Oldsmobile Intrigue

b4z

I attribute the bad reviews to the editor's age, or lack thereof. Many of these writer's have no experience with domestic cars and are used to driving imports. When they drive the domestic offerings they don't know what to make of them.
In this case unfamiliarity breeds contempt.

i emailed one of our hosts back in January about their hatchet jobs and he basically agreed with me that their reviews were not done very well.

swagled

As much as I'd like to drive RWD again, the F-body isn't an option. Roof too low. Winshield too close to my face. Seats too low. And terrible reliability, anyway.

When GM makes sensible RWD cars for 6'5" people I could be shopping, though.

9899olds

white6:::::I spent 30 minutes back in the summer driving one and somehow yesterday just sitting in one was not too pleasant..I'am short 5'10" and the first thing was to move the seat back and it was all the way back..yesterday was 95+ and I didn't drive the car because I wasn't that interested..Let them look at my car, listen and leave..

Having worked with the auto bunch since 1969 I understand some of their ways and the final build-out can last for a full model yr or a skinny one..Since economic conditions are rotten and will not improve until next spring I can put off ordering the beast until mid-winter..

I can play with whole thing and wear out the Intrigue since it's not too valuable.. The totally owned cars are always more fun..I am going to make a run at the Concurs Caddy either tomorrow or Friday..I have a buyer for the wifes car if she likes the other one..If she doesn't then I keep and sell the Intrigue..She is in Florida and won't be back until the 6th..

Lots of options.. There is no feeling of control in the Z-28 frontal view due to the lack of lower horizion..your height means you are looking down on the hood whereas at my height I am looking straight ahead and see no hood..Maybe the seat was lowered to max..

Tomorrow is exercise day for the Intrigue and oil change at the original dealer.. Golf for me..

oscarz2

Consider me placated...for now, that is. Picked up my car and to my surprise they replaced the intermediate shaft and lubed the jounce bumpers. Car feels tight as a drum and noises are gone.

The bad intermediate shaft doesn't surprise me since I remember posts over a year ago where many were saying at about 13k-20k mi, they were going bad. Moreover, many had it replaced more than once so I wonder if the same fate awaits me. Reminds me of the alternator issue. 2nd,3rd,4th redesign? I'll keep my fingers crossed.

jg28

It was very short but nice. I wonder if GM paid to have their vehicles featured. There was an older model Escalade, the Intrigue and he mentioned a Buick. Nice bow out for the Intrigue I think.

Has anyone here put the service manager's balls to the wall so to speak and not given up on something they knew was wrong? I just know he's gonna tell me he can't find anything wrong with the transmission when I take it in. Plus, I have a whistling sound from the passenger's door that they "cannot duplicate."

I'm wondering if my problem could be the intermittent steering shaft or whatever it's called. What are the symptoms?

I'm looking forward/dreading winter to see if this newly designed alternator works. It's such a pain to change (they have to drain the entire cooling system). Dumb place to locate an alternator.

FATlittle

I've really enjoyed driving Oldsmobiles in the past years, but I don't think GM's products will live up to the quality you would expect in a vehicle. The Intrigue has superb handling and performance, but the workmanship on the car fell short when comparing to other cars in the industry. The next time I'm in the market for a new car I'll check out the new Mercedes and BMWs that are made for luxury-entry-level that costs just as much as an Intrigue would, but they have high-quality material and excellent engine performance. I recommend anyone who is in the market for a car to get an Intrigue because of it's superb handling comparing to Japanese brands.

BUY OLDSMOBILE-Until GM stop making them.

ludacris

"I recommend anyone who is in the market for a car to get an Intrigue because of it's superb handling comparing to Japanese brands."

The Lexus IS300, Acura TL and Nissan Maxima can easily hold their own with an Intrigue. Heck, the IS is near equal to the 3 series..the TL has been highly regarded as a sport sedan recently and the Maxima even with a beam rear axle outhandles Intrigues...dont know why you think there are no Japanese cars in the 20-30k price range that can't handle as good as an Intrigue...

