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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  It was fun ! - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Fun car - December 12 - 12:13 am

  I owned this car for 3 years. For the most part, I really liked it. It wasnt a roomy car. Taller people had a hard time with the leg room and the head room. There was some clinking noise behind the radio, they couldnt figure out. The drivers door window seal wasnt tight, and would sometimes leak water when it rained. In the winter time I had the most problems.The drivers door wouldnt latch tight when I shut it every time. I would have to spray W-D 40 on it for it to shut properly. The worst part was the brakes. If I hit snow or ice, especially going downhill, there was no stopping the car. The brakes sounded as if they were grinding, bad. All in all, it was a smooth ride.

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  I love this van! - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By kat7597 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  We bought this van just over 2.5 years ago. We have had no problems with it and are very satisfied. It handles well, is quite comfortable, and has all of the options we were looking for. We use the air compressor quite frequently - great for traveling. We took our 13 & 1 year old sons on vacation - nearly 4000 miles round trip. This van made it easy!

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  Great ride - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rique - December 9 - 10:00 am

  Great car never had a problem with it. You feel comfortable in it, look stylish, and feel smart because you didnt pay a fortune for it.

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  great american car - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By ni7irs - December 7 - 10:00 am

  This is my first new car purchase after owning several used GM cars. It has poor rotors, tires and an intermediate drive shaft that clunks. However, once those problems were addressed, everything else seems fine. It gets great mileage and is very reliable. My dealership has given me great service even though it is out of warranty. GMs service line is very courteous and back up their product.

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  Bravado Praise - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Gene Petitto - December 3 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle is attractive with a little different look but has all of the amenities that varied on the other SUVs driven. The ride is great and the visibility from the vehicle is good.

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  Nice - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By RayRay - November 25 - 6:36 am

  Ive owned 28 cars and this car has the best all round qualities. the people having issues with these cars obviously neglected their machine. mine has 176k miles and looks better than cars 1/10th its age. normal maintenance is expected with any car. 01-03 AURORA = 06-09 LUCERNE!

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  A Dream! - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By lovesuvs - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Handles wonderfully in snow and on ice - - I love the SmartTrack system! Could be a bit larger inside, but overall a great auto to own!

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  ALERO - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By melissa spear - November 24 - 2:00 am

  i just got my car. but so far i love it it rides real smoothe and it is roomy i have to kids so the 4 door comes in handy its a really nice car.

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  I wish I could get one in 2003! - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dreamin02 - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I liked my 2002 so much that I went to buy another one in 2003. The dealership salesman told me nothing had changed between the model years. ABS is "Optional" Traction control is "Optional" CD Player is "Optional" but seems to be included on the cars. The warranty has been reduced dramatically. The performance doesnt feel as good as on the 2002. Is this the same suspension package???

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  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By ayshatrill - November 16 - 3:23 pm

  I bought my car in May of 2001 with 13,000 km on it. It now has 190,316 km on it. I have found my car reliable and a joy to drive on many long trips. It has been basically trouble free for me with just the usual maintenance things necessary. I have had the usual problem that comes with the aluminum wheels of leaking with the tires but I buy my tires where they give free maintenance so it has cost nothing for cleaning the rims. For now problem solved. 2 problems with this car, at 3 degrees Celsius outside the car fogs up, only solution open windows. Seats lack enough lumbar support for long trips making it feel like my ribs are cutting into me.