm talking about. I think the Intrigue has near-perfect power throughout the driving range. I think if GM put in a 5-speed automatic it would make it perfect. By the way, does anyone know if GM plans on using 5-speed auto trannys anytime soon? Too expensive to develop?
Jegs.com has the cone air filters - you just have to use your imagination on how to get them in. I would recommend a 7" Cone (599-RU-3130)costs only $31.99. You could install that one with little more than a piece of scrap PVC Pipe. I used the 9" Cone (599-RU-0810) which was a little tight to get in. You will have to remove the whole airbox(about 15 pounds of it!) (which also requires you to make a bracket to hold the PCM that was inside). The key to cone air filters is: getting them cold air and keeping them dry. I created a "box" to isolate the air filter from the hot underhood temperature and splashing water. You can see a picture at:
It was not too difficult and the result was well worth it. Don't get me wrong about the mileage -If I am racing a lot I can still push her down to the 15MPG threshold.
Even if you don't do the cone there is another thing that you can do with your panel K&N(If you did not do it already). Open up the air filter side of the airbox and remove the small tube that restricts airflow to the filter. Just drill out the two rivots and pull out the plastic piece, this will about double the area for air flow.
My Broward county friend----the W body is somewhat different in presentation. The performance components are very different stating with the 3.5 and it's upgrade with PCS option lets the 3.5 windup big time.. The suspension is all Intrigue only(struts and bars) and the Magnasteer is Intrigue only. Regal and Grand Prix use a cheaper version of the Magnasteer..Suspension tuning and steering are quite different from it's "W cousins".
I drove a Regal with the Touring suspension option in 1998 but it handled like the 92 Regal GS. I drove a GTP in 98 and my dislikes was the silly dashboard and the mickey mouse split dual exhausts plus the dealer only had one in stock which left no room to dicker--so Goodbye..
Love the AARP label and maybe it says.."Been there; done that", and I am always willing to learn. I've driven too many cars too many miles to ready get excited about perfect performance over a couple thousand miles..I am used to gliding through the 90k mark without any unusual glitches.. The 70s and 80s cars were not totally bad apples as the press would have one believe..
The old Grand Prixs of 74 thru 77 with the big block engines were absolute serious cruisers; had a new one from each year. Each one ran a least 70k+ without too many hiccups.. The 74 radiator got the coolant/trans fluid mixed together way out of mileage warranty; factory covered it..
teo:::::Olds failed because of the culture crisis of trying to overcome the old fuddy image..The dealers had struggled for years and were not ready cope with something different; the problems hit and the dealers were turned off. The only thing that saved their buns was the Alero..The 3.5 engine doesn't fit the growth needs and the Aurora is not a bargain so they decided to fold up their tent and leave.. The Olds dealer setup is a holdover from the old days..
The Chevy dealer is a shell of the past for the days of the "B body"(Impala,BelAir,Biscayne), Chevelle,and Nova are gone..Remember when they used to stuff V-8s into Novas and Falcons..
White6:::::After the phaseout of the 02 Model year you will be the owner of two obsolete cars..A Formula and one each Intrigue..The F body is tempting for we should realize these hot-bodied machines are to be extinct. The General will not waste any money to retool a 300+hp sport-car that the is not a picture perfect example of the Honda Insight concept.. Will talk later on the intrigue..
Have any of you looked into the Clear Bra, I am not sure the exact name of the product but it is a thick clear plastic film that can cover the leading edge of the hood, the headlights, bumpers, mirrors etc... I think it is somewhat expensive but it does not harm the paint and is almost invisible unless you walk up to the car.
Sounds pretty cool. I wonder if it is worth the money over touching up chipped spots in the paint every few years. Also wonder if it discolors over time as most plastic does.
Where is everyone getting these rock/debris chips from? Constantly tailgating dumptrucks? In three decades of driving and I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of miles, I can't honestly remember getting any noticable paint damage to my front end.
