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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  SILVER BULLET - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By BBarr - October 22 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, never had any problems on the road. From the Mackinac Bridge in Northern Michigan to West Palm Beach in South Florida, the safest and most reliable car I have ever owned.

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  GM, give Olds a second chance!!!!!!!!! - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By anderson brown - October 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is my first and maybe my last Olds because GM wants to dump the division like a hot potato! Its not perfect, but it is a good car for the money.

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  Avoid - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Roger - October 17 - 3:23 pm

  I bought my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero in September 2003. This car is without question the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I have lost track of all the repair work required to keep this vehicle running. Some of the bigger issues were the windows, fuel pump, defroster, tire pressure indicator, and brakes. I throw more money at this car than what it was worth. The quality of craftsmanship was absolutely horrendous. This car is a bust! Anyone thinking of purchasing one should seriously reconsider.

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  1999 Oldsmobile Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Shanaenae - October 14 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this car over a year ago without an engine, as the teen who owned it before me was hard on the car. After replacing the engine, the car has been fine, except for a little problem. IT FOGS! This car is great in the summer, the AC works like a dream, but in the winter, if there is more than one person in the car, or the heat is on, the windows fog so that you cannot see out of it. I have to roll down the passenger window, thank goodness its auto, to see into that mirror. Once it starts to fog, you either have to turn off the heat to prevent it, and hence be cold, or turn on defrost all the way. It is so annoying, and dangerous! Otherwise, the breaks squeak, and at least its am American vehicle.

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  Too many flaws!!! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By grimbaldi - October 12 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Alero GL equipped with the 2.4L engine 2DR with approx. 19,000 miles on it as a program vehicle. Within the 1st 6 months of owning this vehicle I had to have the following items fixed/replaced: Replaced Struts Reseal rear windshield Re-mount trunk Deck lid Drivers side window fell into door (broken power window mech.) Had to replace Rotors @ 38,000 miles Aside from these problems the car has not been too bad thus far. Engine & road noise is a considerable detriment to this car. Also the deflation of the cars value has been extremely disappointing!!! This car becomes practically worthless not long after owning it.

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  Would not pick this one over again. - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jnell - October 10 - 7:41 pm

  I have owned this car for almost 2 years now. I bought it with around 80,000 miles on it. It now has 110,000 miles. And I would not do it again. About a month after I bought it the front wheel bearings went out. I have also had problems with the drivers side window - had to replace the motor. The head gaskets have had to be replaced and the brakes react terrible if it rains or snows. Needless to say this has not been anything like what I thought. None of the repairs have been anything close to cheap or acceptable. I would not recommend it to anyone, especially for young driver. Aleros are very questionable cars, its a 50/50 chance - you either get a good one or a very rotten lemon.

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  Going Strong - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By GIVUS - October 10 - 2:13 am

  Although the ride is a little soft, the acceleration is adequate and I get an average of just over 25mpg. The car is comfortable and very reliable. It sat garaged for a year (twice) while I was deployed and started up again with no problems. Its getting close to 200,000mi and still running strong. Lived in NY, TX, and NC with it - handled well in the snow and did fine in the heat; heading to KS next. No major mechanical issues; Ive been lightly rear-ended twice, but only scratched the bumper.

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  Be careful... - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By GMCK25004x4 - October 7 - 8:26 am

  Auroras are nice..but be very careful when buying one. Northstar engine is notorious for having leaky head gaskets at the back of the engine. they have a GREAT deal of power..but if you ask me, the heads were not designed to take the power. Interior was great. Options were wonderful. Has 174000 miles on it and all the bearings needed replaced at the same time! thermostat is $51!~ Tires are hard to find and expensive! Parts are very expensive..and they hold no resale value cause Oldsmobile is closed and the Northstar has a bad rep. I drove five of these before I found mine.

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  Lemon - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Lemon - October 7 - 7:10 am

  I have had nothing but problems with my Alero. In the last five years, I have had to replace my blinker, gas cap, entire clutch system, steering wheel pump, cruise control switch, and rear defroster. I also had a bolt break causing my front passenger wheel to fall of, luckily I was going slow enough that it didnt cause serious damage and I was not injured. And most recently I found out I have a leak in my cooling system.

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  2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By psloan - October 6 - 10:10 pm

  Our Oldsmobile Silhouette hasnt left us stranded yet. Its engine has always run strong and smoothly other than an occasional hard start. As far as problems go, it had the passenger side window serviced under warranty at least twice. It is still slow going up and down. I also had to have the the VCR serviced once and its out again. The dealer has not been helpful on this one. It has a squeaking and rattling from the back hatch area when going over bumps. We just replaced the water pump at 88,000 miles. The fuel gauge doesnt work and now the thermostat seems to be stuck open. It sounds like a diesel after cold start up.