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:

• 

  Underated - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By jhenderson - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I believe this car was as good a car built in its class in 1999. The extras are still comparable with any my friends high dollar imports. Only issues are head room and trunck space.

• 

  A fun car overall - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jak75 - February 10 - 10:00 am

  This has been a fun car to drive, however, the reliability of the vehicle is questionable. In the two years that I have owned this vehicle, there has been approximately $4000.00 in repairs that have been necessary on internal components.

• 

  A rental unit got me hooked! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ajw - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I drove this car for 8 hours straight... and felt absolutely no fatigue... that rental car made me go out and by my 99!

• 

  Nice Reliable Car - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dustin - February 7 - 12:33 am

  I put over 120,000 miles on my Alero in a very short amount of time. Its engine was running great when I traded it in. I did not have problems with anything except for the brakes, I do all highway miles, and had to replace my breaks twice. I would have kept my car longer if it wasnt for the breaks wearing down so fast. The power windows often go out in these cars as well. My friends windows went out on his 99 Alero three times. It has a very strong running engine. Its quick and fun to drive. It gets decent gas milage with a lot of passing power for a car in this price range. Overall I was very satisified and would have bought another one if GM would have kept making them.

• 

  Beginning to show its age, but love it - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Love2Drive - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, Affordable to the masses now after starting with a price tag of $38K in 98. Controls are ready for use with the "cockpit" styled interior. Starting to see more mechanical stuff go wrong now at 75K mi. Brakes, calipers, alternator, air conditioning, steering noise at low speed turns, Tried riding in the back seat for 1st time... why is the ceiling so low? So many of them on the road now, its hard to feel original...

• 

  Luxury at its best - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By katissa - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I Love this car but it has some problems. I just bought it a few months ago and already have the check engine light come on. I have had to replace the drivers door module ($88) and had to replace two bulbs. If the comfort features werent so great I would be very upset with my purchase. I hope this car lasts until I can pay it off.

• 

  Excellent Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By britnyscc - February 1 - 1:33 am

  My husband and I bought this car last summer and we have fallen in love with it since. Its never given us any major trouble. The rear brakes are beginning to rub, but they only rub in the mornings when you first drive it. Very reliable. If we could buy another we definitely would!

• 

  Awesome car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By snewberry - January 31 - 9:25 pm

  I bought mine brand new and have not had any problems. You just have to take care of your car.

• 

  Done with GM - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Terry - January 28 - 8:20 pm

  I bought my 2001 Alero brand new and have had too many service issues with this car. Brakes, water leaks, windows, rear defroster, blinkers, security system. I will never buy another GM product again. This was my first brand new car and all the used cars I had previous to this one had better service records. What bothers me the most about this car is that GM/Oldsmobile really did not step up to the plate on this car. I even wrote to Oldsmobile headquarters - they only gave me some free oil changes! The only reason I keep this car is that its paid for, but thinking of trading in before it gets too bad. Shame on you GM and Waliers in Keene NH!!

• 

  Loaded Winter Beater - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Matt - January 27 - 7:10 pm

  Bought this truck with 150K for $3000. Didnt want anything this loaded but the price was right. The only thing I have done is change the tranny fluid/filter. Driver window just went out and the CD changer never worked. So far it has been great in the winter. I love how the AWD doesnt require any driver input. This can hold a lot of cargo. I once fit 35 large PCs in back. Interior is laid out nicely with the exception of the CD changer which eats up the console. There are plenty of squeaks and rattles but it is 9 years old with 153K miles. I get around 16MPG on dry pavement but mileage drops a bit when the AWD is being used a lot. The heated seats are a blessing in the cold PA winters.