Oldsmobile Intrigue

vcjumper · February 2001

Well I went to the Toronto Int'l Auto Show this weekend. Sure was packed and maybe next time I'll have to go on a weekday.

Oldsmobile's presence was predictably small there, just one of each car from what I remember. The Bravada was nice but I don't think they have a chance of selling many of those near MSRP at $46K Canadian like the one on display. The interior materials did not look/feel up to that level where you can get base MB's, Acura MDX's, Lexus, etc... Not that the leather and dash materials were down at Grand Prix quality. I wonder how much GM is losing every day keeping this Bravada and Oldsmobile in general thing going.

My faves from the show were the Thunderbird (though too expensive), and I still love the Bimmer 5 series and Audi A6's.

b4z · February 2001

I thought Dale Earnhardt would be around forever,
and become the elder statesman of motorsports much like Richard Petty has.

In this sanitized world we live in it is hard to believe that someone could actually be killed auto racing. Ayrton Senna was one of those driver's whom i thought would go on forever. In 1994 I found out how wrong i was. Now, seven years later one of our most talented racers has met the same fate.

Hopefully, after all the dust settles NASCAR will get serious about safety.

My heart goes out to his family.

etharmon · February 2001

I'm with you b4z, I'm not a big Nascar fan myself but living in TN Nascar is a part of life for many people and I do keep up with it and have my favorites. And Earnhardt certainly was one of them. How bittersweet that must be for his son to have come in second and see his father killed at the same time. What really amazes me is that the accident itself did not look nearly as bad as the one earlier in the race when one of the cars went airbound and skidded across the entire track. That guy has already been released from the hospital I believe.

dindak · February 2001

I still can't believe that Dale Earnhardt yesterday. He was by far my favorite on the NASCAR circuit and a living legend. Although I follow CART racing more closely, I watch 75% of the NASCAR races also. I am a big fan. I feel like I have lost a friend and my heart feels numb.

dindak · February 2001

vcjumper : C$46K seems like a lot of money to you and me, but lets face it.. there a tons of $40K SUVs driving around. These Bravada will be selling in the upper $30's before long, especially when the incentives hit. I'm going to the Toronto Auto Show Friday. Did they have a Saturn VUE on display??

1415 : I was watching Auto Line Detroit (on PBS Detroit) via satellite yesterday. They did a great piece on the new GM SUVs. Did you happen to see it?

j_coleman · February 2001

oldtimer4: Everyone's Intrigue with the 3.5L engine runs about 1/2 mark below the middle. Mine usually doesn't get to operating temperature until 3 or 4 miles on cold days. I wouldn't be concerned.

How many miles do the Eagle LS tires usually last? I'm close to 23K miles and they look like they are about halfway there. Is 50K miles about right?

1415 · February 2001

Presidents Day in the USA and Hertiage Day in Canada I believe...We certainly will miss Earnhardt, for he was the Nascar warrior with no fear of anything or anybody. Tony Stewart was the driver of the car that was airborne in the big 17 car pileup, and he walked away with a concussion. It was the sudden stop at the wall that took Earnhardt.

A friend of mine from Canada visited an Olds dealer in Buffalo whom had received 5 Bravadas; sold 4, saved one for a local auto show. Hot merchandise.

Glad to hear that GM has upped the ante on Olds; just beating the crap out of us owners; and setting themselves for some big losses on existing leases.

Another GM winner--Pontiac Aztek--is going to be reskinned and may be discontinued until the makeover is done!!!! The Aztek owners may share the spotlight with us Olds folks. It is one classic screw-up after another with our GM folks; kinda makes you wonder if GM is just a "dot com" burning through a pile of money.

jgriff · February 2001

One2-one ::: some very interesting observations on engine choices. I never really thought of it in that manner, but it certainly does Keeps It Simple. And think about how much more they charge a customer for an ES300 over a Camry, which simply has more amenities.

It has been said before GM has too many choices of basically the same car, sold at different divisions. Hence buying a Saturn with the options you want can be a real headache. At least Olds keep the Intrigue choices to 3 basic models, I personally think they should have only had 2, [blend the GX & GL together] and drop the MSRP by about 2k.

b4z · February 2001

Did you get a chance to read my post #1436?

dindak · February 2001

Heritage day is not a full holiday here yet. Toronto Stock Exchange is open unfortunately, so I have to work.

