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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  75,000 miles and still enjoy it! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Scott - November 1 - 11:00 pm

  Bought it new and 5 years and 75,000 miles without any major problems. I tow a small boat, haul items and often flip down the rear seats. Use it as a comfortable ride when out on the town with friends. Very comfortable.

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  Fun when not in shop. - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Jayson - October 30 - 3:50 am

  I own a 1999 Olds Silhouette that I purchased new. Since I have had the vehicle, it has been in the shop for: 1. Tire tread seperation - $50 2. Transmission work - $1200 3. Intake manifold leak - $713 I have 48,000 miles on the vehicle now.

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  Good Value - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By taxwiz - October 23 - 5:26 am

  The Oldsmobile Intrigue is a very good performer all around. It provides a good combination of performance and fuel economy. It has a few minor defects, mostly related to the Bose stereo system. Although it played well, the volume knob broke off and after 4 1/2 years of service the CD player broke.

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  Comfortable - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By K4ala - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Excellent around town and in parking lots Reall will make a sharp turn

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  Olds Silhouette GLS (1999) - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By DEG - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle include trailer towing package that provides additional engine and transmission cooling. It is very comfortable on long trips (12 hours) because of the leather seat with lumbar control. Trip back to the shop were primarily for electrical malfunctions (locks, power sliding door, etc.). Only back to the shop 2 times in 3 years. Load leveling very useful on trips with the family with a full load of luggage and people. Engine performed well with 5 people and luggage traveling 800 miles in one day. Also traveled 500 miles before filling tank again. Good gas mileage.

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  Trans probs - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By manny - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This van drives great when its not in the shop.If you want a reliable van dont get a GM.In the shop twice for weeks at a time for trans probs with only 29000 miles.

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  2003 Olds Alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JAMMINJED - October 12 - 11:06 pm

  Its been a great vehicle. It has a sporty feel to it even with the 4 cyl engine. I can get from 0-60 in about 7 seconds easy. Its not bad for only 140hp and a heavier car than most with this size of engine. I love the sharp turns and handling.

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  Call me unpredicatble - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By DJCDVP - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I actually bought the vehicle in June of 02 and sold it in October of 03. It has a quirky problem, if the operator does a certain combination of movements with the key in the ignition it will trigger the theft deterrent system and leave you sitting there. It happened to me three times, three times I had to have it towed, and three times Onstar couldnt figure out what it was. I spoke to someone who had the same problem with the GMC Envoy.

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  Oldsmobile... - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Dmitriy Melkumov - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought it when car had 61k, and these are the problems that i had. air conditioning stoped working...dealer found leaks.so i dont have a/c now. Plastic coolant reservour cracked. Replaced for $12. Bass/treble knob broke , then balance/fade knob gave up too.Since i bought a car i can feel some noise and vibration when turning and braking at the same time. Not fixed yet. Power steering is very loud. Makes the car vibrate when turning wheels while standing. Right rear power window broke..Replaced with jankyard part for $75. Thats what i had so far...Not that bad or good. Dont think its a great car , and dont think its a bad car...Its just a car.

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  Maybe the last - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ae3beck - October 10 - 10:00 am

  My father works for GM, so I decided to go with this car, but even with an employee discount you will lose BIG on resale value. GM customer service is terrible. I have never seen someone give this kind of service after you spend $20K on there product, never, they act like you should prove problems with the car were not caused by you. I am looking to get rid of this car before my resale drops another 8 thousand dollars, thats what it did the first year we owned it.