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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  Worth owning! - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Rocket lover - May 29 - 10:40 pm

  Great value for the money and probably the most under rated vehicle in its class. Excellent build quality, relatively low sales adds to individuality of ownership. Could have created a little more performance for the V-8 given its design. Trying to find the way to afford another one or buy the wife another car so I can have it before she ruins it. Highly recommend trying one out if youre looking for a luxury/sport sedan. I think youll be surprised. Had one minor problem that was fixed by the dealer first time. Great comfort.

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  No More AJ (American Junk) - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By NoMoreAJ - May 21 - 10:00 am

  When we bought the car the gas gauge didnt work. My wife found this out the 2nd day of ownership when the thing ran out of gas. The alternator went out. The front brake calipers froze. the fornt steering linkages all needed to be replaced. The ball joints went bad. Then the transmission started to go... And thats when the Bravada had to go. We traded it in for a 2003 Toyota Highlander. The Highlander is a beautiful car. The Bravada is the last American car I will ever buy. We have a 2002 mustang. We cant wait to unload that turkey before it lets go. The battle cry in our household is "NO MORE AJ (American Junk)" .

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  2002 Olds Alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By japorter11 - May 19 - 12:17 am

  Bought my Alero a few months ago with 72k miles on it. Solid engine, no problems thus far. Have replaced passenger side window motor, vinyl on the dash was already cracked. Decent car for the money. Uncommon tire size(225/55/16) expensive to replace.

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  Overall a good car - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By navyfire - May 15 - 9:33 pm

  I owned this car for 2 years and was very pleased with it. I bought it with 60k and it was mostly trouble free except for a few minor problems: The check engine light came on shortly after I bought it, a check indicated a problem with the "secondary air injection system." The front suspension developed a loose feeling and vibrated a lot during braking. The ignition developed an issue where it wouldnt read the security code for the key and disable the engine. This was the most irritating problem the car had and often left me stranded. Overall, after 98k was put on it, I would definitely buy another.

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  A Terrific Olds - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By KeithinAZ - May 10 - 10:00 am

  This is a terric car. Solid, powerful, well built and reliable. We did have to go to warranty for front seals at 60,000. Would buy this car again.

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  Sexxy car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Supakrupa - May 10 - 10:00 am

  this car has good looks, and is a fun car to drive.The preformance from the base 4 cylender is above average but not quite a super star. Handles the road well, engine noise is a little louder than expected.

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  My Second Intrigue - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Bill Knox - May 3 - 10:00 am

  I just took delivery of a 2002 Intrigue, my second GL and a replacement for my 1999, which I drove for about 33,000 miles. Simply put, I just could not turn down the incentives. GM is making a major mistake in not continuing this car, even in another guise (e.g., Buick or Pontiac). Improvements include more precise steering and an improved sound system, as well as a blessedly silent horn when using the remote locking system. Handling seems a tad softer, however,and the car seems to reach its side loading limits rather abruptly in sweeping turns. Gas mileage is about the same (mediocre), but the engine still provides plenty of grunt when asked, perhaps my favorite feature.

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  Best Car for the money - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By carguy140 - May 2 - 6:25 pm

  Hello, I have sat here for a while and read all of the reviews on this site. I am at a crossroads with my intrigue. This car has by far been the best investment I have made in a vehicle. I purchased my intrigue as a lease turn in at 31,000 miles back in 2003. What really caught my eye about this car was the mix of styling and handling.Well I am happy to say I have had a very good experience. My intrigue today has 188k miles, other then 2 wheel bearings, 1 at 110k, 1 at 133k on other side, and 2 window motors this has been reliable and still runs great! MAINTAINANCE is key to any vehicle, change your fluids and these cars go a long time. My crossroads is what to buy now as great as this was?

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  Awesum lil ride - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Steven - April 30 - 9:13 pm

  I bought mine in 05 w/ 9,000 miles. now has 120,000. has NEVER let me down. Only minor maintenance costs so far except for the intake gasket, which the dealer covered. Ive customized mine with a new wing, body kit, tinted glass and fancy wheels, and it turns heads everywhere I take it. Both my sons are jealous and want me to hand over the title. (not gonna happen!!!)

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  99 Alero - beware! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By bkonyu - April 30 - 2:16 pm

  This car has had no end of problems at least for us - restarting issues, parts of the car coming off in my hand, constant replacement of major parts. It is very unreliable. This was the first model year, but come on. On the plus side, it does have good power - but the transmission seems to hamper its full utilization at times. It also is very comfortable. On the other hand we have a 99 Toyota Tercel that is small and wussy, but bullet proof! As a Cadillac mechanic friend once told me - dont buy North American vehicles.