..I don't think I have to mention the WRX either...

swagled

I'm also curious what symptoms are for the steering shaft bug. I can feel vibration in the wheel, turning it at low speeds. I've always assumed that it's communication from the power steering pump, and that all W bodies do it... My build date is 3/2000.

swagled

My Intrigue, minus $1800 GM card points, minus rebates, and *including* sales tax, was 19.5K. And I got a GL... (The GX is no stripper, and is really quite well optioned. I could have gotten one of those for 18.8K. I just felt willing to splurge that extra 7 C notes because the car was already such a good deal.)

I might even agree that with a "20-30K" import you get what you pay for in terms of refinement and ergonomics... But, that's the essential problem. You *DO* pay more!!

dindak

BMW/Mercedes may have better build quality, but they have more than their fair share of problems. A good example is one of our clients who is so fed up with his Mercedes that he will be leasing a Lexus next time. I quote "you would think a $70,000 car would be more reliable than my daughters $16,000 Sunfire". I had to laugh.

As for Intrigue, you aren't going to find much out there that is a better deal for the money, especially with all the close out deals. One more year and they will be gone!

9899olds

Pile on the Mercs, BMWs,and the other "can't say what I want", reworked Hondas and Camarys..The smallest thing Mercedes offers is a 240 with a pint size engine and a giant price tag..The Bimmer bunch consists of little I-6s with sticks to paddle along with to keep up the revs..The real scary aspect is the dealer attitude; I have found we don't agree, for they appreciate the blank check approach..

The other continents cars I really don't want to expand on for I would be booted..Being a Michigan dweller and a supplier to the Big 3; my Yankee Doodle Dandy loyality and AARP status says there ain't nothing better than the good old boys..If it's good for GM; then it's good for the country..

The Intrigue is not perfect; but after 73k miles of rough house driving spread over two Intrigues the current value being offered in the final days is outstanding..

FATlittle/ludacris::::::Go to your local Olds dealer and stock up on real value for future pleasure..The prices are giveaway and the performance is outstanding..having owned two brand new Porsches along with some red-hot Camaros
; you owe it to yourself to get involved with Olds..

Gotta go and flog the Intrigue to keep it happy..Tough life and only the best win..Olds is looking for a few qualified owners; better hurry stocks are low..Dealers are on allocation!!!

Off to golf, fasten your seat belts for lift off is next...

one2one

"When GM makes sensible RWD cars for 6'5" people I could be shopping, though."

Preach it to 'em!!!

I'm not so much a loyalist to GM as much as I am offened by most other manufacturers. You've got to be from Lilliput in order to fit into their machines. Don't even try to put people in behind you.

GM doesn't escape my wrath. I wanted an Aurora but couldn't fit. Later builds provided more room than the earlier ones but they are still too small. Chrysler's LH cars don't provide the front leg room they promise. Germans are no better. And we won't even talk about what comes out of Japan or their U.S. factories.

I'm loyal to Oldsmobile because they gave me a very stylish car without going over the top, that I fit extremely well in at 6'8", and satisfies my wannabe Nascar driver fix. It was a toss-up between the Intrigue and Regal for my recent purchase. The main reason why I didn't get the Regal is because the left air vent blows directly on my knee. I don't need anything to accelerate the onset of arthritis. And that's a problem I find with most cars.

The really sad thing is that my only real options were from the GM mid-sized bunch. Fortunately, I was able to get a car I really like (again) and have no second thoughts or buyer's remorse.

oscarz2

Intermediate shaft going bad: turning while going over bumps/dips, you will feel more of it in the steering column than previously. Almost like a looseness (not play) and there may or may not be a clunking or popping noise. It happens so gradually that it's hardly noticable until it's replaced.

Vibration in the steering at low speeds is nothing more than the Walmart power-steering system that we are stuck with. I tried twice to have them correct this and they can't. They say it's normal.

swagled

Exchange rates have been very favorable to the dollar for the last decade, and the price comparison versus imported cars is still close.

If the US goes into a real early-80s economic downturn again, our balance of trade could cause a run on the dollar. Be ready to see all those imported vehicles rise 10-15%.

