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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  5+ years with a 98 Intrigue - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By dekindy - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Car had drive shaft clunking noise, was replaced but would still intermittently clunk for no reason and occasionally would get a dramatic pull when backing down the driveway. Engine gaskets leaked. 44k, 56k, and 70k. GM paid half the cost for first two repairs. Car also had electrical short and all the dash lights would flash and gauges would jump occasionally.

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  Olds - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By mikend33 - June 30 - 6:43 am

  My wife has driven this car almost 100 miles a day for a year with no problems. Still runs just like the day we bought it. We have since moved closer to her work. We would buy another Oldsmobile if they were still making them.

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  Good Car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By justytt - June 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car for the money. It gets great gas milege, i get around 345 mpg highway. ive had no probelms with it execpt i did have to get new front brakes at about 40,000 miles and they still grind. the cars best features is the stereo and it also handles very well. the back tail lights are a little bit to big and it could use a little more horse power. other than that i would recommend this car to anyone who wants a good inexpensive car.

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  Computer False Problems - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By mike - June 19 - 8:46 am

  The car has gone through brakes very quickly two sets and only 53K miles. The two big issues were: 1. The coolant problem gm would not own up too and cost me Major head work $2k 2. Now I am getting false engine warning lights, replace O2 sensor and gas cap, still getting intermittent codes, other warning lights are the charging system which is working at 13.5-14 volts, I am getting a security system light, the power Windows are working intermittently. Anyone know what the heck is going on, I am thinking the computer is on its way out.

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  Good Design but Poor Worksmanship - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By rpharasty - June 8 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has an attractive design and smooth running engine. Reliability however has been poor. Steering and Alignment problems have never been properly fixed by dealership. It sqeaks and rattles over uneven pavement and does not feel very solid. A/C compressor has just failed. Poor trunk design causes water to pour into trunk when opened during or after rain. Oil filter cartridge very difficult to change yourself and hard to find. Depreciation is very STEEP!

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  2002 Olds Alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By japorter11 - May 19 - 12:17 am

  Bought my Alero a few months ago with 72k miles on it. Solid engine, no problems thus far. Have replaced passenger side window motor, vinyl on the dash was already cracked. Decent car for the money. Uncommon tire size(225/55/16) expensive to replace.

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  A Terrific Olds - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By KeithinAZ - May 10 - 10:00 am

  This is a terric car. Solid, powerful, well built and reliable. We did have to go to warranty for front seals at 60,000. Would buy this car again.

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  Awesum lil ride - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Steven - April 30 - 9:13 pm

  I bought mine in 05 w/ 9,000 miles. now has 120,000. has NEVER let me down. Only minor maintenance costs so far except for the intake gasket, which the dealer covered. Ive customized mine with a new wing, body kit, tinted glass and fancy wheels, and it turns heads everywhere I take it. Both my sons are jealous and want me to hand over the title. (not gonna happen!!!)

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  This is a good car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By x - April 27 - 3:46 am

  Decent car. Good power. Smooth ride. 44,000 miles and no problems. Rotors did warp, but replacing them with good rotors and good brake pads solves the problem. If you buy cheap parts, well then, you get what you pay for. Reliable so far, and probably will be in the future. No mechanical problems either.

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  10 Years Young - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Pat - April 6 - 6:26 am

  Bought my Intrigue off the showroom floor in August 1998. This has been the BEST car ever. Ive never had one problem. It only has 41,750 miles now! Im getting ready to trade only for the fact that Im tired of the same car for 10 years!