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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  1994 Olds cutlass supreme 130,000 miles - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By caniebrugge - June 1 - 10:10 pm

  intake manifold leaked a little oil. had to tightened. Rear upper strut mounts went bad., Cam sensor wire insulation went bad right at the sensor because of oil leak. Transmissoin selector switch went bad causing the car not to go in over drive. Now remember this car has 132,000 mile run great. Great gas mileage. Im a mechanic. its been a good car.

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  1998 Olds Aurora - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By mtn man - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Averaging 22 mpg. Only two minor mechanical repairs; front brake calipers $400 and drivers door handle $200. Both right after 50,000 mile warranty expiration.

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  Old Dependable - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Tropycsman - May 26 - 9:13 pm

  I bought this car used as a rental. I maintain it well. The mileage has been very punishing city driving 95% of the time. I average 16mpg city and 27mpg highway. Other than an issue with the brake proportioning valve, the car has been very dependable. It is my "beater" and keeps on ticking. The performance aspect has been very surprising. With the right tires the car handles well in the rain, snow, and, of course, dry conditions. Acceleration is good with lots of low end torque (3.8L V-6). Interior is comfortable and roomy but plain. This car is a keeper.

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  Silhouette - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By summerdude3283 - May 21 - 8:06 pm

  This car wasnt a very good car. It broke down twice during a two year period. Its not very reliable and is bad. It wasnt very safe when i got into a car accident because it killed my cousin that was in the front right passenger seat.

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  Still pretty good - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By macie jo - May 19 - 10:00 am

  i bought it with a rebuild trans. 166,000 miles and have only had to replace brakes all way around. door handles on door are not good! broke drivers twice. but seems to still purr like a kitten. I paid $1200.00 for it. paint is great too. no peels or rust. would recommend this car.

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  Bought it old - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By J R - May 9 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this vehicle from a Dealer who knew it had issues. Typical is the Dex cool issue which used to eat up radiator and heater cores. Weve a great mechanic and had to spend $2000 improving the vehicle but it now appears in great shape. You MUST change all the fluids periodically despite manufacturer recommendations. Expect to clean the injector manifold at about 75,000 and replace the intake manifold gasket. They will typically leak about then.

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  Oldsmobile Rocket Intrigue - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By >BaDSeY< - May 4 - 10:00 am

  The Oldsmobile 3.5L V6 (Wards 10 best engines 1999) paired with the electronic automatic tranny is exceptional. Underrated at 215Hp more like 240-250HP. People have been having alternator short problems with the lights dimming on the Intrigue. My flasher unit is intermittently faulty, but this is a previous known condition with the Grand Am etc. When the windshield wipers are turned off the blades are vertical so I keep them on the lowest setting at all times 18sec. GM made/contracted some electrical components with shoddy solder joints (flasher unit, wiper relay).

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  All smiles until 40,000 miles - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero owner - May 4 - 10:00 am

  This car ran wonderfully until it hit 40,000 miles, since than many minor and major things have broken. In the past year, 15,000 miles, it has been in the shop 7 times. Water pumps, window regulators, intake manifolds, the ABS harness...and countless more. Beware, if you by an Alero make sure to buy the extended warranty.

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  I like my Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rplank - April 23 - 7:56 am

  Leased it because it was cheap and seemed solid compared to the imports in the same price range. I have 30000 miles on it and not a problem. 4 cylinder has adequate power for the gas milage it gets. I just bought a new 2002 Alero because of the rebates and incentives. If it wouldnt of been cheap I would of gone with an import only for resale value, not because I like them better than the Alero.

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  BRAKES! - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By franr - April 14 - 10:00 am

  4TH BRAKE JOB IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS AND 54K MILES! I also have been told it is my driving habits. First time in 30 years of owning cars that I been told that! I have had some other problems with the car, but it is the brake problems I find totally UNACCEPTABLE! I have called olds customer service at 1- 800-442-6537 to complain. Waiting for a response. If you have had 2 or more brake jobs in less than 4 years, you should call too. This is not only a monetary issue as well as an inconvenience, I am concerned about the safety issue as well.