Under that situation, we wouldn't even be comparing cars in the same class. It would be "Would you rather buy a GM midside or a foreign compact?"

This would reveal who the true "foreign only" buyers are.

one2one

You also may feel a "jiggle" through the brake when braking between 25 and 40 mph. Doing this over rough pavement may make it more pronounced if they claim they can't feel it. Sometimes on smooth pavement it doesn't always show.

And don't let them feed you some garbage that steering shafts don't go bad. That might be true but we're talking about this design in particular that had a design flaw.

evandro

"Would you rather buy a GM midside or a foreign compact?"

Isn't it like that yet?

;^)

swagled

Now that I think about it, I suppose an exchange rate change might not affect Japanese car makers so much, since they have built plants here. I guess it would depend how much raw content they still ship to North America.

The Europeans would be in a jam, though.

drc4ebg

Did I go to sleep for a few years or what? Where is there an entry level Mercedes or BMW that cost the same as an Intrigue, can you explain that? Go to any M or B dealer and look at "entry level" and show me the same cost (or within 15-20%) for the size of an Intrigue. Good luck

mosaix

Man, this is an active forum. 69 posts since my last visit 3 days ago. I'm already at 500 miles on the Intrigue and now that she is getting broken in, I'm starting to drive it a bit harder. Several things I've noticed. First, the engine is like Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. At lower speeds it's just as docile as any other midsize V6 but rev it up and you awaken the beast within. Kind of neat. Secondly, the PCS is an interesting feature. I think I activated it last night going around a sharp curve way too fast. I noticed the "low trac" light came on and I could feel some resistence or something. So far, I have no real complaints. I have noticed that when I start the car in the morning after it has been parked all night, the engine idles at about 1200 rpm. Is this normal for these engines or is that a bit high? Most cars I've owned idle no higher than 1000 rpm, even in the cold of winter. The Onstar system is pretty neat and I just found out they offer an option called personal calling which basically turns it into a hands-free cell phone and all you pay is a per minute rate and there is no roaming, long distance, or additional charges. I have a cell phone, but something like that would neat while on the road. I noticed several people had mentioned getting a BMW or an MB over an Intrigue. To me, these are a totally different class of car. Remember, after discounts I got mine for a bit over $24K and that is a fully loaded GLS. I don't think you can touch a C-class, 3 series, or even an Acura TL for anywhere neat that. What I did find was the Intrigue was a better deal than an Intrepid(even with Dodge's 0.9% 60 month financing), a Maxima GLE, Camry XLE V6, and VW Passat. It's just too bad GM has decided to phase out Olds as I think their product is more forward thinking than that of Buick or Pontiac. Talk to you guys soon.

moonshadow

Back to the dealer today, they took the car for an overnight run and you guessed it the gremlins went back into hiding.

I remember peoplles going on a while back about the many variations of the upgraded altenator. Since the dealer says that they have replaced the altenator that the lights should not flicker but nobody at GM informed the headlights and they continue to intermittantly blink(intermittant means all the time except when a gm employee is in the car).

Could someone out there tell me what sort of part number or revision I could wave under their nose because they believe there was only one upgrade and i now have it. Need Help.

moonshadow

your cold engine rpms is normal. (hey i sound like a Gm service manager ). It should drop back to 700 800rpm in a minute or so. However, in the winter and i'm not sure what winter means to you but it will rev at 1500 plus for several minutes or until you go into gear. Very annoying and loud

Good luck with your car for i have come to hate mine 2001 w pcs and now 9500kms. However , when a person gets car fever there is nothing that i couldsay about my experience that would change their mind.

focus

Please elaborate on you dislike for our benefit.

ian18

I appreciate the latest postings about steering problems. I think that my '98 is experiencing the dreaded rattling problem again! I had the intermediate shaft replaced around 8,000 miles. I am now at 54,000 miles and think I need another one. Has anyone on this board had the intermediate shaft replaced more than once?

oscarz2

Had mine replaced in March due to flickering headlights. Paperwork stated, "found internal damage to alternator. Waited 2 months for it because it was supposedly the "new, redesigned" one. Part # was 10464395 (GENER REM 2.275*). I have a 99. Parts guy said according to his data, the 00 cars were listing a different # for alternator. Then someone on this board said REM means remanufactured. I'm in the dark on this one.

