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I did a search on all Acura topics, the only thing involving brakes was on 2000 TL with a whooping 19 posts. And yes it seems that some may be having small rotors problems. Brakes seem to be a problems for a lot of manf.
Hows your golf game? Mine is great, thank you.
Remember: Life is a [non-permissible content removed] and then you die.
or is it: Cars are a [non-permissible content removed] and then they die.
To keep the dealer from screwing with the front end replacing everything they could get their hands and fixing nothing, I told them when they find out what the real fix is>>>>call me..
If you care to give us the name of the dealership and the service writer along with with their telephone#; we certainly would appreciate..FYI, I am in Michigan and the clanging/banging scene is really the only real flaw with the 99 3.5 GLS with 47k+ miles..My car is pushed; not rodded..
Also owned a 98 Intrigue that was bought back at 26k miles so I am familiar with the car..I got tired of complaining to the dealer for the factory was not helping; for it's just more warranty costs and it is not a safety problem or it would have been handled--pronto...
To solve the noise would be great..Give me some help..Thanks, my e-mail is j9709@aol.com..if you don't care to go public with the info..
jgriff:::::Golf has not been great; lack of caring so handicap started to soar and that motivated me..After all, it's fun being the rabbit!! Today was a good one and I cut my losses..I normally play Tuesday Thursday, and Saturday..occasionally Sunday morn..86 miles round trip; so in a good week we do 344 miles just golfing..I am always running late so the Intrigue or whatever gets pushed..This my last year at this club and ends 12 yrs there..
With all the camaraderie on the Intrigue forum; I bet you regret selling the old 98..I imagine the Acura owners can be a wee bit uppidity!!!
After my experience with my supposedly "reliable" Toyota Camry, I don't buy the "that car is unreliable" OR "this car is reliable" garbage. If I purchased a BMW, MB, Acura, Lexus or some other expensive brand and had problems, I'd be really ticked off after spending that kind of money. I shouldn't have had the problems with my Camry if I bought into that crap.
The reason I went with another Intrigue is because I knew what to expect, even though I had very few of the problems that others have had. Before I bought the first Intrigue I was reading this forum. I knew the steering shaft would probably need replacing. But I would rather go into such a major purchase knowing what to expect rather than blindly paying top dollar making a purchase based on the idea that the car would never have any problems. None of the things I read about the Intrigue's problems were so devestatating so that I should take it off my list. Based on my experiences, one would expect to have very few problems. And, for those that post, I am the only one who has put on enough miles on an Intrigue to say with any measure of validity how the Intrigue will perform over the long haul. Everyone else, no matter how many problems they may have had, cannot say how the Intrigue will perform over time. My experiences are in line with all the car reviews with the exception of Edmunds. And we know how objective they are.
I personally think it is incredibly stupid to pay sticker solely because of "preceived" promises of reliability. While I'm on a rant, most people who buy Japanese cars with the above argument are anal in their thinking. That isn't to say that looking at things from the 10,000 ft view, the foreign car isn't "better". But those who make those purchases are so nit-pickey that they can't see the forest thru the trees. On my 98 build quality could have been better. The hazard switch wasn't exactly center in the hole. Those who purchase foreign cars would then extrapolate and reason that the engine and tranny must be bad as well. "If that's the way they view quality on the inside of the car, what about under the hood?" they say. They're too stupid to realize that the engine and tranny were made in a different place (probably a different part of the world) than where the car was assembled. And thus such reasoning is foolish, irresponsible, and just plain dumb.
One should use discernment when making a vehicle purchase. But to exclude or include a car just because of its manufacturer is senseless. My sister-in-law had two Nissans (Maxima and Altima). Total crap! My in-laws have an Infiniti I30 they're leasing. Hearing things they don't like either. A friend's sister purchased a brand new ES300 and the engine blew!!! And those Lexus service depts that are so ready to keep that flawless car running like new blamed it on her. So poor service dept service isn't the monopoly of domestics.
I can and want to go on further but this is already too long. Will rant more later.
