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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  worse car ever - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dale - July 27 - 8:03 pm

  this car is the biggest pos ever...fuel pump went out...now the brakes suck big time...cant figure why the brakes freeze up....would never tell anyone to buy one.....DO NOT BUY

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  Most Reliable Vehicle I Have Ever Owned in 32 Years - 1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By alienrealtor - July 27 - 5:26 pm

  In my eyes its good looking, my kids are not thrilled about its appearance though. It has been a good and very reliable friend. It does not require much maintenance or repair. I have 112,000 miles on it and its still very solid. Obviously it is not a good idea to sell it, you wont be paid much for it and the clear coat is still shiny, so why bother. Its paid for and the insurance is peanuts on it. This Anniversary Edition has every luxury option and they all work fine! If you find one, dont hesitate to buy it. Its a very nice vehicle. Oil changes every 3,000 miles are a must, Synthetic oil will give you about 30 MPG on the highway, every so often go for the high octane gas that has cleaners (BP Gold, Chevron 93 or Shell 93).

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  Lemon - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Former GM customer - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Worst vehicle Ive ever bought. GM just repurchased it..... after I got an attorney. In the shop on a regular basis. Transfer case shutter, transmission replaced, front end noise, light out on instrument panel, leak in back liftgate, almost had an accident because it didnt accelerate due to transmission problems. It was nice..... when it worked. Horrible build quality. Have always bought GM until now. Just replaced this with a Toyota. Doubt Ill ever buy GM again.

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  Owner - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By juanita martin - July 24 - 1:10 pm

  Bought new on 12-09-1993 now has 130,000 miles have had very little repairs to make still driving with satisfaction.

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  You wonder why GM is in trouble! - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By whitealleycat - July 21 - 3:56 pm

  The 2001 Oldsmobile Alero is a piece of junk. I had more problems than you can imagine with it, far too many to list. The windows were scratched from the power windows, electrical problems, wheel bearing, brakes (x3), ABS sensors, you name it. This car was a money pit. When I tried to sell it, it was worth nothing. I basically gave it away and the poor kid who bought it, broke down after two hours of owning it. What a nightmare. Avoid this car or any GM product. They dont stand behind there name. When your warranty runs out, your screwed. Im looking at a Subaru now. I swear I got 300 kms out of a tank of gas.

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  Love My `98 `88LS - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Jobuck1 - July 18 - 3:56 pm

  I bought this car used last year from a dealership and they put me in touch with the previous owner. Luckily he was an older fellow who had bought the car new and had taken excellent care of it. All the servicing done on time, and logged in the owners manual. I was able to pick right up where he left off. About once a month I make a trip up through the Ozark mountains on a twisting, up and down highway and I love the way the car handles and performs. I think that 3.8L is one of the better motors ever manufactured. Plenty of power and and decent gas mileage. I get around 19mpg in town and 26mpg on the highway. All in all Ive been very satisfied with this car.

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  Great Ride but the Brakes are Awful - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Jim Keith - July 17 - 6:43 pm

  I have had this car for three years now and I can honestly say that I really like to drive it. I have a bad back, and even with that, I can make 600 miles in a day. This is one comfortable car and its fuel mileage is 29 to 31 mpg on the road, and that makes me smile a lot. What I dont like is the two break jobs that I have needed in the past year. Also, the cheap turn signal light sockets that should be about $0.69 to replace and cost $30.00 at the dealer. And before I forget, the rattling steering column.

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  Road hugging - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jennie - July 14 - 9:16 am

  Love my car

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  2003 Olds Alero at 47,100 Miles - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero owner - July 13 - 8:50 am

  The dials and some buttons on the dash have had to be replaced under warranty. They have also lost some of their black coating, I am not sure why this happened. Also, the ignition switch went out at 38,000 miles.

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  Great Ride - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By dpc-kcmo - July 12 - 8:56 pm

  237,500 miles and its a great ride. I bought it as program car with 22K on it and have driven it all over the USA. Trading it in on a new program car! Great ride, pickup and handling, STILL!