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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  Leased Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero Driver - September 15 - 3:43 pm

  I leased my Alero in July 99. It has the GL1 package and have found it to be a good solid car but nothing exceptional. The heat and a/c did not work on the 2 low settings after a year but other than that I have had no major problems. The gas mileage is not that good - I drive in the city mostly - around 18 miles to the gallon with the 4 cylinder. Resale value poor.

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  Fun to drive but its the little things - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Eric - September 15 - 6:00 am

  I bought the car about a year and a half ago, and had the brakes done and found out i needed a wheel bearing. Less than a month later it went out again and I needed to get two more after that. Many of the fuses have gone out also (horn) and the lights like to burn out in a short amount of time. License plate, side markers and blinkers.

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  Good for the money - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By lalalolo - September 10 - 5:33 am

  Well, you could buy an ugly early 90s import, or an Alero for about the same price. For me, theres no contest. Id take my Alero. Unless you plan on driving it for the next 15 years, it is an excellent car for the money.

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  Happy with my Olds - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Matt D - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this Intrigue with only 7600 miles on the odometer, it was two years old. The car has performed to my expectations for a family sedan. Its reliable, has a strong engine and is very stylish. I am so far very pleased with this vehicle.

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  Love it, hate it! - 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Travlinman - August 21 - 1:10 am

  Bought it w/ 81k mi and now have 124k on it. Runs great after many repairs, some due to age, some due to quality problems. Replaced/repaired brakes, U- joints, tires, battery, shocks, plugs/wires, water pump, belt tensioner, heater/air cond, headlamps, idler arm, oil leaks, etc. Have prob w/ stereo speakers also. Many interior squeaks & rattles. Very slow acceleration and ride deteriorates a bit past 65-70 mph. Rides nice at lower speeds and generally feels secure and smooth w/ AWD.

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  I expected better - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By tag - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new and have had the same problems Id expect from buying a used vehicle with mileage. These are testing my "GM Loyalty". A bad factory windshield replaced 2 days after purchase. Warped rotors were replaced at 19K. The engine smelled of gas at 31K which required replacement of the fuel injector regulator ($400). Eagle LS tires were trashed at 27K. The AM/FM TAPE/CD fader button is broken. The driverside door sticks. You might think I wouldnt recommend this car. However, since its lost 2/3 of its purchase price in 4 years Id say itd be a good used car value.

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  Good, until... - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Augustine - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car with 36,000 miles 7 years ago and it lasted 100,000 miles. Its got its share of minor issues, like all windows had to have the regulator replaced as well as the crankshaft sensor, which seem to be the par for the course. The interior was a victim of its poor quality in materials and design early on, like the dash lip above the central vents raising and the shifter and door switches getting loose. The leather seats were only thinly upholstered and the drivers seat shows more use. The exterior, other than supplier-painted parts, held up fairly well. Since it was involved in an accident which damaged its front-end, it developed recurring cooling issues, unfortunately.

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  Good Car to have - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Archi Mukherji - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving Nissans, and Toyotas for last 12 years, after having poor experience with North American Cars. However, after reading some great reviews and with the incentives given by GM in 2002, I decided to take the plunge. I donot regret it at all, it handles and rides extremely well, very quiet, and very thrifty on gas. The car also has adequate power for any traffic conditions. The only problem I had with this vehicle,was that there was slight water leak into the trunk when the car went through a car wash. The problem was corrected by tightening the mounting screws for the License Plate light fixture.

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  The best car I have ever owned - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By MMman2 - July 26 - 4:43 am

  I bought this van in year 2000 and its been a very good ever since then. I used it for my big family of 6 kids, and now they are not here any more and now just have 3 kids. It was very good on road trips and daily communicating, it got pretty good gas mileage also. Had to buy another motor for it but it now has over 250,000 miles on it. However, this car is not safe at all. But It has been a good van and the best car i have ever owned.

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  Transmission - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By douguch - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Transmission died at 35k! Replaced by GM dealer. Running good right now. $3500 later...