Lots of bugs, yes, but they are just as much of a nuisance to clean off a bra as from paint.
I'm sorry, but the Intrigue is not at all like it's w-body cousins. Yes the engine is better, but so it the suspension, the interior and the available options like PCS. I've driven the Impala and it's ok, but the interior is bla and the rear lights are not attractive to me. The Grand Prix (which I owned) looks good, but the interior is plasticy and the 3.8L is no 3.5. The Buick is also ok, but the interior and 3.8L also fail to excite.
In the end the Intrigue is the most refined of the bunch and is priced about the same as a similarly eqiuped Impala LS (at least here in Ontario). Any 2000+ Intrigue has all the big bugs out and you are left with the best mid-size car GM makes.
Cars today have sloping hoods that seem to get more streaks and scratches on the nose. My old '74 Valiant with its flat hood didn't get chips, but it caught lots of bugs and moths in it's vertical grille.
Speed makes a big difference. At 55MPH a lot of bugs just blow over you. At 70MPH they become bug paste. But the only way I can drive 55 in my Intrigue is when all the lanes are taken! :-)
I have to agree, the interior of the Impala is too AARP-looking and the 4 big round lights on the tail aren't very attractive. Maybe it needs some clear tail-light lenses like the IS300? The Intrigue is, without a doubt, the best mid-size GM makes.
very interesting to see disparity in crash test results on Ford f-150 pick up truck. Insurance Institute test rated unacceptable lowest rating while govt testing gave five stars highest rating. This disparity was reported in Thurs 6-22 Money section of Today newspaper as well as national TV news over the weekend.
teo:::::the Impala name is an icon; we just need them a little more on the wild side.. They have a neat red exterior color, and I see a red SS Monte over at our lake front park driven by a AARPer..Has a charcoal cloth interior which isn't too striking..
Somebody ask about a clear bra; check the C Class Mercedes forum for info because it does exist..Only the best for those precious little gems..
white6::::how did you get 5400 miles out of an oil change? Mine is under 2000 miles and needs almost a qt..But it is driven at a high cruise so I don't complain.. It gets scary great gas mileage; filled yesterday and netted 28.12.. I have the oil changed at Lee Olds and that's all I ever let them do.. It's Valvoline brand 10/30..Tires are on the list for next week and will go the SH-30 stones or the Mich Pilots..The Aqua is tempting but I am afraid the sidewall is a little weak for my driving habits.. The LSs are like skis in the rain now; really kind of dumb that I still have them on but they are just vibration free for shakeless driving. I hate the new tire BS; for it usually is a two time visit to get it right..
The intrigue should have been built on the same wheelbase as the impala/gp. This would have solved the back seat room problem and would have gotten the cat a stiffer body structure. Also solving the creaky body that i experienced. Although the intrigue's suspension is stiffer than the impala's.
I am now wondering which divisions will get PCS and an ohc engine next? Will the ohc motor come in '02 or wait until the next body style?
From what I hear, the next generation Grand Prix will be receiving a high tech upgrade. I suspect you will see the PCS and a DOHC transferred over in 2003.
You might check 3M's I web site, I think they are the manufacturers. You see them on everything from Hyundai's to BMW's here in Denver. I think they use river rock instead of sand out here in the winter. We have to be the broken windshield capitol, so chips on hoods, roof lines and A pliers are common.
Been away awhile racking miles on my '01 GL. Glad to see the forum is chugging along. Got about 6k now. I am also not too fond of the LS tires. The steering is quick on the Intrigue (which I like) and I'm getting a little side to side stuff at higher speeds. You wouldn't feel it in a car with mushy steering, but it causes me to weave in the lane a little too much at 75 mph. Tires? I dunno. Thinking also about shelling out for Michelins. Anybody got the Pilots?