Anyway, now I'm noticing the AC fan speed fluctuate according to engine RPMs. I'm looking for the headlight flicker but not sure yet.

moonshadow

refer to post 3080, 3086, 3281,3323,3326 and 3728

it says most of it but not things i have had to repair or fiddle with myself.

9899olds

Nearing 48k miles means I should have many things replaced like the alternator and the ISS..had the shaft done around 20k, but didn't make any difference..I have not experienced the flickering lights..

Lots of front end racket, however all appears tight and I judge alot based on tire wear and how evenly the tires wear..I have not rotated for 16k miles due to replacement pending; frankly I am amazed that no odd wear pattern has started..

Everything works and if one looks hard enough they can always find something to complain about, just be thankful you are not into something costing 30+..

Are the PCS equipped shod with Goodyears RSAs???

Never experienced the high idle speed in winter or summer at startup..Only had the one incident after the car has parked for two weeks in the garage where upon starting it didn't want to run, sputtered, backfired, and "check engine light" came on and stayed on until I restarted it..Never happened again; so assume no problem..

With the Master Guard "0" ded warranty maybe I should start into a rebuild program on GM!!!If the car is worth only 12k; then I shall keep the bargain for it would be hard to find one in as great shape as mine..The 6% sales tax in Mich would cover the non-warranty items if one was to buy a new one..

If I put on 2k/mo thru next Mar02; it would have only 64k and worth still 9.5k in a private sale with 9k left on warranty..

The black GLS w/chromes, spoiler, and sunroof is a sharp looker..Maybe I will have the car polished by an outside outfit for it is collecting lots of road junk..

After that ridiculous tradein offer by the Chevy dealer on the Z-28; I can see where the clowns are coming from and trying to make the buck on the deal..They probably thought I was having a "Senior Moment" when they figured the Camaro deal..

It's Friday and yesterday I missed my oil change appt and was almost late for golf time; and by the way I played based on lost bets, I should have stayed home and watered the flowers..Screwy day it was..

white6:::::with your height the Firebird fit has to be tight??? I may go look at a Mustang GT with the crappy automatics for I am afraid my wife would not be too swift in the Z..I go for the Canary Yellow..Had a 60 Impala conv in yellow with the big block engine-new-fuel pump went the first day of ownership.

one2one

I've noticed my RPMs are about 1200 but it doesn't matter whether it's hot or cold outside. When it's really hot, it drops in less than 10 seconds if even that. On cooler mornings (haven't had it through a winter yet) it takes about a minute. I just wait until it drops to 1000 RPMs before I take off.

My 98 with the 3800 would idle high when the outside temp was really cold. In hot weather it commonly started anywhere between 900 and 1000 RPMs.

So I take your idle to be normal as well. I've seen it in other cars too, specifically the Toyota Avalon. Which probably means it happens in all Toyota products since they use their 3.0L as liberally as GM does the 3.8L

white6

I have the driver's seat all the way back, and then it is just right. I'm 6-3, so anyone over that would be a tight fit, for sure. I had a Ford once; didn't work too good for me. 91 T-bird, 5.0 HO. Terrible seats, terrible brakes, terrible handling. But, boy, would that thing fly on the freeway! Just had to hope you didn't have to stop. Had the A/C fixed four times in four years... still wasn't fixed; leaked after the first pot hole impact after repair. I think the V-8 cars' AC system had seven or eight joints with flimsy seals. Aftermarket company came up with a super-duty retainer about five years ago to supposedly fix the problem. I sold it and bought a 97 Saturn wagon... but that's another (sad) story. I tried out a Mustang at the car show; I don't fit as well in them, for some reason. Seem tight width-wise to me. They sure do sell a lot of them, though. I would wait a few years on the Mustang; 2004-5 should be a pretty nice car as it will be built on a modified Lincoln LS/Jaguar Type S platform. Another good reason to hold on to that Intrigue and enjoy the ride!

b4z

Looks like there won't be a camaro in your garage afterall.

dindak

Bad news... the Cambridge plant unionization fell through. I heard about it on the radio this morning. Have not seen a story anywhere as the exactly why. Toyota did a good job keeping them out.

achong

I have a very annoying rattle that comes from inside the dash, just about the center or slightly right of the center of the dash.
Has anyone had this rattle and advise of the fix.

