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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  Reliable Car(s) - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By Renae - April 15 - 9:16 am

  I am a long-term Olds Cutlass owner. I actually own two. Both now have close to 200,000 miles on them. I have had to make very minimal repairs (hose replacements, gaskets, etc.). They run forever (or at least Ive been lucky). The model has a couple blind spots and the a/c vents arent located very well, but this is minimal.

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  whats with that trans - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By countrygirl - April 15 - 3:43 am

  i have had my Bravada for about two year..i bought it used. It now has 150,000 miles. Now my service engine light is on, and the car shops are saying my transmision is going out. It has been a great car, i love it and dont want to get rid of it, but the cost to replace the tranny is way to high for the value of the car. and it also leaks oil like crazy, inbetween oil changes i have to put in a quart or two just to keep the oil level at normal.and the cup holders are bad..my cups are always sticking to the rupper and are hard to get out and they are in a really bad place when you want to put your car in park..just saying...oh and for some reason my 4wd doesnt work?

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  2001 Olds Aurora - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Glenn - April 13 - 12:10 am

  My car is fun to drive - it handles securely in traffic and on the road. After 70,000 miles it has been very reliable with only two trips to the dealer for repair service. It is a good sized car that is very comfortable and economic to drive. My car gets over 30 mpg on the road and usually 26 - 27 mpg overall. I have never been stuck in the snow here in Wisconsin. The V6 engine seems to have adaquate power in passing other cars on the open road. The trunk space could be a little larger, but that is a small matter overall. If GM were were still making this model it would be first on my list when looking for another sedan.

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  Excellent! - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Witchbaby - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I just bought this car and found that it was the size and reliability that I am looking for. I love it!

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  pros and cons of the alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By sazisarah - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Love the way the car looks , although it is alittle slow on intitial take off but does fine when passing

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  Ultra Reliable - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Gord.D - March 31 - 9:03 pm

  Ive owned this car now since March 2009 (with only 60,000 miles on it) and have put about 30,000 miles on it in one year. Its my daily driver and its been very comfortable and super reliable (Ive changed the tires and the oil and thats about it). While GM may not have figured out Interior Issues by 2002, they sure figured out the mechanical stuff with this car. An excellent buy Used if you can find a well looked after example.

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  first olds buyer - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By satisfied user - March 26 - 10:00 am

  own a final 500 edition.only three weeks old, fun to drive.Nice interior,quick for small six cylinder.GM making mistake discontinuing this car.

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  Fun but junk - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jnichols77 - March 24 - 9:36 am

  I purchased my Alero used four years ago and have put on 60,000+ miles on it. It has a peppy 6 cylinder engine, the transmission is great, braking is good, and driveability is good. Its interior quality and build is terrible though. I have replaced the driver window hardware twice, replaced both engine head gaskets, rear door rubber, etc. There is nothing major wrong, but all of the small things add up. I love the car for commuting but cannot trust it anymore on the interstate. If the interior had better quality materials and the overall build quality was better, this would be a great car. Without these, this an average car with better alternatives from imports.

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  Intrigue, Love It - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By radko - March 20 - 3:40 pm

  When Olds first advertised the Intrigue in 97 it was on my list for my wife. I waited for the 3.5 and found a rebuildable GLS with 3,000 miles and the $26,000 window sticker still in place. I fixed the 1/4 panel and replaced the transmission and painted the whole car for under $6,000 with the car. the brakes and tires were replaced at 47,000 miles. 70,000 miles later and its still going strong. This car has everything, leather, dual zone climate, electric shocks, but no moonroof. It has the best seat support you can find. I wish they were heated and vibrated for my back. I get a solid 28+mpg and a this car is a stealthy blast to drive. It gobs up asphalt and curvy mountain roads with the best from Leipzig. I get the question often what is that?" This is one of Ed Welburn best designs. My wife has the truck.

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  2nd. Aurora - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Don M - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Had an 01 Aurora V6 and recorded 60,000 miles in about 2 years Got about 30 MPG from NJ to FL. I liked the car so much that I traded it in on an 03 Aurora. Drove it from New Jersey to North Carolina on I95 and adveraged 28.5 MPG. A great cat for touring.