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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  Excel & Excellent - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By fortyphyve - July 10 - 10:00 am

  My Oldsmobile Silhouette excells and is excellent already.

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  Best car I ever had - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Jim - July 5 - 12:03 pm

  I love this car. I bought it used six years ago and it hasnt given me any trouble. I have replaced the ball joints and added freon to the air conditioner but thats about it. I love driving it around town and drive it to my lake cabin. Its a great hauler and I will keep it until it drops.

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  Was good in the beginning - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Robin - July 5 - 3:16 am

  I bought the Aurora with 40,000 miles on it. It was great nice smooth ride handled well and loved the set up inside. About 3 years ago I started having problems with the wheel barons and have replaced the front driver and passenger side about three times each. All the Windows dont work the motors inside all broke the sun roof leaks. The transmission leaks, the oil leaks I have to put almost 5 qt in between each oil change and I had to replace the alternator twice in one year along with many other things. I just put a brand new alternator in a month ago and had to buy a battery yesterday and my battery light is on and says check charging system and I dont know why. I regret buying this car

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  01 Aurora - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Tom - July 4 - 4:23 pm

  I bought the car used. Its resale is suffering so badly that I got a terrific deal. After getting this kind of deal, I could care less about resale as I plan to keep the car for a very long time. It is very comfortable, looks great, and handles fine. I have had no problems with it other than normal maintenance.

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  You Should Buy One - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Shauna - July 3 - 3:36 pm

  I love my new Alero. I overpayed i guess...but it was well worth it! It is a fun and sporty car that has a decent amount of power. Nothing has seriously gone wrong with it yet. It is a very reliable car and all my friends are jealous with there plain looking Honda Civics and Dodge Neons...ewwwwwi e....hahaha!

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By tgnmb - July 3 - 2:16 am

  Other than routine maintance, my Oldsmobile Intrigue has been a champ through long trips and city stop and go driving. I had back surgery and this is the most comfortable car that I have ever sat in. The power is incredible for this style car and with the airbag system I feel safe. The sound system is awesome, it has the OEM sound Ive heard - and Im a sound man and electrician. My son is comfortable and safe in this car and that makes the differnce. It also has trunk space for many long trips. It saddens me that GM decided to stop the Oldsmobile line because if they came out with a new Intrigue I would buy it. Mine now has nearly 130,000 miles on it, but Im sure she has a lot of miles left.

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  1997 Olds Bravada - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By AKlein - June 29 - 4:16 am

  Overall a great SUV. Worst part is the fuel consumption. Seem to get only about 22-24 mpg on highway. I have had lots of A/C problems and cant solve the problem even with repeated visits to dealership. Wipers also seem to choose when to stop working.

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  Long term owner - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By CE - June 28 - 1:50 am

  Bought used as a GM "program" car and have never regretted purchase. I have put 104,000 miles on this beauty and it has never let me down. The exterior has held up exceptionally well and the interior as well. Had some warranty work on AC vents (plastic broke), replaced an actuator on the rear window, and have an oil pan gasket leaking (engine has to be removed to fix--wont do that). I am on my 2nd set of tires--the Michelins OEM tires went 65000 miles before I replaced and it looks like the ones on it now will go as far. Good ride and handling, fast as a snake, and comfortable on the road. Very quiet idling--that still amazes me, cant hear or feel it even after all these years.

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  If you know a car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By nflsonic - June 22 - 10:00 am

  I just received this car from graduation recently, and Im totally surprised. My father had to fix this car up a bit, but now, the brakes are flawless and the minor problems (molding around the door was already fixed) are non-exsisting. I love the acceleration on this beauty and wherever I ride, I DO get some looks (kinda fun to point out cause I didnt before on my 89 Buick). If you can test this model, do it, but definitly try to point out the small problems if any. If you can find a seller that treated this car superb (my father- neat freak), than you will have many enjoyment rides than what other drivers say about this car.

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  Terrible Resale Value - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jay - June 18 - 8:50 am

  I have had every single problem that you can think of from brakes going to the check engine light going on and off. I bought this car new and traded in a 97 Nissan Maxima that worked and sounded better then the new car. I tried to take the car back to the dealership because I knew I made a mistake but they would have no part of it. I paid $21,000.00 for a car that I can not get a Happy Meal and five bucks for today (poor resale value). I really do not like this car, and I rather go into more debt and get rid of it then to drive it another day.