Everyone at work thinks I'm a total nut cause I'm only 28 and I love Oldsmobile. I have the brochure picture of my 2000 Forest Green Intrigue on my desk. And that cool picture of the new 2002 Bravada in black from the front end. I never thought I'd hear the day when someone mistook the new Bravada for a Lexus. But he did! Amazing. If I get enough money, I'd like to buy the last new Oldsmobile... the Bravada, for sentimental reasons. I know... all my cool friends driving around in their Volkswagens and Hondas... well they can have them. I love my Oldsmobile.
The LS tires aren't the greatest but I don't think the Pilots will solve the problem. I inflate mine to 34/35 cold; rides like a tractor, but improves handling, tire life and gas economy.. Most of my interstate speed is above 75 and it has no tendency to wander/drift..
Tires are orig LS at 44.5k miles old and have been perfect for a cheap tire..Tell it to the Olds dealer and he will sell you an alignment..pronto!! Mine has never been aligned and from tire wear pattern it will probably never need aligning.
Does your Intrigue have the rear spoiler???
With the quicker steering; overcorrection will result in a somewhat less than straight line travel..
Several owners on this forum have gone the Pilot route and are happy campers as well as the Goody Aquas..Try rotating tires at next oil change..
I was only 30 when I got my first Oldsmobile (my Intrigue) and I am proud to drive it. I too have enjoyed the car immensely and wish I would have the money for a Bravada some day. Unfortunately I think the Bravada will be gone before I can afford one. If we do get another Oldsmobile, it will likely be an Alero. I heard in the Alero forum that the Quad4 will be coming out for 2002 and replaced by the Saturn 2.2L four banger. The 3.4L V6 will remain unchanged.
Since your intrigue's lease is coming up at the first of the year you are eligible for early termination.
GM will forgive the remaining payments on leases due before 3/31/02, as long as you buy a new GM car through GMAC. They will also give you $500. This program is in effect from June 1-July 15.
It saved me $2445 on early termination or $3270 if i had kept the car. Not counting the new brakes and tires i would have bought when i turned the car in next march.
I bought an impala this time. If i were you i would turn my car in now.
I have had Pilots (H-rated) for about 40,000 miles now. I love 'em! Car is straight as an arrow at highway speeds and I have a spoiler. Steering is crisp and precise. No squeals or sliding through curves. Mind you, I don't have PCS. If you live in a region with snow, that in itself is reason to get them. This past winter in Philly they romped through the snow like 10 yr olds off from school. I do think the H-rated will give you a different (better) feel than what comes standard on the Intrigue.
I was 24 when I bought my Intrigue. My friends thought I was nuts too, but I was driving a much nicer car than any of them. If I do get another Olds before they are gone, it will most certainly be an Aurora 4.0 (for the wife, of course). I'm not a big SUV fan, so the Bravada will most likely be out of the question.
According to MotorTrend (July issue, page 29 sidebar), the Regal is to be redesigned for '03 and receive a 3.4L for '04. Sadly, the new Regal is very sorry as you'll see from the picture. Perhaps GM is really going to go forward with combining Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealerships (there are 2 such dealerships near me already). Word has it that if they sell Pontiacs and Buicks in the same showroom they will drop some models. From that picture it looks like the Regal will slide into the current Century's place ('cause that's exactly what it looks like) and the Grand Prix will fill the performance spot the Regal now has.
If that picture is any indication of where Buick is heading in the future, expect it to be next on the chopping block.
First the Northstar @11:00am, a freebie one from GM. Then this afternoon I will amble over to Lee Olds for the Shortstar change since it is down a qt..
The Intrigue may be the last great performing car for the money by Generous Motors.. The 3.5 and the suspension setup+PCS=in-your-face-fun!!!
According to "one2one" the next Regal will be a let-down and "dindak" gave us the lineup on the Alero with its Saturn power--you will need earplugs to sit in the car..
I notice that all my postings have a "DELETE" remaining; doesn't look good for the future..If you are hunting for an Intrigue and your dealer doesn't stock many cars ; try Lee Olds or Drummy Olds in the Detroit area.
