Standard safety equipment on the 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue GL includes dual depowered airbags, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control, child safety door locks, and daytime running lights. This includes performance tires and larger front brake discs. The Intrigue, so equipped, compares very favorably with any sports-touring sedan on the road, including some that cost far more. It is a great highway cruiser or backroad tourer. There is more body roll in cornering than in a pure sports sedan, but it takes the corners well.
Road feel is good for a front-wheel drive car.
The antilock brakes stop the car quickly. If the Intrigue seems to compare unfavorably on paper to overhead cam-engined competitors because of the cast iron, pushrod 3800 Series II V6, that just illustrates the difference between paper and the real world. Smooth and quiet, the venerable is comparable to the competition with 195 horsepower, and better than most with 220 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is strong, and fuel economy is exemplary. Technophiles can wait until next year, when the new, Aurora V8-derived dual overhead cam V6 engine will be available.