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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  Junk - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By oldsjunk123gfy - November 30 - 10:00 am

  Garbage. Power windows broke. Rotors warp every 10,000. Trans problems. Steering column problems.

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  2000 Intrigue Never again - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By pc911 - November 28 - 4:38 am

  Bought my 2000 Intrugue about 6 years ago, had 60,000 miles on it, to date have had to replace. computer and they had to have a mach. from the Cadalac dealership program it because they couldt do it.wheel ABS sensor, Altenater, exshaust system, ingnition, wiper motor, AC, had it towed 6 times, wipers again wont shut off, electric gas door was a dumb idea, all in all I wouldnt buy another one, or take it for free, I used to love Olds but not this one.

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  Love the Drive - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By robamra - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I drive a lot of highway miles. This car has given me comfort and pride. I have had no problems in any type of weather that I have encurred while driving. I live in NorthEast Indiana and the drives to the New York, Chicago, Cincinatti, Detroit, and others have been relaxing without problems. The gas milage hasnt been bad at all either!

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  I love my Intrigue GLS - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By traveller - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I agree with other postings. The engine is so quiet, responsive, economical, and the transmission is also very smooth. As with all GM vehicles, however the transmission has no compression braking. Therefore Im expecting the brake pads to wear out sooner than they did on my Honda Accord. Also, as on other GMs, its not possible to get air flow on side windows as well as the defrost and floor at the same time as on my Honda.

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  i feel safe in this car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By justjess26 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Last week, I got in a bad accident in my Alero. I was hit in my drivers side door by a truck and my car ended up being totaled, as the accident was very bad. However, it is amazing that I walked out of the accident without any injuries. Both of my airbags deployed, my car did not roll over, and it kept me from getting hurt. There was another Alero owner in the parking lot and he said that it was good to know that the car could protect so well, and that the airbags work, etc. I agree, and would have no problems getting into another Alero.

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  An excellent automobile - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TERRIFIC - November 17 - 10:10 pm

  I love my Alero. It has the 4 cylinder redesigned engine and I could not want more. The ride is very comfortable and the highway driving is exceptional. It hugs the road and "drives itself." Ive never had a better steering car. GM got it right with steering ratio, turning effort, return, etc. its the best. Low noise level at highway speed is exceptional. NO wind noise. All around a great car. Also,factory speakers sound great, no need to upgrade.

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  1999 Intrigue - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By taxator - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Build quality very good for a GM car. Flawless paint and trim. I have owned this car for more than 4 years without a single problem. Nothing, I repeat, nothing has broken or malfunctioned. The interior is plain but very comfortable and despite the comments of some reviewers none of the plastic parts are shoddy or have been poorly fitted which is more than can be said for some of the nissan interiors I have seen. The car runs on regular gas and is a great highway cruiser. I consistantly get mileage above 30 mpg at 65-75 mph. I will keep this car as long as I can.

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  Love my 2000 Olds Intrigue! - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By lanova - November 16 - 11:34 am

  Reading everyone’s issues here w/their Intrigue, guess I got lucky. Bought mine new in 2000 with 10 km on it. Thought I had a lemon with problems of it overheating & adjustments were made to thermostat in 2nd year. Never had much heat after that unless I was doing 120km on the hwy driving easterly on a sunny day. Since I was having hot flashes & driving mostly hwy anyway, didn’t matter much, but I digress.

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  the real truth - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By cff - November 7 - 10:00 am

  It was a very good, reliable car except for rotor problems until the fourth year. After that it seemed like we had to go to the shop at least once every three months. The oil pump blew up, the engine is making a horrible noise that no one can correct, the "ride" has gotten progressively worse, the leather seats tore up in about two years, and the trade in value is horrible.

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  Great Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By patricia covington - November 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is great. Has everything at your finger tips and. If only all cars could look like this. Great car and so comfortable.