I think maybe your terrific gas mileage may also be explaining your oil consumption problems. Loose motor equals oil consumption (assuming there are no leaks) and low friction which means better mileage... to a point. I know I will own two obsolete cars in a year or so... I prefer to think of the Firebird as a lost classic. The Intrigue has served well, so far. I think the interior was the main determining factor between it and the Regal GS. Switches and such are much improved over the "old" GM stuff (like in the Formula) and most of the materials are better (carpet, etc). Speaking of obsolete; buy some Firestones and you may be in the same boat.
Actually... the Saturn 2.2L is more quiet and refined than the Alero Quad4 it replaces. You will give up 15 ponies, but I think it's a very good move. Too bad the Alero will be history in 2-3 years.
My intrigue used no oil the last 15,000 miles i had it. It got 29mpg hwy. Resale on fbodies is the best of all GM cars. Intrigues' is one of the worst.
I have read on the Regal board that GM plans to fold Century into a low-end trim of Regal in/after 2003. Makes sense: even the current Century and Regal bodies are not so different, generally looks alike, and could have the same label. Though, it does not necessary means that higher-power Regal will not be available as another trim.
GM did this already with Pontiac Grand Prix. With the same 3.1l engine as Malibu and Century, the SE trim is somewhat underpowered for W-body. However, the mid-trim GT have a very decent 200 hp engine, and the supercharged high-end GTP is one of the most powerful family sedans.
By the way, according to GM statistics, Century is overselling Regal 2:1. GM does not provide statistics by trim, but with not-scientific counting of cars on the streets, I have impression that the low-end trims of the same models also are selling much better. Roughly 6:3:1 for GP SE:GT:GTP, and 2:1 to 3:1 for Regal LS:GS, and Impala base:LS. Saw too few Monte Carlo to counting.
redline65 : I for one really like the Monte Carlo (especially the 2001s with the restyled spoiler). The base models don't look very good though, it has to be an SS!
yurakm : For what u get, the Century is a bargain. You get a V6 semi-luxury sedan for the price of a base Accord. Big problem is the suspension is mushy and the dash is old school.
Comments
Glad your '99 is serving you well.
I guess some people got good cars and others(me) did not. I do miss that engine though.
I have to agree with you about bras. Braless is definitely the way to go.
The paint on my '85 IROC was ruined by one.
There is all kinds of info on this site about many of the engines and transmissions GM makes
Bras of the car type are ugly and I would rather experiment with that 3m see-through sticker. I have a few chips to fill in before next winter though, thats for sure.
I guess some owners come from a wealthy bunch...they do have enough money to re-paint front ends. I guess people's concept of car care do vary from owner to owner.
I have used the perfect fit car bra (Which by the way is a GM OEM part) for over 1 year with ZERO problems. What's uglier? A car with the front end cover or a car ruined by rock chips and bug splatter??
1*15::: Who are you trying to fool?? Don't tell me the front end of the Intrigue is immune from the effects of road debris...am I missing something here...invisible shield protection included??
None of the Impala's first year problems have left anyone stranded on the side of the road. The ISS has been the same malady that plagued early production Intrigues and the engine cradle issues have already been fixed for the 2001 model year. The radio AMP problem is another classic example of why no one should ever buy a first year GM product...but happily that one item has also been addressed in the 2001 model year (cars built after 11/00). The owners having the intermittent A/C problem are in the majority 2000 model year holders.
Sorry to rain in your parade but the Intrigue is also no perfect car and in fact it blew its only chance big time in the market place to establish otself as a quality automobile. Perhaps the newer Intrigues are better but the earlier ones soured a lot of people to Olds and GM due to the lack of basic quality control. The Intrigue was supposed to be the Maxima by GM but the car fell short of its objective. Olds dealership experiences have also been nothing to write home about.
This is why people like B4z got fed up by the ultimate GM driving machine and went the Impala route. Others have gone with the Grand Prix as well. Yes the 3800 is a 'low tech' engine but still works remarkably well and outperforms some of the 'High tech' sewing machine engines out there. The 3800 will be phased out in 2005 so don't worry it will be hanging around but too long when the SULEV emissions requirements kick in.