--"That's the way I see it, that's the way it ought to be." -- George Wallace, Comedian
Don't listen to all the rumors concocted on this forum..
I noticed the first flaw in mine today; the outside temp reading was whacko..I left the car parked facing south into the sun and returned about 30 min later..It should have read approx 82/83 instead it was 64/65..No big deal.
Enjoy--turn up the music and let it roll!!!!
Well, since I bought the little lady the Civic, I got my Intrigue back from her. Wow, what a wonderful few weeks it has been.
Please remember that I had the Intrigue, she drove a 97 Cutlass Supreme, then we traded (why?, don't ask). I drove the Cutlass for a few months and decided enough was enough. She wanted something that got great mileage, I wanted something that would at least hold 'some' value. Enter Honda Civic EX.
Anyway, after a hot spell, the other night it got down into the 60's. Wow, I could tell a serious diference in acceleration at this cooler outside temp. I was beginning to worry that she had ruined the Intrigue. I guess it was just the 90+ temps and 90% humidity.
So, needless to say, after a few months of driving the Cutlass, I'm glad to be back in my Intrigue. And, as an indication of how glad I am, my mileage had been in the mid teens!!! can you guess why???
The Impala has had and still is a better quality car than the Intrigue.
Don't fool yourself dude!
But you are a die hard Intrigue fan and I am a die hard Impala fan, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree...
I've had my share of disappointments with "import" dealers, that's why I've always bought American (even though I think that a Stratus was a mistake... :^) ): I just couldn't care less about those $500 mud deflectors or about that $800 accent stripe alongside the car. Well, I was told more than once that those "features" were not negotiable, to what I always replied with the same statement.
I've also noticed, speaking with friends and reading posts in "import" boards here, that the problems tend to be down played. For instance, I've heard from the same friend that GM is a below par after I told him that the AC compressor on my Alero had to be replaced, even though the one on his ES300 was too. "Oh, but it wasn't a quality problem, no. It was a supplier problem." Duh!
I read posts about squeaks and other minor problems in Accords and in Camrys and people just get over them without ever been fixed by the dealers. But the same problems in American cars are proof that they are lemons!
I say, ANY car with such problems is below par! However, as it seems that no car is free of its share of problems, I opt for those that are a better value for my budget and make me smile looking at and driving them! ;^)
one2one ::: I am not going to start that dreaded Dom. vs Forg. Topic. People are not switching simply for that Perceived quality that you may think is merely a myth.
Is it my imagination or do you guys also see more than your share of Ford Tarsus stranded and being towed-in??
Went to see the flick The Fast and the Furious. It was lot of fun to watch the races and all the special stunts [I love a good car flix]. In the last scene there was a [I think it was] a Plymouth Barracuda, when it was fired up the engine really kicked in some major bass, some serious man sounds vibrating [gotta love it].
Breakin on the 3.5 will probably 10k miles to really get it to the point where it runs freely..
Gas mileage is hovering around 24+ with the hot weather and the a/c on plus the sunroof open in speeds up to 60..
teo::::::The Intrigue is a niche/enthusiast car which missed it's mark and sales volume..Was dumped for many known reasons.. It doesn't compete with the Impala..
The Intrigue is harsh and brash is the best way to describe it, and the Impala is soft and nondescript..Perfect rental canidate and has to be a leader for hauling around sales personnel doing their daily routine..Great utility car..
Going through the checkout at the grocery I noticed a new auto rag called AMI Auto World with gen offices in Boca Raton..Not a great mag but had a few interesting stories..Had an article on Auto Bras saying they cause more grief and damage than without..especially in the south..
jgriff : I'm sure you paid really close to list. Don't try and tell us you didn't.
mosaix : Stop worrying and enjoy. My 2000 has only had one problem (though it did take 2 trips to fix) and has other wise been the best car I've owned. Some have had trouble, but it's generally a good car, especially the 2000/01 models.
Since I use manual air instead of the auto/blend setting; maybe dial down the desired temp to 60 and if the green lite on the a/c still flickers see your dealer..in other words if you run the manual air it should stay on until the inside of the car is iced..If you are using auto temp it sounds like a whacked sensor is turning the a/c on/off..
