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Are you still on your original struts and springs at 115K??
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vcjumper : Reason I'm considering the Alero is the C$2000 Olds CR I have sitting with GM. Leasing an Alero GX would be a real bargain and that new Ecotec is a nice engine.
Usually it takes a few years for a model to make it into the junk yards, but apparently there are already quite a few 98-99 'trigues that have been bashed!
Interestingly, you can even order the heated mirrors pulled from 1998 'trigues. I wonder if there's any way to hook them up to the later models? Assumedly, the wiring isn't in the dash any more.
From what you've described, it doesn't sound like your Intrigue has cost a lot beyond the warranty if the only things that have happened are the window lock and strut mount. I'll bet the engine is still purring like a kitten.
I'm thinking about creating my own "Final 500" after I'm finished paying for it and the warranty runs out. There are a couple of engine shops I know of that would probably jump at my proposition.
I want to stuff an Aurora V-8 into my Intrigue. There will probably be a lot of things that will need to be changed-- transmission, stronger engine mounts, exhaust... the list can go on and on.
Then, I'll put on the 17" rims and probably slap on the ground effects which, for the Intrigue, is conservative. It wouldn't look like a Grand Prix.
Since it will probably cost a small fortune, that's one of the reasons I'm going to wait to do it. With the money I'll be saving from not having a car payment, I should be able to save up to get it done.
OK. Time to wake up :-)
The 3.5 at 70MPH in a non-PCS car is about 1900 to 2000 RPM. A little low-ish, if you ask me. If I had to do it over, I'd get a PCS Intrigue.
Gas milage is pretty good for a high performance V6 in a heavy car. I've gotten 32MPG on level ground with the cruise control. (But that's not usually the way I drive my Intrigue, and my gas milage tends to be less!) :=)
The car still runs & rides great w/ 115k. The tranny still shifts smoothly, engine doesn't burn any oil. Most of the problems I've had are more "quirky" repairs. I don't believe my father-in-law had any non-scheduled maitenance repairs done to the car while he had it.
- brakes wobble when applied at high speeds
- power steering occasionaly "skips" (typ. for this car, though it is so minor a can't justify spending the $900 to fix it)
- weather stripping from both rear windows came down when I opened the windows
- water leak passenger side foot well
- battery replaced
- power windows only work from drivers door control panel
- tensioner pully for the accesory belt siezed
- o2 sensor
Overall, a great car for what I paid ($5,000). Hope to get at least 200k miles out of of the 3.8l engine.
btw, I've had the usual Intrigue issues: needed 12K crank sensor, 16K tranny rebuild(burned up O/d clutch), 20K ISS, a p/w motor at 29K, and now a bit of a flicker at high rpm shifts at 32K (I'll have to get that on record before warranty is up, in case I buy.)
(Just in case anyone wants to take another swipe!)
Congrats on the new Intrigue, mberg. Not everyone has the headlight problem. But don't be too surprised if you get it. (I knew about the complaints before I test drove an Intrigue, but I bought one anyway.)
Wait till you get about 500-1000 miles on it and then drop the hammer. That car will take your head off at 55 mph.
Mine was bronze mist also.
Welcome to the Intrigue. I guess there won't be too many new members after this summer, but that's the way it goes. 3.5L is a sweet engine, the best I've owned.
Sounds like you've got a sweet looking machine there. AND you've got PCS?
Now I'm jealous :-)
Congratulations on your new intrigue! Mberg. Excellent choice.
I hope your Intrigue is less problems for you than my has been so far. Nothing major, just B.S. things.
Wbhall, I do not suffer the headlight flicker (that I know of) but I do have a problem reading the dash displays (odometer, PRN321 on dash, outdoor temp, etc.) in bright sun at times. It seems the light sensor on top the dash goes brain dead and thinks it is low-light (night) conditions and consequentially turns the headlights on and dims the dash lights. It will stick in this position for 20 minutes or more before it "wakes up" and gets a clue that it is very bright out and the headlights need to go off and the dash lights brightened. In the mean time I can't read the dash displays. Does this describe your headlight/dashlight condition? Does anyone else have this problem?
I would think twice about buying an Oldsmobile product now (and this is from a long term GM supporter!)
For those keeping their car for over 5 years, resale is not a big issue. Most Intrigue mechanical parts are shared with other W-body GM cars, so aftermarket brakes and suspension parts are widely available.
