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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  Good Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Mr. Markus - September 27 - 10:00 am

  This has been a very good car overall. Especially like the traction control and ABS. On the highway this car gets over 30 miles to the gallon, with the air conditioner on. Small problems, strut broke, driver window power motor, but all were fixed with the warranty.

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  Good Car for the price - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Javier - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Nice car for the money but the styling is a little outdated

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  Constant Companion - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By jjse - September 14 - 9:50 am

  This car is eautiful and very reliable. The only repairs that I have had to make so far are a battery and wiper blade replacement last week. I will probably buy new tires in November. The engine loves to rev but is relatively low on torque. Its ride is a little harsh, but its handling is above average. New tires will probably improve the ride. My only complaint is a rattling sunroof when the shade is partially open. I would probably buy another one if a 5- or 6-speed auto was offered.

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  Good All Around Car Except For Seats - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alf33 - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Everything about this car is good except for the bucket seats which are uncomfortable and way too hard. Unfortunatelly I didnt discover this until after it was too late to return it. The performance is good but accelerating when at a crusing speed of about 50 is sluggish if only moderate pedal pressure is used. It gets moving real good when it drops down a gear when you get into it more. The car has tons of great features, is nice to drive, and is more stylish than a lot of cars out there now. I got 30mpg on the highway during a recent trip and that was doing 70-75mph a lot of the time.

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  Trouble - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GMlover - September 1 - 3:56 pm

  Only 16,600 miles and in the shop 7 times. 3 times on the brakes, 4 times on a metal to metal grinding noise that the shop could never determine the problem even after replacing many parts. Reconsider before you buy one! We got rid of due to not feeling like the car was safe anymore.

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  a little disappointed - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By monica dennis - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with my car when my husband brought it home.We have had numerous problems since we have had the Aurora.Early in 2002, the wipers stopped working,weather stripping began leaking on drivers side and had to be replaced, the back panel seperating the trunk from the back seat will not stay attatched, the driver side window works "MOST" of the time, the entire steering-wheel column and surrounding had to be replaced, the two back red lights that come on in fog light mode had to be replaced as well as the front passenger side main light bulb. Thank God for extended warranties, but what happens when it runs out????

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  rotors - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Rebecca71500 - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I keep reading about bad rotors. I brought my car in to have the windshield wipers replaced several months after I bought it. (I had to replace the other side last month) I was told that the rotors needed to be replaced. It wasnt a recall, but if the cars were brought in for other reasons they automatically replaced them. I have also had to take my car back several times because it was leaking oil.

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  Not bad for a company car - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Keelay - August 21 - 10:00 am

  The Alero GX sedan is a pretty decent company car. It has adequate acceleration with the 4-cyl engine, and nice handling. The ride is okay, although it can be jittery on smooth roads. The brakes are just marginal, and they seem to need a lot of pressure to get the car to stop. The GX model does have a lot of features for the money, too, and the standard stereo, cruise control, and automatic headlights are nice. The workmanship is *definitely* not up to Japanese standards, though. Its a nice enough car, but there are nicer ones. I wouldnt buy this car, but as a free car, its not bad.

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  Surprising Performance for a GM Sedan - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GregC - August 12 - 11:56 pm

  Ive had this car for four years. I purchased it used at 30,000 miles and now it has 70,000 miles. It has had no problems thus far. It has great pick-up, with stable handling thanks to its wide tires.

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  So far a decent car, but the brakes - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By pease_d - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Have had this car since Sept. 01 benn a guud car exceept fo rthe ABS the light wil just come on at random and all the dealer says it is just a sensor that got a rock in it. th only other complaint I have with this car is do not buy it with a sunroof if you are over 59" because you will not fit in it as I have found out after my growing years.