trinacriabob

Here we go again, heading down the "Great Divide." First, the Intrigue, when outfitted in a nice color and with nice but not too garish accessories, is a truly beautiful vehicle. I suggest the 3800 V6....emphatically. This would only limit you to the 1998 model and the first portion of the 1999 model year. I have rented a handful of each of these. In ordinary driving, you don't notice the difference. The 3.5 seems to be better in the mid-range pass...stomp on the pedal and you will feel some pushback into the seat. Again, I beg to differ...the 3.5 is smoother, but not by leaps and bounds. The 3800 is hushed enough in this vehicle. Neither, in this range of model years, is totally trouble free. The 3800, in Series II form, may have intake manifold problems. However, problems encountered with a 3.5 will be more expensive as the engine itself is newer and more complicated. The reason why I assert this belief stems from only one experience....but it was an eye-opener. I had a neighbor (an elderly woman) in a Sacramento suburb that had a silver 1999 Intrigue I would salivate over. I spoke to her every once in a while about her car. I finally told her if she wanted to get rid of it or trade it in, to come to me first. She beamed and even added "and it's got a new engine...the dealership replaced the first one under warranty." At this point, I demurely asked if I could lift the hood. Staring back at me was a 3.5 litre V6. An engine blowing up in a NEW car is INEXCUSABLE. I don't know of ANY 3800s that have gone kaput under the warranty period....nor within the first 150,000 miles of operation for that matter. Good luckand let us know what you decide to do!

Suppose I get one of the cars which cheap, conservative and cautious Trinacriabob drools over (LaCrosse, Grand Prix or Monte Carlo). I then don't order the BIG option package with everything in it but still want the feel of the leather wrapped wheel. (Trust me, from rentals I've had, it makes for a different driving sensation than the urethane wheel). Is there a way to add this feature (leather wrapped wheel a la factory) without pulling the steering wheel off or at least doing it after the fact with some amount of ease? I would we willing to let the dealer do it. Let me know if you have any ideas/opinions.

Buick STILL has not updated their website...there is still a Glacier Metallic Blue which we know is defunct next year. But Pontiac has, because I am getting pricing Grand Prix pricing! Get with the program, Buick!

Pontiac

gourmand

my response:dynamics (you, engineer, you)

steering

This must be tough. I will add your family to my list of those I pray for. It must especially be tough if you are close-knit. I will hold good thoughts.

criminal

SOOOOO South Orange County...I don't think they have $12 haircuts there.

limeys

I'm happy for you, Mr. A.V.! Equating it to a Lexus isn't necessarily a "dig" -- it's called benchmarking. And, I too, prefer a softer ride to one that is TOO taut as I was reared on Oldsmobiles and Buicks. And, about pushrod engines: down, boy, down....

hookie

We'll settle for the DTSs and "the pomp and circumstance."

So very true about the classic dilemna...you have to weigh it and the positives have to outweigh the negatives.About the latter item, is it possible to discern if someone has had a "tubal"? That's important, you know.

I'm a wordsmith, aren't I?

Nice one, but falls short. The reason I'm chiding you is that you are taking a "hit" at someone who is a constant on the board describing their feelings and experiences. My generic broadbush "hit" was at a demographic who doesn't post here and for which a person can't be identified. And let me be a little more blunt: I think this seems to annoy you because the reverse snobbery thing is at work...I can think of no other reason. The fact that I'm insistent about the education and the income level may be a little uncomfortable for you. My friends who put on the 'coat and tie' feel the same way I do and don't get pissy with me about my demographic selectivity. So, are we done? I hope so. I thought Reg and I were just having some fun up above and you had to be the wet blanket.

Past tense, not present...that's why it's easy to take these potshots at people whose intricate life details and experiences you don't know beyond snippets of "this and that" you read in cyberspace.

mud

Oh, I agree...but then I've experienced some truly horrendous stuff which I have immediately deflected which you haven't since you don't dabble in this arena. And you are also one of the few, if not the only person on this forum, who loves to point this out. You are welcome to attack me in a PM rather than on the public end of the board. The reference to the "mistake" isn't about the sexual act and responsibility, it's about the fact that the burden of that "mistake" will be partially shifted on you and that "mistake" will probably never respect you and love you like a traditional "nuclear" parent. I'm not at all mysoginistic to/regarding women who have degrees, good jobs, don't need someone else's money and have used good judgment about the use of their eggs. Let's not go down this road, Bill.

Oh, I do...in a big way. First, being single (and I mean single, not divorced) means, to me, I am in a totally different space in life. I can't even relate to a single mom. And most talk about their kids. I don't want to hear about kids created with someone else's sperm. Hanging around other singles who don't have kids is a lot more comfortable. A lot of their interest could be that they eventually want to syphon (sp?) some of your stuff into their world. How would you feel about celebrating her kid(s)' bull$h! - birthdays, graduations, etc. - and have to pony up for a kid who will never treat you like a parent, if it were to come to that. Another thing, especially as you describe, is when you go down the road that some have (teen pregnancies, abortions, etc), the professional world is something foreign to them -- they will never be a part of the professional world and they will be a liability to you if you are a part of it. I date very little because 1) I won't date women with kids (unless the husband has died) and 2) I soon discard the single, childless ones who haven't gotten over daddy's alcoholism or sexual abuse issues (as it relates to them) or who feel less than complete because of reproductive issues (can't have kids but want to). Either way, too much work. And this is supposed to be about haircuts. It totally sickens me that we have expressions like "taking him to the cleaners." The fact that a male has a penis and went to school to become a professional makes him a target of this. It's wrong. And it bites my ass when the woman has not accomplished anything professionally in her life. Face it, it is exponentially easier to raise healthy children (no birth defects or recurrent chronic conditions) than it is to go make a living in a challenging field. And one way to protect yourself from the "be needed instead of wanted" syndrome is DINK - dual income, no kids. Sad, but true. Sorry if I am harsh. I have been "objectified" in this regard WAAAAYYY too much.

Immodium

Agreed ... as I think about the 2-door last gen Grand Prix coupe for which the roofline and silhouette worked beautifully with the 2-door configuration....

You're right, you're right, you're right. The 79 went FWD along with the Eldo and the Toro...the Eldo was nicely proportioned followed by the Toro. They typically ran with 5.7s but I recall a 4.1 Buick being available somewhere in that span of years. The Riviera was actually the frumpiest of those with a tall lean-back Parthenon grille and a weird backlite. I am sure it rode nicely, though.

squad