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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  You Decide - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Montgomery Man - October 1 - 8:10 am

  I purchased my Oldsmobile Intrigue 2 1/2 years ago with 60,000 miles on it. I had no problems with it (just normal routine maintenance) until we got over 100,000 miles. The power windows and windshield wipers have ceased to work. I am an extreme neat freak and wash and detail the car at least once ever two weeks, but the interior leather on the door is beginning to peel off. The cassette player eats any tapes we insert. The CD player, when driving, becomes abnormally hot and the factory speakers have blown. The car has begun to stutter when I hit the gas. We have gone through brakes like a fat kid goes through twinkie boxes. But, we have driven this car over 20,000 miles a year since we bought it. The interior is quiet, if you have the right tires.

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  Great Ride but the Brakes are Awful - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Jim Keith - July 17 - 6:43 pm

  I have had this car for three years now and I can honestly say that I really like to drive it. I have a bad back, and even with that, I can make 600 miles in a day. This is one comfortable car and its fuel mileage is 29 to 31 mpg on the road, and that makes me smile a lot. What I dont like is the two break jobs that I have needed in the past year. Also, the cheap turn signal light sockets that should be about $0.69 to replace and cost $30.00 at the dealer. And before I forget, the rattling steering column.

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  Road hugging - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jennie - July 14 - 9:16 am

  Love my car

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  2003 Olds Alero at 47,100 Miles - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero owner - July 13 - 8:50 am

  The dials and some buttons on the dash have had to be replaced under warranty. They have also lost some of their black coating, I am not sure why this happened. Also, the ignition switch went out at 38,000 miles.

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  Great Ride - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By dpc-kcmo - July 12 - 8:56 pm

  237,500 miles and its a great ride. I bought it as program car with 22K on it and have driven it all over the USA. Trading it in on a new program car! Great ride, pickup and handling, STILL!

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  Best car I ever had - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Jim - July 5 - 12:03 pm

  I love this car. I bought it used six years ago and it hasnt given me any trouble. I have replaced the ball joints and added freon to the air conditioner but thats about it. I love driving it around town and drive it to my lake cabin. Its a great hauler and I will keep it until it drops.

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  Was good in the beginning - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Robin - July 5 - 3:16 am

  I bought the Aurora with 40,000 miles on it. It was great nice smooth ride handled well and loved the set up inside. About 3 years ago I started having problems with the wheel barons and have replaced the front driver and passenger side about three times each. All the Windows dont work the motors inside all broke the sun roof leaks. The transmission leaks, the oil leaks I have to put almost 5 qt in between each oil change and I had to replace the alternator twice in one year along with many other things. I just put a brand new alternator in a month ago and had to buy a battery yesterday and my battery light is on and says check charging system and I dont know why. I regret buying this car

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  You Should Buy One - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Shauna - July 3 - 3:36 pm

  I love my new Alero. I overpayed i guess...but it was well worth it! It is a fun and sporty car that has a decent amount of power. Nothing has seriously gone wrong with it yet. It is a very reliable car and all my friends are jealous with there plain looking Honda Civics and Dodge Neons...ewwwwwi e....hahaha!

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  1997 Olds Bravada - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By AKlein - June 29 - 4:16 am

  Overall a great SUV. Worst part is the fuel consumption. Seem to get only about 22-24 mpg on highway. I have had lots of A/C problems and cant solve the problem even with repeated visits to dealership. Wipers also seem to choose when to stop working.

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  If you know a car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By nflsonic - June 22 - 10:00 am

  I just received this car from graduation recently, and Im totally surprised. My father had to fix this car up a bit, but now, the brakes are flawless and the minor problems (molding around the door was already fixed) are non-exsisting. I love the acceleration on this beauty and wherever I ride, I DO get some looks (kinda fun to point out cause I didnt before on my 89 Buick). If you can test this model, do it, but definitly try to point out the small problems if any. If you can find a seller that treated this car superb (my father- neat freak), than you will have many enjoyment rides than what other drivers say about this car.