9899olds

dindak:::::agree it could have been better!!!always another day..
b4z:::::::the thought isn't dead but I can't get invovled w/o the other half driving one..She drove the 71SS350 on occasion; but the 82Z was her car. The latest body is very different for the old guys of yore.
white6:::::Both you and b4z are well into the 6+' range and when I got into the Z the first thing I reached for was the elec seat switch and it was all the way back..I am only 5'10", but felt cramped..
Your car picking has improved and I am not a Ford fan nor do I cream over the Chrysler end; but they are homespun so I keep my options open..Ford does a great job of selling the Mustang and has mopped up the Camaro/Firebird thunder..I think the GM offerings are superior but the sales certainly tell the story..

dindak

The big plus with the Mustang is that it is easier to live with on a daily basis. The Camaro/Firebirds are better performance wise, but are more sport car rather than coupe oriented. Ford also markets well as they do not have as many cars in their line-up.

I would take a Firebird over a Mustang any day, but that being said I'd probably buy a used Vette before I bought either.

swagled

We've had some coments here about the possible top end speed of the Intrigue... I get the feeling the 3.5 can also wind higher than 6400 rpm.

I've seen before that a high performance engine will be rev limted to protect the transmission, more so than the valves. If there had ever been a manual transmission Intrigue, maybe it would have been limited at 6800-7000 rpm

jg28

They've eliminated "poorly constructed and creaky" from the review. I really believe Oldsmobile must've made some great improvements to the 2001s.

I do get a buzzing sound now from time to time that sounds like it's coming from inside and not just the dash, I feel the road in the brake pedal and my steering feels very loose. It sounds like I have the shaft problem too. I thought this had been corrected for the 2000 model year? Does anyone know?

I only have problems with my alternator in the winter although I have noticed some differentiation in the ac blower output but it's been more steady since the redesigned alternator was put in.

jgriff

ian18 ::: I had mine replaced twice during my 18-months of ownership [which ended June 2000] @ 7k & again 16k miles.

Got a feeling that this may be a life-time problem for some owners. I did not want to wait and see if the 3rd time was going to be a charm. It was two, too many already and I cut my loses and was outta there.

-- Good Luck to you.

swagled

For now I'm concluding my 3/2000 build doesn't have the shaft problem since I'm not experiencing any clunking sounds. (Although it does seem like there's something strange about the steering at low speeds. It's almost a "beady" feel... kind of like turning an old padlock.)

Steering has been a bugaboo in GM cars for quite a while. I briefly owned two used Chevy cavaliers, an '83 and an '84. One had a very noticable "sticky spot" when turning the wheel. The other was very stiff and hard to turn when cold.

I will have to concede that in total I've found more build quality problems with my Intrigue than with my Mazda. Windshield distortions, vibrating steering, headlight flicker, a few "odd suspension sounds".

Still, the Mazda wasn't perfect either in it's first year of ownership. It had a leak in the gas tank, and a malfunctioning on-board computer. Both were fixed under waranty. No warranty work yet on the Intrigue. The Intrigue has never stranded me, while these problems with the Mazda did.

There's no doubt the Intrigue is more fun to drive. (I still have the Mazda and only drive it once in a while make sure it still starts.)

9899olds

jgriff::::::Did you read the Acura brake problem forum????Just trying help you out like you assist us Intrigue owners!!!! I don't normally read the Acura, Honda, Toyota,or Nissan forums because I might feel motivated to reply; but that isn't part of my job description anymore..

I imagine that the second and third owners of Intrigue will not worry about the ISS or the rack..They will drive and brag about the car..The ISS runs about $350 and I think one2one on his 98 model only went through one ISS..