The 3.5L DOHC powerhouse is impressive but still needs work and this is why GM will be bringing an updated version in the 3.7L format. The 3.5L lacks off the line punch and sorry to say this but GM's clientele still likes neck snapping acceleration over rocket thrust acceleration at high RPM's....Hopefully the next generation dual cammer V6 will cater to both preferences.
The Impala is still a much better car quality wise and has had fewer problems than the Intrigue at introduction time. Intrigue owners do complain about banging suspensions, body creaks, squeaks and rattles which are virtually absent in the Impala.
The Intrigue is a great concept in paper but quality problems tarnished its reputation forever... Olds ceased to exist not only because of poor marketing efforts, but also for poor quality and high sticker prices...like water and oil these last two don't mix.
I hope you do enjoy your 2002 Intrigue, the last of an already extinct breed...keep it for 10 or 15 years for its resale value is dismal among the GM W body corporate cars. What a shame what GM did to the Intrigue..
The Impala ain't a perfect car by any measure but the fact remains that it is a higher quality car over the 'best' car GM had to offer in the Intrigue. What's wrong with this picture?
Admittedly, my exterior car maintenance does tend to drag at times with once a week pass through the commerical car bath and I usually do an annual in the driveway scrub down.. If the front end becomes a liitle tacky then we will take a bug/tar remover sponge for the Intrigue's nose is easy to clean compared to a normal grille..
The darker colored cars do age more gracefully in spite of being prone to the adage "showing dust/dirt".
The Impala is assembled from the corporate "parts bin". The Intrigue deviated from that route and started its own image with different concepts and stayed away from the proven elements. Got into a little trouble in some areas and some bad press to go around..Blame it on marketing or dealers response to correcting problems to appease ones fancy; whatever works..
I will attest the fact where factory involvement in problem solving is a non-event..The dealer usually goes alone in trying to work it out..The dealer in most cases avoids getting the factory involved in the case of Olds. I have always found Cadillac eager to please and if factory is unable to see it in a timely manner then the dealer is king..
Don't plan to keep any Intrigue beyond 5 yrs and certainly know it ain't a collectors item.. I am glad to see the 3.5 grow into a 3.7 with refinement to boot. If the 3.5 wears quicker; we can blame ourselves for just enjoying the ride with a heavy foot on the gas..
I think "one2one" has a high mileage 98 rolling toward 90k w/o any concerns other than steering kinks.
I like the accessability of the 3.8 components for the packaging is superb which replacement of alternator and a/c compressor a snap.. The 3.5 packaging is terrible with those two items buried out of sight.. That's the reason i bought a major guard warranty on the Intrigue for i am sure one item will fail..
Th Impala of yore was a totally different structure which it's own identity whereas the current model lineup is a cookie cutter committee
standardized offering.. Decent wheels; nothing great, and better resale probably than Intrigue, but low on the fun factor..
Have a good day teo!!!!Any hurricanes working offshore???
teo : I have one small chip on the plastic bumper after 1 1/2 years. I think the key is to not tailgate and wash regularly. Nothing wrong with bras, they just aren't my thing. As for my Intrigue, I plan on keeping it for 7-8 years. It will eventually retire to 2nd car status but for now it's proudly our primary car and is serving well.
9899olds: Getting close to 2,000 miles on the Formula; she's really beginning to shine now. I've made some cosmetic upgrades but have held off on performance upgrades (other than K&N filter) till I get a few more miles. Guys in the local F-body club are dynoing their 2001 f-body's at 295-305 hp at the rear wheels completely stock! My car is rated at 310 hp at the flywheel. Can anyone say underrated! These cars (2001-02 LS1 f-bodys) are making 340-350 hp straight off the showroom floor. Whisper lid intake and cat-back exhaust bumps them to 375-380 hp. Get 'em while you can... they're going away soon.
