Oldsmobile Intrigue

Something that you don't realize is that the Intrigue is available with
buicks 3800 V6, the new 3500 DOC is an option, unless it was a half year
thing and they just did that, I haven't been to the dealership since
school started, but when I was there That's the way it was. ANd of course
comparing the servicablity of it to your '87 makes it look ridiculous,
you're comparing it to an '87! Compare any 2000 to an '87 and look at the
differance. You're a bit larger than me, but I just over 6'1" 185 and the
comfort is excellent. I am only 19 though, so maybe I wouldn't notice too
much on the back support thing. In my opinion, it is a great car and well
worth the money.

Brent Irvine & Dianne Lancia <
Brent,

I drove one (a 2000) late last summer for over a week while my 1987
98 Touring Sedan was disabled waiting parts. I've also driven numerous
GM "W" body cars (your present Cutlass is a "W" body), so I think I
can give you a good comparison on how the 2 cars drive.

I rather like the Intrigue - would not trade my 98 for one, but not
a bad car. Nice tight handling, decent ride even on the crappy streets
of San Francisco (it even handles crossing the Muni tracks without
losing it's composure). The car is much more "civilized" than the "W"
body (less body roll, better control in braking and better steering
control), though the ride can be a bit "busy" at time.

Engine and transmission are smooth - good acceleration (with 215 HP
it should be :)) Gas mileage was not bad, even though I'll admit I did
"lead foot" it a bit once I got past 500 miles (I picked up the car
with 13 miles on it). The "Shortstar" V-6 is a takeoff on the Aurora
and Cadillac V-8s, and is a well-running engine. However, it's long
term reliability is still an open book, and this engine does NOT lend
itself well to DIY repair (because of all the special tools required).
Based on the history of the Cadillac 4.6L and the Aurora 4.0L V-8s,
the engine will run well but will be expensive to fix if something
goes wrong. You could look at the Pontiac GP as an alternative: it has
the well-proven Gen II 3.8L Buick V-6 instead of the new V-6.

As far as "creature comforts", the HVAC system has a problem in
holding a constant temp - seems to wander a bit (and in heat mode has
a tendency to overshoot a bit). The car I had had the
AM/FM/Cassette/CD radio (non-BOSE) - good sound, good balance, good
sensivitity on FM but a bit lame on AM (I think that is more a
function of the rear window antenna and not the radio itself). Rear
seat kinda tight with the front one set back; front seat lumbar
support kinda lame, otherwise seats are good (just for the record, I'm
6'3" and 250 lbs.).

If you are tall, be careful getting into and out of the car: that
"A" pillar has a bit of a rake and you'll hit your head a few times
until you get used to the difference with that 94 Cutlass (as I did
with my 98).

Took a look under the hood while I had the car: serviceability SUCKS
vs my 87 Olds 98 (the 98 has a 3.8L V-6 in an engine compartment big
enough for the Cadillac 4.1L V-8, since Cadillac used the same basic
body as the Cadillac DeVille), but probably actually a bit better than
the 94 Cutlass (at least the rear plugs are reachable without a lot of
grief). And, the battery is in the engine compartment and not under
the rear seat like the new Aurora and the other "G" body cars.

If there is one thing that makes me a bit concerned about the
Intrigue is something it shares with most of the other FWD GM cars -
GM's crappy rear wheel disk brakes. GM does not seem to be able to
make rear wheel disk brake units that aren't a royal pain - that goes
back to the "E" and "K" bodies of the 80s and especially the "W"
bodies. I don't know what your experience has been on you Cutlass with
the rear brakes, but the Intrigue is likely to be about the same.
Maybe some folks with 98 or 99 Intrigues can add.some info about this,
but from what I've heard from owners of 98 and 99 Pontiac Grand Prix
(which is the same basic car), I'd consider the rear brakes a possible
problem area.

Like I said, overall I like the car: the main reason I would not buy
one is it is size - interior is too small for me (if I was buying a
new car right now, I'd be looking at the Pontiac Bonneville or the
Buick LeSabre).

Avis has quite a few of the Intrigues in their fleet (though they are
the lower-end models with cloth seats, though otherwise most of them
are loaded). I'd recommedn that, if you are thinking of buying one,
rent one for a week and see if you like it. Yep, I know that will cost
$200 or so, but if you find you don't like the car, it will save you
much more in grief over buying a car you don't like.

