General Comments:
The only thing it needed when I bought it used was tires. Unfortunately the factory tires were out of the question as they were far too expensive.
The "Yahtzee Rattle" took a while to get used to in the beginning. I've been told that it's just the anti-lock brakes testing themselves at start-up. Every once and a while the test does not sound like it completes and the brake/anti-brake warning lights stay on. This is not a big deal as all I need do is put the car in park, shut it off, and restart it to let the test run again.
The moon roof slides so far back that it can be hard to close. It won't close on it's own by the motor so you end up having to pull on it by hand to get it to release.
Getting the car into first gear is a bit tricky as the boot wants to limit you to second.
The balance/fader and treble/bass knobs were broken when I bought mine. They were still in place. But they do not work all the functions they are supposed to work.
The spoiler looks as if it were installed aftermarket or at the dealer (not the best looking workmanship). And the paint, or at least the clear-coat, has begun to fade away.
The interior trim looks like what you'd expect to find in a entry-level car. Since I bought it used, I don't have a problem with it, but had I bought this new, I'd be quite disappointed.
It looks sportier than it is, but it holds its own on the freeway. Don't try to take any mountain roads or valley tours at high speeds, it just doesn't have the suspension for "sport driving". Which is funny, because it rides like a sportier car, i.e. it can be harsh on the bumps and potholes. The motor is sufficient to move you along and pass other cars with ease. I have no complaints about the transmission.
The six speaker sound system is nice a mid-levels. At higher volumes it starts to lose it's range.
I may sound like all I'm doing is bashing the Intrigue, this could not be further from the truth. I love this car. I'm just sharing what I have experienced. For every "bad" thing I may have said here, please know that those times were the extreme worst cases or where the car fell short of what I expected. This is not to say it's common, or that it fell short by design. My expectations may just have been higher or even completely out of line whit what GM had in mind with the Intrigue.
I'd buy another one. I wish they were still building them so that I could get a new one in a few years.
Oh well, GM didn't ask me, so there.
22nd Jul 2004, 12:07
I too have an over sensitive trac control light, and I have replaced the wheel bearing and it went out for a couple of weeks. Now its on all the time. Oh well.. that OLDS for ya.