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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  Little Trouble Up Front - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By AK-KY - January 9 - 7:33 pm

  I have had a little trouble with the Bravada, but overall its been a nice ride and has taken me from Kentucky to Alaska and back. I had to replace the ball joints and both front wheel bearings about 5,000 miles ago and now am having the same problems that led me to replace them in the first place (a bumping sort of motion when cutting the wheels and backing up). I read a lot about the GMC Jimmy (nearly the same build) having this problem regularly as well. The engine runs strong, has lots of torque, and its gas mileage is good as far as an SUV goes. It does great on the snow and ice. The heat seems to always be on, that is just annoying though. I guess Olds was figuring anyone in this car would be using the AC.

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  Great College Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By luminesa - January 8 - 10:00 am

  My parents and I bought this car for my use during college. It gets wonderful fuel mileage, which is great for all of the driving I do. The space available to load my luggage in is also wonderful. The body of the car is very stylish--great for a young student.

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  Good American Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Good American Car - December 30 - 4:46 pm

  I purchased the car with 50000 miles and it now has 112000. Always starts, its fast, great at highway speed. I like it as a sporty American sedan, similar to the 5 series or any smaller Benz. Electrical system have issues, signals, flashers, window motor replacement is expensive and must have design flaws. A great looking car still today, far more interesting than a Camry, maxima, etc.

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  The Bravada Experience - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By bravada - December 17 - 5:13 pm

  I purchased my Bravada about 15 months ago and overall it has been a wonderful experience driving it. I never liked SUVs before, now Im hooked. The I still like my cars, I believe I will always have a SUV to sit beside it. Its handling is pretty much natural and the style puts you right with the other big time wheelers at a very reasonable price and equal style, always meeting the look of many $40,000 - $50,000 SUV you see riding around. I brought mine for $6,000 and it sat with the most expensive SUVs in the city. It raved with compliments from all who seen and expeienced it.

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  I got lucky ! - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By TommyBoy - December 16 - 10:53 pm

  I purchased this from a private owner that bought a Saturn Vue. I drove from Ohio to AZ without issues but replaced the radiator and water pump after my arrival. Replaced brake rotors and calibers prior to departure. It drove through the snow without any problems so SmartTrak is very cool. One rust spot around the gas tank refill just starting to bubble. I have no other issues with this vehicle and plan on driving it into the ground. I owned a 93 Olds Delta 88 LSS before this and put 112K miles on it. I have always owned GM. Theres currently 84K on the Bravada.

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  Pretty good car. - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Art Burke - December 13 - 10:00 am

  We have put over 140,000 mi. on it now. Over all a very good car for the money. The front rotors warp every time the front wheels are not carefully torqued. I carry a torque wrench with me now and dont let anyone else install the front wheels. No more problem. Also had the intake gasket problem but warranty covered that. Other problems have all been minor and few and far between.

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  An American Beauty - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By PetesBuckeye - December 5 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I drive 62 miles round trip every day. Our previous 97 Bonneville was ok, but this car pampers. We have the navigation radio which is really cool and helpful. Likewise personal calling and OnStar. There is a small amount of wind noise as others have pointed out, but it is not very noticeable and I wonder if those complaining dont need to have adjustments. (Or maybe the 02s are improved in that area.) Go for it.

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  Olds aurora - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Terry Roth - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This car has a nice luxurious feel about it without being your daddys oldsmobile. It fits nice, drives great and keeps up its appearance and does not get boring to drive into your second, third or fourth year owning it. I wish my 3.5 6-cyl had a bit more spunk but the upside is that it has great gas mileage. I havent had any major problems with the car until the 3rd year where little minor things started to act up.

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  Junk - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Jacob - November 30 - 7:00 pm

  I bought this truck with only 60,000 miles on it and of only owning it for 3 months the starter, the fuel injectors, all the lights, and my turn signal swith went out on me. This has been the only and last GM product i will ever own. Love my FORD

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  My Experience - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Charles Richey - November 30 - 10:00 am

  This has been a great vehicle. I have had it in the shop once because of an actual problem. One of the pulleys was bent and it ripped off. The only other things I can think of other than that that arent good is that it could use a little more leg room, a boost in hp, and the doors where the window controls are keep popping out.