1415 · February 2001

The Marauder will be over $30k so if you want a reasonable performer get the Crown Vic with the handling package..

I have to agree with you that Ford does not take care of its customers as well as GM. Having called directly on Ford in my careers internally Ford is very political and tends to drags it feet when there is a problem. I favor GM; but the feeling is changing somewhat. I have a Ford dealer about 2 miles away--very handy, but their pricing sucks.. I have a Lincoln dealer about the same distance and I have never been in the showroom--old building-crowded facility-and I do not know anyone there to beat up..

dindak:::::::Nortel took a beating last week!!!A good hot Canadian stock would fit in my portfolio nicely..I am a 1.5 to 3.0 point taker. My portfolio is crowded with the ones that didn't pop up; but headed south..

ketch · February 2001

yurakm, thanks for the tire charts, I saved these off for the day when i will need to replace my OEM tires. Another example of how well this newsgroup works well.

oldtimer4 · February 2001

j_coleman: Sorry if I misled anyone w/ my 3.5 engine experiences. I was only passing on the temp difference between my engine that developed the oil leak and the other three I've driven that didn't. I don't know yet what contributed to the leak, but dealer suspects either a cracked head gasket or 'porous' block. And I still don't know what contributed to the the temp difference.

Yes, it was sad to see Dale Earnhart leave this world so suddenly & so unnecessarily. But he was 'blocking' under extremely dangerous conditions, and it didn't look to me like what he had to gain for himself or his team w/less than 10 secs to go was really worth the risk. But then I never cared for the 'team' concept in a given race anyway.

yurakm · February 2001

Thank you.

I just posted a link to available information. Learned about the tirerack from other Edmunds boards. For unknown reasons there are two boards dedicated to tires at Edmunds: one is named "Tires" in maintenance section, the other "Tires, tires, tires" in the accessory section.

Concerning the survey: I would use the information somewhat scepticaly. For example, the users of Firehawk SH-30 are even more happy with the tires, than the Michelin Pilot XGT H4 users. Plausible explanation is it is more easy to get a pleasant surprise from $85 tires than from $105 ones. The same with brand expectations.

So I would not pay much attention to the exact place of tire in the survey. It does not matter, probably, is the model the top, or it came second or third. But I believe, that the top 5 tires are substantially better than the middle 5 ones. And I would avoid the bottom 5 tires, when buying OEM replacement.

b4z · February 2001

i have had great service from the tire rack since 1989. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the tires arrive at my doorstep.
I have only had one not so great customer representative who would not give me any recommendations.
They often times seem to push the japanese brands like sumitomo,yokahama and other brands i can't remember. These japanese brands are much less expensive than the others. Maybe the profit is higher in them, I don't know.
The key to getting a smoother ride is to move away from the speed rated tires like H,V, and Z.
A friend of mine had V rated tires on his millenia and moved to an s rated Michelin and the ride was noticeably improved. I have done the same with my camaro. From a Z rated Goodyear GSC asymmetrical, to an all season H rated Michelin.

etharmon · February 2001

Olds has modified their national ad which they have been airing for over a month now. It now includes testimonials from buyers. Anyone seen it yet? Our local dealer tried this about 2 years ago and I was one of the ones chosen to be in it. It was kind of neat and nearly everyone I worked with saw the ad and immediately recognized me even though it only showed my face for probably 10 seconds or less.

