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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  Nightmare - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By dukegordon - May 10 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle has been to the dealer 11 times. Has been out of commission around 45 days. Problems have included: Mirrors not positioning, rain sensor replaced twice, transmission slipping, rear air srings deflating, radio loosing presets, compass stopped working, headlights, running lights, ect..........

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  Would I do it again? - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By jolgg21 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had excellent luck with my pre- owned Intrigue. However, the fuel usage was and is disappointing. The interior design is not very family-friendly. There is limited leg room in the back seat when an adult is seated comfortably in the front. Also, the cup holders on the back of the console are a great target for little feet. The radio reception is awful and I have experience some bizarre electrical problems. Overall, this is a reliable car that I would probably purchase again as long as I still got the great price:)

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  What a disappointment - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Gregor1022 - April 29 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I bought a 1999 Alero GL2 with 28,000 miles on it in early 2002. Weve had it for 1.5 years and have had the following done to it: -Head gasket replaced/repaired ($500) -Ventilation system actuator and resistor replaced ($800) -Left front CV joint repaired ($400) -Right passenger side power window motor replaced ($200) -Front rotors/pads replaced ($300) We have paid over $2,200 in repairs. This is the worst peice of crap either of us have ever owned. The dealership told us "thats what you get for buying a bottom of the line car." Well, after owning this car and being told that - I will NEVER buy another GM car.

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  Okay overall - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Tea - March 28 - 2:00 am

  At 14,595 mi a small oil leak;engine rear main seal replaced. At 29,784 mi replaced frt door top moldings; new design added a screw to keep them from sliding backward which made them rub on front of rear door. Twice dealer has added a/c fluid which helped temporarily but still does not cool car as well as it should. Not easy to keep in a straight ahead line; maybe it needs alignment but I have not had it checked. Front seat backs do not support my mid-back area (Im 60"). Performance excellent. Avg 25.5 mpg..ranges 19 to 28.5. Overall "okay" but not as trouble-free as our Camrys nor as easy to steer. Warranty covered what has been done so far.

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  Dissatisfied - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Disappointed Buyer - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car brand new and it was the first time that I ever bought an American made car. I have been displeased overall with this car. I have had so many minor issues with this car (leaking sunroof, leaking rear passenger door seal, broken drivers side sun visor clips, sqeaky breaks, fasten seat belts light malufunctioning, just to name a few.) I would encourage any consumer to think think twice about purchasing this vehicle. Did I mention that the Olds line of cars are no longer going to be manufactured?

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  Not horrible, but personally would suggest one - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By m3t4lm4n222 - January 6 - 7:27 am

  I have had one of these cars for 7 months now. Got it at 75K miles ran pretty good, now at 86K miles and well..its not going to well. The engine burns oil already, the transmission shifts hard and slow(Checked the fluid, its fine) The ride in this car is well..bad. You can feel every bump, its loud, especially on the highway, expect to have to turn the radio up. The engine is very loud, and I have the 2.4L 4 cylinder engine and its also very slow, it literally sounds and accelerates as if it had a big diesel engine in it. It averages 19 City, 25 Highway which is pretty bad for a car..especially considering it has a 4 cylinder engine...Its also not very comfortable...

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  Endless problems - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By jerry - December 2 - 6:16 am

  Here it goes, front wheel bearings - $350 each, steering colum - $200, overdirive lock up - $1,300, power window module - $150, ignition coil pack - $400, cup holder wont stay closed, ash tray door wont stay closed, half of rear window defogger doesnt work, AC freon hose broke - $800, lights on steering wheel controls burned out - $52 each... This has been a truly problemmatic car. I gave up a sold, reliable Taurus to get this headache on wheels.

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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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  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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  Not My Favorite - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Tekascooter - October 24 - 11:23 am

  I bought my Oldsmobile Silhouette used with 81,000 miles on it. I didnt like the fact that it didnt have rear air but I had a new baby on the way and needed a van. The low traction system went out and cost me $1,200 to fix and now the transmission is starting to fail. This is all at 94,000 miles. The seatbelts are not car seat friendly and there isnt enough leg room for adults in the back. I like the power door and the fact that the rear seats come out easily and they are light, but I am getting reaty to trade it in on an Expedition. I would not buy this van again.