4 Star Reviews for Oldsmobile

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.14/5 Average
1,710 Total Reviews
Make Overview:

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:

Showing 31 through 40 of 1,710.00
  • Perhaps this Car Could have Saved Oldsmobile - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
    By -

    I bought my 99 Oldsmobile Alero GLS in Oct. 2002 as a replacment for my 93 Mercury Tracer LTS. It was a zippy little car, but I wanted something bigger. The car was listed below KBB, fully loaded and was too good to pass up with 82,000 miles on the clock. I now have over 142,000 miles on it and have gotten by with few problems. The motor is strong and pulls hard for being "outdated". The only repairs I have done have been the intake gaskets, belt tensioner, alternator and MAF sensor. I regularly take the car to Ohio and WV and it has never let me down. I am now on the hunt for another Alero with fewer miles to replace it. I love the car, so when that time comes, it will be extremely painful to part with.

  • 99 Olds Alero 4 door 4cyl - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
    By -

    I bought the car when I was 17 and beat it to poo. In the three years I owned it I put on 77,000 miles on top of the 45,000. I only had a few problems. It started without the key, gas gauge stopped working along with overflow every time I filled up, tranny slipped when I stomped on the gas. I never put any money into it, I traded it in for $500

  • My 2001 Olds Alero - Reposession - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
    By -

    I bought a 2001 Olds Alero GLS in 2005. Ive seen the complaints about Aleros and I have changed or repaired things. My repo had 87K miles when I bought it in 2005. Now 127K. Ive replaced or repaired the following items: Motor performance computer, interior computer, remote keyless receiver, replaced fuel intake gaskets, replaced A/C compressor, plus I removed the AM/FM/CD radio and bought two extra ones off e-bay ($9.00 each). I cobbled best parts off two and put on the best one. Sold the others on e-bay for $45. Thats about it. I did all of the work and bought all parts on e-bay or discount GM dealer on-line for at least 50% discount. 26-32 mpg. This car just keeps running. No oil use.

  • 500 miles plus - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
    By -

    My Car with @200,450 miles on still runs strong. 500 hundred miles a week I drive commuting to work, and still feel satisfied on the way it handles, and performs.

  • Initial Impressions - 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
    By -

    Just purchased with under 55k on the odometer. Love that LSS supercharged motor! Handles fine for the barge that it is. Comfortable, tons of room front and back, has leather and sunroof, CD, etc....but Im still wishing for heated seats and a CD CHANGER. Ive heard GM made one thats compatible with the single CD/cassette/AM-FM stereo, guess Ill look on Ebay for one!

  • Good car - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
    By -

    Good car, have not had any problems and enjoy driving. Is somewhat noisy on the interstate.

  • Dependable Car - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
    By -

    I purchased this vehicle July 2004, and it has been a great vehicle. I purchased the vehicle with 73,000 miles on it, and it now has over 170,000 miles on it. The only problems I have had were with the brakes, because of exposure to the elements. Besides this I have had no problems. I use Mobile 1 synthetic oil, so tried to maintain it. Word of advice when you need to replace oxygen sensor do so immediately otherwise you may have to pay in the long run. I did not change mine for almost a year and it made other problems arise, but not till now, so I think this has been a great vehicle. If you find one used purchase it as soon as possible.

  • 94 Olds Cutlass Supreme - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
    By -

    This car is bigger than others cars I have owned. It is also the first American car I have owned. I have only had the car for about a month and I am very impressed with it so far. The 3.1 V6 has enough power for what I need. I do a lot of highway driving and find the ride to be very comfortable. Engine sound is also quiet.

  • Cutlass - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
    By -

    When I bought my Cutlass, it had 170,000 miles on it. It already had the intake and head gasket changed, a few brake services, a transmission service, and a general tune up. After buying it, I replaced the intake gasket again, gave it a full tune up, new brakes and rotors, and new tires. After the engine was in proper working condition, it performs very nicely and if you are easy on the accelerator, the gas mileage is around 25 mpg. The leather in the front seats is cracked and needs some serious attention. The cup holders are basically unusable. The drinks tip over at the slightest acceleration or braking. I am impressed with the massive trunk space. You need to be a good mechanic to to own this car.

  • Best and Worst of Both Worlds - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
    By -

    The car is a bit of a heart-breaker. Its a beautiful car both inside and out. It does handle well and got though the past winter (2002-2003)ok. The engine is the albatross around this cars neck. A manifold seal has failed twice causing damage to the engine.The car is showing the same symptoms at this writing. Also, the power windows have gone off track at least once. If I had to to it again, This would not be the car I would choose.

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