1415, the Aztek is awful. And an AWD GT version tops nearly $30K! Who in their right mind would pay that for it? The upcoming Buick Rendezvous looks much better. It may just be a hit for Buick. If it is, I'd say ditch the Aztek alltogether and give Buick the full production. Let Pontiac focus on whats going to carry on their "perfomance" image once the Firebird is gone next year. I always wondered why Pontiac got a minivan and Buick didn't as a van fits Buick's image more than it does Pontiac's.

dindak · February 2001

1415 : Nortel is a good buy now, but it still mite get better. Be patient, there is no rush to get in. It is a good stock long term though.

etharmon : List price on the Azteks is high, but the deals are flowing due to poor sales. The base models are selling for between C$24-25K (or around $16K US) here in the Toronto area. The Aztek will be re-styled for 2002. Still not a lot of Oldsmobile deals here in the north land. The push seems to be south of the 49th. Perhaps Oldsmobile sells better here?

teo · February 2001

According to some magazine articles, it is very likely that the current Opel Speedster will replace the Firebird/TransAm F-body car by the 2003 Model year...check it out:

http://www.speedster.opel.com/

Beautiful, isn't it?

This roadster is based on the Lotus Elise and will be available at your neares Pontiac dealerships in a couple of years. Notice how Pontiac is revamping their 'tacky, plastic cladding image' in favor of some serious new cars. The Pontiac Vibe (Set to replace the Sunfire and possibly the Aztek) is another example of the changes coming up at the driving excitment division.

one2one · February 2001

isn't impossible with aftermarket equipment. I'm no mechanic but I think if you use a less restrictive exhaust system on it you could get that without spending a whole lot of cash (relatively speaking).

L8_Apex · February 2001

jgriff and 1415 and, to a lesser extent, others. You have demonstrated that you cannot debate the TL s. Intrigue, in essence your own little Foreign s. Domestic dispute, with the level of civility, discretion and respect for the Terms of Use that is expected. You've also ignored my repeated, reasonable requests, disrupting this topic and creating controversy so I've had to take a more strict line than usual when removing posts. As always, you are more than welcome to contact me off-line regarding the management of this topic.

Thank you,

L8_Apex
Host
Sedans Message Board

j_coleman · February 2001

I'm pretty confident that a supercharged Intrigue 3.5 (OSV) can run with a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP.

etharmon · February 2001

Boy your in trouble now!! Big brother is watching you and doesn't like what your saying. Chances are I would have liked it though. Anyway, any luck on the new exhaust system? I've got 5 more payments and then the 98 Intrigue is GM's again. With the deals and incentives, I'm seriously leaning toward a 2001 and will purchase this time, so I will have it longer and would be tempted to do some things in the way of upgrades.

ketch · February 2001

Etharmon, go for it,as the Intrigue is still one of the best values around considering its high level of refinement, esp. now with the new incentives. Assumes of course you plan to hold onto it and resale isn't an issue.

As for mods, I hope to eventually put larger wheels (17/) and tires, plus an exaust upgrade.
Struts are a longer term issue, but want to preserve the balance provided by the multi-stage ones now.
Anyone have any websites for such things i can reference? Anyone have experience with a "plus 1" tire/wheel upgrade to 17inch, esp. as to ride?

1415 · February 2001

etharmon::::::Got into trouble right out of the chute and had some informative items deep sixed..I will probably return to the AOL Intrigue board for theirs is not monitored..The ability to share some information that is vital to healthly automotive growth that is based on experience, not fiction..

Had an Intrigue day, ran 384 miles, the low fuel light came on at 381.4 miles. Not bad for 60 mi of city driving, and the balance interstate I-75--Detroit to St. Marys, Ohio..Had about a 30 mile run with a A6 Audi coming back; black 4dr with oversize wheels, stayed around 90/100--big deal, I certainly was no threat to his top end; but the other person was dismayed since I did not allow pass; but they would have been nutso to have tried in the three digit area.

My gas comes from Costoco so it is from the low bidder and the price was 1.37.9..

Exhaust system has not arrived as yet.

Was 25 miles from Marysville, Ohio today; home of the Honda USA operation; really can't say more about it.

Will visit the Olds dealer on Friday for the first time since last November..

ghostz · February 2001

Bought a 2001 GL Sterling with dark gray leather over the phone today. The car has the Premium Leather package but doesn't have the sunroof (don't need it), spoiler (don't want it), chrome wheels (don't want them), Bose system (my ears aren't that good) and PCS system (pricey, steers great without a computer). I can live without the On Star, which has some sort of monthly fee. I paid invoice, which was fine with me, but the haggling took place over what they were going to pay for my Camaro. Without going into the gory details, it worked out, hopefully with me a little happier than the dealer.

