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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  Intrigue Evaluation - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By HACO - March 17 - 2:00 am

  The engine has good power; quick acceleration. The supension system is not of good quality; rough ride. Like styling. Interested in later models for inprovement in more comfortable ride.

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  My favorite mini van - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Fred Hegner - March 17 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Olds mini van we have owned. The first was a 1990 which was given to our son when it reached 135,000. By the way the 1990 now has about 150,000 and is still going strong. The 2002 has been improved in every way except the body pannels are not as ding or dent proof as were the plastic pannels on the 1990. The All Wheel Drive feature has proven to be worth the extra cost especially this winter.

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  Best SUV EVERRRR - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By jxmlt - March 12 - 11:53 pm

  This SUV is by far the best truck ever. Unlike some of the others on here I have not had to put lots of money in to the truck nor have I had to replace anything other than normal maintenance. Again some of the reviews that have been posted I would like to say to the commenters, Oldsmobile got bought out they still made Bravadas after they were bought out. This truck is not for everyone honestly. It is the luxury model of the Jimmy & Blazer, if you do not care for those trucks you will not love the Bravada either. If you take car of your car and dont beat it to crap you should not have any of these problems.

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  The Best Vehicle Ever - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By buzymom - March 9 - 7:00 pm

  This is the first van we have ever purchased. With that said its been a joy to own, drive and haul kids in! I cant understand why they dont make them anymore. I would definitely buy another one without a doubt!

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  Avoid the Bravda - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Dennis Horner - March 7 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle has a number of issues: a. not "tight" b. the reliability of the vehicle in terms of windows, seats, door locks, is not good. c. transmission is not smooth d. the AWD seems to make a grinding noise when turning sharply e. mileage was tauted as good for an SUV. My prior Jeep with an 8 cyl. got better all around mileage. f. in spite of claims, the straight 6 does not have the speed of the Jeep 8. g. despite the claims, the engine does not have the towing power of the Jeep 8. h. the AC has malfunctioned three times... just wont cool. Then it reverts to cooling again before it reaches the dealer for a fix.

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  first minivan - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By scott s. - March 7 - 10:00 am

  like it alot, it rides and handles better then I throght it would. the dash and controls are easy to use. the standard features for the price can not beat the deal.I test drove the olds first, then all the rest of the minivans , went back to buy the olds.

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  Outstanding Car - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Jericho - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my 4.0 used a few months ago, after reconsidering an SUV purchase...Who really needs 90 cubic feet of space...I got so much luxury for my money...Its a shame the resale is so low...the cars handles flawlessly...I feel the road and the engin at work together and was shocked at the balls in this car...off the line its great and the interier is outstanding...soo comfortable to drive anywhere. I have a FULLY loaded version and after hours of time spent on comparison...could not find one reason to not buy this car...It seems to be the best kept secret on the road. Sorry it has to go

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  A Comfortable Reliable Sedan - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Chris - March 4 - 2:06 am

  I bought this car with 125k miles, now at 140k. Overall it is comfortable, handles well for a car its size and has good power. The interior materials have held up well (especially the cloth and carpet) and the paint still looks great. When I first got the car,I upgraded the wheels and put on new tires. So far, they have hardly worn at all. I had a stalling problem in the first couple of months that turned out to be the Crankshaft Position Sensor. Right now the "abs" and "trac off" lights are on b/c I broke a brittle wire while trying to secure a speed sensor. I will be putting in new pads and rotors soon, as the brakes have begun to pulsate, but this is just regular maintenance.

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  Still love it - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By miranda - March 1 - 3:53 am

  I bought my Olds brand new in 2001 and have put over 107,000 miles on it. I absolutely love my car. It handles great in all weather, with relatively low maintenance. Ive put new tires and brakes on it but thats normal wear-and-tear for 107,000 miles. The duo heated-leather seats, moonroof and stability control are my "must-haves." I was doing a bit of looking around for a potential new car after I hit the 100,000 miles mark and cannot find anything close to my Olds for under $35,000. Last weekend I put 8 bags of mulch in the trunk with the door CLOSED. GM had a winner with the Intrigue but now is no more.

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  Oldsmobile Intrigue - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By acheese2002 - February 28 - 7:03 pm

  I love the car but Im having a problem with the chrome plated rims leaking causing a headache. I got this from a Chrysler dealer with a warranty and am glad that I have it. It covered the oil pan leak and faulty the control arm. I never had it stall though. Its steering is very smooth. Once I find a solution to my leaking rims that doesnt cost $1,000 to fix I will be able to relax. Other than that, the gas mileage is poor. I dont know if its my car, but I use almost a 1/4 tank a day, driving less than 100 miles. I would go with a newer car but this is a great car for the price.