And I have to disagree with you about the 3.5L still needing work. I think it provides an excellent combination of low-end torque and high-end power. More so than the standard V6's from Honda or Toyota.
There has been a number of improvements (Which I personally took the time to verify) on the 2001 Impala (Cars built after 11/2000). Engine cradle is no longer an issue as well as the poor sounding radio trunk mounted amp..both of these were fixed accordingly. Jury is still out on the ISS and the A/C compressor. Today it has been exactly 8 weeks since I took the keys to the '01 and with 1,400 miles the car continues to perform flawlessly in the 95F+ Florida weather.
I hate to imply that the Impala is the best car in the world...is far from perfect but it is a blast to drive (Yes this car is FUN)and gives an excellent equipment to price ratio for its class.
The 3.5L DOHC is an excellent engine, but as clearly stated by the Ward's automotive people (Remember that they themselves gave high award praise to this powerplant a couple of years ago) this engine is like a baseball team made up with the best players...yet they somehow can not play together well in harmony all the time. The 3.5L is light years away from the days of the Quad 4 engine but remember that it does have its quibbles....oil consumption, hard to reach key components, lacks serious low end punch, alternator issues. But beyond that the 3.5L is a great engine and I wish that GM will only keep perfecting upon it. And yes, the 3.5L and even the 3800 offer superior driveability, performance and economy over the Asian duo Singer sewing machine engines.
The Intrigue camp is divided between 3 distinctive groups...the ones who hate the car and still own it or got rid of it, the ones that have never had any problems and claim that this car is the best thing since the invention of sliced bread and the last group is made up of those who have had some problems but still love the thing enough to keep coming back to more like our fellow AARP friend..
The Intrigue had all the right ingredients to succeed. The problem lies in the final execution of the product and the quality control issues. If GM wanted the Intrigue to be the American Maxima or Acura TL alternative they should kept close tabs in those areas were buyers at this price range are more suceptible..reliability, good initial quality, decent resale value, etc, etc.
The Intrigue really never has had a problem in the powertrain dept. All problems have been with suspension/brakes/steering/body integrity and interior trim...was this supposed to be the BEST GM had to offer??
GM abandoned Olds once it realized it was a sinking ship. Olds products were made to look more 'Import' if you will but aside from the engines found in the Intrigue/Aurora sedans, most everything else about Oldsmobile products was shared from the same exact corporate parts bin. The platform of the Intrigue is the same exact W-body architecture found elsewhere in the line up. Trim pieces are similar to to other GM corporate cars..they were made to look different but the beef is the same. The Silloutte, old Bravada are the same thing Chevy sells minus some bright trim work, paint colors and leather seats..nothing special there. The Aurora is a Bonneville/LeSabre with different body shell and engine..the rest is pure H-Platform corporate full size sedan chassis.
I think that GM failed promoting the 'Myth' that Olds cars were a different breed from the rest of the divisions. For Olds to have been truly different it, for starters, should have developed its OWN platforms (Not sharing allowed), own transmissions, own trim pieces, own sheetmetal, etc. The only thing it had was different engines and different design..the rest under the skin was the same you could get at Chevy, Buick and Pontiac. This is where Olds/GM failed..they couldn't fool buyers into paying higher sticker prices in exchange for run of the mill quality. GM taught that the Wrapper was enough to make people feel different about GM...the substance was omitted from the final package and this is why Olds, sadly doesn't exist anylonger.
I still think the Intrigue was a great experiment in shaking up a stodgy product image, but its quality problems, poor safety ratings and uncertain resale value were enought to drove people away.
It's all too late now anyway. I'll enjoy my Intrigue and move on when it's time. Blaming isn't going to bring back Olds, but I hope GM has learned from it. Things at GM have been looking up in the past few months and I hope it continues.
I really liked the Intrigue ads...made me interested in the car at some point..but when I started to hear the truth behind the scenes..it was just another run of the mill GM car with a higher price tag.
