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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  Wind Noise - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By mlajr - November 22 - 4:20 am

  Let me get this part over first. If you want to have the sound of wind inside a vehicle (with all the windows up), then this is the car to buy. Take a look at the cheap, thin, narrow weather-stripping around the doors and the lack of insulation in the pillars surrounding the doors, and you can understand why this vehicle does such a poor job of keeping the wind noise quiet--especially at highway speeds above 55 mph.

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  NOTHIN BUT THE BEST - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By CHILL - November 21 - 1:03 am

  AS A CURRENT OWNER(WIFE PRIMARY DRIVER) AND SALES CONSULTANT, WE DID CONSIDER A NUMBER OF VEHICLES! THE 5/60 DID PERSUAY MY WIFE AND I & THE NO INTEREST/NO PAYMENTS FOR A YEAR WAS A BIG PLUS!! HONESTLY THERE IS NOTHING OUT IN THE MARKET THAT COMES CLOSE TO THIS PRODUCT. THE BRAKING AND HANDLING IS EXCEPTIONAL AND OVER ALL CREATURE FEATURES ARE GREAT. EXCELLENT TURNING RADIUS. FORD OR DODGE PRODUCTS, SORRY THERE IS NO COMPARISON. SUGGESTION FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS NOT TO EXCITED ABOUT THE PRODUCT ,WHY DID YOU BUY? BEATS ANYTHING ON THE MARKET. WE ALSO HAVE A INDIGO BLUE,BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT, ALSO THE 2ND BRAVADA THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED IN JAN OF 2001.

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  Always Reliable, Never Exceptional - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By CarGuyBarrowman - November 20 - 6:56 pm

  Buying the Intrigue was an easy decision. The car was the nicest to look at in its class, it had a gutsy engine, reasonable interior and it was affordable. Since buying this car it hasnt spent more than a few hours in the shop for regular oil changes, tire rotations et al. The only problems Ive had with this car is keeping it clean! Never before have I had such a hard time keeping the inside of a car clean... it attracts dirt like no other car Ive owned.

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  Iowa Farm Van - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By J SAYERS - November 18 - 10:00 am

  We are looking to trade our 1999 Silhouette only because it has such high miles (96,000) - but want to trade it for a new Silhouette. This van has been dependable and economical. The only major repairs were the CD player a couple years ago ($500 to fix) and just this month the automtic traction control board (a $900 repair bill). We live in the country so this van spends a lot of time going to town and back. Also my wife travles 40 miles to work and back each day. The rear CD/headset controls have helped us keep peace with the kids on long trips. I am only sorry that when our new Silouette wears out, they wont be making them anymore :(.

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  my alero - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By cmf0074 - November 18 - 10:00 am

  i love my new alero. i have alway drove imports and this is my 1st american made vehicle. i would say that it is as good if not better than any import on the road!!!!

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  Buy foreign, not an Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Zach - November 18 - 6:50 am

  This car is easily the worst car on the road. Had brakes replaced two months after purchase, then the power windows started to go. Driver-side replaced twice, passenger replaced once and needs to be replaced again. Alternator went out twice, electrical problems are constant, it took Oldsmobile 6 years to recognize a flaw that causes your hazards and turn signals to fail. Wheel bearings have been replaced at least 4 or 5 times, leather peeling off steering wheel. This car eats antifreeze like theyre Pringles. There are many many more problems, just do yourself a favor and dont buy an Alero. Send a message to American auto manufacturers and buy foreign.

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  A GM Money Trap - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Jimbo - November 15 - 3:40 pm

  After numerous shoddy brake replacements, ABS sensor malfunctions, alternators, premature leather wear, air conditioning faults, transmission disasters, and the final death knell of the infamous intake manifold leak, Im glad to be saying bye-bye to the Cutlass. Be warned, this is a car you will be pouring major cash into to keep it operational, and thats not including the disappointing fuel economy either.

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  Love it! - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By usedbuyer - November 12 - 6:53 pm

  We just purchased our new Bravada and I love it. I never thought I would own anything other than a Ford, but after this I want to get my hands on a 2004. The Bravada is a beautiful truck. It has a great ride and looks sporty! Too bad Oldsmobiles are gone I would gladly buy another (brand new not used).

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  Great buy for entry luxury - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By tommyb61 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Got a great deal on this one. It was in excellent shape with 63k miles for $8500. It was from a dealer and detailed. The car is great with wonderful V8 power. It rides and handles well. The interior is comfortable and suits me well with a cockpit design.

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  poor engineering - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By got screwed consumer - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used from a private party and it only had 36,000 miles on it. At 53,000 miles the engine started taking in water. Took to dealership and the two section plastic molded intake had to be replaced for $1200.00 dollars. Oldsmobile no help with repair even though dealership admitted intake had a flaw in the original design. At 63,000 miles the throttle body started leaking. Took back to dealership and it had to be replaced for $600 dollars. Again Oldsmobile no help. NO WONDER OLDSMOBILE IS BEING DISCONTINUED. I would not buy one of these cars again, even if it were free. Great job General Motors.