intrigue

snarkee · 12-07-2006, 06:54 PM

My grandparents are looking at a 2002 intrigue with 81,000 KM

The car is immaculate and has the 3.5 v6

His mechanic stated that the car looked great mechanically, however, he was not in favour of the 3.5 litre "northstar" engine. He told him that it would be pricy to replace and may cause him trouble

I agree on the "pricy to replace" comment, but what engine nowadays isnt?

From what I understand, the 3.5 northstar is a great engine for power and reliablity

Can anyone please add their opinions/experiences with it? He needs to make a decesion ASAP on the car
thanks

**GMCSonoma** · 12-07-2006, 07:59 PM

If they carbon up, they'll use oil....

It can be fixed with a chemical "cocktail" of sorts....

F14CRAZY · 12-07-2006, 09:09 PM

Some Sea Foam through the intake shuld fix any carbon issues

Ed753 · 12-07-2006, 09:27 PM

Was this GM's 2nd or 3rd attempt to replace the 3800?

"I'd" stay away, but that's just me. The 3800 was by far the engine of choice in that era, hind-sight, is something currently on your side, the original owner didn't have that luxury.

Maybe we can get some GM wrench's to chime in?

bhoppes · 01-01-2007, 06:10 PM

I had a 2000 Intrigue and the car ran fine. Never any issues with the engine. I bought it with 60,000 and sold it with 80,000. I would run the car at 80 mph for 45 minutes twice a day and twice a week for school. The car performed very well. I got around 27-29 mpg on average. I don't think that they will be disappointed with the Intrigue. My mechanic said the same thing about the "Northstar thing", then I asked him what engine he would recommend and he said NONE!! He said they all break down. lol

giagastormer · 01-01-2007, 07:25 PM

Wasn't the 3.5 called the "Shortstar"? I personally wouldn't get one, unless it had the 3800.

Tomko · 01-01-2007, 07:58 PM

When new the Shortstar was my engine of choice over the 3800 in the Intrigue. But as a used car, I would want to be very careful and research the previous owner, as well as the current condition of the engine, before making the final decision.

The Shortstar will always be more expensive to repair than a 3800.

Xeper · 01-01-2007, 08:01 PM

I had a shortstar engine in my Intrigue.

I personally wouldnt buy another... to costly to replace/fix just for the fact that they were killed off as soon as the Intrigue and Aurora were.

Unless it has the 3800, dont get it. Mine broke down at 120,000 miles.

bhoppes · 01-01-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giagastormer

Wasn't the 3.5 called the "Shortstar"? I personally wouldn't get one, unless it had the 3800.

Sorry I meant the Shortstar. But I didn't think they were that bad of engines. Even though the 3800 is more abundant for parts.

member12 · 01-03-2007, 08:22 AM

The Northstar is a great engine, but the 3.5L is a Shortstar. The 3.5L Shortstar has some minor oil burning issues. I don't know of anything else... It's not a dog by any means (like the 3.4L DOHC was), it is just that the alternative is a bulletproof 3.8L.

You are probably ok. If you buy, check the oil regularly at first to see if she burns it. If your grandparents would have a problem with that, then point thim towards a Buick Regal with the 3.8L.

The Intrigue is a great looking vehicle. It's hard to find one in great shape. I'd get the car if it runs good and the price was right.

Ttple · 01-03-2007, 10:14 AM

My 2000 Intrigue has the 3.5 v6 with 174,000 miles on it. It still runs great although it does leak a little coolant. The whole car is original and it still runs great.

snarkee · 01-03-2007, 10:36 PM

well they bought it....had all the service records pulled and the car was really well taken care of...they love it
thanks for your help

osv_alero · 01-04-2007, 06:16 AM

We sold our last Intrigue to a friend (1999 with the 3.5) and she has had no issues. The car has well over 120,000 miles by now as she has been driving all over the US with it.

12-07-2006, 06:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
snarkee 2.2 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Drives: 2004 Silverado Z71 2000 Grand Am GT Posts: 69	intrigue My grandparents are looking at a 2002 intrigue with 81,000 KM The car is immaculate and has the 3.5 v6 His mechanic stated that the car looked great mechanically, however, he was not in favour of the 3.5 litre "northstar" engine. He told him that it would be pricy to replace and may cause him trouble I agree on the "pricy to replace" comment, but what engine nowadays isnt? From what I understand, the 3.5 northstar is a great engine for power and reliablity Can anyone please add their opinions/experiences with it? He needs to make a decesion ASAP on the car thanks

12-07-2006, 07:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
GMCSonoma GMI Fixed Ops Contributor Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: behind the parts counter Drives: 31MPG '98 Park Avenue; 21MPG '93 Roadmaster Posts: 8,415	Re: intrigue If they carbon up, they'll use oil.... It can be fixed with a chemical "cocktail" of sorts.... __________________ certified GM Dealer Parts Manager since 1994 GM Dealer Parts employee since 1987 AMC-Jeep-Renault Dealer Parts employee 1987-90 holder of many GM accredations, too numerous to list