In 26k I had one ISS done and two racks replaced on the 98, and the 99 had the ISS done for the fun of it..didn't help..

If anything else critical has been overlooked by us owners,,please advise ASAP. Meanwhile get your brakes checked..

9899olds

Find out in searching for glass cleaner in the wife's absence that we have almost 2 gallons of tub and tile cleaner..Three different brands; maybe its great for bug and tar removal..

Looking for automotive application for this massive supply..I found about 16 ozs of window cleaner...maybe I will try the tub and tile on glass and the front end of the Intrigue..

Maybe I should open a cleaning supply store..

b4z

Everytime i fanatasize about having another intrigue you guys bring me back down to earth with the apparently unfixable problems that plague this vehicle.

The 3.5L motor is almost worth the price of admission though. I do miss its midrange surge.

swagled

I'm not sure what I would have bought. Gran Prix, Regal GS, I suppose. Maybe a Sunfire Convertible. Or maybe an Intrigue anyway. It still looks better than the other models and has a nicer interior.

I'm reminded of an old joke about the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. A man goes to the Jeep dealership. He looks over the Jeeps and says "My last car was a blue Wagoneer. It leaked in the rain, made all kinds of squeaking noises over bumps. Have these things been fixed?"

The salesman says, "No, we still have those problems."

The guy replies. "Hmmm. Oh well. I guess I'll get a brown one this time..."

Hey, despite the bugs, we *do* have some repeat Intrigue buyers around here!

drew_

8599olds2

I have been reading post on this site for two years and have had the same noises. Intermediate shaft replaced, both struts replace but still noise. Finally a service advisor said there are TSB's. on this problem ,I cannot find them. Bottom line is Insulator that spring rides on , Bumper, mount and most important the bearing and seat was replaced. They said the bearing was cracked and took out the rest of the parts. No more creaking when turning right over dips or going over small bumps. All of this is above the spring and had nothing to do with the strut. It had been this way since day one but now quiet. Hope this helps.

wmatysti

8599olds2:: What were your original symptoms ("CLUNKING") again?

wmatysti

I've been saving up some cash for a rainy day, and it rained today so I bought a HID Xenon headlight conversion kit for my 2000 GLS, and a pair of PIAA driving lights which I put in the "airdam" next to my fog lights. The HID lights look great (just like on the Audi and Acura's) and the driving lights are really cool. Will post pics soon.

oscarz2

How come you never posted before? You describe my symptoms to a tee. From day one I had this and after many a dealer visit, a mechanic finally got rid of the noise by lubing jounce bumper (but only temporarily). It always comes back. I would like to find that TSB because not all Intrigues have this problem.

dindak

bz4 : Likewise when I see an Impala, I know that the potential for problems (which on newer Intrigues is unlikely) is a well worth price for admission. The only color that doesn't look bad is black because it hides those Impala rear lights. Unfortunately a black car in a climate with snow means you are always driving a dirty car in the winter.

9899olds : jgriff must really be bored with his Honda and the guys in that forum.

b4z

See you guys in about a week. Going to the NC mountains and then to a wedding in Atlanta.

yurakm

Both torch red and dark carmine colors hide very well the big red plastic panel over Impala rear lights. I believe, better than black. Dark blue hides it about as well as black.

Personally, I like the appearance of Impala in dark carmine, and in dark-blue just a notch less. Bright red is not in my taste.

8599olds2

Like I said . I have been reading for two years and never a fix. I went thou the regular items like everyone else struts , steering shaft etc. I always complain about the noise when I go in for service but " cannot duplicate". After struts and shaft replaced I still had the same noise so just waited. Finally a new service advisor said tab's on this but maybe to new to be public yet. They replaced Insulator, bumper. retainer, mount, seat and bearing. All of these items are above the spring on the drivers side. It creaked when turning right and also going over small dips or bumps. The bearing looked like a yellow pacer above the spring. This may have been the insulator. It is now quiet like a new car should be. If it goes back to the old noise I will be back at the dealers. As of now it has never been this quiet.