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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  will keep until body falls off - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By chiefsmds - April 28 - 7:14 am

  I bought mine two years old. I have had 8years now. very little maintence ever needed. had to change fuel pump and both front wheel bearings but those are common for gm products. I wish it could get better mpg {15} but its a beast here in ohio winters. never gets stuck or never any troubles driving on icy roads. I have pulled a loaded car trailer without any troubles. I love this vehicle. I will keep for ever.

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  This is a good car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By x - April 27 - 3:46 am

  Decent car. Good power. Smooth ride. 44,000 miles and no problems. Rotors did warp, but replacing them with good rotors and good brake pads solves the problem. If you buy cheap parts, well then, you get what you pay for. Reliable so far, and probably will be in the future. No mechanical problems either.

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  Great Car! - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Oldsowner - April 14 - 2:00 am

  Power when you need it! The car handles great, the traction control is one heck of a feature in the rain. Ride is smooth, fairly quiet compared to other cars in its class. Pleanty of leg room both front and back and huge trunk space. The wrapped leather steering wheel, shifter, doors, and center console add a touch of class. Interior looks way better than the Intrigues Grand Prix counterpart.

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  CoolOlds - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By OnyxOlds - April 14 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the best car I have ever had. The 3.5liter DOHC engine is too good to be true. Have never had any problems with this car. Awesome Car. Nice sounding Bose stereo w/ cd player.

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  Great Car! No Problems - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By ebus - April 10 - 4:06 pm

  This has been a great car. I purchased it when it was about a year and a half old with 28,000 miles on it. It now has 178,800 miles and has given me zero problems. Great gas mileage and smooth ride. I have only replaced the brakes once and that was about a month ago.

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  Worst vehicle Ive ever owned. - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By steelymommy - April 8 - 5:36 pm

  I hate this van! The seat heaters quit working,can live w/that, the speakers SUCK. Power door on the passenger side not only doesnt work but will not unlock w/the electronic locks or manually so it cant be opened at all. Ive replaced Battery, thermostat, heater/AC blower motor, the resistor(that melted), water pump, belt, Intake Manifold gaskets(top &bottom), heater hose. The entire engine cooling system & heater/AC system cannot handle the pressure &original parts corrode quickly! Its fuel injected but have to give it gas to start it. And now it needs a new Harmonic Balancer-because they couldnt just bolt on the pulley for the belt, they used something rubber that corrodes too!

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  Test driver - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By ssomers - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I an A test driver for General Motors. I paid for this when I bought a New Oldsmobile. This cas has been back to the dealer eight times now. Mr Goodwrench makes the problems worse, as often an making them better. No more GM cars for me.

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  10 Years Young - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Pat - April 6 - 6:26 am

  Bought my Intrigue off the showroom floor in August 1998. This has been the BEST car ever. Ive never had one problem. It only has 41,750 miles now! Im getting ready to trade only for the fact that Im tired of the same car for 10 years!

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  Been A Good Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By hogan01 - April 5 - 11:29 pm

  I bought this car in 2006 and I have no complaints. It is starting to fall apart but I expected this to happen soon with over 241,000 miles on it. It has always been reliable Abd I have no complaints

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  Stay away - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By A real waste - April 1 - 3:03 am

  I bought this car new, at the time when olds was thinking of discontinuing the line. From year four (after the warranty - mileage over)to present, it has cost me $5K to $7K per year in repairs. It is a sink hole. Everything from not starting when it feels like it to not being able to turn the wheel without major vibrations. Everything was changed. I should have given up a long time ago.