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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  Great Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By The Real AROD - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought a used Intrigue just a few weeks back, and I am really enjoying it. I have the 3800 V-6 and the car really moves. Handles great. Have gotten tons of compliments on the look of the car.

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  why my olds? - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By hope2 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  great auto, better than my 1998 intrigue

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  Great - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By spotgal - November 29 - 10:00 am

  I agree,when first driving it,fell in love, but the cupholder is just above the gear shift. pinched my fingers,but overall once you get used to that, and purchase a smaller coffee cup....everything is wonderful!

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  Great Car - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By TPayne - November 27 - 10:00 am

  I have drove this car for 11 months and have nothing but truly exceptional experience. The power and quality is superb

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  Alero consumer - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Rosebud - November 27 - 10:00 am

  My alero has been reliable and economical. I like the design and it has many features for a small car. Overall impression is very favorable

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  Owner - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By A - November 26 - 3:46 pm

  My 1999 Oldsmobile Alero has 102,000 miles and the motor is gone. I had to replace the wheel barings 2 times in the 4 years that Ive had it. The power windows not very reliable and are very expensive to fix. Basicly, every 6 months there was something wrong with it. I fell in love with the car the first time I saw it. Its very fun to drive.

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  Stay away from GM - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Patrick - November 26 - 12:50 pm

  Major repairs: Transmission blew up at 95,000 miles, although 80% of my driving is on the highway. Replaced fuel pump at 60,000. Minor repairs: Two stuck front calipers. 1 front wheel bearing, intermittent driver side power window. Leaking intake gasket and transmission gasket. Power steering hose disconnected. Fan resistor replaced twice. I do expect the car to have some things to fix once in a while, but I do not accept a premature transmission or fuel pump failure. GM, you fooled me.

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  Not bad for a cheap american car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By manicstoic - November 20 - 2:00 am

  Have owned an Alero for three years and 45,000 miles. Cons: cramped, questionable quality on interior design -- have had a couple of things break on me. Pros -- no repairs, knock on wood. Has been reliable, good gas mileage, pretty good acceleration for a 4 cyl -- better than our 2001 Altima. Actually, more fun to drive than the Altima, too.

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  Darn good car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Keith - November 18 - 12:40 pm

  Bought this as a poor mans Aurora, the Intrigue, and was not disappointed. It has had outstanding reliability - the only major maintenance that was needed was new front disks and a transmission rebuild at 108,000 miles. The engine still smogs clean and gets 26 MPG at 125,000 miles. The interior and exterior have held up as well - from both a styling and performance perspective - with only a broken cupholder and a slight gap between a AC vent and the dashboard from shrinkage or a bad initial fit.

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  Good - standard to improve it - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By gghum - November 14 - 2:00 am

  A well designed car for GM. Everything works as anticipated with but one complaint about a window air noise at specific speeds. Dealer tried a fix and it is better but ...... Too bad Olds is folding and this type of vehicle is discontinued instead of being improved.