One final note: my next door neighbor is a Regional Manager for
Avis, and has driven the Intrigue and it's 3 equiv. GM models (Buick
Century, Pontiac GP and the Chevy Impala). Pete tells me he likes the
Intrigue the best of the 4, with the GP as #2.

Regards,
Bill Bowen

Daly City, CA

Larry,

On the 1999 Intrigue, the 3.5L DOHC engine was standard in the GLS,
and optional on the lower series models. On the 2000 ONLY the 3.5L
DOHC V-6 is available: the 3.8L has been phased out. The 3.8L is the
only available on the GP, Century and Impala.

As far as serviceability, year made has far less to do with it than
the size of the car. Look at a 1987 GM "A" body with a 3.8L engine (a
Buick Century or a Olds Cutlass Ciera) and the serviceability is as
bad as the Intrigue (actually worse: getting to the rear plugs is a
real blast :)). As I said, my old 98 is easy to work on because of the
size of the engine compartment, which was sized for a V-8 engine. The
same can be said for the new GM "G" body: in it's incarnation as an
Olds Aurora or Cadillac Seville, they have a V-8 engine, so the V-6 in
the Pontiac and Buick versions has plenty of room. While a bit tighter
than the 87 "C" body, it still has a lot more room in the engine
compartment than the Intrigue.

As I said, I do like the Intrigue: it just is not my "cup of tea"
because of it's size. BTW, the model I drove was a GL with the
upgraded AM/FM/Cassette/CD non-Bose radio (my neighbor that works for
Avis is driving the exact car I drove this weekend. It now has nearly
5K miles on it and Pete says it is running very well, and NO probnlems
so far).

Regards,
Bill Bowen

Daly City, CA

larry michael martino <> wrote:

If the computer ate my previous post, this is
my question about my Olds Delta 88, V-6, carburetor:

when in transition between 40-50 mph (speed changing
in either direction on uphills, curves, or decelerations
on highway), the engine coughs and threatens to
stall. at steady speed, high medium or low, runs
fine.

oddly, putting it in 2nd gear during the rough
periods smooths out the engine. but i don't
want to let problem go unaddressed.

does it sound like transmission or dist./ignition
wires/plugs problem, or something else altogether?
please post answer to group, thanks!

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

First, a couple of corrections. The 99 model Intrigue switched completely
to the 3.5L part of the way through the year. The 3800 is also available in
the Regal, and Monte Carlo. The 3800 was never available in the Ciera.

OK, now the Intrigue. If you like the Passat, the Maxima, the V6
Accord...go drive an Intrigue. As far as Sedan's go, I think the Passat and
Maxima are very difficult cars to beat...the Intrigue stands tall against
them. The 3.5 is a great engine, the appearence is wonderful (IMO) and it
drives excellent, sporty like.

If therre was anything that I would complain about: the seats, no lumbar
support (adjustable) and I find them rather hard, most people disagree with
me though. Additionally, I think it's overpriced. A loaded GLS with a BOSE
system will sticker at over $30,000. You can get an Aurora V6 loaded to the
hilt for $3000 more. (Also overpriced). I think if they can reduce the
price on Intrigue by about $3-4K it would become one of the best selling
vehicles in the Country.

Ken.

William H. Bowen < ...

It was 1998. And I agree with you on the engine. The 3800 is tough to
beat, and I don't thing the 3.5 is faster off the line, but if you're
passing someone, you'll be impressed. It's also quieter and gets almost
30MPG.

Ken.

larry michael martino < ...

I think you're a bit off onb the price of the Aurora there.

I'm sorry. Looking at my message here I noticed that I accidentally said
that I would recommend the bose system, I meant I wouldn't. It was very
late when I wrote this, I think.

Fair enough. like I said, I haven't been to the dealership much since
school started last august, so I wasn't sure about the engine option.
That's too bad though, the 3.8 was a great engine, lets just hope that the
3.5 can follow up. I believe that that is an oldsmobile engine, right?
I agree on the older cierra and such, too. i forgot about those. And in my
experience, those need a lot of servicing, too. I'm used to working on my
71 cutlass, talk about room in the engine bay! And not too hard to
service, either!