The engine is great but a car is a whole package in the end.
And I still feel the Intrigue is the best GM has to offer in a W-body. No plans to buy another though as I won't be buying a car for myself for many years. I've had mine for two years now, and I plan to keep it another 4 or 5. I bought an extended warranty when it had 50 miles on the odometer, so I won't have any out-of-pocket repair costs over my length of ownership.
It has 34 ftlbs more torque than the honda. I drove the intrigue and accord within a couple of hours of each other and the intrigue was much stronger off the line.
http://www.zing.com/picture/pe63d091e347673dd5755afc37655d495/fe6b8e8f.jpg.orig.jpg
It was not too difficult and the result was well worth it. Don't get me wrong about the mileage -If I am racing a lot I can still push her down to the 15MPG threshold.
Even if you don't do the cone there is another thing that you can do with your panel K&N(If you did not do it already). Open up the air filter side of the airbox and remove the small tube that restricts airflow to the filter. Just drill out the two rivots and pull out the plastic piece, this will about double the area for air flow.
Just like the good old(s) days!
Glad to see it - and you too, Agent 9899!
Ken
P.S. - just have to add - regarding bras - I prefer pasties! lol
I drove a Regal with the Touring suspension option in 1998 but it handled like the 92 Regal GS. I drove a GTP in 98 and my dislikes was the silly dashboard and the mickey mouse split dual exhausts plus the dealer only had one in stock which left no room to dicker--so Goodbye..
Love the AARP label and maybe it says.."Been there; done that", and I am always willing to learn. I've driven too many cars too many miles to ready get excited about perfect performance over a couple thousand miles..I am used to gliding through the 90k mark without any unusual glitches.. The 70s and 80s cars were not totally bad apples as the press would have one believe..
The old Grand Prixs of 74 thru 77 with the big block engines were absolute serious cruisers; had a new one from each year. Each one ran a least 70k+ without too many hiccups.. The 74 radiator got the coolant/trans fluid mixed together way out of mileage warranty; factory covered it..
teo:::::Olds failed because of the culture crisis of trying to overcome the old fuddy image..The dealers had struggled for years and were not ready cope with something different; the problems hit and the dealers were turned off. The only thing that saved their buns was the Alero..The 3.5 engine doesn't fit the growth needs and the Aurora is not a bargain so they decided to fold up their tent and leave.. The Olds dealer setup is a holdover from the old days..
The Chevy dealer is a shell of the past for the days of the "B body"(Impala,BelAir,Biscayne), Chevelle,and Nova are gone..Remember when they used to stuff V-8s into Novas and Falcons..
White6:::::After the phaseout of the 02 Model year you will be the owner of two obsolete cars..A Formula and one each Intrigue..The F body is tempting for we should realize these hot-bodied machines are to be extinct. The General will not waste any money to retool a 300+hp sport-car that the is not a picture perfect example of the Honda Insight concept.. Will talk later on the intrigue..
Lots of bugs, yes, but they are just as much of a nuisance to clean off a bra as from paint.
In the end the Intrigue is the most refined of the bunch and is priced about the same as a similarly eqiuped Impala LS (at least here in Ontario). Any 2000+ Intrigue has all the big bugs out and you are left with the best mid-size car GM makes.
Speed makes a big difference. At 55MPH a lot of bugs just blow over you. At 70MPH they become bug paste. But the only way I can drive 55 in my Intrigue is when all the lanes are taken! :-)
Enjoying the debate and getting a good RISE out of my fellow Intrigue men!
About time this forum came back to life!
