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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  happy with it - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By not too shabby - November 13 - 9:16 pm

  We bought our intrigue w/ over 100,000 mi. On it and it runs great! Plenty of power and pick up w/ engine is awesome. I do have 2 big complaints though. The window control assembly on driver side pops out at will and Im sure it wont be long before the buttons on it stop working. And the suspension on it deteriorated very quickly and now it is a horrible ride on any slightly bumpy surface. It sounds rough like it may knock a tire off or worse. But overall, it has been a very good second car for us and I love the way it still looks for its age. For me, mechanically it has been a good purchase and I plan to drive for a long time to come.

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  Good and Bad - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Dave - November 12 - 9:10 pm

  Have owned this alero for a few years now, and its been a pretty good car overall. Only true repairs were the LIM gasket and one of the wheel hubs. Otherwise no major problems...BUT...the security system acted up once, preventing us from starting the car, costing a new starter till we figured it out. The paint on the hood is terrible, the rear doors are rusting, and the rear quarter panels are rusting too. The plastic is flaking off the interior in places. The dashboard is starting to bubble. The "low tire pressure" light is on constantly. Most importantly, it starts every day, and even with the V6, I got 27 mpg on the last tank, which was mixed driving. Nice car, but...

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  Nice car - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Don Joas - November 12 - 4:26 pm

  Wonderful car--bought it new. Has lots of zip. Never been wrecked. Just time for a new one for us.

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  Unstoppable - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Thai Mai Xhu - November 10 - 9:03 am

  My 99 Baravada has had zero problems since new. We have kept up maintanance on this vehicle, twice we have had the brakes done (we live in the mountains, and brakes get used hard), this engine is over 115,000, and still delivers 23+mpg in the flats, and 17-19 in mountains. Keep your air filter changed out! Dont put too heavy of oil in this vehicle. Change to autotrak11 transfer case lube, its blue, and solves some issues with tight turns (which I never experienced).

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  New Car Excitement - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Todd Mitchell - November 9 - 10:00 am

  After driving my mothers Intrigue, I knew I wanted one. Style and power in a suprising family car package.

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  Love driving but it has many problems - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By kb1105 - November 8 - 12:36 pm

  I bought this truck as a family vehicle and its not reliable at all. I bought the truck for 7 grand and Ive replaced almost everything in it. The transmission went, then the gas pump, then the radiator and so on. Ive had this truck for a 2 years now and Ive driven it only probably 4 months

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  Great Ride - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ethan - October 30 - 8:20 am

  we bought this car with around 15,000 miles on it, and there is now around 96,000 on it, and the only thing i have ever had to do to it is have the passlock replaced and brakes, never one single problem with this car ever. this has to be one of the most reliable, bang for the buck, i have ever purchaced. i have even put on a magnaflow cat back and a K&N intake on it and watched the MPG rise even higher, on high way i can manage over 30+ mpg and i even have a V-6 and over 200hp now. if your in the market for a great car and by the years passing pretty cheap now. jump on it. im 26 and this is my 15th car and best one to date for reliability.

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  Very fun!! I love mine! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By mysticachica - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive loved it, its great for families, or people just starting out! Tons of space. Had a few problems, but normal things that any car would have! Very cheap in price, but pretty good quality.

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  oldsmobile review- silhouette minivan PR - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Chris-student in Tx - October 25 - 2:00 am

  i think it is a very great van and its reliable and affordable and it have a very nice ride and a nice interior and exterior and it will keep ya passengers in the back very occupied with the fold down movie screen and dvd player

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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.