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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  Worst ever - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By MaineOwner - July 3 - 4:20 pm

  This is seriously the worst car Ive ever driven. I have owned my car for a few years now and i cant stand it. I have problems with EVERYTHING! The security is a pain because it always thinks Im stealing my own car and blinks security lights all the time. Every time i get in the car to drive it a new light on the dash board comes on. The only thing i like is the gas mileage and the way it handles on the road. The back seats are the most uncomfortable seats youll ever sit on, and i have had problems every winter with the anti-lock break system. Oh and i run out of gas all the time because it says i have 1/4 a tank of gas, but it is really empty. So i end up running out of gas completely.

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  I miss the 3.5 - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By OldsKidd - June 27 - 9:23 pm

  My parents bought their 99 Intrige GLS with 27,000 miles in 2001. Theyve driven it to Mexico once, and to Michigan countless times. Its proven to be as reliable as their Toyota Corolla. It now has 100,000 miles and it still runs like the day they bought it. Regular maintenance is all that has been needed. The seats are comfy and the dual zone climate control is great as my dad is always cold and mom is the opposite. Theyre thinking of getting another car, but why? If anything theyd get a used Aurora with the same bulletproof Northstar based 3.5L V6. GM made a big mistake dropping Oldsmobile and the 3.5L and 4.0L engines. They shouldve kept the lineup, or at least put the engines in Buick.

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  bravada overrated - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By mike smith - June 27 - 2:00 am

  fan noise,noise in back plastic trim when sunlite warms the plastic,air compresser failed,mirror module failed, terrible gas mileage,would never buy another one.Way over priced for the poor quality of this suv.

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  Love The Look - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By john2551 - June 26 - 7:53 am

  I purchased a 2000 Bravada about three months ago. It only had 55,000 miles on it and was a good deal (so I thought). It looks and drives good but I cant depend on it at all. I just had 2,000 in repairs for the differential, and now the air conditioner is going bad. I love the car but I should have known better then to buy it, I just didnt want an Explorer or a Mountineer.

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  Best Deal In Town - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GmanNYC - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Why Did GM stop Producing this car? My previous cars were an 88 accord, 88 cutlas, 92 Legend and a 97 malibu, and my 99 intrique has the best features of all of them. The design with the chrome rims and spoiler give an attractive look. the leather was comparable to my old legend. The Bose System was similar to the after market system in my accord. Most important it was the size i needed consider im 6 ft 230lbs and play hockey. I wanted something bigger than my malibu but with all the toys. This car takes a 45 mile comute with no problem and 5 of us fit decently going to a football game with tailgating stuff in the trunk. Car is fun to drive, priced perfect under 9 grand used. mpg is decent

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  The best Ive driven new and used! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Weeza71 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  We were shopping for a replacement for a conversion van and a small pickup. We tested many new vehicles and found the used 2002 Bravada with 37,000 miles on it was the best choice. It is a very classy sport utility that says I AM AN OLDSMOBILE. It is very capable of doing every job that needs to be done and still be fun and luxurious. We wanted it to use to carry additional passengers comfortably. We needed it to pull a utility trailer with a Large riding lawnmower. We needed better gas mileage for both around town and long trips. To me this is the total package. Im sorry to see the Oldsmobile line go. I think GM should have scrapped the GMC line instead.

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  used county car - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By Sean - June 21 - 10:30 pm

  I had bought my 1996 Olds Ciera Wagon from Suffolk County on auction. It had over 100K when I bought it. I have used it as a utility vehicle basically to carry stuff that I do not want getting wet in my pick up. The car has been excellent, while not a great stand out by styling it does the job it is suppose to do. Like the car very much. Have the 3.1 V6 offers good acceleration.

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  94 Olds Cutlass Supreme - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By PDV II - June 16 - 10:00 am

  This car is bigger than others cars I have owned. It is also the first American car I have owned. I have only had the car for about a month and I am very impressed with it so far. The 3.1 V6 has enough power for what I need. I do a lot of highway driving and find the ride to be very comfortable. Engine sound is also quiet.

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  Come back, PLEASE - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By macinman - June 15 - 6:30 pm

  I have owned onjly one other car than the eighty eight and that was a ford escort ZX2, this car is a tank but ive fallen in love with it, very safe reliable, engine was rebilt last year aparently.

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  Cutlass - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Garrett - June 13 - 4:43 pm

  When I bought my Cutlass, it had 170,000 miles on it. It already had the intake and head gasket changed, a few brake services, a transmission service, and a general tune up. After buying it, I replaced the intake gasket again, gave it a full tune up, new brakes and rotors, and new tires. After the engine was in proper working condition, it performs very nicely and if you are easy on the accelerator, the gas mileage is around 25 mpg. The leather in the front seats is cracked and needs some serious attention. The cup holders are basically unusable. The drinks tip over at the slightest acceleration or braking. I am impressed with the massive trunk space. You need to be a good mechanic to to own this car.