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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  So far so good - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By sharon - April 24 - 1:33 pm

  My alero 2003 has been so far pretty good. Going on a 2,000 mile trip within the next couple of days. Only problem I have is front driver side tire seems to have problems - rotate every 2,500 miles and gas mileage not the greatest. Used to buy Fords but they have the worst paint jobs in my opinion. Rust out. Chevs never have rusted; my dad always bought Oldsmobile so thought I would take his advise.

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  Great car - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By navyguyx - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Only thing i dont is when its raining you cannot even have your window partially open with out alot of water getting in particularly on the driver side due to the wipers, this issues is largely in part to the aerodynamic design, however some rain guards would be nice, and when opening the trunk in the rain, the water isnt always caught by the "gutter" Other than that, i love it.

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  99 Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By CLP - April 24 - 10:00 am

  This car has been great engine-wise, but began having interior problems less than 3 years after purchase. Dashboard is peeling away and molding on drivers side is warping. If you are thinking about purchasing this car, be sure you dont live in the Southeast because you may end up experiencing the same type of interior problem. In my experience, Oldsmobile will not repair the defect for free because the mileage was over 36,000 (although it hadnt been 36 months) and I got the short end of the stick. I wouldnt want this to happen to someone else.

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  Shining Star from GM-Almost - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By dustybobb - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Who needs a V8 when the 3.5L V6 delivers smooth powerful acceleration and good fuel economy? Plus you stand out from the crowd since there aren"t that many around.

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  This Car Has Given Me Lots Of Problems - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By mikey - April 24 - 7:50 am

  Ive had this car since a year ago and when I bought it for $2,000. I thought I was getting a steal. Until I drove it al ot and gave it a good test run. Since Ive had it Ive had too fix the power steering, the timing belt, crankshaft, and the starter. Now I am currently taking it into the shop to get it looked at because yesterday it just died as I was going down the road and when it happened I lost all of my acceleration and it slowly died in the parking lot, now when I try to start it it sound like the starter is spinning but its just not catching. This car is great! But it also comes with its grief and youll spend a good amount of money on it.

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  A great value - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By drmiller - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I now have 35000 miles on my 2002 GLS. Never have had a problem. Gas mileage over city and highway has averaged 21.5 mpg over the entire life. There is nothing that I dont like about the vehicle. All that and a discounted price because they are discontinuing the brand. A great value in my book.

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  Not Intrigued - 2000 GLS - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Intrigued_not - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Transmission out at 52k miles, $1800 to rebuild at private shop, not dealer. Front brakes uneven, right front locks up frequently. Alternator needs replaced at 61k, putting out only 10 amps ($225 new w/ exchange), but luckily have found two salvage yards that claim they have one for $50 and $75, but install is 3 hours and looks difficult.

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  Superb Car All Around - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By Chuck - April 13 - 3:53 am

  After owning one of these cars for numerous years, I sold it with total regret. Mine had put three teenagers through driving and their first car and was still running strong after! This is by far the best looking model of Cutlass and certainly the most reliable of Oldsmobile! Do yourself a favor and buy one....very little will have to be done to these cars mechanically.

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  One owner car for 10 years - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Kevin Kary - April 8 - 10:06 am

  I bought this car new, put 60K on it in three years, gave it to wife who put 40K on it in 4 years, and my two high school/college kids put the last 30K on it in three years. Overall a very good car. Drive train is great with the Series II V6 and a strong tranny. A lot of electrical problems over the years. The interior has disintegrated and all the plastic stuff is broken. The windshield wipers have been a problem. The A/C crashed after 6 years and was too expensive to fix so weve done without. I feel like Ive gotten my money out of it so Im trading it in. If I found a clean one used, Id buy it for the kids.

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  OK with some problems - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By finner - April 7 - 3:10 pm

  Quirks- mismatching paint from steel to plastic. Front passenger wheel fell off at 65000km. Heated driver seat keeps failing. Poorly installed outside trim. Three recalls on powerdoor. Fog lights dont last. Rear door inside handle failure. Coolant loss -- auxilliary heat pump was culprit at first, now? Driver side power window does not go up straight. Rear window wiper stops intermittently. EGR valve rusted.