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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  Problems - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Elly - February 25 - 5:53 pm

  I had to replace the intake. It was covered under warranty. Then my rear defroster broke. It would cost me $100 because it was not covered under warranty. Now five years later my valves need to be replaced in the engine. What a joke. No warning. It started cutting out one day. Also last year 2008, I had to replace the wheel barrings in it.

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  Love this car and Oldsmobile - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By oldsmobile93 - February 23 - 8:17 pm

  This was my first car, it now has over 230,000 miles on it. I have no major problem with it. It runs like the day I got it. I recommend this car to everybody I know

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  WORST CAR EVER! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Katy - February 21 - 10:10 pm

  My 2000 Alero has been a nightmare! Six months after buying it I had to have the brakes replaced (two more times since then). The dash board and door upholstery is peeling up, Ive had to have three of the motors replaced in my power windows ($200 per window), the alternator has been replaced twice, and have had numerous electrical problems. This is the worst car I have ever had!

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  Need suv, dont want to sell Olds - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Jason - February 20 - 1:36 pm

  We bought our Silhouette with 67k on it and now have over 120k miles. I heard these vans were trouble when I bought it. All I can say is it has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. I like everything about it except cupholders between the front seats which get stepped on then break. To date I have not had to to any repairs at all but have kept up on the preventative schedule. I tow a 3500 lb boat medium distances and this van tows great but lacks 4 wheel drive. The driver heated seat quit working though at 100k. I really need a 4x4 but I hate to see it go. A tip, I put a $1 bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the gas one time and the power increase was huge.

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  pass on it - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jim williams - February 18 - 10:00 am

  Numerous problems with wheel bearings, brakes, wheel sensors, and turn signal switches. In the shop every week. True story-went to trade it at a local GM dealer. He said, "no offense but I cant take it on trade, those things are junk."

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  Great Car Overall - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By niteowl - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Overall this has been a good ownership experience. The car rides great, is quiet, and the V6 gives a good compromise between mileage and power. I drove the V8, and while it has more power the front end was heavier and the car seemed less agile. Excellent highway cruiser. After a long trip we are much less tired than riding in other cars we have owned. Have seen others complain about squeaks/rattles/fit/finish, howevever, I have had no problems. No warranty issues other than replaced front tie rods at 35,000 miles--seems to be an issue with this car and the Seville, which share the same platform.

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  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Michael Copper - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my olds since it was new. The only thing I would change design wise would be the windshield wipers. The passenger side does not hide. This is a great car and fun to drive. I get 29mpg on freeway and 25 around town. The only problems I have had, are some rear brake noise, not bad though and the passenger door sticks, making it hard to open. I havehad no mechanical problems. I love the handling, stereo, heated comfortable seats, and design. I would buy another if they made it.

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  GM Should Go Bankrupt! - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Bryan - February 3 - 6:23 pm

  This car was OK for a few months and then a long string of small failures started. Then recently the intake manifold gasket failed and almost destroyed the engine. GM has known about these bad gaskets for years and told no one. The service department secretary diagnosed my problem as soon as I walked in. The recall for the 3.4L engine would cost more than GM has in the bank, thats why they wont do it. I hope they never sell another vehicle!

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  Aurora - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By James Becker - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I have had to problems with this car that I felt Olds should of addressed with at least some assistance. Air conditions unit went out at 70000 miles dealer wanted $1200.00, A repair shop down the street charged me $595.00 The radiator is of poor design allowing road debre to collect in the fins. Almost impossible unit to clean of flush. Will have to replaced in 2003

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  OK, I guess - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Scott - January 27 - 9:26 pm

  When I bought this I did not know the resale value was going to plummet into the ground, so its a good thing its a fairly dependable car. It gets decent mileage, but I hate the interior design, specifically the center console. Its as if it were an oversight that only one person would have anything to drink in the front, and the rear cupholder is cheap and keeps pulling out of its sockets. However, it has decent "zip" and has ample trunk room.