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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  Sleeper Olds - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By cybernco - November 2 - 2:00 am

  The V-6 has plenty of torque and just begs to be wound out to the redline. But, the 170 HP peaks at 4800 RPM. The same engine in a Chevy Ventura Van is 185 HP at 5200 RPM. Its too bad it doesnt come in a 5-speed transmission though. The wide tires give the car a very firm feel. But the car has very soft suspension and a lot of sway in the corners. Im sure this keeps the less experianced drivers from loosing it in the corners. The brakes are extremely inadequate. Performance brake pads are a manditory minimum upgrade. Overall this is a very fun car to drive though. Its almost a great sports car.

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  Awesome - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Joe - October 31 - 8:06 am

  I cant believe the bad reviews for this vehicle. I have owned this Bravada for almost 8 years. I havent experience any problems. Last year the fuel pump went out but it had 148000 miles on it ( bound to happen eventually). now I have 158000 and would love to buy another Bravada. Just been lucky I guess.

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  Solid Driver, Some Problems - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GeeWhiz - October 27 - 5:50 pm

  Have owned this car for 2 years - purchased with around 50K miles - Runs Great Super 6 Cylinder engine is the strength of this car. Have had issues with Brakes, Front end suspension and Wheel bearings. Interior Build quality lacking Power Window/Lock switch Assembly loose on both front doors. Fit and finish of interior fair to poor. This car runs great - too bad Olds was shelved by GM - These cars at the time had better exterior styling than Buick or Saturn.

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  Suspension - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Tara - October 24 - 1:36 pm

  The Bravada is a nice vehicle. The only thing about it I dont care for is the parts are hard to find, expensive, and you have to order them. They should never have made them with that air suspension that would cost an arm and a leg. The parts should be made available at all auto part stores.

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  Oldsmobiles last van - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By #1 parent - October 16 - 10:00 am

  1)Needs better mileage 2)Seats are very comfortable 3)Good to take on long distance trips with your family 4) Did I mention seats are comfortable especially in the winter with the heated seat option 5) Lots of leg room to strech out 6) Sometimes to many buttons

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  20,000 miles and better than I expected - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Nat - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Huge discount piqued my interest, but still didnt expect much. Couple of annoyances-water leakage in the cabin during rainstorm (fixed after one visit to the dealer), some minor rattles, and my traction control (or whatever its called) went out on me unexpectedly (it reset by itself later). Manual transmission is a little notchy, and the other day it popped out of reverse. However, its a big car for the money with a lot of standard features, and the huge discounts (got mine for $14,5K, you can probably get it cheaper now) might make it worth the while. Granted, build quality isnt up to par with Toyota, however much improved over past american cars.

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  My new car - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By richardwvu - October 8 - 2:00 am

  Car received had numerous quality problems including noisy front brakes, a loud buzzing fuel pump, a rattling dash board, and a noisy passenger air bag cover. There is little excuse to deliver such a vehicle to a customer. What does a manufacturer and dealership think?

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  Alero - Often Overlooked - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By foxyfennec - October 7 - 5:03 pm

  While the Olds Alero is not a super-awesome performance vehicle, it has made me very happy. It gets decent gas mileage, is pleasant to drive and own, and its styling gets a few looks. Its a good used car to have - Ive had no problems with this car yet.

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  Bravada - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Whitetail - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I havent had a chance to try it out on the ice and snow but so far performance is good. Engine seems strong and the power is there when you need it.

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  The Oldsmotrigue - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Mike - September 28 - 9:30 am

  Well, its official now, my car is 10 years Olds!! It has 128000miles on the odometer and the way it feels, it could take another 100000. I have the 3.8 version. I had a buick T-Type before with the same motor and I sold it with 145000miles on it. Since I have it Ive had the regular maintenance and parts replace from wear and tear, nothing more. Since im young (early 30s) my generation is too familiar with keeping a vehicule or buying American for that matter, I always under pressure to change it for an Europeen model! But since this one is paid for and is running in good order I will keep it and perhaps get a BRAND NEW SPORTS CAR!! (pronouce like Bob Barker would) THE 2010 CHEVY CAMARO!