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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  I expected better - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By tag - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new and have had the same problems Id expect from buying a used vehicle with mileage. These are testing my "GM Loyalty". A bad factory windshield replaced 2 days after purchase. Warped rotors were replaced at 19K. The engine smelled of gas at 31K which required replacement of the fuel injector regulator ($400). Eagle LS tires were trashed at 27K. The AM/FM TAPE/CD fader button is broken. The driverside door sticks. You might think I wouldnt recommend this car. However, since its lost 2/3 of its purchase price in 4 years Id say itd be a good used car value.

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  Ten and I still love her! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Lyn - August 17 - 4:13 pm

  She has almost 160,000 on her, a few little patches of rust, have had to replace 2 sensors, and have had a few problems..her interior is getting worn, right blinker stops working when ya slam the hood too hard.....but this little car can still go from 0 to 60 in seconds! Everyone laughs until they drive her. I love this car, its been faithful, best I have ever owned...and still driving it 9 years later!

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  The "Trigue is the Greatest! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By bayview6 - August 15 - 5:46 am

  Sure, Ive had to replace the crankcase sensor and a couple of front wheel hubs, but Ive really gotten my moneys worth from my Intrigue. Now at 100K miles (bought new) and that includes plenty of severe service of driving for less than 1 mile, the car drives "almost" like new. Will change the spark plugs for the first time in a few weeks. I have maintained the vehicle reasonably well, probably better than most people. Plan on keeping it for several more years since its fuel economy is outstanding given its performance, everything on the car works, and its body styling only gets better with age. Im very glad I bought it.

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  Beware-o Alero 2001 GLS Sedan - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Den1 - August 14 - 4:23 am

  I have had numerous problems with this car, the most expensive of which is the coolant system leaks due to poor design at GM. Theres a class action lawsuit on this because it is such a consistent problem on these engines (3.4 Liter). If you have this engine, it will develop leaks. It cant possibly do otherwise since the coolant actually erodes the gasket material. Its simply a matter of time. Now with the wheel and brake problems and the numerous small issues, I have to say this would be a terrible choice as a used vehicle. If you like your money, stay away from it.

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  A Bottomless Money Pit - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Joe - August 13 - 10:10 pm

  This car has caused me quite a bit of trouble. I bought it with 30,000 miles on it and it now has just under 100,000. Ive had to replace mufflers on it three times. I replaced the gas tank on it, along with a fuel pump because I would nearly stall after coming down certain hills. This probably needs to be fixed again, as its acting up. About 1,000 miles ago my belt tensioner broke, spinning my belt off the pulleys so that no water made it to my radiator and so my engine overheated on the spot. This happened out of nowhere for no reason. A cable snapped in my left mirror so I need to wedge something there to keep the mirror aimed where I want it. This car needs one fix after another.

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  piece of junk!!!! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jason5280 - August 13 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for two years, Ive replaced the starter, struts, battery, both windows (tracks and motors!!!!!). Now the head gasket is bad, (antifreeze leaking in the engine). Stay away from this car, it seemed like after I hit 65k miles, it took a nose dive.

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  Long live the 88 - 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By jks - August 8 - 5:13 am

  I bought this car with 160,000 miles on it, it now has 190,000 and is still going strong. It leaks a little oil but burns none. I have never have to add any between oil changes (3,000mi.). It is very quick for a big car with a V6 engnie. It has a very comfortable ride. Its body roll is a bit much in a hard corner but then its not a sports car. It has been very reliable.

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  Good, until... - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Augustine - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car with 36,000 miles 7 years ago and it lasted 100,000 miles. Its got its share of minor issues, like all windows had to have the regulator replaced as well as the crankshaft sensor, which seem to be the par for the course. The interior was a victim of its poor quality in materials and design early on, like the dash lip above the central vents raising and the shifter and door switches getting loose. The leather seats were only thinly upholstered and the drivers seat shows more use. The exterior, other than supplier-painted parts, held up fairly well. Since it was involved in an accident which damaged its front-end, it developed recurring cooling issues, unfortunately.

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  Long term owner / teen driven - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Dean - August 3 - 6:50 pm

  This car was bought for my carpool use. I put 60K miles on it in 3 years, mostly highway. Typical hwy 29 mpg (4 cyl) typical city 21-24 mpg. At 64K miles I turned it over to my then teenage druggie Daughter who thrashed it and abused it with her druggie friends for 4 more years. It became a transportation car and lets go to a rave car. I was overseas. The car was trashed. Now she is grownup and wised up and is fine. Car has 146K miles on it and the only thing that has gone wrong is the manual remote drivers mirror cable broke and the ignition switch broke. Other than that, just the usual brake work, fluid changes, (inc auto trans) and tires. Daughter is still driving it.

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  Good Car to have - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Archi Mukherji - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving Nissans, and Toyotas for last 12 years, after having poor experience with North American Cars. However, after reading some great reviews and with the incentives given by GM in 2002, I decided to take the plunge. I donot regret it at all, it handles and rides extremely well, very quiet, and very thrifty on gas. The car also has adequate power for any traffic conditions. The only problem I had with this vehicle,was that there was slight water leak into the trunk when the car went through a car wash. The problem was corrected by tightening the mounting screws for the License Plate light fixture.