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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  Great Minivan - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By PAPA - September 4 - 2:00 am

  A great minivan, excellent build and great gas mileage. Runs on regular fuel without any ping. Very comfortable and loaded up like a Cadillac. In fact traded a Deville for this great vehicle.

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  Smooth ride, great value - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By MikeP - August 29 - 9:26 am

  I bought this care used with about 18,000 miles. Currently at 108,000. Smooth ride, luxurious for the price, good acceleration, good stereo, hugs the road. No engine trouble besides it started burning about a quart of oil every 1000 miles once I hit 50k. No biggie from my perspective. Very nice car, no complaints whatsoever. Love the pearl white paint. Nice aluminum wheels. Great trunk space. Leather has held up well. Nice look from the front at night with a cool headlight design.

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  The Best Car I have owned! - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By mdc - August 27 - 3:23 am

  It is so depressing to know that you cannot replace this car with a newer model. I have been researching to purchase a new car, with lots of disappointments.

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  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Anthony - August 26 - 2:23 pm

  I have owned my intrigue for six years and it still looks and drives great. I love this car. It may be nine years old but I think it still is one of the best looking cars on the road. Problems include drivers side window cable became inoperable, decided not to spend $500 to have it repaired. Had the steering column greased, replaced fuel regulator and an oxygen sensor. The interior is well designed and the seats are very comfortable. Great pickup and it still turns heads. I have seen dealers in my area selling intrigues that have 200,000 miles on them. The engine speaks for itself. My only complaint is that GM decided to discontinue the Olds.

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  Very Disappointed - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By jeneep - August 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought this just just before Halloween last year - not quite one year - with 101,000 miles. I had no issues with the car. Most were with the dealership for not taking care of regular maintenance before I bought it. I had actually enjoyed the power it had! And then my transmission failed on me. Im a single mother and the sole reason I bought this car was because I thought it was reliable. Apparently I should have researched more because its a well known problem on other boards. Here I am stuck with a $1700+ fix on top of the loan I already have. Thanks a lot, Oldsmobile! Research the car - I wouldnt trust the transmission, and Im sure you dont want the expensive fix.

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  Reliable and surprisingly long lasting - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By benjito - August 21 - 5:41 pm

  This car now has 208000+ miles on it and it still runs great. All of the motor mounts have been replaced, but it still vibrates like crazy when its in drive and the brake is on. I am afraid it may be the transmission, but at least I get a full-body massage at every stoplight. The interior keeps threatening to fall apart. I keep making small repairs to the brackets that hold the drivers side mirror adjustment and the ash tray beside the steering wheel. The trac-off light is quite a pest though and it [the car] sometimes hesitates or skips when the driver accelerates. Very good handling and pretty decent spunk to the engine. Overall way worth the money, I would recommend this car to anybody.

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  Inexpensive and Pleasing - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Foxy - August 20 - 10:33 am

  The standard 2.2 L engine in the Alero has a bit of torque and is peppy and fun to drive. The Alero coupes appearance is classy, yet sporty enough to be an attractive car. Ive owned my Alero for three years, and while its not an envy-worthy car, I get great gas mileage, and its been VERY inexpensive to maintain. I have had ZERO major problems with my car. Ive only had to repair the lifter on the automatic window. Probably my fault it broke. I paid $10K for my car when it was a year old, and my payments are very low. Id recommend the Alero for anyone (like me) whos fresh out of college, has a limited budget, and needs NICE, affordable transportation.

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  Brake Trouble-Dealer wont help - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Raymond Colley - August 18 - 4:43 pm

  I bought my Oldsmobile Silhouette in 2000 and had no problems until about 30,000 miles. The drivers side front rotor was scored because the brake pad was worn unevenly. Took it to my dealer and was told I was driving incorrectly. The right front was fine, only the left was worn. So I had the left rotor, pads, and caliper replaced. At about 55,000 miles it did it again. Took it to three dealers and they told me the same thing. I wish I knew what I was doing wrong! (LOL) After talking to several GM mechanics, I found this is not an unusual problem with this van. Everything else works fine-but every 25,000 miles I had to replace the brake pads-I cant afford a new rotor each time.

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  bomb - 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By sjf - August 18 - 2:00 am

  70000 easy miles and Ive replaced the fuel pump, alternator, tensioner belt, both front wheel bearings, ball joints, oil cooler lines, stereo speakers and now the transmission is slipping. This vehicle has never towed anything.

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  Fuel Injector Problems - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By grand slam - August 18 - 2:00 am

  The Cutlass is a decent car at best. It has been in the shop many times. Most recently for all 6 new fuel injectors. I should have bought the extended warranty. Too many mechanical problems. Be careful if you buy it used. Gas mileage is a shade below what the sticker said.