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! - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By ndiff - July 26 - 10:00 am

  Good car for a good price. This car is very reliable and fun to drive. It is also very accepting of audio modifications. It has an oversized trunk and 16 inch wheels. The car handles well and I have not put any money in it except for brakes. Brakes are a notorious problem in this type of car.

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  Good Car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Rick - July 17 - 12:13 pm

  I love my Alero, I did have some brake issues at first, but GM replaced the brakes and rotors and I have not had any problems since. I have over 70,000 miles and love the 2.4L engine. I just replaced the original tires. Overall this is a good car.

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  I love my Alero! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By tldore - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I really like my 99 Alero..but i am a bit worried aobut what i have read regarding the brakes..cause i noticed the brakes in mine didnt seem to be very good when i first tried it out, but I just fell in love with the outside design of car. I have the gold edition, 4 cylinder and i think its beautiful and fun to drive. I think Oldsmobile means good quality too.

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  Typical GM Quality - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GMCustomerNoMore - July 10 - 11:33 am

  The one thing I can count on with the Alero is that Ill have to spend $600 every year to replace a wheel speed sensor. The brake rotors warp, it has hard starting, it needed a head gasket replacement, it has shaky side mirrors, it has a terrible front cup holder design, and now it has an intermittent power window problem with the drivers door. These problems have all piled up to ensure that my next car will not be from GM. At least my car is stylish (okay, for 2001 maybe), fun to drive, peppy, and has never left me stranded at the side of the road (knock on wood). I dont know why GM insists on using replacement wheel speed sensors with the same defect as the original, and why they cant make the 3.4L start like every other car -- only 2-3 seconds of cranking!

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  A good first car, does have some known issues. - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By n8ech - July 9 - 5:50 am

  We have two Aleros in our family. Our daughter drives an 01, and I just pickes up an 02 for our son. The Alero is a decent sized comfortable car with quite a few amenties for the money. We paid $4800 for the 01 with 74k 1 owner, and $3700 for the 02 with 55k one owner as well I should add the 02 has some hail damage and needed the lower intake gasket replaced. Both have leather and a power driver seat. Given a choice, the 3.4L V6 is the better engine even considering the gasket issue. I am getting 30 mpg highway

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  Not Bad for the price... - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Davidaz85 - July 8 - 2:00 am

  Im an 18 year-old teenager who drives alot. Olds are usually for older people and that is what I thought until I drove it. It has great sound, power, handling, and is a good car.

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  No Problems! - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By drorb - July 3 - 10:00 am

  The 4.0 V8 is a dream for those of us who suffered throught the Rice Rockets of the 70s. The engine runs on all grades of gasoline with appropriate performance. Not a sports car, but plenty of guts for passing and accelerating.

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  Why must olds have to go? - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By 123@aol.com - June 24 - 2:00 am

  What a great work car. Bought it with 90,000 on it. Put some maintenance into it rear struts and mounts, brakes, rotors, tranny fluid/filter, A/C recharge. Still have a little oil leak some where. Has a 3.1 good power but would like a little more. My last olds was a 86 delta 88 with a 3.8L sold it with 180,000+ on it. Still running strong. Was driving a Mercedes around germany last year. It felt good to get back in the olds had better power at high speed and handles just as good and its over 7 years old with 122,000 on it.

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  Great For Mountain Use - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By ABQ-NM - June 23 - 1:00 am

  Got a good used price on this luxury SUV when we needed something tuff for mountains. The parts man laughed when I tried to get skid plates for under carriage protection. Short wheel base makes for stiff ride in town, but it makes mountain trails ride like a cloud. SmartTrak has been very nice both on slick city streets and mountain paths. At 50,000 miles the AWD selector(?) motor failed & cost over $1,200 to replace. SmartTrack definately did not work without it. Poor mileage (16 city- 21 Hwy) is expensive for relatively small passanger capacity (4.6 adults). Great luxury features in solid vehicle. Too bad Olds stopped production.

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  I love my Bravada!! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By J.N. - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This is our first SUV. I was hesitant because I expected it to ride like a truck. It rides better than a car! Such a smooth, quiet ride. I feel so comfy in the soft leather seats. My co- workers always ask me to drive when we go to lunch because they love it too!