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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  Been A Good Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By hogan01 - April 5 - 11:29 pm

  I bought this car in 2006 and I have no complaints. It is starting to fall apart but I expected this to happen soon with over 241,000 miles on it. It has always been reliable Abd I have no complaints

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  Decent, Fun car - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By MNMike - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 99 GL with 33,000 miles a year and a half ago. It now has 62,000 miles. I replaced the original tires at 59,000, and the front brakes at 55,000. This car is fun to drive with the 3.5L, very reponsive, handles beautifully. The only problem Ive had is the voltage regulator. The headlights and accessories (fan) dim/slowdown slightly and repeatedly (more noticeably during cold weather). Dealer told me it had been a problem but GM didnt consider it a recall issue. I can drive as is or pay $400 for a redesigned unit.

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  One of my favorites - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By slenderman - March 27 - 10:23 am

  This is my 80 mi. RT commuter. Bought as a GX coupe with 33k on the clock from a GM dealer, 4 Cyl. 2.4L LD9 engine, auto trans, manual windows, a/c. Sporty handling, good acceleration. Great Delco audio system. Since Ive had it, replaced front wheel bearings, brake pads, brake rotors (these seem to warp easy), water pump, alternator. Be sure you keep the oil topped off on these; I switched to 10W-30 when the mileage was getting up there (it was starting to use a lot of 5W-30). Use a better quality oil filter on these also. Only electrical issue Ive had involved the instrument cluster and the vent fan; it used to cut in and out randomly in wet weather. Now getting ready to put it to pasture; its now got cancer behind the doors and 241,000 on it. (It still has the original spark plugs in it!)

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  Great if only it was reliable - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By jkane - March 21 - 10:00 am

  have my bravada nine months, three times had vehicle towed to dealership after engine and all power lost while driving along. FIRST, change wheel-speed sensor; SECOND, gave me new engine; THIRD, told me could not find anything wrong;. Next stop, Trade-in unless Oldsmobile/GM can rectify my problem

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  Gutsy V8 with Gadgets - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By DrOrb - March 16 - 2:00 am

  The Aurora 4.0 is a distinctive automobile with creature comforts and plenty of power. It sports a number of techno-features including a low tire pressure alarm. The car is sure-footed and able to operatew with any grade of unleaded gasoline, although 93 octane provides the most punch. My most negative impression is from the stock Michellin tires: theyre a strange size and the warranty proved to be worthless.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By droptopDOHC - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Awesome Car!! Great Power from the DOHC 3.4. Actually beat a Mustang GT at highway speeds. Soft black leather provide excellent comfort. Heads Up Display is a great feature. Steering wheel controls easy to use. Handlings pretty good, though it has the turning radius of a bus. I really enjoy the styling. Have had only minor problems. Just a great car. The black exterior and black interior provides a very cool look. Have been offered 10k for the car (which is sick considering book values under 4). Mechanically strong. Just a great car. A little tip: hit the gas a second before your opponent, itll kick just as he/she puts his/her foot down

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  15 y/o w/ only 29k miles - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Chris - March 10 - 6:49 pm

  I found this car as a replacement for a 1999 Malibu. Its a great replacement. Had an issue with the ignition module right away, but the dealer fixed that and since then this car is a gem!

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  Perform maintenance and it will be fine - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By slik056 - February 22 - 9:00 pm

  Vehicle drives nice, some interior creaks from the back when off-roading. Purchased used with 66,000 miles, still running great. Maintain these like the owners manual says and it should last you a long time. You need to change transmission fluid at least every 50k miles, as stated in the manual. You also need to have the chassis greased every 10k or so to prevent front end repairs (balljoints, steering joints, etc.). Most people ignore the maintenance schedule, then complain when things break. Every GM vehicle I have owned has had over 200k and ran fine when I sold them, proper care of vehicles makes all the difference. Read and follow maintenance schedules!

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  great used buy - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By chip - February 22 - 6:56 pm

  Excellent used car buy. Does everything well at bargain basement price. Last of the low cg gm midsize vehicles. Recently put 245 45 16 series bridgestone potenza tires and handling is phenomenal. (have owned corvettes, lotus, and Audi a-4 turbos) 6 cyl auto mpg over 26 at real speed (75 mph+).

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  2000 Olds Intrigue GL - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By jroy94 - February 10 - 8:14 am

  When we bought ours about 3 months ago I loved it. But now, the crankshaft sensor needs to be replaced, the starter needs to be replaced and the gas needle has this problem where it still has 6 gallons of gas after it gets to E. Other than those problem its a good running car. Plenty of power and handles like a sports car.