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:

• 

  Poor choice - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Lauralita - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I live near Lansing, MI where olds is touted as the king of GM... its the luxury priced mid- size SUV with luxury priced repair bills. Ive spent over $2000 in repairs. I still have to replace gas gauge sensor, weather stripping/seal. At 62,000 mi, the transmission was rebuit to the tune of over $1000, at my cost. Ive never been in an accident or in the ditch, yet had to replace both front wheel bearings. 3 months after the tranny went bad, yet another expensive gas fuel senser went bad.... sorry...but Ive had it with this one...poor investment for a $38,000 vehicle.

• 

  The True Olds Bravada - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Say NO to GM - May 14 - 10:00 am

  The Body integrity is very bad and the Auto is a gas guzzler. The SUV has very little acceleration ability.

• 

  Very Unreliable! - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Angie - May 2 - 11:16 am

  We had continuous repairs that had to be done. Air compressor leaked causing no airconditioner-$3k for repairs. Rear lights always went out having to replace the fuses constantly. Front lights did not seal well even after replacing the covers so we had to replace headlights monthly alot. Sliding doors opened on their own even with vehicle turned off. Engine blew at 90k miles-$6k. Roters and wheel barrings replaced 3 times. Traction system repaired, Cd player jams when changing Cds, constant electronic malfunctions. In an accident the van at 40mpg rolled when it hit the ditch, both sliding doors popped open during roll and all the windows busted out- extremely unsafe. Very unreliable vehicle!

• 

  DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF CRAP! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GladTheAlero_isGone! - April 27 - 10:00 am

  These are just SOME of things that put this car in the shop in the 1st 40,000 miles: Brake rotors resurfaced at 10K and 20K miles. Low speed fan motor replaced at 20K. Low speed fan resistor replaced at 30K and 36K miles. COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD NEEDED AT 38,000 Miles - Right after warranty period was over. $4,000. Fog lamps and headlights/taillights failed. Now the front left end is loud, grinding and vibrating - maybe a joint or something - not waiting around to find out. Drove it to a Kia dealer (just made it) and traded it in for $5,000. Bought a Sorento SUV. One sentence on the Alero - WORST CAR EVER!

• 

  I have had the worst one ever made . - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Angel Barnes - April 2 - 10:00 am

  It has been in service more than I have had the chance to drive it.

• 

  This car rots! - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Furious - March 2 - 8:16 am

  Bought the car. Was thrilled. Two weeks later the transmission failed - got replaced - then the alignment was never right - replaced tires every year; breaks too - tranny replaced three more times - two engines - alternator gone twice - electrical failed in year 4 - rail for driver sliding door broke year 5 - leather is so thin on seats, metal seat cushion supports showing year 7. With some cars you can say you got two cars for the price of one theyre so good. With this stinking car we had to pay for two cars (repairs) but only got to take one - broken one - home. Right now its in Baltimore MD - broken down - the trany went again - we live in N. Carolina. Were not fixing it again!

• 

  Why does this car exist? - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TRP - February 20 - 2:00 am

  I cant imagine why anyone actually likes this car. Its uncomfortable, the brakes are terrible, the interior is very cheap, and the steering in loose. This car is why Americans by more foreign cars. Thank goodness this is a "company" car for me. I drive a VW Passat, and the difference is incredible. I cant believe, my car costs almost the same! The Passat isnt the greatest sedan, but it feels 100 times more solid and upscale then then this hunk o junk.

• 

  One big headache - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Stay Clear - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Very nice looking vehicle,but its one problem after another,and the service is a joke.My vehicle has 24,500 miles and has already has had 3 complete brake jobs due to warped rotors,and has been to the dealer on 12 occasions for other problems.I highly recommend staying clear of this vehicle,unless you want mine!If the later of the two is the case, disregard anything I stated earlier,its a great car!

• 

  Look elsewhere - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Christova - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I greatly regret my investment in a 2001 Bravada, especially after considering the horribly low resale value(I paid 34,000, worth less than 15,000 a mere two years later) and the terrible build quality. It is two years old but may as well be 10 the way it is falling apart. The Bose stereo is now useless as the door plastic rattles at higher bass like the speakers on a $10 walkman. I have had it in for service numerous times including problems that they just cannot fix. For instance, if you crank the wheel and back up, the truck grinds and grates and just today it did the same when I pulled forward and cranked the wheel.

• 

  Very Poor Vehicle - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Vince U. - December 8 - 10:00 am

  This was my first SUV. I purchased it because I get discounts on GM vehicles. The problems I have had, greatly exceed the value of the discount. SUV died for no reason one week after purchase. GM couldnt figure out why and was only able to "fix it" by disengaging wires. GM admits this was a "temporary fix", but never did anything else. Security light is always on on the dash along with numerious others, rain sensor quit, rear wiper never goes back into harness, terrible knocking when making sharp turns and constant stalling issues are some of the problems that plague this vehicle. Cant wait to turn it in a buy an Explorer.