I drove the car last night for about 20 miles and was able to get it up to about a 80 mph on the interstate. Nice and solid at that speed, but a tiny bit noisy. Sounds like a lot of it is tire noise?? I wonder if a top notch set of Michelins, etc., would eliminate a lot of that. The noise is not a big issue with me -- I keep the stereo on anyway. The engine, suspension, and drive train are more important in my book.

What can I say. The car was dirt cheap given what you get as far options. I mean, price out a Nissan Maxima and add leather and premium options and see what you get. I guess the acid test for me will be durability and reliability of the Intrigue. About 75% of my driving is around town, stop and go stuff, which is hard on any car. I'm glad I'm getting that long term factory warranty.
JR

P.S. The sales guy told me that Olds was going to exist until 2004, and then the Aurora will probably be shifted to Cadillac(?). I guess the other models won't exist.

b4z · February 2001

I still haven't found a car that offers what the intrigue has as far as comfort, character and performance.

I am leaning towards a 2001 also, since the deals have been extended. I can basically get a $25,000

car for $20,000. I paid $21,800 for my '99.
My only concern is that the changes to the 2002
will mke my car obsolete. I have heard that the Cadillac CTS will have a 225 hp version of our engine. I certainly wouldn't want to buy a 2001, if the 2002 will have 225 hp.

I hoping there will be some front bumper changes, but it seems to be interior changes only.

If i keep the car a long time then the depreciation is a moot point. The 5 year warranty is the icing on the cake. The downside to it is that it would stop me from modifying the vehicle.

I am very seriously considering another intrigue, and no, we are not crazy for doing it.

b4z · February 2001

Do you mind sharing with us the MSRP on your car?
Your comment on the noise tells me that oldsmobile did nothing about the road noise issue that we have posted so much about.
Even though harlanc said it was a change for 2001.
Congratulations on your car I hope you like it.
Take it easy for the first 500 miles. i think you will like its passing power.

mksouthaven · February 2001

Anyone having difficulties with fuel on their Intrigue? 7 moths. ago I had fuel regulator that went bad (they said defect part); 3 moths. ago they cleaned injectors claiming H2O in gas; and now they're claiming h20 in gas again & will need to drop/drain tank. Many years of motoring & I've never had bad' gas. Yet alone twice in 3 moths. We have the '99 L 3.5
Look forward to any assistance or advice while my service charges are going through the roof.

dindak · February 2001

ghostz : Congrats on the new Intrigue! I think you will enjoy the car a lot. It's great around town, but even better on the highways.

1415 : Good price on the gas. Costco doesn't sell gas in Canada, I'm not sure why. If they did I might just get a membership.

bz4 : Intrigue is not the quietest car on the road, but Accord and Maxima aren't any better.

b4z · February 2001

What are your car's symptoms?

b4z · February 2001

I think the honda's engine is quieter. I don't remember the noise issue, but i would have to say that tire noise was less.
Can't remember about the maxima.

etharmon · February 2001

Congratulations on the Intrigue, I hope you enjoy yours. The color combo you got is pretty sharp. As for Olds future, I'm guessing 2003 or 2004. My guess is the Intrigue will be dropped after 2002 or 2003 as GM is redesigning the W-bodies in that period and ditto on the Silhouette. The Aurora was just redesigned for 2001 and the new 2002 Bravada just went on sale so I'd day those two will have at least through 2003, maybe 2004. As for Olds models going to Cadillac, I've read several places that they will not be going to Cadillac. Basically, by 2004 Cadillac will have it's own new Catera and the Aurora will be ready for an update, so I guess just let it pass and hopefully Buick and Pontiac will get it's engines.

b4z, I was hoping Cadillac would use the 3.5 liter V6 in the Catera, but I've been hearing lately that the CTS will get 3.2 liter version of the current 3.0 and that a supercharged version will be offered as well. Doesn't make sense to me as the 3.5 is a far superior engine. 225hp would be no problem at all. Increase the compression ratio and give it a less restrictive intake and exhaust and you could probably get even more power without supercharging. THEN, add a supercharger to the 3.5 and watch the sparks fly! Too bad we will never see that in our Intrigues. And as for engine noise, the Accord's engine may be quieter than the Intrigue's, but the Intrigue's engine is something that I like to hear. It's the road noise than I wish was better isolated. This is probably my biggest fault with the car's design as I feel there is not enough sound insulation in the floorpan and doors.