Clearly a bargain; is a robust seller and
has given the Acura Div a real boost..
Realistically the car is underpriced by 10k; just ask the mainland economy..
Min discount on any car going into the deal is 10%; if they don't bend, they can keep the wheels.. Pile rebates and other incentives on top of that as the sweetener..It's fun to see how low they will go..
jgriff : Stating you got a $1000 is pushing it if you are including "free" options. Factor in financing discounts and price discounts on an Intrigue and you paid lots more, don't kid yourself.
9899olds : I would never pay anything close to list for any car. It ain't worth it.
I'm not loyal to any brand and did check out Acura but their cars are waaaaay too small. And is it me, or does the RSX look like a Chevy Caviler with different tail lights?
one2one ::: I absolutely HATE the way Toyota and some other company sets up their options packages [ala carte] you have to search high & low to find the right color/option combo. I much prefer the basic 2 trim levels, one being a well equipped and NOT strip model, and the second being the fully decked out version, and then maybe a couple of DIO (dealer installed options).
Here's another one:
http://members.fortunecity.com/zincster/images/AntaresG.jpg
Take the gagues. Why they didn't implement them, I don't know. Probably thought the public wasn't ready for them. But Lexus does it with the IS300 and they're praised for styling genius. Olds had it back in this concept. But because GM doesn't give their engineers and designers the freedom they need like Chrysler does (did), we never saw what could have been go into production.
I even like the two-tone leather/wood steering wheel. I already love the looks of my Intrigue but this would have been incredible. Styling like this would definitely have moved some cars. Now that I think about it, they went to the opposite extreme with the interior... toning it down a little too much. I plan on correcting that with a wood trim kit.
Here are the rest of the pictures zinc1 has on his site: http://members.fortunecity.com/zincster/show_cars.htm#top
(sorry to see, after being away, that this forum is once again infected by now non Intrigue owners, who rant on about thier bad past experiences and/or discuss thier car here at length
that should be done on another forum specific to it.)
One of the reasons I had no reservations in getting the 3.5 was because it has been tested at the race track, not just on the computer models and the proving grounds. I have no worries that pushing it to the upper limits or long-term abuse will affect this engine.
Thanks again for letting us in on the experience!
coming out of turns if slowed. Otherwise it was great. Esp. coming down the Morain sweep at speed, down shift to 2nd, hard on the brakes, into a hard left at turn 5, dive left, cut the apex, power out of the turn up under the Toyota bridge as you listen to the scream of the 3.5 at full song!
The reason is not so much downshift delay. I still think the D->2 shift is about the same speed as a 3->2 shift. But in highway traffic, if you're already cruising along at 70MPH in "3", that's about 3000 RPM. In "D" that would be about 2000 RPM.
The 3.5 doesn't really wake up until you're at 3000. So if you have left the transaxle in "3", you're already set to cook before you pass. It's the delay in getting from 2000 to 3000 RPM that you're avoiding.
I tried this today and it's fun, even kind of exciting to hop around cars one at a time. Follow at 70, check the rear view for cops, "mash it", squirt up to 85 real quick... then pull pack in. Get ready for the next one!
We've commented before some about how the shift pattern in the Intrigue seems kind of strange. But it works quite well when you drive the car in the 70-85 range like this. It may have been what the Olds engineers had in mind.
Just get used to eating up that gas...!!
The upper reaches of the tach and speedo are definately not just for show, like they are in most cars. Hey, even a crude Ford Escort will "go" 90MPH. But do you really have the power to get up there, when you sense a sudden opportunity to use that speed? No.
vcjumper : The center console insides are a little on the cheap side, but my GL has leather on the top which is nice and soft.
