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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  Its not a Honda - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By A-guy - January 11 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this car new and have had my share of ups and downs. Fortunately, the car had been under warranty. for my share of problems: Warpped rotors, leak in windshield, buckled material on the dashboard, leak in pass/rear door seal, rt ft shock mount. * never stranded. Now I am worried about what is to become of this car for the next few years. Not to mention the value. The rapid depreciation is main reason why I still own this car, the other reason is that, aside from all of the problems, I really love the car. There is something about it that allows me to look past the problems. Hopefully I will not have any major issues to change my mind.

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  Wife loves it! - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By rgolf1960 - January 10 - 1:30 am

  Bought second hand last year with 100k miles. Was in excellent condition and well taken care of. Had zero problems so far, and wife is completely satisfied. Previously we owned a 96 Ford Windstar, and this van is far superior. Got a great deal ($5,700) and hope it will last a couple more years.

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  GM Cant Even Sell a Great Car! - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Robert Kunzler - January 8 - 4:30 am

  I originally bought a 1998 version of the Oldsmobile Intrigue. I drove it for 77,000 miles and liked it so much that I bought an exact duplicate 2002 model the last day that the Intrigue was a "live" GM product. This is the best overall car I have ever owned. I get 29-30 miles per gallon on the road and 25 in town. It is extremely comfortable to drive. Even with a bad back, I can drive the car for 4-5 hours and leave it with no discomfort. The front power seat, according to my wife, is the most comfortable she has ever ridden in. How can GM be so incompetent that they couldnt successfully market this great car? Future GM buyers beware. If they cant sell this car they wont be in business much longer.

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  Are you sure this is an Olds? - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By xzmr - January 5 - 11:42 pm

  I am in love with this car. I have the Shortstar 3.5L and it goes fast. I love the way it sounds around 4,000RPM. I love the sound system. Its almost a perfect car. Build quality is eh. But thats what you get when you buy an American car. And the fuel economy isnt where Id want it to be. Im averaging 23MPG. 130,000 miles and still running perfect. Its so smooth and refined. It feels like a brand new car. The shifts are so seamless almost like its CVT. The handling is spot on, feels like a European car. But my favorite part, when youre doing about 50 and need to pass, in less than three seconds youre pushing 75. Just downshifts and goes like hell. Really a family car with muscle.

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  Olds to the Rescue - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By crawdaddy753 - January 5 - 6:33 am

  I purchased this vehicle as a replacement for my Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible which I wouldve kept except for its poor reliability. I was very surprised how well this Cutlass replacement performed, how comfortable it is, by the superb Bose sound system, excellent gas mileage, and ton of room. I have had only one annoying problem, its tendency to not start on rare occasions (security light was blinking) but it did start after about 15 minutes. If anyone knows what may cause this please email me, thanks.

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  Good car, sad to see it go - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By GML - December 31 - 7:10 pm

  Had this car for 12 years -- getting a new one because now have children and I had the bare bones version of this with no LATCH, auto windows, etc. I kept up with maintenance, and over the years did replace intake manifold (per GM service note), a couple of batteries, and an alternator (it had been left undriven for three months), water pump, and AC controls. Most of these have been in the last couple of years, which makes sense once the car hits ten years old. Car was very good about warning lights -- most times warning came early enough to get it to a shop and I was never stranded.

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  great car for the money - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Outstanding car - December 30 - 4:53 am

  purchased my intrigue with over 190,000 miles, was babied and taken excellent care of, now has over 211,000 miles and is still going strong. Have had no major issues, just maintaining it. would have been nice if GM had put grease fittings for the hub bearing, they are a expensive replacement along with the exhaust system. NO complaints though, drive it daily, the quality and style is still there. My friends & I love the car.

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  Great overall experience - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By amc731 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  We leased this van for 5 years and have 6 months left to make a decision on whether to keep it or move on to something new. We only have 41,000 miles on it and it still looks and runs like new. In our opinion, it looks better than most other (even newer) vans out there.

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  It Only It Had Been Called A Cutlass. . - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By OldsSince76 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  So when we walked away from the alleged Cutlass in 1998, the dealer guided us towards the Intrigue. "Youll love it," he said, and he was right. Almost six years later, with minimal maintenance (read: normal) required, I have to ask the question: if this had been named the Cutlass, and was available in a coupe, youd still be seeing the Oldsmobile brand under the GM umbrella. This car is every bit as fun to drive now as it was new, and I truly wish GM would have realized what a tremendous opportunity it had with this car.

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  N~I~C~E - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Erin_Nicole - December 23 - 10:00 am

  great car. Good for a first car. I love it!! You should buy it!