dindak · February 2001

bz4 : Honda engine is a little more quiet (probably due to the belts), but the road noise is the same. Maxima road noise is about the same also. Can't remember Maxima engine though.

etharmon : I hope the 3.5L goes into the next Grand Prix. Last I read, the CTS was getting the 3.5L also.

tpken · February 2001

1415 - is that Costco the wholesale club or is your spelling Costoco a gas retail chain?

Here in my area (Portsmouth NH) we have BJ's wholesale club gas pumps at $1.379 for regular which is what I have used for a couple years now - no quality issues at all.

At combined driving of 40K miles per year for our vehicles (including a Suburban) the $60 annual membership is the best thing going.

Does anyone else in the Northeast have BJ's or Costco gas? (the kind you put in your car!)

Ken

1415 · February 2001

Change the exhaust system and presto--you have your wish..Just recalling what the SLP writeup stated; however we don't know whether it will fit the 3.5 Intrigue.

I finally got down and looked at the rear muffler which is different than the 3.8 setup; could be in for some extra charges to modify..

ghostz::::::How could you pay invoice when there are $3500 worth of rebates out there. The salesman gets a 500 bonus plus the sls mgr gets 150. Used cars are a dealer's bread and butter!!! Just curious..

The Intrigue has to be the most bang for the buck and I do believe the PCS option is a mandatory buy for the better axle ratio and 130mph top end. Speed rated tires and all the skid-control goodies thrown in for safety sake..

Sales would be robust if somebody at GM would hype the silly car--put dual exhausts on it and watch the people flock to it. Look what it did for Acura sales????

mksouthaven::::::Water in gas tank is a rare occurance in this modern day world. Do you live in a fishing village or are you buying gas from a farmer who avoids paying road taxes. Maybe you have a friend who likes to pour water in your tank!!!

1415 · February 2001

Membership is $30.00/yr; and I buy gas there if I am close-by; otherwise I get hosed at some Mobil or Shell station..This is the first year where I have cut back in mileage on the business end as it was running 40/50k/yr. The wife's car goes 12/15k/yr Fla, shopping centers, and groceries.

Costco bargains are due to bulk savings, and initially we were buying salmon and chicken breasts in qty; but they switched to Tyson chicken and it is so damn tough and the salmon is farm raised--not fresh--good price but smells too fishy; so we quit buying both of them!!! Low fat dull foods are what I live on; yogurt is a good buy and in Flordia vodka is priced well. They sell beer and wine only in Michigan and one does not have to be a member to buy those items..

dindak · February 2001

Costco deals aren't what they used to be. We still shop there with my parent's membership, but it's not worth it unless you have a big family. I just don't need 20 lbs of flour or chicken. If they sold gas in Canada, maybe it would be different.

slopedirk · February 2001

Hello -

To answer recent posters questions, in my humble opinion the max is a bit quieter on road noise, and the engine is nearly very quiet. I am sometimes in wrong gear on highway and can't notice unless I see the tach or shifter position. It was that and the same ride characteristics and better resale, that made us go for a cheaper (new 2000 w/rebate) SE loaded.

I am still considering a Intr, maybe if I get a used 3.5 after a few years. I really liked the car overall. I think 17" rims would be sweet, and the car needs to be about 1" or so lower to complete the look and give better response to turns....if you're going to add the wheels go for both.

Hope the new alternator works....keep us posted.

max is fine so far.
Slope

dindak · February 2001

Glad you are liking the Max. I have not driven one in a couple of years so they may be better now. Oldsmobile should definitely insulate a little more around the wheels.

1415 · February 2001

After the 390.1 mile trip yesterday I was running around on the reserve; it took 14.768 gals for 26.42mpg. Not bad, for the temp early was around 13F and did get up to 22F. Thats 87 octane and $1.359 today on fillup.

