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:

• 

  Distinctly American - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By paa - October 21 - 10:00 am

  all i want to do is rate it , not write about it. so dont expect anything else

• 

  alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By marymezzarobba - October 21 - 10:00 am

  very dificult to see out all over

• 

  A solid family performer. - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Troy Heist - October 8 - 12:20 pm

  We purchased our 02 Silhouette in 07. One of our best investments. Many options are standard on the Premier package. It is spacious and fun to drive. The entertainment package keeps the kids occupied on long trips. I would recommend this vehicle to family who needs room and family mobility with out sacrificing the higher end comforts. Leather a plus for cleaning up after kids!!

• 

  My Oldsmobile Intrigue Experience - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Joe - October 7 - 3:30 am

  This car could well be the unsung hero of the Oldsmobile division. I received this car when my grandmother passed away, and so far, it is the best car I have driven. The car has the 3800 Series 2 (L36) engine, with the 4T65E transmission. The engine can be quiet, or aggressive sounding when wanted, the transmission can shift smoother than my dads Lexus. I was hit at 25 mph by a truck, and the only thing damaged, was a cracked taillight and an inch scratch on the bumper. This car is the safest, most reliable car I have ever driven. Perfect for a teenager. It is a beautiful car. If I had the money, I would buy another one. Just follow the maintenance schedule, and this car will last 200K+ miles

• 

  Annoying Problems - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By AJB - October 1 - 1:46 am

  I have owned my Alero for a little over a year. The car is a solid drive, fast and fun, but I have been plagued by annoying problems. For example its been in to the shop four times for the "service engine soon" light coming on. Turned out to be the O2 sensor each time, not particularly expensive but annoying just the same. Also the brakes are always noisy and seem to wear out quickly.Even with new rotors I still feel like it grates and grinds too much. The power windows have also caused a problem recently. Great looking car and real fun drive, but having previously owned a Japanese car, I think Ill head East again next time I buy. Make sure you like your dealer....youll be back.

• 

  Uncomfortable Seats - 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By GARY - September 30 - 11:10 pm

  Overall this is a great car, but it has terrible seats in the front. My cars driver side seat tilt is stuck with a bad motor. It is also a little hard to steer when parking. Other than that, this car has a good ride and gets good gas millage.

• 

  Still Lovin it... - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ang - September 21 - 10:26 am

  So, I bought this car for its looks. Im still loving it. I had to replace its brakes and rotors, my husband says I ride the brakes though. Also, I had to get a new water pump in 2004. To get to the point...I have three young kids and am a full time student, this car keeps up with all of us and has never left us on the side of the road! We do live in a hilly area and sometimes find that the tranny slips going up steep hills. I too love the automatic lights and convenient map lights. Oh, when I got this car it was missing the hazard lights? Im not sure what that was all about.

• 

  Goodbye to the pre-pro - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By NESZ - September 11 - 6:03 pm

  I own an Aurora this has been the most fun I have had in an automobile, to have the luxury, driveability, quality, and body style all rolled into one vechile. The performance of the powertrain is top shelf.

• 

  Pretty good at first..... - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By mjr - September 3 - 3:00 am

  I bought my Alero with about 24,000 miles on it. In about a month I had to return to the dealership for four new window assemblies and window. This was an obvious design flaw, but they claimed it was a fluke (4 all at once...). Also, the front wheel bearing went, blower motor, and a few other things. I bought a 75,000 mile warranty for it, and of course, with 75,252 miles the other front bearing goes bad. I take it back to the dealership for the noise. They come out and tell me that its the bearing, alternater, lower intake manifold gasket, both lower control arms, both upper strut mounts. I was given a rediculous quote to fix it all. Im not sure what to do, but I would recommend avoiding picking one of these up.

• 

  257,000 miles and going - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By 257,843 miles going - September 1 - 12:10 am

  I bought this car at 19,543 miles. True, all cars will have problems. In the last 7 years I have had to replace head gaskets, Fuel Pump, Tie Rod Ends. Only major issues. Overall, its an ok car. As of today it has over 250,000 miles. Its hard to believe from an Alero but YES.