Overview & Reviews

At the dawn of the automobile, Oldsmobile was there. Owned by General Motors, Oldsmobile was the most senior domestic marque and one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, with a run that spanned some 107 years.

Ransom E. Olds was born in Ohio, but moved to Lansing, Michigan, to work in his father's machine shop. His experiences there helped whet his appetite for all things automotive, and he soon garnered enough expertise to develop a gasoline-powered vehicle. Joining forces with other partners, Olds cofounded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. By the early 1900s, the company had introduced the nation to upscale models like the Curved Dash and had risen to become the best-selling car company in the United States.

Ransom Olds eventually left the company and it was sold to General Motors in 1908, where it became known as the Oldsmobile Division. More than ever, Oldsmobile became the brand of choice for car buyers seeking vehicles steeped in luxury and sophistication. Early models like the 1915 Model 42 Touring Roadster offered sleek lines and style aplenty. The 1918 Model 37 was its first model to offer a closed top, ensuring that the brand's well-heeled buyers had protection from the elements.

Oldsmobile had another hit in the 1920s with the Model 46, a V8-powered touring car that seated seven. The manufacturer did its part to make sure that the decade's elegance wasn't lost on its automobiles. It introduced fancy chrome-plated trim that served to raise the glamour quotient of its already eye-catching vehicles.

The '30s was a decade of innovation for the brand. The company wooed customers with its "Knee-Action" independent front suspension, an affordably priced option that served to improve ride quality. The company also offered one of the earliest automatic transmissions, freeing drivers from the rigors of the clutch with its four-speed "Hydra-matic" system.

Postwar, Oldsmobile gave consumers the Rocket 88. The car offered new levels of performance, giving the North American market its first taste of the short-stroke, overhead-valve V8. The car was adored by enthusiasts, and was chosen to serve as the pace car for the 1949 Indy 500.

The 1950s saw Olds continuing to distinguish itself as a purveyor of fine performance machines. With a name inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, its 1953 Starfire show car offered a fiberglass body, a stylishly low beltline and most importantly, a 200-horsepower engine. The car was one of the first to display a wraparound windshield, and in the years following, many other manufacturers adopted this styling cue.

Oldsmobile's innovations continued into the 1960s. The manufacturer was the first since the 1930s Cord to taste success with a front-wheel-drive vehicle, in the form of its sporty Toronado. The '70s saw Olds breaking new ground in the area of safety. In 1974, it introduced a Toronado equipped with a driver-side airbag; Olds was the first domestic automaker to offer this feature. Around this time, the company's Cutlass had also become one of America's favorite cars.

Less successful was the company's effort to get on board with diesel technology. In 1978, Oldsmobile introduced a 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine as a response to that decade's fuel crisis; the engine was meant to appeal to buyers desperate to save money at the pump. Rising diesel prices and the unreliability of the engines caused the program to suffer, and Oldsmobile was eventually forced to terminate its efforts on this front.

In the '80s, Oldsmobile left its competitors in the dust when its Aerotech — piloted by noted racecar driver A.J. Foyt — set a closed-course world speed record of 257 mph. The company continued to have a huge hit with its Cutlass; the model spent much of the decade atop the sales charts.

The '90s saw Oldsmobile's introduction of Guidestar, the first onboard navigation system combining mapping and satellite positioning. The company made history yet again when its race-modified Aurora V8 won the Indy 500, making Olds the first manufacturer to pace and win the race in the same year.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Oldsmobile's sales were in a rut. The brand's identity had suffered over the years due to parts-sharing and rebadging within the GM camp. GM ultimately decided to pull the plug, and the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in model-year 2004.

User Reviews:

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  Best and Worst of Both Worlds - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Olds5 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  The car is a bit of a heart-breaker. Its a beautiful car both inside and out. It does handle well and got though the past winter (2002-2003)ok. The engine is the albatross around this cars neck. A manifold seal has failed twice causing damage to the engine.The car is showing the same symptoms at this writing. Also, the power windows have gone off track at least once. If I had to to it again, This would not be the car I would choose.

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  N/A - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Kevin Mandrell - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This was a BIG mistake!

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  Not bad at all - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Russ Hoss - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Other than the driver seat feeling like its broken, I LOVE the car. I put about 400 miles a week on my car and its really fun to drive. Actually, my wife has taken it from me and she is a diehard Honda fan.

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  Like a Vette - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By OwnedEmAll - June 2 - 9:43 pm

  Ive owned cars for 55 years and none has given me more all around pleasure than this car. On twisty two-lanes or the interstate it has been great. It handles much the same as my 66 Vette coupe, without the 350 hp of course, and the V6 3.8 liter engine is strong, smooth and bulletproof. Maybe the 3.5 could be better, but I dont care.

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  Im going to miss this car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By chris - June 2 - 10:00 am

  My wife bought this car Brand New from the dealer. weve had it for 10 yrs now and its been wonderful. Very few problems the fuel pump went at 70k which i hear is very common, and weve replaced all the power window switches. everything else is great, very fun to drive and very roomy. Im trading it in and Im going to miss this car.

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  Ignore the naysayers - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jeff - June 2 - 12:43 am

  I bought this car at 38,000 miles and put 53,000 miles on it. It has needed the kinds of repairs every car needs - a new thermostat, starter, and a power-window motor. I also had to get new wheel bearings for the front wheels. The one bad thing is the rims. 3 of them are bent, but I do live in New York City. Everyone says theyre pretty cheap though. Otherwise, its a fun, zippy car to drive and the GLS model with a moonroof and spoiler is a good looking car.

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  Be Careful - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By sam - June 1 - 11:00 pm

  Bought it ad 59000 miles drove it until it had 85,000 miles and then it was time to sell or drive off a cliff. All the window regulators went out, the fan speed control stopped working, the breaks started to make a creeking noise. I have had 3 different mechanics tell me the engine design is terrible, it has already cost me $850 and there are still problems. They can pin point the problem to many variables. Dont buy not worth the stress.

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  Buy this one - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By hjallie - May 30 - 5:43 pm

  The overall performance of this vehicle has been excellent. No service needed outside of routine maintenance. Body integrity has been excellent. No need to purchase polish package or extended warranty on a basic vehicle.

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  First Olds Buyer - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Mick27 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Nice car, the V-6 has good power. I have taken several long trips in this car and its gets very good gas milage. Air conditioner is a little weak. The only problem that developed in 30,000 miles was a slight anti freeze leak which was a big job but was covered under the new car warrenty.

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  Great Engine! Lousy suspension! - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Julio - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Blew out two rack and pinions in first 24k miles. Numerous control arms. Front axle is going. Front wheel bearing shot. At least 3 computer sensors. Also, poor fit and finish. I realize that 25k miles per year is excessive. However, there is no excuse for this frequency of repair. I tried to "lemon law" the car but was over the miles allowed for reporting a claim Thank goodness I work across the street from the dealership because I am there about once a month on average. The funny thing is that I was in the car business and am not very particular about my cars. However, I know how they should run.