GM is cutting car production by 25% thru balance of model year since they were somewhat amiss earlier in reductions..

dindak::::::Another thriller of a day in stocks..Flipped one for 1 1/2 pts yesterday. Bought back today at a great price and it stalled out. The index funds are now creaming the market..

dindak · February 2001

1415 : It's a great market for trading if that's your thing. It's also good for writing options as volatility yields big premiums. There isn't a lot more downside on these quality tech stocks.

Going to the Toronto Auto Show tonight. I am quite excited as it's my favorite show of the year.

b4z · February 2001

I like the max too. But, I went with the intrigue because of its front seat room. Also, when i optioned the max the way i wanted it, it was really expensive.

I have seen some of the ones with 17" wheels, and they sit really high up in the air, almost like they have four wheel drive. It is really strange looking.

one2one · February 2001

Well, for those of us who live along the eastern seaboard we got hit with another wave of snow after (at least in PA) 50 degree plus weather. Wish it would just stay cold until spring instead of teasing us.

NNNN-EEE-Way, my '98 Intrigue performed like a champ! While it took 3.5 hours to get home when normally it only takes 1.5, it trudged thru the snow *almost* like a 4-wheel drive car. I left it in 2nd gear position. That along with traction control pulled me through as well (better in some instances) than SUVs. Once I got back in the city, I crossed a blvd with a Ford Explorer. He got the jump on me. Once we were in the blvd lanes, his SUV was fighting to find which wheel to use. I smoothly pulled away with the traction light keeping me company. Saw a Kia Sportage fishtailing. Must have been only 2-wheel drive. SUV owners think they own the world despite the weather. I confidently slipped past him too.

There's an empty stretch of street not far from home where I decided to do a little road test. In the snow (absolutely NO ONE was around) I pushed the car to 50. Pulled away like it was dry. Those Michelins bit into the powder like a pit bull. I slammed on the brakes. Don't know how many feet it took to stop but it did it without drama. No sliding to the left or right, very little feedback through the wheel. Confidence inspiring from acceleration to braking. Extremely impressive.

I wish I had PCS. Quite a few times it would have kicked in despite my best efforts to retain control on icy I-95. I am DEFINITELY getting another Intrigue. And it must have PCS. This is probably the most underrated car in production. We've all said it before, but it's a shame GM doesn't have its head on straight.

A royal shame.

tpken · February 2001

Dindak - please let us know what concept cars you see at the show. One of the highlights of my year is my annual pilgrimage to the NE show in Boston held each Nov.

One2one - what Michelins are you running? Last night we had 4 inches of the fluffiest snow I've seen here (Boston north to south coastal Maine) - practically blew it off the walk this morning.

Ken

1415 · February 2001

one2one:::::::Sounds like you had a marvelous 3hrs of snow games and with PCS you might have overdone it..

The event makes me happy because you got the snow and we didn't receive anything other than a few flakes..

17" wheels seem to be the rage on some posts; has anyone driven an Intrigue with the oversize?????

one2one · February 2001

I've got Michelin Pilot XGT H4s (H rated). They claim to have excellent wet weather and snow traction. I concur and vcjumper has indicated the same. I don't know what rating his are.

one2one · February 2001

You're probably right about PCS. Have to admit, it is fun driving in snow when your car can handle it

Kinda like the Pathfinder commerical.

tpken · February 2001

Thanks One2one. I've heard others mention those favorably in other forums. My '00 Bonneville SE has Firestone Affinity tires (bought car a month ago with 18K on it). They seem to be ok but I notice a lot of support for Michelin around here - I've never sprung the extra bucks for them myself.

Ken

one2one · February 2001

If I remember correctly, they cost me (on sale) $112 or $114 installed at Sears. Getting them done at Sears or NTB gives you free balancing for the life of the tires. You'll see a definite improvement in handling and ride quality.

tpken · February 2001

Not a bad price for those Pilots. And if they can soak up some of the roughness on secondary pavement better than these Affinity tires do, maybe I'll replace them sooner rather than later.

Thanks again

Ken

Oldsmobile Intrigue

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