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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  No regrets - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By biglakemi68 - September 18 - 2:40 am

  I have owned three Cutlasses (68, 71 and 80), an Alero, an Aurora and a LSS 88 and this has been my favorite Olds. Right now I have 175K on the original motor and tranny and can still pull 100+ mph speeds on closed track. Reliability has been excellent. Repairs have all been within reasonable parameters for a car of its age and mileage. Shes starting to show her age cosmetically, but still rides like a dream and runs like a rocket. Love the control placement, cabin ergonomics and handling.

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  Love the Aurora - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By flyers - September 14 - 4:30 pm

  This is my second Oldsmobile Aurora, I had a February 1994-build Aurora and at 120,000 miles thought that it was best to look for improvements in automobile features. The only car that met my qualifications was the 1999 Aurora. I did not like the 2001 and the new Aurora styling and handling.

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  Beats a run of the mill honda or Toyota - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By 04aleroGLS - September 14 - 12:40 am

  Is it just me or does everyone and their brother either have a Honda or a Toyota. It gets kind of sickening to me they are everywhere. I took a trip From Richmond VA to S.C., i was getting 35 miles per gallon with the V-6! Who ever had it before me did not do any preventative care to the car, I had to put a lot of work into it but it was worth it, I have asked all of my friends to keep an eye out for any GLS coupes in the Tri-cities area, and we still have not found one. That is what is the best thing about them, they are few and far between. IF you like everyone looking at your car and wondering what it is buy it. I get double and triple takes all the time.

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  Best domestic car of its year - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By lumberjack_jeff - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It looks great, handles nicely, is eminently comfortable and some of the features are very thoughful (like a passenger mirror that rotates down to look at the curb when placed in reverse - for parallel parking). My AC compressor failed, but other than that, no mechanical issues. GM killed the wrong make. I have a Buick too - the Olds is dramatically better.

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  2 Year Review - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By donutman - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This car has been very reliable over the two years I have owned it. I have not incured any breakdowns...yet. The car has had two problems, one of which the dealer resolved. The outside mirrors would vibrate while driving. This was solved by replacing both mirrors with parts of a newer design. The dealer has been unsuccesful in finding and removing any of the rattles and buzzes in the interior of the car. They were also not able to get rid of a strange sizzling type of noise from the back seat area caused by driving on wet surfaces.

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  Fun Car, but Buyer Beware - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By T - September 7 - 2:30 pm

  I bought my 1999 Oldsmobile Alero new in 2000 and only put on about 5,000 - 5,500 miles a year on it. The car has had no major problems other than the brakes which I have had to replace three times. Specifically, I replaced the brake pads three times and rotars once on all four wheels ($500.00 total). This is not too bad considering the car has been driven for six years. UNTIL.... the car hit 36,000 miles (funny right after the warranty ran out). The transmission went and it cost $1,900.00 to fix. There has been problems with the seals and gaskets to the tune of $400.00 and now it is in the shop for the alternator. This is all within the last 400 miles after turning 36,000. So, buyer beware. The car handles great, has awesome speed, and I love the ride - it is fun, but it only has so much life in it!!

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  Head Gasket - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By zig - September 5 - 8:53 pm

  This has been a good vehicle overall, but have had some problems with brakes. I just had to put a head gasket in this motor with 50,000 miles on it, GM warranty did cover the repair cost.

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  2001 Aurora - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Jackie Johnson - September 5 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive has speed when you need it. And gets good gas mileage.It a four door but is still sporting looking

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  A steal - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By sdagostin - September 3 - 10:00 am

  The Aurora has a better, more reliable engine, more passenger compartment space, is as distinctively attractive, and sells for much less than the BMW 5- Series and the Lexus ES 300. An honest person will admit that the appearance of the car and the maker’s cachet make up the majority of his purchasing decisions. Why else would someone choose an ES over an Aurora? The ES is $3,000 more than the Aurora, yet it is just a Camry with a few appointments and for 2002, it has become a borderline ugly car. The BMW is just overpriced. The Olds has a superior engine, is more comfortable inside, is just as reliable, and is just as attractive. But, its not a "Beemer". Is that worth 15 grand to you?

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  Alerio - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By david angelo - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Great Car