200 cars was alot (sold out, at 75 bucks a car), and we bunched up behind the pace car in turns 1,2,3,3a, but by 4 it started to thin out. So much so that never was I in pack of cars more than 7 deep by lab 4. Soon it was clear toruing was not what this was about, but full on racing each other. No passing in turns allowed, but lots of places to do so otherwise. It actually was pretty safe, but all drivers and passengers sign a waiver of course. The touring events occur during RA's Grand AM and Vintage racing series events. I suggest anyone to try it, but be careful. Something I will never forget as long as i live.
My 99 w/80,000km feels like it could benefit quite a bit from new pads at this point.
One of the reasons I had no reservations in getting the 3.5 was because it has been tested at the race track, not just on the computer models and the proving grounds.
Question.. what is the benefit of using the manual air setting?
Driving down 75 south and I saw a older couple with FL plates in a white Intrigue, gold pkg. with a a biege vinyl/leather top. I didn't know they offered that option.
2-3 works better, although I sometimes wish it would hold 2 just another half-second.
3-4 works quite well. But that's for "normal sedan" driving. I like to use my Intrigue in the higher RPM range! ;-)
I would be interested to see articles of recalibrating the Olds trannys. But like Dindak... I wouldn't dare do this while the Intrigue is my primary car.
Who knows, the Intrigue might find a home with the custom rodd'ing crowd in 10 years. It will be a cheap, powerful car with a lot of potential for someone who knows what he's doing.
swagled:: It's no longer on the Intrigue or Aurora websites but under News they stated that the 3.5 was used in IRL cars. In fact, when the 2001 Aurora came out, that was near the top of the page. Probably because the Aurora V-8 was also used in IRL racing. Of course, they said that the Olds engine won 9 out of 10 laps. But what they didn't say is that the only engines used in IRL are Oldsmobile and Infiniti. But that means that there were a lot of opportunities to pound the engine to make it break.
>>What's the basis of this statement?
>> One of the reasons I had no reservations in getting the 3.5 was because it has been tested >>at the race track, not just on the computer models and the proving grounds.
I've decided to keep my Intrigue. Instead of a new car, I'm going to buy a small, used car as alternative transportation. It's much cheaper this way, plus I'll have an extra set of wheels to beat up on.
Intrigue Wallpaper
For anyone who has modified their suspension with a strut tower brace or anything like it, was it under warranty when you did? Would I jeopardize my warranty with additional equipment?
I took a ride in my buddy's accord yesterday. Wow that thing is smooth. I wish my suspension felt that good.
My steering shaft (I think) sounds more like a rattle than a buzzing sound. I'll make an appointment for that next week. Anyone know how to fix whistling coming from doors? I've had an annoying whitling sound coming from the passenger side when I'm in crosswinds. I had them check it out three times and they can't find anything unusual.
I measured my gas mileage and only got 18MPG!!! I was seriously bummed. Maybe I hotrod too much? I always use the AC in the summer. But I checked last year during the summer and got 23.
I sure love the cabin air filter. I don't get that fine particulate dust when I start up the car and blast the AC to cool the interior. It smells fresher and keeps the car smelling new. I wish I would've done that sooner.
Nice-looking set of wheels--sounds like you are approaching 50k miles, and are you still on the same set of tires???Mine is the black GLS with chromes, roof, and spoiler..
Lots of talk about waxes on this and the Impala forum..The black paint on my 99 is outstanding and it will not be waxed for the soap and the automated car wash brushes would soon screw up the polish; and then one has to pile another layer on..
intrigueguy:::::the GX does not have auto temp control so I assume you don't have a temp sensors; just straight manual a/c; you can probably heat up the a/c output but the system does not the capability to automatically keep the interior to a preset temp setting.
Sounds like something in the system reaches overload and kicks the compressor off.
I can see where the Intrigues are being flogged and the trans are being stressed..In O/D if I remember right, 3000 revs is 100, 2750 is 90 and 2500 is about 83, 2250 is 76 and 70 is 2100..This a 99 with the 3.29 axle.. My auto is a smooth shifter at 48k miles..I am not an abuser of the V-6 from stoplights for the 3.5 isn't the dragging animal.. I did notice that the coolant is a 5 yr/150k mile keeper--wonder what the radiator looks like after 150k on the orig. fluid??