There are some great deals on Intrigues right now so if you plan on driving it for at least 6-7 years you won't go wrong as re-sale won't be a big factor. Not only has GM decided to kill Oldsmobile, they have stopped advertising so the cars are not in people's minds when they shop anymore.
Mine is also flaky. Yesterday I drove home from work in daylight but a very heavy overcast and light rain and my headlights did not come on. Sometimes, the sun may be shining brightly (though low in the sky) and the lights will stay on for 10 minutes.
The dimming problem seems to be constant among a lot of us. My son's 2001 Intrigue has the same dimming problem as mine as well. The dimming seems to be less right now. One night driving home they would dim about every 3-5 minutes it seemed. I don't mean to sound like a cronic complainer because I really love the way the car handles and the get up and go it has. BTW, I have been averaging 26-28 mpg with mostly highway miles.
LIGHT FLICKER: I get it too. it is apparent only on the highway under hard exceleration (which I do a lot of)between 80 KPH and to about 95KPH. Then it goes away. I've got lots of warrentee left so I'll wait to see if it gets worse.
Value: I paid $18,000CDN for mine. (That's $1.49US) I plan on keeping it for many years as I do all my vehicals and have no worries about support or re-sale value. On the longer term, I'll bet this car is destined to be a collectors' piece.
PS: I Just bought a Cherokee too. See ya on the Jeep page!
The old Cherokees were great little suvs. These were made by AMC so their relibility is above the garbage put out by DCX now days.
Just kidding, couldn't resist...
Since Sears sells synthetic I decided to go for it. It only cost another $12 more than regular syrup ($2/bottle difference x 6 quarts). Since the quick place I use dosen't carry synthetic I figured this would be a good time to check it out.
Now for the real news.
I SWEAR this car now accelerates from a dead stop like my old '98 Intrigue. At first I thought it was just my imagination so I put it to the test. From a good number of stoplights I purposely did the stoplight speedway. I also noticed that the transmission didn't shift as quickly as it usually does.
At first I thought it might have been because I put a new air filter in. Then I remembered that I replaced it once already (also Fram filter) and felt no real difference. Then I thought it was because I used 10W-30 (they were out of 5W-30, it doesn't get cold enough to use 5W-30 all the time although I have been up to this point and the manual says it's OK to use 10W-30). I doubt that would make a big difference.
Then I came to the realization that the claims of synthetic must be true. I truly believe that it greatly reduces friction. That's the only way to describe the very noticable increase in power throughout the band. It also explains why the shift points seem to have changed. More power at the same rev points means I don't lay on the pedal as hard so the tranny doesn't shift as soon. The car hasn't EVER felt this good... even when it was new. As I said earlier, there is NO difference in acceleration from the 3800; I don't have PCS and with 80,000 miles w/the 3800, I think I can remember what it felt like.
What I have to see now is if the engine will still burn a quart btwn changes. If so, that could prove expensive since synthetic costs about $4.30/quart. I have some specific synthetic questions I'm going to post on that thread. But I am VERY pleased with the results. Will post what the mileage is like after the road trip. The best I've done is 30MPG which is 1MPG better than the EPA sticker.
If the effect is really this good, I think you'll overlook the cost of an extra quart of oil!
I would imagine that synthetic would have the same efect.
I bet your gas mileage will go up.
Local Saturn store (subsidiary of the adjacent Chevy/Olds dealer) has a dark blue 2001 GL on the lot. Only downer is the gray interior, not tan. Still, GLs are not particularly common here on the used market and I might be interested because that was the best color in '01. What's it worth?
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=4660&sid=173&n=156
We've had fair amount of problems with our Intrigue in the past, but those were generally electrical and interior/body integrity problems. This is the first major mechanical issue. We have mixed feelings about our Intrigue. The powertrain and handling seem nice and refined, but we've had constant problems with parts falling off, and now this. The parts quality of the Intrigue seems about the same as that of my 1986 Pontiac, which is pretty bad considering that the Pontiac has had 16 years to deterioriate and the Olds has only had 4. If GM would make better quality parts, their cars would be at the top of their classes.
-Andrew L
DINDAK: Yes: A GX with the usual pw, pdl, p drv seat etc.. No spoiler though. I kinda wish I had one so I'd know where the back end ended. By the way, the Intrigue with traction control handles great on ice and packed snow, but tends to jerk intermittantly around low traction turns. I suspect it's the traction control playing with the brakes. And oh how I love to pass those semi trailers! I used to have to get my people to call their people and make arrangements or rely on satelite recon to gauge oncoming traffic.