Somebody ask about a clear bra; check the C Class Mercedes forum for info because it does exist..Only the best for those precious little gems..
white6::::how did you get 5400 miles out of an oil change? Mine is under 2000 miles and needs almost a qt..But it is driven at a high cruise so I don't complain.. It gets scary great gas mileage; filled yesterday and netted 28.12.. I have the oil changed at Lee Olds and that's all I ever let them do.. It's Valvoline brand 10/30..Tires are on the list for next week and will go the SH-30 stones or the Mich Pilots..The Aqua is tempting but I am afraid the sidewall is a little weak for my driving habits.. The LSs are like skis in the rain now; really kind of dumb that I still have them on but they are just vibration free for shakeless driving. I hate the new tire BS; for it usually is a two time visit to get it right..
This would have solved the back seat room problem and would have gotten the cat a stiffer body structure. Also solving the creaky body that i experienced. Although the intrigue's suspension is stiffer than the impala's.
I am now wondering which divisions will get PCS and an ohc engine next? Will the ohc motor come in '02 or wait until the next body style?
I have been satisfied sufficiently with this car (mostly because of performance) that I am seriously considering replacing it with another one.
Question, is the 3.7L engine a rumor or has it been announced?
Aside from the precision handling, have there been any other significant upgrades to the line?
I missed all the suspension and drive train problems, so no issue there.
Finally, lease considerations.
You must lease thru GMAC because banks, understandably, will not commit to a residual that makes sense to the buyer.
I see the availability of service at any GM dealer to be a bonus.
The 5 year warranty is too.
Chevy stopped building decent cars in 1957.
Anybody willing to take a hack at these concerns, or, able to recommend another vehicle that is competitive on price and value?
Leasing through GMAC will get you the best rates anyway, so it's not like GM is ripping you off.
Don't think there have been any major upgrades. My 2000 has not had any suspension problems some have had.
In the end (especially if you are leasing) go for another. It will likely (and sadly) be your last Oldsmobile.
JR
Tires are orig LS at 44.5k miles old and have been perfect for a cheap tire..Tell it to the Olds dealer and he will sell you an alignment..pronto!! Mine has never been aligned and from tire wear pattern it will probably never need aligning.
Does your Intrigue have the rear spoiler???
With the quicker steering; overcorrection will result in a somewhat less than straight line travel..
Several owners on this forum have gone the Pilot route and are happy campers as well as the Goody Aquas..Try rotating tires at next oil change..
GM will forgive the remaining payments on leases due before 3/31/02, as long as you buy a new GM car through GMAC. They will also give you $500. This program is in effect from June 1-July 15.
It saved me $2445 on early termination or $3270 if i had kept the car. Not counting the new brakes and tires i would have bought when i turned the car in next march.
I bought an impala this time. If i were you i would turn my car in now.
If that picture is any indication of where Buick is heading in the future, expect it to be next on the chopping block.
The Intrigue may be the last great performing car for the money by Generous Motors.. The 3.5 and the suspension setup+PCS=in-your-face-fun!!!
According to "one2one" the next Regal will be a let-down and "dindak" gave us the lineup on the Alero with its Saturn power--you will need earplugs to sit in the car..
I notice that all my postings have a "DELETE" remaining; doesn't look good for the future..If you are hunting for an Intrigue and your dealer doesn't stock many cars
; try Lee Olds or Drummy Olds in the Detroit area.
It's another fine day for summer fun!!!
Resale on fbodies is the best of all GM cars. Intrigues' is one of the worst.
GM did this already with Pontiac Grand Prix. With the same 3.1l engine as Malibu and Century, the SE trim is somewhat underpowered for W-body. However, the mid-trim GT have a very decent 200 hp engine, and the supercharged high-end GTP is one of the most powerful family sedans.
By the way, according to GM statistics, Century is overselling Regal 2:1. GM does not provide statistics by trim, but with not-scientific counting of cars on the streets, I have impression that the low-end trims of the same models also are selling much better. Roughly 6:3:1 for GP SE:GT:GTP, and 2:1 to 3:1 for Regal LS:GS, and Impala base:LS. Saw too few Monte Carlo to counting.
yurakm : For what u get, the Century is a bargain. You get a V6 semi-luxury sedan for the price of a base Accord. Big problem is the suspension is mushy and the dash is old school.