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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  Better quality than I expected - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By DDO - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Rides comfortably, acceleration good, fun to drive. I have had only 2 minor repairs in 3 years(both electronics) Uses some oil or they dont put enough in at changes. Oil capacity is vague- some vendors say 6 qts and some say 7 qts.

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  Safe Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Ashley - March 16 - 9:36 am

  Bought this car when my van quit on me. I loved it! It was very roomy and nice. Had a great sunroof, sound system, and 6 disc changer. The gas was great also....However, son flipped it 4 times, and rammed into a tree and walked out with no injuries. This car is extremely safe and built well!!

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  Great mid size car .. Severely under rated - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ed - March 8 - 10:11 am

  After 12 years I would still rate this car from personal experience, an excellent vehicle .....

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  excitement wearing off - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GM ex-fan? - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car in September 2002 and so far have not had any major problems. 2 weeks ago took the car to the dealer, a sensor change cost $560 (good thing is I purchased the GM protection plan). I was surprised to find out how many of the complaints listed here actually are problems of my own: door panels have bubbles, climate controls refused to work one morning (that can drive you mad when its winter and you live in MI!); previously owned a Buick Regal and the noise on the Olds is overwhelming.

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  Great Van - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Mark Hart - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Have owned this van for over 2 years. No problems at all, except for automatic sliding door that was re- called and fix promptly by dealer. Good gas mileage for a large vehicle. I would buy another. Its a shame GM is dropping the OLDS nameplate.

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  Nice Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Gardner - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I was in the market for a Subaru....I liked the AWD, Was won over by the alero when i found out about the 5 speed and the gas mileage. I have grown to like this car much much more every day. I wish the interior styling was more like the new German style interior quality. fake and chinsy looking

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  Aurora Doing Fine - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Newport Beach Bill - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Bought car new about 15 months ago. To eventually replace a 1997 Concorde for a fairly long freeway commute to work. The 3.5 engine fine for stop and go traffic, but does not have alot of passing power ( the Concorde with a 3.5 engine has a lot more punch, even after 90,000 miles ). The interior is nice and leather seats great. The car has a very stable ride and handles fine. The chrome wheels add alot to the exterior look. Have received alot of compliments on the car, which is surprising in Newport Beach which has the largest Mercedes Benz dealer in the US. Mileage not great but okay. Runs fine with regular gas.

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  A Great Car From GM! - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By Fantastic Doug - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This car came with the standard 3.1 Liter V6 Engine,AC,ABS brakes,and automatic transmission. It is the perfect car for driving around town. I bought the car new and have over 135,000 miles on it. It still drives like a new car with excellent gas mileage.The only thing not working is cruise control, and I dont care because most of my driving is in stop and go city traffic. Ive had to replace the battery several times and the "service engine soon" light stays on all the time. A mechanic told me the light is a problem in the cars computer system-nothing is wrong with the car. I really enjoy this car and intend to keep it for many years to come!

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  Aurora at its Best ! - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By FerronJackson - February 19 - 5:40 am

  I purchased the car in March of 2007, Im the second owner of this Pearl White 2001 Aurora 3.5, it had exactly 50,000 on it when I bought the car. It has been a wonderful vehicle, no time spent in the shop at all, no problems, no nothing! Im very pleased that all Ive had to do is start it and go! I love the style of the car inside and out! Gm could not have done a better job with this one, everything about the car is a pleasure except for fuel economy I average 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway other than that I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a quality luxury American car!

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  no no no dont buy this car - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By oliver liebermann - February 16 - 5:16 pm

  500 miles passed warranty my transmission went bad. Then the sungear went bad. wheel bearing went bad. Had to replace the computer. worst vehicle ive ever owned