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, just short of great - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By IntDrvr - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought car used, 36K in 2001, one owner, clearly had kids, excellent condition. Car has good pickup off the line and will move fairly well when gassed in the 60-75 mph range. When going about 25-30 mph, you step on the gas and either the car mildly accelerates or takes off, full throttle, no in between. Stock sound system is fair. Plenty of trunk room but a small opening to get anything in there. Air conditioner electrics broke after a couple of months, cost $2000 to fix at dealer, thank you to extended warranties... Cheap plastic parts on radio. Relatively rough ride. Roomy interior for 5 mid sized adults.

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  Update since my 6/20/06 post, "I miss the 3.5" - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By oldskidd - October 13 - 2:32 am

  I recommended this 99 Intrigue GL 3.5L back in spring 2001 with 27k mi for $13,500 to my parents and they bought it. It hit 100k in 2006 when i last posted and it currently has 137k. They just replaced the A/C condenser so the A/C works now *thank gawd, its hot this summer! Theyve also replaced the exhaust system, suspension parts, and a few other minor things. i borrowed the Intrigue recently when my car was in the shop and I have to say this car still feels solid. My 2006 Saab has rattles in the door and which is disappointing for the Saab but impressive for the Intrigue because there isnt a single rattle in the cabin.

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  Hard to beat this one! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GaryB - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle now has 91K miles and doesnt leak a drop of oil! Fun to drive and very practical. Not too small not to big. 3.8 V-6 delivers more than I need for interstate survival. Seats could be better built. Creature comforts are more than adequate. Great value for your dollar. Dont waste $ on a Honda!

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  Fits Like a Glove - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero Boy - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought my first Alero GLS Sedan in 2000. I loved this car since I first saw it in 98 at the Auto Show. Its a good mix sportiness and class. The brake rotors are worthless. I went through 4 sets, all during the warranty. The intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced at 50k, which was after warranty period. I sold 4 of my friends on Alero & they also had the same problems and nothing more. I traded in for an 03 GLS Coupe this passed February to take advantage of the $5000 in rebates I qualified for. Too bad GM is dropping Olds; its the only division that actually has what it takes to compete with the imports.

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  Another Alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero Boy - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 00 Alero GLS sedan for this 03 GLS coupe in February because of the $5000 in rebates I qualified for. The new one seems less quality. My tailights are not sealed properly, so when rains, the water gets in & there has actually been sparks in there so the inside of the tail lights are burnt. The Tire Pressure monitor was eliminated for 03 and the hood in the 00 has struts, but they changed to prop rod in 2001. Nonetheless, its still the perfect car for me. I would like to get one of the Final 500 next year, but if not, Ill just hold on to this one.

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  Great Car, Expensive Repairs - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By missava - October 7 - 1:11 am

  Oldsmobiles have been in my family for years. I just purchased my Intrigue last year and I have had nothing but problems with it. Theyre minor problems that happen with older cars, however the repairs add up to more than the cars blue book value. I love how it performs and its great in the Colorado snow! But I think its time to retire my beautiful car. I was really hoping to turn it into a real American car collectors item one day.

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  You Decide - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Montgomery Man - October 1 - 8:10 am

  I purchased my Oldsmobile Intrigue 2 1/2 years ago with 60,000 miles on it. I had no problems with it (just normal routine maintenance) until we got over 100,000 miles. The power windows and windshield wipers have ceased to work. I am an extreme neat freak and wash and detail the car at least once ever two weeks, but the interior leather on the door is beginning to peel off. The cassette player eats any tapes we insert. The CD player, when driving, becomes abnormally hot and the factory speakers have blown. The car has begun to stutter when I hit the gas. We have gone through brakes like a fat kid goes through twinkie boxes. But, we have driven this car over 20,000 miles a year since we bought it. The interior is quiet, if you have the right tires.

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  Luv my Olds - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By luv my olds - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Super vehicle, runs great, looks great, all the toys, and I received 5 years 100,000 km warranty - a nice bonus compared to GMs anemic usual 3 year 60,000 km.

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  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By AE - September 13 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car now for over two years and I have had no problems except for the brakes. The car gets great gas mileage and handles very well. The Goodyear tires will be replaced; little bit excessive road noise. Has excellent power and the handling is not too hard or too soft. I picked this car over the Accord and Camry because of more size and gas mileage. I put about 35-40K miles a year on the car.

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  my aurora - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By paul4227 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  i have driven this car from md to fla and it is the most comfortable and reliable car i haveever owned..i have had numerous cars but this is an automobile that is class. on the trips from md to fla i still get 23 to 24 mpg event tho i can drive up to 80-85 on long strtches of the trip..even at this speed you cannot imagine youre really going that fast the aurora just glides along...