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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  The cadillac of minivans - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Lovin it so far. - December 27 - 2:50 am

  My wife and I bought this minivan to help with our problem of fitting too many kids into our old autos. For a minivan it has some punch, gets comparably great gas mileage, and our minivan though it has 111,000 miles rides as smooth as the day it was bought i suspect. The interior was well thought out though, I find that the cup holders are in some odd places. all in all pretty happy with our purchase. 3600 out the door at the local dealership with a tank full of gas and an oil change.

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  Love This Van So Far! - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By gspot - December 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought this van 2 months ago used and think it rocks. I have a 1999 premiere edition. The only problem that I had when it was bought was the auxiliary inputs are not working for the TV, but the VCP works good. Unfortunately, it costs up to $500.00 to repair those inputs. The kids keep very quiet on long trips due to the TV/VCP. We have already driven to California from Washington and back without any issues. The ride is very smooth. Im not fond of the gas milage of about 20mpg, however you cant expect much more out of a minivan.

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  Still a good car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GoingStrong - December 17 - 10:16 am

  My father paid $10,000 for the 2001 Alero with 12,000 miles for my brother and I in 2002 when we were in high school. I wasnt really crazy about it then because it seemed like EVERYONE had one but now I look back and see what a good car it was and still is. The only problem we have with it is the blinkers. They ALWAYS CLICK! It takes them a couple minutes to stop clicking even after they switch off. The car is now my brothers and he hasnt had a single problem with it since the battery died last year leaving him stranded in the mountains haha. Overall, great car for the money as long as its taken care of.

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  Get an extended warranty!!! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Mike M - December 4 - 5:46 pm

  I never believed in extended warranties, but this vehicle has made me a believer. I bought the vehicle with 40,000 miles on it. The AWD has failed twice on this vehicle for the same reason. The mirrors never adjust to the drivers setting (which was supposedly fixed), the serpentine belt shredded because of a bad pulley, the shifter cable got caught on the drive train, along with several other (but expensive) nuisances.

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  Hate to Trade It, but... - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Frank - December 1 - 8:10 pm

  We bought this car as an early lease return and paid half of what a new one cost. It has had the typical repairs (dimming headlight problem and ignition switch failure) but overall it has been reliable and a head turner whenever we take it out. It has never seen snow or winter roads (a garage queen) but the resale value is plummeting, parts seem to be in short supply, and my extended warranty is up, so it will be traded in shortly for a fraction of what should be worth. I, too, am sorry GM bailed out on this one. It was my third Olds and by far the best. I tried a Cadillac CTS but it just doesnt come close. Looks like an Acura may be the next step.

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  Solid Feeling Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By luckybuck - December 1 - 10:00 am

  The car has a surprisingly solid feel. With all the rebates and incentives I feel i got a great deal!

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  engine - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By dl - November 28 - 5:50 am

  nice looking vehicle, owned a 1999 Bravada purchased a 2002 in June 2002 great looks and extended warranty. Major computer problems, dealer replaced computer chips 3 times and eventually engine failed and had to be replced due to broken cylender sleve, also module for power seat failed.

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  update to rattle complaint - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By bill duncan - November 19 - 2:00 am

  complained about metallic rattle left front quarter. got shop forman to ride with me-heard it and gave it to suspension guy and fixed it. repairman said it was a front sway bar noise. they replaced both front stabilizer links and noise is gone. might hold on to the olds until something else goes wrong. ive had a number of little things go wrong. the dealer always fixes it for free but im getting tired of taking it in.

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  problems - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By pyro - November 11 - 7:23 pm

  ok here goes. problems. 2nd owner. Drivers seat heat has failed again. Sliding door has failed, cant find fuse. Fuse panel doesnt list location, neighter does Haynes manual. Auto leveling system stinks. keeps raising the van till it tops out. Replaced shocks and vacume lines. Only 1 set of shocks made for this turd. I have to disconnect the hose to relieve the pressure. Sensor on fuel tank has quit. Motor on rear window had to be replaced, couldnt close the window. Vehicle is noisy to drive. Very slow to heat up in the winter. Right front turn signal decides when it wants to work, replaced socket already. New front hubs, control arms. 850.00

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  Replace Plenum before it wrecks engine - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Steve - November 6 - 3:40 pm

  Intake manifold gasket was replaced before I bought it. However, the plenum went and water went into the engine. After 600 dollar plenum repair, a valve was bad. After a couple hundred miles it needed a 1200 dollar valve repair. After a couple hundred miles a piece of engine (probably connecting rod) went through the engine block. Replace the original plenum and manifold gasket to avoid costly repairs. This happend on a 94 Park Avenue of mine with 156000 miles, a 99 Park Avenue with 190,000 miles and now a 98 Olds 88 with 111,000 miles. Great engine except for the plenums and intake manifold gaskets.