12-07-2006, 09:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
F14CRAZY 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dimondale, MI Drives: '89 Buick Reatta Posts: 3,948	Re: intrigue Some Sea Foam through the intake shuld fix any carbon issues __________________ '07 Subaru Forester: my do-everything everyday driver and first new vehicle. Manual trans. 23k miles as of 3/19/08, 24,2xxk miles as of 3/30/08 '89 Buick Reatta: "Project GS"...3800 SII S/C, 6 speed manual '94 Buick Century wagon: 3100 V6, business vehicle Past: '92 and '93 Ford Explorers, '03 Mercury Mountaineer

12-07-2006, 09:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ed753 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 459	Re: intrigue Was this GM's 2nd or 3rd attempt to replace the 3800? "I'd" stay away, but that's just me. The 3800 was by far the engine of choice in that era, hind-sight, is something currently on your side, the original owner didn't have that luxury. Maybe we can get some GM wrench's to chime in?

01-01-2007, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
bhoppes 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, Michigan Drives: 1987 Olds 442 (10,600 miles) 2003 Cadillac Sevill Posts: 399	Re: intrigue I had a 2000 Intrigue and the car ran fine. Never any issues with the engine. I bought it with 60,000 and sold it with 80,000. I would run the car at 80 mph for 45 minutes twice a day and twice a week for school. The car performed very well. I got around 27-29 mpg on average. I don't think that they will be disappointed with the Intrigue. My mechanic said the same thing about the "Northstar thing", then I asked him what engine he would recommend and he said NONE!! He said they all break down. lol __________________ 2003 Cadillac Seville SLS 1989 Cadillac Brouhgam (for sale) 1987 Oldsmobile 442 (6,427 original miles with factory astroroof) 1987 Oldsmobile 442 (10,600 original miles with factory t-tops) 1927 REO Wolverine 6

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
GM Inside News Forum Advertisement

01-01-2007, 07:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
giagastormer 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 6,154	Re: intrigue Wasn't the 3.5 called the "Shortstar"? I personally wouldn't get one, unless it had the 3800. __________________ -Your Type-R has never beaten JL W7 in any contest. -Your eD is not louder than a Stroker -You dont know what 160.0dB is like -You wont bully a multi-million dollar company via Internet -No one cares who You are, how many amp's You've installed, nor what "Your Buddy" can hit "in the kick". -You are a consumer. Shut the up and gobble up the products that You think are worth Your meager funds.

01-01-2007, 07:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tomko 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ottawa - Canada Drives: 1996 Impala SS 1999 Tahoe POC Posts: 1,329	Re: intrigue When new the Shortstar was my engine of choice over the 3800 in the Intrigue. But as a used car, I would want to be very careful and research the previous owner, as well as the current condition of the engine, before making the final decision. The Shortstar will always be more expensive to repair than a 3800. __________________ Tomko Current Fleet: 2008 DTS Lux III (1,000 km on the odometer) 1999 Tahoe POC (daily grinder) 1996 Impala SS (garage queen) Retired Fleet: 1988 Caprice 9C1 (first new car) 1984 6000 STE (first car)

01-01-2007, 08:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Xeper 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brownsville, Tx Drives: 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT Posts: 1,710	Re: intrigue I had a shortstar engine in my Intrigue. I personally wouldnt buy another... to costly to replace/fix just for the fact that they were killed off as soon as the Intrigue and Aurora were. Unless it has the 3800, dont get it. Mine broke down at 120,000 miles. __________________ Current - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT2 myspace.com/xepergod \| myspace.com/embracingdoom "Flip off the sky with bleeding fingers till I die!" - Children of Bodom

01-03-2007, 08:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
member12 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta Drives: pickup truck Posts: 4,911	Re: intrigue The Northstar is a great engine, but the 3.5L is a Shortstar. The 3.5L Shortstar has some minor oil burning issues. I don't know of anything else... It's not a dog by any means (like the 3.4L DOHC was), it is just that the alternative is a bulletproof 3.8L. You are probably ok. If you buy, check the oil regularly at first to see if she burns it. If your grandparents would have a problem with that, then point thim towards a Buick Regal with the 3.8L. The Intrigue is a great looking vehicle. It's hard to find one in great shape. I'd get the car if it runs good and the price was right. __________________ I want to own a Corvette before I die. Last edited by member12 : 01-03-2007 at 08:24 AM.

01-03-2007, 10:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ttple 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,205	Re: intrigue My 2000 Intrigue has the 3.5 v6 with 174,000 miles on it. It still runs great although it does leak a little coolant. The whole car is original and it still runs great.

01-03-2007, 10:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
snarkee 2.2 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Drives: 2004 Silverado Z71 2000 Grand Am GT Posts: 69	Re: intrigue well they bought it....had all the service records pulled and the car was really well taken care of...they love it thanks for your help

01-04-2007, 06:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
osv_alero 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dundee, Oregon Drives: 2006 HHR 2LT Posts: 823	Re: intrigue We sold our last Intrigue to a friend (1999 with the 3.5) and she has had no issues. The car has well over 120,000 miles by now as she has been driving all over the US with it.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode