Oldsmobile Intrigue

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Excellent car with lots of features for the money. Bought new almost four weeks ago. So far, not a single problem or gripe about the car. Too bad Olds is going to be chopped from the lineup soon. This car is too good for GM to abandon.

Strengths:
Great looks. Awesome handling and acceleration. Quiet. Great ride. Well engineered and well built car.Ï

Weaknesses:
None so far... except wife wants to drive this car all the time.

Price Paid:  $26000.00 from Country Chevrolet Ol

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 GLS

Summary:
Best overall looks, inside and out, of 3 GM sister cars(Intrigue, Regal, Grand Prix). Nice car, but shortchanged in some significant ways.

Strengths:
Interior and exterior styling, Bose audio, lots of great standard features provide v. good value for your dollar (precision control system, traction control, ABS, chrome wheels, leather, superb lighting system (blue back lit dash & controls, other attractive interior lighting, very bright headlights and brights without resorting to super expensive gas discharge). 2-tone pewter interior with silver exterior looks great;

Weaknesses:
Very slippery front seats lack support in cornering. Awful low to low-middle range torque - the 3800 engine is MUCH better suited even without turbo and less horsepower. Car feels heavy. Steering lacks roadfeel, even though steering effort is about right; also steering lacks enough "snap-back" when exiting turns. With mud guards installed, these will scrape bottom on some turns esp. with bumps. Suspension should be somehat stiffer, or "better". Mileage is at low end of EPA range - competitive imports generally at high end or exceed EPA spec. Some fit & finish not as good as should be for a car of this price. Rear spoiler should be optional or have delete option when purchased - when will GM stop putting these pretentious things on cars? Shifter should have modern visible chrome stick not dated floppy leather wrap. Only one decent front cup holder, need two.

Similar Products Used:
Honda Accord, Buick Regal, Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Toyota Camry, Avura Integra.

Price Paid:  $23000.00 from Armen

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Olds Intrigue GL

Summary:
My vote for most car for the buck. The thing has leather interior, bose stereo, moonroof, traction control, dual climate control, power everything, has good roominess, very comfortable seating (you need to go up a price range or three to match). It handles very nicely and sure footedly, has good acceleration and braking, and is about as fun to drive as a sedan can be. I'm at 6K miles and so far no problems whatsoever with GM's infamous build quality. Sticker was marked $27,500, dealer dropped to $23, GM card dropped it to $20...BARGAIN!!

Strengths:
features for the $, handling, comfort. Seating comfort is top notch. Controls are mostly intuitive, though the climate control takes some getting used to. Overall handling is great, it's a very easy to drive. Responsiveness of steering and brakes far exceeds Ford models I've driven, and is as good as or better than most else. Not quite the power of the Fords or the Impals, but much more refined handling and interior. 5/60 warranty. so far the car has been great, but I felt much better buying GM with the 5/60 rather than their standard 3/36

Weaknesses:
Back seats are fine for kids but would be tight for teens or adults. brake pedal seems to be set an inch or so higher than optimal and most other cars'. front seats have two cup holders, but one is in front of gear shift and isn't usable when the car is in "Drive"

Similar Products Used:
Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable (both were 2002's), Nissan Maxima (99ish), Honda Accord(97), Chevy Impala (2000) ... over the past three years I've had each of these for at least a week as rentals

Price Paid:  $21000.00 from koons of manassas

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 GS

Summary:
Bought new to replace a '99 Intrigue I had leased new. Thought the '99 was the best car overall I'd ever tried including 3 Park Ave Ultras I owned /leased previously and about every other mid-size or luxury car that can be rented. (I rented cars about 40 weeks a year for several years.) I never thought I'd buy an Olds but I was moving to DC and wanted something a little smaller than Park Ave. I tried LeSabre, Accord, Camry, Lexus 300 etc. but Intrigue was roomier than all imports, less expensive, and a lotg more fun to drive than LeSabre, Taurus, and other US cars I've driven.

Strengths:
Performance, stability, noise insulation, dual leather power, and heated seats (getting up in age), premium sound system, plenty of back seat room for grandkids car seats, trunk OK for 2 sets of golf clubs and luggage, minimal service problems for a US car.

Weaknesses:
I bought this one after leasing the '99 because my wife liked the '99 so well. However, I also bought the 100,000 mile warranty special because I do expect some problems after 50,000 miles. I put 45,000 on the leased car before I turned it in. I can only say that after 40 yrs experience owning cars, I would not expect a used US car with 50,000 miles to not have problems in the next 50000. I have a feeling the interior problems noted by other reviewers might result from not having the interior upgrade package. I didn't notice any in the 45000 mi for the '99 or the 33000 so far on the 2002. Also, the problems with the power windows might be related to whether the car is kept in a garage. I used to have problems with both lights and power windows when I didn't have a garage. No matter how good the water seals may seem, moisture seems able to find a way get to about anything.

Similar Products Used:
Almost every car imaginable from sports cars (TR4 and Spitfire), Ford and GM compacts, SUVs, trucks, sport vans, midsize, & luxury, several Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and Mazda SUV. I also owned a couple of Chrysler vehicles (van and sedan) and found them to live up to Chryslers reputation. I'll never againconsider buying anything made by Chrysler.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $14600.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue

Summary:
Great car and design. Made for tall people, great value for the money.

Strengths:
- strong engine at all speeds - interior layout and controls - very comfortable front and rear seats - smooth ride - huge trunk, great for golfers

Weaknesses:
- wind noise coming from side-view mirrors; need to apply GM bulletin - transmission can be problematique; needed to replace 2 solenoids at 74000 Km - sound system can hurt the ears after a while, and not necessarily playing loud. Tweaters seem to be the problem, reducing the treble helps.

Similar Products Used:
Honda Accord 1984, Mazda 626 1985, Dodge Neon 1995, Mazda Protege 1997, Nissan Maxima 1999, Mazda Protege 2002